UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 9, 2021

 

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-41133   85-1792560

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas

75204

 

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (972) 560-4815

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Title of each class  

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Units, each consisting of one share of Class A Common

Stock, one redeemable Warrant, and one Right

  FXCOU   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
         
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   FXCO   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
         
Warrants to acquire one share of Class A Common Stock   FXCOW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
         
Rights to acquire one-tenth of one share of Class A Common Stock   FXCOR   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

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

 

Emerging growth company x

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On December 14, 2021, Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) consummated its initial public offering (the “IPO”) of 10,005,000 units (the “Public Units”), which included the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase an additional 1,305,000 Public Units to cover over-allotments. Each Public Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock of the Company, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrant”), with each Public Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, and one right (the “Public Right”), with each Public Right entitling the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of Common Stock upon the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination. The Public Units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per Public Unit, generating gross proceeds of $105,000,000 (before underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses).

 

In connection with the IPO, the Company entered into the following agreements, the forms of which were previously filed as exhibits to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260434), as amended (the “Registration Statement”), and are included as Exhibits 1.1, 1.2, 4.1, 4.2, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K:

 

  an Underwriting Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company and I-Bankers Securities, Inc. (the “I-Bankers”), as representative of the underwriters.
     
  A Business Combination Marketing Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company and I-Bankers.
     
  a Warrant Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”), as warrant agent.
     
  a Rights Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company and Continental, as rights agent.
     
  A Letter Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, by and among the Company and the signatories thereto.
     
  an Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company and Continental, as trustee.

 

 

 

 

  a Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, by and among the Company, I-Bankers and the parties listed under “Investors” on the signature page thereto.
     
  a Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company, FSC Sponsor LLC and the parties identified on Schedule I attached thereto.  

 

On December 14, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 373,750 shares of Common Stock (the “Representative’s Shares”) to I-Bankers in connection with its services as the representative of the underwriters for the IPO and as a result of the full exercise of its over-allotment option. I-Bankers has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Representative’s Shares without the Company’s prior written consent until the completion of the Company’s initial business combination. In addition, I-Bankers (and/or its designees) has agreed (i) to vote such shares in favor of any proposed business combination, (ii) to waive its redemption rights with respect to such shares in connection with the completion of the Company’s initial business combination and (iii) to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such shares if the Company fails to complete its initial business combination within 12 months from the closing of the IPO (or up to 18 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the period of time to consummate a business combination, as described in more detail in the Registration Statement). The Representative’s Shares have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement date of sales in the IPO pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1)..

 

On December 14, 2021, the Company issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 800,400 shares of Common Stock, exercisable at $12.00 per share (the “Representative’s Warrants”), to I-Bankers in connection with its services as the representative of the underwriters for the IPO and as a result of the full exercise of its over-allotment option. The Representative’s Warrants  may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, at any time during the period commencing on the later of the first anniversary of the effective date of the Registration Statement and the closing of the Company’s initial business combination and terminating on the fifth anniversary of the commencement of sales in the IPO. The Representative’s Warrants and such shares purchased pursuant to the Representative’s Warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA are subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales in the IPO pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(10). The Representative’s Warrants grant to holders certain demand and “piggy-back” registration rights for periods of five and seven years, respectively, from the commencement of sales in the IPO with respect to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrants.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO and the issuance and sale of the Public Units, the Company completed the private sale of 504,950 units (the “Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit to certain private investors, generating gross proceeds of $5,049,500 (such sale, the “Private Placement”).

 

Each Private Placement Unit consists of one share of Common Stock (the “Private Placement Share”), one redeemable warrant (the “Private Placement Warrant”) to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, and one right (the “Private Placement Right”) to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of Common Stock upon the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination. The Private Placement Warrants are substantially similar to the Public Warrants, except that the Private Placement Warrants, so long as they are held by the Company’s co-sponsors, initial stockholders or their permitted transferees, (i) will not be redeemable by us, (ii) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial business combination, (iii) may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis and (iv) will be entitled to registration rights.

 

 

 

 

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

 

On December 9, 2021, in connection with the IPO, the Company filed its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State. The terms of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation are set forth in the Registration Statement and are incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1, and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On December 9, 2021, the Company issued a press release, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, announcing the pricing of the IPO, and is incorporated by reference herein. On December 14, 2021, the Company issued a press release, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, announcing the closing of the IPO and that the underwriters had fully exercised their option to purchase additional Public Units to cover over-allotments, and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by reference in such a filing. Furthermore, the furnishing of information under Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is not intended to constitute a determination by the Company that the information contained herein, including the exhibits hereto, is material or that the dissemination of such information is required by Regulation FD.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

The net proceeds from the IPO, together with certain of the proceeds from the Private Placement, $101,050,500 in the aggregate (the “Offering Proceeds”), were placed in a trust account established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders with Continental acting as trustee. Except for the withdrawal from interest earned on the Offering Proceeds in the trust account to fund taxes payable and up to $100,000 to pay dissolution expenses, or upon the redemption by public stockholders of Common Stock in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, none of the funds held in the trust account will be released until the earlier of the completion of the Company’s initial business combination or the redemption of 100% of the Public Shares and issued by the Company in the IPO if the Company is unable to consummate an initial business combination within 12 months (or, if extended by resolution of the Company’s board of directors, up to 18 months) from the closing of the IPO.

 

 

 

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

1.1   Underwriting Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company and I-Bankers, as representative of the underwriters.
     
1.2   Business Combination Marketing Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company and I-Bankers.
     
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
     
4.1   Warrant Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company and Continental, as warrant agent.
     
4.2   Rights Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company and Continental, as rights agent.
     
10.1   Form of Letter Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, by and among the Company and the signatories thereto (as previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on November 24, 2021).

 

10.2   Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, between the Company and Continental, as trustee.
     
10.3   Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, by and among the Company, I-Bankers and the parties listed under “Investors” on the signature page thereto (as previously filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on November 24, 2021).
     
10.4   Form of Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, dated December 9, 2021, by and among the Company, FSC Sponsor LLC and the parties identified on Schedule I attached thereto (as previously filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on November 24, 2021).
     
99.1   Press Release, issued December 9, 2021 (furnished pursuant to Item 7.01).
     
99.2   Press Release, issued December 14, 2021 (furnished pursuant to Item 7.01).

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Dated: December 15, 2021

 

  FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Jamie Khurshid
  Name:  Jamie Khurshid
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

8,700,000 Units

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

December 9, 2021

 

I-Bankers Securities, Inc.

1208 Shady Ln N.

Keller, TX 76248

As Representative of the Underwriters named on Schedule A hereto

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned, Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with I-Bankers Securities, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “you”, “I-Bankers”, or as the “Representative”) and with the other underwriters named on Schedule A hereto for which you are acting as representative (the Representative and the other Underwriters being collectively referred to herein as the “Underwriters” or, individually, an “Underwriter”), as follows:

 

1.             Purchase and Sale of Securities.

 

1.1.          Firm Securities.

 

1.1.1.            Purchase of Firm Units. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell, severally and not jointly, to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of 8,700,000 units (the “Firm Units”) of the Company at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $9.75 per Firm Unit. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Units set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $9.75 per Firm Unit. The Firm Units (and the Option Units (as hereinafter defined), if any) are to be offered initially to the public (the “Offering”) at the offering price of $10.00 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of one (1) share of Class A common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”), one redeemable warrant (the “Warrant(s)”) to purchase one (1) share of Common Stock, and one right (the “Right(s)”) to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of Common Stock upon consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below). The Common Stock, the Warrants and the Rights included in the Firm Units will not be separately transferable until the earlier of the 52nd day after the date that the Registration Statement (as defined below) becomes effective (the “Effective Date”) or the announcement by the Company of the Representative’s decision to allow earlier trading, subject, however, to the Company filing a Current Report on Form 8-K (“Form 8-K”) with the Commission (as defined below) containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the Offering and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. In no event will the Company allow separate trading until (i) the preparation of an audited balance sheet of the Company reflecting receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the filing of such audited balance sheet with the Commission on a Form 8-K or similar form by the Company which includes such balance sheet and (ii) the issuance of a press release announcing when such separate trading shall begin. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per whole share during the period commencing on the later of (a) thirty days after the closing of a Business Combination and (b) twelve (12) months from the Closing Date (as defined below), and terminating on the five (5) year anniversary of the closing of a Business Combination. As used herein, the term “Business Combination” shall mean any acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation with, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements with, or engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities by the Company. The Company has the right to redeem the Warrants upon not less than thirty (30) days written notice at a price of $0.01 per Warrant at any time after the Warrants become exercisable, so long as the last sales price of the Common Stock has been at least $18.00 per share for any twenty (20) trading days within a thirty (30) trading day period ending on the third (3rd) Business Day (as defined below) prior to the day on which notice is given, provided that there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants during the period commencing on the first Business Day on which the minimum sales price is achieved until the completion of the thirty (30) day notice period. As used herein, the term “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day on which national banks in New York, New York are not open for business.

 

 

 

 

1.1.2.            Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made by 1:00 P.M., New York time, on the second (2nd) Business Day following the Effective Date of the Registration Statement (or the third (3rd) Business Day following the Effective Date, if the Registration Statement is declared effective on or after 4:00 p.m., New York time) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The closing of the public offering contemplated by this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Closing” and the hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds. $87,870,000, or $10.10 per Firm Unit, of the proceeds received by the Company for the Firm Units and from the Private Placement (as defined in Section 1.4) shall be deposited in the trust account established by the Company for the benefit of the public shareholders as described in the Registration Statement (the “Trust Account”) pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”). The proceeds (less discounts, commissions, expense allowance and actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement) shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package the Firm Units for delivery, at least one (1) full Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units.

 

1.2.          Over-Allotment Option.

 

1.2.1.            Option Units. For the purpose of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units, the Underwriters are hereby granted, severally and not jointly, an option to purchase up to an additional 1,305,000 units from the Company (the “Over-allotment Option”). Such additional 1,305,000 units shall be identical in all respects to the Firm Units and are hereinafter referred to as “Option Units.” The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Units,” and the Units, the Common Stock, the Warrants and the Rights included in the Units and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and upon conversion of the Rights are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Public Securities.” The purchase price to be paid for the Option Units (net of discounts and commissions) will be $9.75 per Option Unit. The Option Units are to be offered initially to the public at the offering price of $10.00 per Option Unit.

 

 

 

 

1.2.2.            Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within thirty (30) days after the Effective Date. The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing by overnight mail, e-mail or facsimile transmission setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units, which will not be later than five (5) Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the Representative or at such other place or in such other manner as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Option Units does not occur on the Closing Date, the date and time of the closing for such Option Units will be as set forth in the notice (hereinafter the “Option Closing Date”). Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.

 

1.2.3.            Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Option Units shall be made at 1:00 P.M., New York time, on the Option Closing Date or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date (or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company) at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds, by deposit of the sum of $9.75 per Option Unit of the proceeds received by the Company for the Option Units shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Option Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request not less than one (1) Business Day prior to the Option Closing Date and will be made available to the Representative for inspection, checking and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one (1) full Business Day prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date. If the Option Closing Date is different than the Closing Date, on the Option Closing Date, the Company shall be required to deposit such amount of the Private Placement into the Trust Account necessary to achieve $10.10 per Unit in the Trust Account.

 

1.3.          Representative’s Warrants and Shares.

 

1.3.1.            Representative’s Warrants. As additional consideration, the Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to I-Bankers (and/or its designees) on the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as applicable, a non-redeemable warrant (the “Representative’s Warrant”) for the purchase of 8.0% of the shares of Common Stock contained in the Units sold in the Offering (excluding any Common Stock underlying the Warrants and the Rights contained in the Units) (the “Representative’s Warrant Shares”). The Representative’s Warrants shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing the later of (i) the closing of the Business Combination, or (ii) one-year from the Effective Date, and expiring five (5) years from the Effective Date, for cash or on a cashless basis, at an initial exercise price of $12.00 per Representative’s Warrant Share, which is equal to 120% of the initial public offering price of a Unit. The Representative’s Warrants, the Representative’s Warrant Shares and the Representative’s Shares (defined below) are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Representative’s Securities.” The Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities.” The Representative agrees by its acceptance of the Representative’s Warrant, that it will not: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Representative’s Warrant Shares for a period of 180 days following the Effective Date to anyone other than: (i) an underwriter or a selected dealer participating in the Offering, or (ii) an officer, partner, registered person, or affiliate of the Representative or of any such underwriter or selected dealer, in each case in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(e)(1), and (b) cause the Representative’s Warrants or Representative’s Warrant Shares to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction, for a period of 180 days following the Effective Date, that would result in the effective economic disposition of the Representative’s Warrants or Representative’s Warrant Shares, except as provided for in FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2).

 

 

 

 

1.3.2.            Representative’s Shares. As additional consideration, the Company hereby agrees to issue to I-Bankers (and/or its designees) on the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as applicable, 325,000 shares of Common Stock (or up to 373,750 shares of Common Stock if the Over-allotment Option is exercised) (the “Representative’s Shares”), at a price of $0.01 per share. I-Bankers agrees (i) to waive its redemption rights with respect to such shares in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the Representative’s Shares if the Company fails to complete its initial Business Combination and (iii) to vote in favor of the initial Business Combination with respect to such shares if the Company submits the initial Business Combination to the public shareholders for a vote. The Representative agrees by its acceptance of the Representative’s Shares, that it will not: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Representative’s Shares for a period of 180 days following the Effective Date to anyone other than: (i) an underwriter or a selected dealer participating in the Offering, or (ii) an officer, partner, registered person, or affiliate of the Representative or of any such underwriter or selected dealer, in each case in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(e)(1), and (b) cause the Representative’s Shares to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction, for a period of 180 days following the Effective Date, that would result in the effective economic disposition of the Representative’s Shares, except as provided for in FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2). With respect to the registration rights for the Representative’s Shares to be provided to I-Bankers pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined herein), notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, I-Bankers agrees that (i) it shall not have more than one demand registration right at the Company’s expense; (ii) any demand registration right shall not have a duration of more than five years from the commencement of sales of the Offering; and (iii) any piggyback registration right shall not have a duration of more than seven years from the commencement of sales of the Offering.

 

1.3.3.            Delivery and Payment. Delivery and payment for the Representative’s Warrants and Representative’s Shares shall be made on the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as applicable. The Company shall deliver to I-Bankers and/or its designees upon payment therefor, certificates for the Representative’s Warrants and Representative’s Shares in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.

 

1.4.          Private Placement.

 

1.4.1.            Placement Units. Simultaneously with the Closing, FSC Sponsor LLC and Celtic Sponsor VII LLC, an affiliate of Celtic Asset & Equity Partners, Ltd., (the “Co-Sponsors”), I-Bankers and the “anchor investors” (as defined in the Prospectus) shall purchase from the Company pursuant to the Subscription Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.2 hereof) an aggregate of 459,275 units (the “Placement Units”) (of which 59,275 Placement Units will be purchased by I-Bankers) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Placement Unit in a private placement (the “Private Placement”). The Placement Units and the securities underlying the Placement Units are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Placement Securities.” The Placement Units shall be identical to the Units sold in the Offering except that the warrants included in the Placement Units shall be (i) non-redeemable by the Company, and (ii) may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, in each case so long as the warrants continue to be held by the initial purchasers of the Placement Units or their permitted transferees (as described in the Subscription Agreement and the Warrant Agreement (as defined in Section 2.22 hereof)). There will be no placement agent in the Private Placement and no party shall be entitled to a placement fee or expense allowance from the sale of the Placement Securities. I-Bankers agrees not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Placement Securities or Additional Placement Securities, if any, and agrees to waive its redemption and liquidation rights with respect to such the Placement Securities or Additional Placement Securities, if any, pursuant to the terms set forth in that certain Unit Subscription Agreement dated as of the date hereof. Additionally, I-Bankers agrees that it will not: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Placement Securities or Additional Placement Securities, if any, for a period of 180 days following the Effective Date to anyone other than: (i) an underwriter or a selected dealer participating in the Offering, or (ii) an officer, partner, registered person, or affiliate of the Representative or of any such underwriter or selected dealer, in each case in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(e)(1), or (b) cause the Placement Securities or Additional Placement Securities, if any, to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction, for a period of 180 days following the Effective Date, that would result in the effective economic disposition of the Placement Securities or Additional Placement Securities, if any, except as provided for in FINRA Rule 5110(3)(2).

 

 

 

 

1.4.2.            Additional Placement Units. Simultaneously with the Option Closing, I-Bankers shall purchase from the Company pursuant to the Subscription Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.2 hereof) an aggregate of 45,675 units (the “Additional Placement Units”), pro rata with the amount of the Over-allotment Option exercised by the Representative so that at least $10.10 per share of Common Stock sold to the public in the Offering is held in the Trust Account regardless of whether the over-allotment option is exercised in full or part, at a purchase price of $10.00 per Additional Placement Unit in a private placement (the “Additional Private Placement”). The Additional Placement Units and the securities underlying the Additional Placement Units are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Additional Placement Securities.” The Additional Placement Units shall be identical to the Placement Units. There will be no placement agent in the Additional Private Placement and no party shall be entitled to a placement fee or expense allowance from the sale of the Additional Placement Securities.

 

2.            Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows:

 

2.1.          Filing of Registration Statement.

 

2.1.1.            Pursuant to the Act. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333- 260434), including any related preliminary prospectus for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in conformity in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (the “Regulations”) of the Commission under the Act. The conditions for use of Form S-1 to register the Offering under the Act, as set forth in the General Instructions to such form, have been satisfied in all material respects. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement,” and the form of the final prospectus dated the Effective Date included in the Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the form of final prospectus containing information permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule 430A of the Regulations filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Time of Sale”, as used in the Act, means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement and the “Time of Sale Prospectus” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Prospectus dated November 24, 2021, relating to the Offering (the “Preliminary Prospectus”) and (ii) the Time of Sale information, if any, set forth on Schedule B hereto, taken as a whole. If the Company has filed, or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file, a registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act registering the Securities (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Other than a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which, if filed, becomes effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission. All of the Public Securities have been registered under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement or, if any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is filed, will be duly registered under the Securities Act with the filing of such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof. If, subsequent to the date of this Agreement, the Company or the Representative have determined that at the Time of Sale the Prospectus included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and have agreed to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Firm Units to terminate their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase contracts, the Time of Sale Prospectus will be deemed to include any additional information available to purchasers at the time of entry into the first such new purchase contract.

 

 

 

 

2.1.2.            Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File Number 001-41133) providing for the registration under the Exchange Act of the Units, the Common Stock, Warrants and Rights. The registration of the Units, Common Stock, Warrants and Rights under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.

 

2.2.            No Stop Orders, Etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any state regulatory authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or any part thereof, or has instituted or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.

 

2.3.            Disclosures in Registration Statement.

 

2.3.1.            10b-5 Representation. At the time the Registration Statement became effective, upon the filing or first use (within the meaning of the Regulations) of the Prospectus and at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus did or will in all material respects conform to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations. On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. At the Time of Sale, the Time of Sale Prospectus did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Prospectus, as of its date and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty made in this Section 2.3.1 does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. It is understood the following identified statements set forth in the Prospectus under the heading “Underwriting” constitute, for the purposes of this Agreement, information furnished by the Representative with respect to the Underwriters: (i) the table of underwriters in the first paragraph of “Underwriting”, (ii) the first paragraph under the heading “Pricing of This Offering” and (iii) the subsections “Commissions and Discounts,” “Representative Shares,” “Representative Warrants,” and “Regulatory Restrictions on Purchase of Securities”.

 

 

 

 

2.3.2.            Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and none of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a material violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.

 

2.3.3.            Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s formation, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.

 

2.3.4.            Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of Federal, state and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated fairly summarize, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, such effects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

2.4.          Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.

 

2.4.1.            No Material Adverse Change. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or business prospects of the Company; (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) no member of the Company’s board of directors or management has resigned from any position with the Company and (iv) no event or occurrence has taken place which materially impairs, or would likely materially impair, with the passage of time, the ability of the members of the Company’s board of directors or management to act in their capacities with the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

 

 

 

2.4.2.            Recent Securities Transactions, Etc. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.

 

2.5.          Independent Accountants. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, are independent accountants as required by the Act and the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity, the “PCAOB”). To the best of the Company’s knowledge, Grant Thornton is duly registered and in good standing with the PCAOB. Grant Thornton has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.

 

2.6.          Financial Statements; Statistical Data.

 

2.6.1.            Financial Statements. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied throughout the periods involved. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus disclose all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements which are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X which have not been included as so required.

 

2.6.2.            Statistical Data. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

 

2.7.          Authorized Capital; Options, Etc. The Company had at the date or dates indicated in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted stock capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued Common Stock of the Company or any security convertible into Common Stock of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Common Stock or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.

 

 

 

 

2.8.          Valid Issuance of Securities, Etc.

 

2.8.1.            Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The Securities conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. All offers and sales of the outstanding Common Stock were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such Common Stock, exempt from such registration requirements.

 

2.8.2.            Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance. The Common Stock underlying the Units and the Representative’s Shares, when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, the Common Stock underlying the Warrants, when issued upon due exercise thereof and payment of the exercise price therefor in accordance with the terms of the Warrants, and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Rights, when issued upon conversion of the Rights in accordance with the terms thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. The Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate actions required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities have been duly and validly taken. The Securities conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be. When issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, the Units, the Warrants, the Rights and the Representative’s Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment of the respective exercise prices therefor, as applicable, the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such Units, the Warrants, the Rights and Representative’s Warrants, are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

2.8.3.            Placement Securities. The Placement Securities and Additional Placement Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the Placement Securities and Additional Placement Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate actions required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Placement Securities and Additional Placement Securities have been duly and validly taken. When issued, the Placement Units and Additional Placement Units, and all securities thereunder, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment of the exercise price therefor, the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof, and such Placement Units and Additional Placement Units, and the securities thereunder, are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Common Stock underlying the Placement Units and Additional Placement Units (including the Warrants and Rights underlying such securities) have been reserved for issuance and upon the proper exercise of the Warrants and conversion of the Rights ––included in the Placement Units and Additional Placement Units and issuance thereunder, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

 

 

 

2.8.4.            No Integration. Subject to the disclosure contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus with respect to the Placement Securities and Additional Placement Securities, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the Public Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

2.9.          Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.

 

2.10.        Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This Agreement, the Warrant Agreement (as defined in Section 2.22 hereof), the Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.23 hereof), the Trust Agreement, the Subscription Agreements (as defined in Section 2.24.2 hereof), the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.4 hereof) and the Business Combination Marketing Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.5 hereof) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

2.11.        No Conflicts, Etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Rights Agreement, the Representative’s Warrants, the Trust Agreement, the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, and the Registration Rights Agreement, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended; or (iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or business.

 

 

 

 

2.12.        No Defaults; Violations. No material default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any material agreement, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses, except for such violations which would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended.

 

2.13.        Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.

 

2.13.1.            Conduct of Business. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business for the purposes described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The disclosures in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state and local regulation on the Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since its formation, the Company has conducted no business and has incurred no liabilities other than in connection with and in furtherance of the Offering.

 

2.13.2.            Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Rights Agreement, Representative’s Warrants, the Trust Agreement, the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, and the Registration Rights Agreement and as contemplated by the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated by FINRA.

 

2.14.        D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to the Offering (the “Initial Shareholders”) and each of the Company’s officers and directors and provided to the Underwriters is true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the questionnaires completed by each Initial Shareholders, officer or director, to become inaccurate and incorrect.

 

2.15.        Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any Initial Shareholders which has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Questionnaires, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

2.16.        Good Standing. The Company has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

 

 

 

2.17.        No Contemplation of a Business Combination. Prior to the date hereof, none of the Co-Sponsors, the Company, or the Company’s officers or directors had, and as of the Closing, the Co-Sponsors, the Company, and the Company’s officers and directors will not have had: (i) any specific Business Combination under consideration or contemplation; or (ii) any substantive interactions or discussions with any target business regarding a possible Business Combination.

 

2.18.        Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.

 

2.18.1.            Except as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements, letters of intent, engagement letters or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or the Co-Sponsors with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by the FINRA.

 

2.18.2.            The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the 180 day period prior to the initial confidential submission date of the Registration Statement, other than payments to the Representative.

 

2.18.3.            No officer, director, or, to the Company’s knowledge, any beneficial owner of any class of the Company’s securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) is a member, a person associated, or affiliated with a member of FINRA, except as disclosed in FINRA questionnaires completed by such officer, director, or beneficial owner of any class of the Company’s securities and provided to the Underwriters.

 

2.18.4.            No Company Affiliate is an owner of stock or other securities of any member of FINRA (other than securities purchased on the open market).

 

2.18.5.            No Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any member of FINRA.

 

2.18.6.            Except as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus, no proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities (excluding underwriting compensation), the Placement Securities or the Additional Placement Securities will be paid to any FINRA member, or any persons associated or affiliated with a member of FINRA, except as specifically authorized herein.

 

2.18.7.            The Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly to anyone who is a potential underwriter in the Offering or an affiliated or associated person (as defined by FINRA rules) of such an underwriter within the 180-day period prior to the initial confidential submission date of the Registration Statement. No Participating Member (as defined in FINRA Rule 5110(j)(15)) in the Offering has received any underwriting compensation in connection with a public offering that has not been completed according to the terms of an agreement entered into by the Company and a Participating Member in the Offering.

 

 

 

 

2.18.8.           No person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement has any relationship or affiliation or association with any member of the FINRA.

 

2.18.9.           No FINRA member intending to participate in the Offering has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” exists when a member of FINRA and its associated persons, parent or affiliates in the aggregate beneficially own 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding subordinated debt or common equity, or 10% or more of the Company’s preferred equity. “Members participating in the Offering” include managing agents, syndicate group members and all dealers which are members of the FINRA.

 

2.18.10.         Except with respect to the Representative in connection with the Offering, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, any consulting agreement or any other type of agreement) during the 180-day period prior to the initial confidential submission date of the Registration Statement, which arrangement or agreement provides for the receipt of any type of “underwriting compensation” (as defined in FINRA Rule 5110(j)(22) of FINRA’s Conduct Rules and Supplementary Material .01 thereunder) and/or the transfer of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Company to a FINRA member, any person associated with a member (as defined by FINRA rules), any potential underwriters in the Offering and any affiliated or associated persons.

 

2.19.        Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of the Initial Shareholders or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that: (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding; (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a material adverse effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company as reflected in any of the financial statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus; or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company. The Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

2.20.        Patriot Act. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer, director or Initial Shareholder has violated: (i) the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended; (ii) the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended; or (iii) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.

 

2.21.       Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to the Representative’s counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

 

2.22.        Warrant Agreement. The Company has entered into a warrant agreement with respect to the Warrants, including the Warrants underlying the Placement Units and Additional Placement Units, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”).

 

 

 

 

2.23.        Rights Agreement. The Company has entered into a rights agreement with respect to the Rights, including the Rights underlying the Placement Units and Additional Placement Units, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Rights Agreement”).

 

2.24.        Agreements With Officers, Directors and Initial Shareholders.

 

2.24.1.            Insider Letters. The Company has caused to be duly executed legally binding and enforceable agreements (except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification, contribution or non-compete provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought) annexed as exhibits to the Registration Statement (the “Insider Letter”), pursuant to which each of the Co-Sponsors, the officers, directors and Initial Shareholders of the Company agree to certain matters, including but not limited to, certain matters described as being agreed to by them under the “Proposed Business” Section of the Prospectus.

 

2.24.2.            Subscription Agreement. The Co-Sponsors, the anchor investors (as defined in the Prospectus), and I-Bankers each have executed and delivered an agreement, the forms of which are attached as exhibits to the Registration Statement (the “Subscription Agreements”), pursuant to which the parties, among other things, agreed to purchase the number of Placement Units and Additional Placement Units in the Private Placement, as set forth in Section 1.4, and all of the net proceeds from the sale of the Placement Units and Additional Placement Units will be deposited by the Company in the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement prior to the Closing.

 

2.24.3.            [Reserved.].

 

2.24.4.            Registration Rights Agreement. The Company, the Co-Sponsors, the anchor investors (as defined in the Prospectus) and I-Bankers have entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby the parties will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to their securities, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement.

 

2.24.5.            Business Combination Marketing Agreement. The Company and the Representative have entered into a separate business combination marketing agreement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Business Combination Marketing Agreement”).

 

2.25.        Investment Management Trust Agreement. The Company has entered into the Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

2.26.       Administrative Services Agreement. The Company has entered into an administrative services agreement, dated as of December 11, 2020, with Celtic Asset & Equity Partners, Ltd. (the “Services Agreement”), in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

2.27.        Covenants Not to Compete. To the Company’s knowledge, no Initial Shareholder, officer or director of the Company is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect his, her or its ability to be an Initial Shareholder, employee, officer or director of the Company.

 

 

 

 

2.28.        Investments. No more than 45% of the “value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”)) of the Company’s total assets consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income after taxes is derived from, securities other than “Government Securities” (as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act).

 

2.29.        Subsidiaries. The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business entity.

 

2.30.        Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or any Company Affiliate, on the one hand, and any director, officer, shareholder, customer or supplier of the Company or any Company Affiliate, on the other hand, which is required by the Act, the Exchange Act or the Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus which is not so described and described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus. The Company has not extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or officer of the Company.

 

2.31.        No Influence. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Units to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (i) a customer or supplier of the Company or any Company Affiliate to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate; or (ii) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.

 

2.32.        Trading of the Public Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market. As of the Effective Date and the Closing Date, the Public Securities will have been authorized for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market, subject only to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution. No proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would affect, and no event or circumstance has occurred as of the Effective Date which is reasonably likely to affect, the listing of the Public Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

2.33.        Definition of “Knowledge”. As used in this Agreement, the term “knowledge of the Company” (or similar language) shall mean the knowledge of the officers and directors of the Company who are named in the Prospectus, with the assumption that such officers and directors shall have made reasonable and diligent inquiry of the matters presented.

 

3.            Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

 

3.1.         Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company will deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and will not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.

 

 

 

 

3.2.          Federal Securities Laws.

 

3.2.1.            Compliance. During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use all reasonable efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Public Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Public Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary during such period to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

 

3.2.2.            Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.

 

3.2.3.            Exchange Act Registration. For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date, or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Units, Common Stock, Warrants and Rights under the provisions of the Exchange Act. The Company will not deregister the Units, Common Stock, Warrants and Rights under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

3.2.4.            Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. As soon as it is legally required to do so, the Company shall take all actions necessary to obtain and thereafter maintain material compliance with each applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by any other governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency with jurisdiction over the Company.

 

3.2.5.            Blue Sky Filing. Unless the Public Securities are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market or another national securities exchange, the Company, at its expense, will endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with the Representative, at or prior to the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, to qualify the Public Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate, provided that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would be subject to service of general process or to taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in such jurisdiction. In each jurisdiction where such qualification shall be effected, the Company will, unless the Representative agrees that such action is not at the time necessary or advisable, use all reasonable efforts to file and make such statements or reports at such times as are or may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction.

 

3.2.6.            Delivery to Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to each of the several Underwriters, without charge, from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act such number of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents as such Underwriters may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to the Representative two original executed Registration Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference and all original executed consents of certified experts.

 

 

 

 

3.3.           Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective and will notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in Section 3.4 hereof that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, (with respect to the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading. If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.

 

3.4.          Review of Financial Statements. Until the earlier of five (5) years from the Effective Date, or until such earlier date upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent certified public accountants to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the announcement or filing of quarterly financial information, if any.

 

3.5.         Affiliated Transactions.

 

3.5.1.            Business Combinations. The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity which is affiliated with the Co-Sponsors or any of the Company’s officers and directors unless the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions stating the Business Combination is fair to the Company’s shareholders from a financial perspective.

 

3.5.2.            Compensation. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Company shall not pay the Co-Sponsors or any of the Company’s officers and directors or any of their affiliates any fees or compensation from the Company, for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the Offering or the consummation of a Business Combination.

 

3.6.          Secondary Market Trading. In the event the Public Securities are not listed on the Nasdaq Global Market or another national securities exchange, the Company will (i) apply to be included in Mergent, Inc. Manual for a period of five (5) years from the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) take such commercially reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain a secondary market trading exemption for the Company’s securities in such jurisdictions as reasonably requested by the Representative, and (iii) take such other action as may be reasonably requested by the Representative to obtain a secondary market trading exemption in such other states as may be requested by the Representative; provided that no qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would be subject to service of general process or to taxation as a foreign entity doing business in such jurisdiction.

 

3.7.          Financial Public Relations Firm. Promptly after the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination, the Company shall retain a financial public relations firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative for a term to be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative.

 

 

 

 

3.8.          Reports to the Representative.

 

3.8.1.            Periodic Reports, Etc. For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company will furnish to the Representative and its counsel copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission; (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Form 8-K or Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company; (iv) five (5) copies of each Registration Statement; and (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided that the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and its counsel in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this section.

 

3.8.2.            Transfer Sheets. For a period of five (5) years following the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain a transfer, warrant and rights agent acceptable to the Representative (the “Transfer Agent”). In the event the Public Securities are not listed on the Nasdaq Global Market or another national securities exchange, the Company will furnish to the Underwriters at the Company’s sole cost and expense such transfer sheets of the Company’s securities as the Representative may request, including the daily and monthly consolidated transfer sheets of the Transfer Agent and DTC. Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company is an acceptable Transfer Agent to the Representative.

 

3.8.3.            Trading Reports. If the Public Securities are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or any successor trading market) or a market operated by the OTC Market Group Inc. (or similar publisher of quotations), then during such time the Company shall provide to the Representative, at its expense, such reports published by the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTC Market Group Inc. relating to price trading of the Public Securities, as the Representative shall reasonably request. In addition to the requirements of the preceding sentence, for a period of two (2) years from the Closing Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company, at its expense, shall provide Representative a subscription to the Company’s weekly Depository Transfer Company Security Position Reports.

 

3.9.          Disqualification of Form S-1. For a period of seven (7) years from the date hereof, the Company will not take any action or actions which may reasonably be expected to prevent or disqualify the Company’s use of Form S-1 (or other appropriate form) for the registration of the Warrants and the Representative’s Warrants and the securities underlying the Representative’s Warrants under the Act.

 

 

 

 

3.10.        Payment of Expenses.

 

3.10.1.            General Expenses Related to the Offering. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (i) the Company’s legal and accounting fees and disbursements; (ii) the costs of preparing, printing, mailing (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) and delivering the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and final Prospectus contained therein and amendments thereto, post-effective amendments and supplements thereto, this Agreement and related documents, including the cost of all copies thereof and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the Underwriters in quantities as may be required by the Underwriters; (iii) the printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, the Common Stock, Warrants and Rights included in the Units and the Representative’s Warrants, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon; (iv) the qualification of the Public Securities under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws specified by Representative, and fees and disbursements for counsel of Representative’s choice retained for such purpose; (v) filing fees (including SEC filing fees), costs and expenses (including third party expenses and disbursements) incurred in registering the Offering; (vi) fees and expenses incurred in registering the Offering with the FINRA; (vii) fees and disbursements of the registrar and transfer and warrant agent; (viii) the Company’s expenses associated with “due diligence” meetings arranged by the Representative (none of which will be received or paid on behalf of an “underwriter or an affiliated or associated person” as such term is defined in Rule 5110 of FINRA’s Rules); (ix) all costs and expenses associated with “road show” marketing and “due diligence” trips for the Company’s management to meet with prospective investors, including without limitation, all travel, food and lodging expenses associated with such trips; (x) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background checks of the Company’s directors, director nominees and executive officers; all of the Representative’s “road show expenses”; (xi) all of Representative’s legal expenses; and (xii) all other reasonable costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 3.10.1 provided, however, that all such costs and expenses pursuant to this Section 3.10.1 and otherwise which are incurred by the Underwriters shall not exceed $150,000 in the aggregate (less any advances against out-of-pocket expenses, which shall be reimbursable to the extent such out-of-pocket expenses are not actually incurred). The Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the fees and expenses set forth above to be paid by the Company to the Representative and others, as agreed to by the Company in writing.

 

3.10.2.            Fee on Termination of Offering. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, upon termination of the Offering, except as a result of the Representative’s or any Underwriter’s breach or default with respect to any of their obligations described in this Agreement, the Company shall: (A) pay and bear the expenses and fees to be paid and borne by the Company as provided for in Section 3.10.1 above, and (B) reimburse the Representative for the full amount of its accountable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred to such date (which shall include, but shall not be limited to, all fees and disbursements of the Representative’s counsel, travel, lodging and other “road show” expenses, mailing, printing and reproduction expenses, and any expenses incurred by the Representative in conducting its due diligence, including background checks of the Company’s officers and directors), up to an aggregate amount of $150,000, less the amounts previously paid and any amounts previously paid to the Representative in reimbursement for such expenses. If applicable, and solely in the event of a termination of this Offering, the Representative shall refund to the Company any portion of any advance previously received by the Representative which is in excess of the accountable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred to such date by the Representative.

 

3.11.        Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.

 

3.12.        Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth (15th) full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.

 

 

 

 

3.13.        Notice to FINRA.

 

3.13.1.            Business Combination. In the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association) is engaged to assist the Company in its search for a merger candidate or to provide any other merger and acquisition services, the Company will provide the following to FINRA and the Representative prior to the consummation of the Business Combination: (i) complete details of all services and copies of agreements governing such services; and (ii) justification as to why the person or entity providing the merger and acquisition services should not be considered an “underwriter and affiliated or associated person” (as such term is defined in Rule 5110 of FINRA’s Rules) with respect to the Offering. The Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in any proxy or tender offer statement which the Company files in connection with the Business Combination.

 

3.13.2.            Broker/Dealer. In the event the Company intends to register as a broker/dealer, merge with or acquire a registered broker/dealer, or otherwise become a member of FINRA, it shall promptly notify FINRA.

 

3.14.        Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.

 

3.15.        Internal Controls. The Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

3.16.       Accountants. For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated or completes an initial Business Combination, the Company shall retain Grant Thornton or other firm of independent public accountants that is qualified under the PCAOB.

 

3.17.        Form 8-K. The Company shall, on the date hereof, retain its independent public accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company as of the Closing Date (the “Audited Financial Statements”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement, as well as the proceeds from the exercise of the Over-allotment Option if such exercise has occurred on the date of the Prospectus. Within three (3) trading days of the Closing Date, the Company will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Audited Financial Statements.

 

3.18.        FINRA. The Company shall advise FINRA if it is aware that any 10% or greater shareholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the distribution of the Company’s Public Securities.

 

 

 

 

3.19.        Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been done to the reasonable satisfaction to counsel for the Underwriters.

 

3.20.        Investment Company. The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only in “government securities” with specific maturity dates or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act as set forth in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it will be engaged in a business other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.

 

3.21.       Business Combination Announcement. Within four (4) Business Days following the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination, the Company shall cause an announcement (“Business Combination Announcement”) to be issued by a global press release service announcing the consummation of the Business Combination and indicating that the Representative was one of the co-managing underwriters in the Offering and also indicating the name and location of any other financial advisors engaged by the Company as a merger and acquisitions advisor. The Company shall supply the Representative with a draft of the Business Combination Announcement and provide the Representative with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment thereon. The Company will not issue the Business Combination Announcement without the final approval of the Representative, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

3.22.       Reserved.

 

3.23.        Press Releases. The Company agrees that it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without Representative’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), for a period of twenty-five (25) days after the Effective Date.

 

3.24.        Electronic Prospectus. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Representative, at its expense, within one (1) Business Day from the Effective Date, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “Electronic Prospectus” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the other Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Units for at least the period during which a Prospectus relating to the Units is required to be delivered under the Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and the prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative within the period when a prospectus relating to the Units is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Prospectus.

 

 

 

 

3.25.        Reservation of Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable upon (i) exercise of the Warrants (including the Working Capital Warrants and the Warrants underlying the Placement Units and Additional Placement Units), the Rights (including the Rights underlying the Placement Units and Additional Placement Units), and the Representative’s Warrants outstanding from time to time and (ii) the conversion of the Founder Shares into shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

3.26.       Private Placement Proceeds. On or prior to the Closing, the Company shall deposit all of the proceeds from the Private Placement in the Trust Account and shall provide the Representative with evidence of the same.

 

3.27.       No Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation.

 

3.27.1.            Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, the Company covenants and agrees it will not seek to amend or modify its amended and restated certificate of incorporation without the prior approval of its Board of Directors and the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the Common Stock.

 

3.27.2.            The Company acknowledges that the purchasers of the Firm Units and Option Units in this Offering shall be deemed to be third party beneficiaries of this Section 3.27.

 

3.27.3.            The Representative and the Company specifically agree that this Section 3.27 shall not be modified or amended in any way without the approval of at least a majority of the voting power of the Common Stock.

 

3.28.        Financial Printer. The Company shall retain a financial printer, reasonably acceptable to the Representative, for the purpose of facilitating the Company’s EDGAR filings and the printing of the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus.

 

3.29.        Listing on the Nasdaq Global Market. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Public Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market or another national securities exchange until the earlier of five (5) years from the Effective Date or until the Public Securities are no longer registered under the Exchange Act.

 

4.            Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Units, as provided herein, shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following conditions:

 

4.1.          Regulatory Matters.

 

4.1.1.            Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representative, and, at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for the purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of Schiff Hardin LLP.

 

 

 

 

4.1.2.            FINRA Clearance. By the Effective Date, the Representative shall have received a notice of no objection from FINRA as to the terms and arrangements for acting as, and the amount of compensation allowable or payable to, the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.

 

4.1.3.            No Commission Stop Order. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, the Commission has not issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any part thereof, and has not instituted or threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.

 

4.1.4.            No Blue Sky Stop Orders. No order suspending the sale of the Units in any jurisdiction designated by the Representative pursuant to Section 3.3 hereof shall have been issued on either the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be contemplated.

 

4.1.5.            The Nasdaq Global Market. By the Effective Date, the Securities shall have been approved for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.

 

4.2.         Company Counsel Matters.

 

4.2.1.            Closing Date Opinion of Counsel. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions (to include a negative assurance letter) of Haynes and Boone, LLP (“Haynes and Boone”), securities counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and the other Underwriters and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.

 

4.2.2.            Option Closing Date Opinion of Counsel. On each Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of Haynes and Boone, dated each Option Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Representative.

 

4.2.3.            Reliance. In rendering such opinions, such counsels may rely as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to the Underwriters’ counsel if requested.

 

4.3.         Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects (including the nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in subsection 4.3.3 below) to the Representative from Grant Thornton dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any:

 

4.3.1.            Confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable Regulations;

 

4.3.2.            Stating that in their opinion the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Regulations thereunder;

 

 

 

 

4.3.3.            Stating that, on the basis of limited procedures which included a reading of the latest available minutes of the shareholders and board of directors and the various committees of the board of directors, consultations with officers and other employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that: (a) at a date not later than five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, or any decrease in the shareholders’ equity of the Company as compared with amounts shown in the September 30, 2021 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or, if there was any decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease; and (b) during the period from September 30, 2021 (balance sheet date) to a specified date not later than five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any decrease in net earnings or net earnings per share, in each case as compared with the Statement of Operations for the nine month period ended September 30, 2021 included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease;

 

4.3.4.            Stating they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of earnings, statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB) set forth in the letter and found them to be in agreement; and

 

4.3.5.            Statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

4.4.         Officers’ Certificates.

 

4.4.1.            Officers’ Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in Section 4 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

4.4.2.            Secretary’s Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, certifying: (i) that the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement is true and complete, has not been modified and is in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; (iv) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company; and (v) a good standing certificate from the State of Delaware. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.

 

 

 

 

4.5.            No Material Changes. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development that is likely to result in a material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (ii) no action, suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Initial Shareholder before or by any court or federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.

 

4.6.            Delivery of Agreements.

 

4.6.1.            Effective Date Deliveries. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Rights Agreement, all of the Insider Letters, the Subscription Agreements the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Business Combination Marketing Agreement.

 

4.6.2.            Closing Date Deliveries. On the Closing Date, the Company shall have delivered to I-Bankers and its designees executed copies of the Representative’s Warrants and book-entry confirmation representing the Representative’s Shares.

 

 

 

 

5.             Indemnification.

 

5.1.          Indemnification of Underwriters.

 

5.1.1.            General. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and each dealer selected by the Representative that participates in the offer and sale of the Units (each a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter (“Controlling Person”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriters and the Company or between any of the Underwriters and any third party or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other federal, state or local statute, law, rule, regulation or ordinance or at common law or otherwise or under the laws, rules and regulation of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in: (i) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) in any post-effective amendment or amendments or any new registration statement and prospectus in which is included securities of the Company issued or issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Securities; or (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “Application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Units under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any securities exchange; or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Securities to such person as required by the Act and the Regulations, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under Section 3.2 hereof. The Company agrees to promptly notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or Controlling Persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities or in connection with the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus. For purposes of this Section 5, the term Underwriter or Underwriters shall refer to each Underwriter whether acting as an underwriter or as a qualified independent underwriter. The Company agrees to advance, or at the option of the Underwriter or Controlling Person reimburse, each Underwriter or Controlling Person for all expenses as they are incurred in connection with such person’s enforcement of his or its rights under this Agreement.

 

5.1.2.            Procedure. If any action is brought against an Underwriter or Controlling Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 5.1.1, such Underwriter shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of such Underwriter) and payment of actual expenses. Such Underwriter or Controlling Person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such Controlling Person unless: (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action; (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action; or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm (together with local counsel) of attorneys selected by the Underwriter and/or Controlling Person shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Underwriter or Controlling Person shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The advancement, reimbursement, indemnification and contribution obligations of the Company required hereby shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as every liability and expense is incurred and is due and payable, and in such amounts as fully satisfy each and every liability and expense as it is incurred (and in no event later than 10 days following the date of any invoice therefor).

 

 

 

 

5.2.         Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and employees and agents who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to such Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in such Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any such Application, which furnished written information, it is expressly agreed, consists solely of the information described in the last sentence of Section 2.3.1. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters by the provisions of Section 5.1.2.

 

5.3.         Contribution.

 

5.3.1.            Contribution Rights. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act in any case in which: (i) any person entitled to indemnification under this Section 5 makes a claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 5 provides for indemnification in such case; or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5, then, and in each such case, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Underwriters, as incurred, in such proportions that the Underwriters are responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial offering price appearing thereon and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.3.1, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Public Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay in respect of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer and employee of an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriters or the Company, as applicable.

 

5.3.2.            Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen (15) days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“Contributing Party”), notify the Contributing Party of the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the Contributing Party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a Contributing Party or its representative of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen (15) days, the Contributing Party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other Contributing Party similarly notified. Any such Contributing Party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such Contributing Party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5.3 are several and not joint.

 

 

 

 

6.            Default by an Underwriter.

 

6.1.          Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Units or Option Units. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Units or the Option Units, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised, hereunder, and if the number of the Firm Units or Option Units with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Units or Option Units that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Units or Option Units to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.

 

6.2.         Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Units or Option Units. In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 above relates to more than 10% of the Firm Units or Option Units, the Representative may in its discretion arrange for itself or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Units or Option Units to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If, within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Units or Option Units, the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units or Option Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to the Company and the Representative to purchase said Firm Units or Option Units on such terms. In the event the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of the Firm Units or Option Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.10 and 5 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided, however, that if such default occurs with respect to the Option Units, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Units; and provided further that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other several Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

 

6.3.         Postponement of Closing Date. In the event the Firm Units or Option Units to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or Option Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to, or to supplement, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, that in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Securities.

 

7.            Additional Covenants.

 

7.1.         Additional Shares or Options. The Company hereby agrees that until the Company consummates a Business Combination, it shall not issue any Common Stock or any options or other securities convertible into Common Stock, or any class of shares which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.

 

 

 

 

7.2.         Trust Account Waiver Acknowledgments. The Company hereby agrees that it will not commence its due diligence investigation of any operating business or businesses which the Company seeks to acquire (each, a “Target Business”) unless and until such Target Business acknowledges in writing, whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that: (i) it has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $87,870,000 (or $101,050,500 if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) for the benefit of the Public Shareholders, and that (ii) for and in consideration of the Company agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it, such Target Business agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies of the Trust Account (“Claim”) and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Company further agrees that it will use its best efforts, prior to obtaining the services of any vendor, to obtain a written acknowledgment from such vendor, whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that: (i) such vendor has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $87,870,000 (or $101,050,500 if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) for the benefit of the Public Shareholders, and that (ii) for and in consideration of the Company agreeing to engage the services of the vendor, such vendor agrees that it does not have any Claim and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The foregoing letters shall substantially be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and B, respectively.

 

7.3.          Insider Letters. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of any of the Insider Letters or the Subscription Agreements and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, such Insider Letters or the Subscription Agreements without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

7.4.          Certificate of Incorporation. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the Company to be in breach or violation of its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended. Except as provided in Section 3.27, prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will not amend its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

7.5.         Tender Offer Documents, Proxy Materials and Other Information. The Company shall provide counsel to the Representative with copies of all tender offer documents or proxy information and all related material filed with the Commission in connection with a Business Combination concurrently with such filing with the Commission. In addition, the Company shall furnish any other State in which the Offering was registered, such information as may be requested by such State.

 

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

 

 

 

 

7.7.          Presentation of Potential Target Businesses. The Company shall cause the Co-Sponsors and each of the Company’s officers and directors to agree that, in order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, the Co-Sponsors and each of the Company’s officers and directors will present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or company, any suitable opportunity to acquire an operating business, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary obligations the Co-Sponsors and each of the Company’s officers and directors might have.

 

8.            Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. Except as the context otherwise requires, all representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements at the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, and such representations, warranties and agreements of the Underwriters and the Company, including the indemnity agreements contained in Section 5 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any Controlling Person, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Securities to the several Underwriters until the earlier of the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations and the seventh anniversary of the later of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, at which time the representations, warranties and agreements shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.

 

9.            Effective Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof.

 

9.1.          Termination. The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date: (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the Representative’s opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Stock Market or on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor trading market) shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required on the OTC Bulletin Board or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a war or an initiation or increase in major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities markets; or (vi) if any of the Company’s representations, warranties or covenants hereunder are breached; or (vii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such material adverse change in general market conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof, as in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Units or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Units.

 

9.2.          Expenses. In the event this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, except as a result of the Representative’s or any Underwriters’ breach or default with respect to any of its material obligations pursuant to this Agreement, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the obligations of the Company to pay the out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by the Representative related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 3.10 hereof.

 

9.3.          Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way effected by such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.

 

 

 

 

10.           Miscellaneous.

 

10.1.            Notices. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed, delivered by hand or reputable overnight courier or delivered by facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed, by email or by electronic transmission via PDF, and shall be deemed given when so mailed, delivered, emailed, faxed or transmitted (or if mailed, three days after such mailing):

 

If to the Representative:

 

I-Bankers Securities, Inc.

1208 Shady Ln N.

Keller, TX 76248

Attn.: Shelley Leonard, President

Email: shelley@ibsgroup.net

Copy to (which copy shall not be deemed to constitute notice to the Representative):

 

Schiff Hardin LLP

901 K Street NW

Suite 700

Washington, DC 20001

Attn: Ralph V. De Martino, Esq.

Email: rdemartino@schiffhardin.com

Fax: (202) 778-6460

 

If to the Company:

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75204

Attn: Jamie Khurshid, Chief Executive Officer

Email: ceo@finspac.com

Copy to (which copy shall not be deemed to constitute notice to the Company):

 

Haynes and Boone, LLP

2323 Victory Avenue, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75219

Tel: (214) 651-5000

Attn: Matthew L. Fry, Esq.

Email: matt.fry@haynesboone.com

Fax: (214) 651-5940

 

10.2.         Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

 

10.3.        Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

 

 

 

10.4.        Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

10.5.        Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the Controlling Persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained.

 

10.6.        Governing Law, Venue, etc.

 

10.6.1.            This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof. Each of the Representative and the Company (and any individual signatory hereto): (i) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted exclusively in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; (ii) waives any objection which such party may have or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding; and (iii) irrevocably and exclusively consents to the jurisdiction of the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in any such suit, action or proceeding.

 

10.6.2.            Each of the Representative and the Company (and any individual signatory hereto) further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and agrees that service of process upon the Company or any such individual mailed by certified mail to the Company’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company or any such individual in any such suit, action or proceeding, and service of process upon the Representative mailed by certified mail to the Representative’s addresses shall be deemed in every respect effective service process upon the Representative, in any such suit, action or proceeding.

 

10.6.3.            THE COMPANY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS.

 

10.6.4.            The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor.

 

10.7.         Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by fax or email/.pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.

 

 

 

 

10.8.        Waiver, Etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

 

10.9.        No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the Offering. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the Offering, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

 

 

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

 

Very truly yours,

 

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.  
   
   
By: /s/ Jamie Khurshid  
Name: Jamie Khurshid  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  
   
Agreed to and accepted on the date first above written.  
   
I-BANKERS SECURITIES, INC., as Representative of the several Underwriters  
   
   
By: /s/ Shelley Leonard  
Name: Shelley Leonard   
Title: President  

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

 

8,700,000 Units

 

Underwriter   Number of Firm Units to be Purchased
     
I-Bankers Securities, Inc.    
     
TOTAL   8,700,000

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Target Business Letter

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75204

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

 

Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), dated December 9, 2021 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established a “trust account”, initially in an amount of at least $87,870,000 for the benefit of the “public shareholders” and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for interest earned on the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay any taxes it incurs, proceeds in the trust account will not be released until (a) the consummation of a Business Combination, or (b) the dissolution and liquidation of the Company if it is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the allotted time.

 

For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to evaluate the undersigned for purposes of consummating a business combination or other form of acquisition with it, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account (the “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever.

 

____________________________

 

Print Name of Target Business

 

____________________________

 

Authorized Signature of Target Business

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Vendor Letter

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75204

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

 

Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), dated December 9, 2021 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established a “trust account”, initially in an amount of at least $87,870,000 for the benefit of the “public shareholders” and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for interest earned on the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay any taxes it incurs, proceeds in the trust account will not be released until (a) the consummation of a Business Combination, or (b) the dissolution and liquidation of the Company if it is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the allotted time.

 

For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to use the products or services of the undersigned, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account (the “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever.

 

____________________________

 

Print Name of Vendor

 

____________________________

 

Authorized Signature of Vendor

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 1.2

 

I-Bankers Securities, Inc.

1208 Shady Ln N.

Keller, TX 76248

 

December 9, 2021 

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corporation

2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75204

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This is to confirm our agreement whereby Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), has requested I-Bankers Securities, Inc. (the “Advisor”) to serve as the Company’s advisor in connection with the Company effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination (in each case, a “Business Combination”) with one or more businesses (each a “Target”) as described in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260434) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“Registration Statement”) in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”).

 

  1. Services and Fees.

 

(a) The Advisor will, from time to time, upon the Company’s request and in consultation with the Company:

 

  (i) Assist the Company in preparing presentations for each potential Business Combination;

 

  (ii) Assist the Company in arranging meetings with Company stockholders, including making calls directly to stockholders, to discuss each potential Business Combination and each potential Target’s attributes and providing regular market feedback, including written status reports, from these meetings and participate in direct interaction with stockholders, in all cases to the extent legally permissible;

 

  (iii) Introduce the Company to potential investors to purchase the Company’s securities in connection with each potential Business Combination; and

 

  (iv) Assist the Company with the preparation of any press releases and filings related to each potential Business Combination or Target (the activities described in the foregoing clauses (i)-(iv), the “Services”).

 

(b) As compensation for the Services, the Company will pay the Advisor a cash fee equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the IPO. The Fee shall be due and payable at the closing of the Business Combination (“Closing”). If a proposed Business Combination is not consummated for any reason, no Fee shall be due or payable.

 

(c) The Fee shall be exclusive of any finder’s fees which may become payable to the Advisor pursuant to any other agreement between the Advisor and the Company or the Target.

 

  2. Expenses.

 

At the Closing, the Company shall reimburse the Advisor for all reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred by the Advisor (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with the performance of the Services; provided, however, any costs and/or expenses in excess of $5,000 in the aggregate shall be subject to the Company’s prior written approval, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld. The expenses and costs will be charged at cost without markup.

 

 

 

 

  3. Company Cooperation; Information.

 

(a) The Company will provide full cooperation to the Advisor as may be necessary for the efficient performance by the Advisor of its obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, providing to the Advisor and its counsel, on a timely basis, all documents and information regarding the Company and Target that the Advisor may reasonably request or that are otherwise relevant to the Advisor’s performance of its obligations hereunder (collectively, the “Information”); making the Company’s management, auditors, consultants, and advisors available to the Advisor; and, using commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Advisor with reasonable access to the management, auditors, suppliers, customers, consultants and advisors of Target. The Company will promptly notify the Advisor of any change in facts or circumstances or new developments affecting the Company or Target or that might reasonably be considered material to the Advisor’s engagement hereunder.

 

(b) The Advisor agrees to keep strictly confidential all information conveyed by the Company or the Company’s Representatives (as defined below) to the Advisor in connection with this Agreement including, for the avoidance of doubt, the identities of any Targets and any Business Combination, in whatever form, whether written, electronic or oral, and to execute a non-disclosure agreement in customary form reasonably acceptable to the Advisor if requested to do so by the Company.

 

  4. Representations, Warranties, and Covenants.

 

(a) The Company represents, warrants, and covenants to the Advisor that all Information it makes available to the Advisor by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder will not, to the Company’s knowledge, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the date thereof and as of the consummation of the Business Combination. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Advisor will use and rely on the accuracy and completeness of the Information supplied to the Advisor without having the obligation to independently verify the same.

 

(b) The Advisor represents, warrants and covenants to the Company that it is not prohibited from entering into this Agreement by any other contract, agreement, law or order.

 

  5. Indemnity.

 

The Company shall indemnify the Advisor and its affiliates and directors, officers, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents in accordance with the indemnification provisions set forth in Annex I hereto, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Notwithstanding the foregoing and Annex I, the Advisor hereby acknowledges that the Company has established a trust account (the “Trust Account”) containing the proceeds of the IPO and from certain private placements occurring simultaneously with the IPO (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders and certain other parties. For and in consideration of the Company entering into this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Advisor hereby agrees that it does not now and shall not at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any assets held in the Trust Account as a result of entering into this Agreement, and shall not make any claim against the Trust Account as a result of entering into this Agreement, regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (any and all such claims are collectively referred to hereafter as the “Released Claims”). The Advisor hereby irrevocably waives any Released Claims that it may have against the Trust Account now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any of the Services provided to the Company hereunder and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account with respect thereto.

  

  6. Use of Name and Reports.

 

Without the Advisor’s prior written consent, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (nor any director, officer, manager, partner, member, employee, or agent thereof) shall quote or refer to (i) the Advisor’s name or (ii) any advice rendered by the Advisor to the Company or any communication from the Advisor in connection with performance of the Services, except as required by applicable federal or state law, regulation, or securities exchange rule. If the foregoing is required to be disclosed, the Company shall provide Advisor with a draft of such disclosure prior to it being made so that Advisor shall have a reasonable opportunity to comment on such disclosure.

 

 

 

 

  7. Status as Independent Contractor.

 

The Advisor shall perform the Services as an independent contractor and not as an employee of the Company or affiliate thereof. It is expressly understood and agreed to by the parties that the Advisor shall have no authority to act for, represent, or bind the Company or any affiliate thereof in any manner, except as may be expressly agreed to by the Company in writing. In rendering the Services, the Advisor will be acting solely pursuant to a contractual relationship on an arm’s-length basis. This Agreement is not intended to create a fiduciary relationship between the parties and neither the Advisor nor any of the Advisor’s officers, directors or personnel will owe any fiduciary duty to the Company or any other person in connection with any of the matters contemplated by this Agreement.

 

  8. Potential Conflicts.

 

The Company acknowledges that the Advisor is a full-service securities firms engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities and providing investment banking and advisory services from which conflicting interests may arise. In the ordinary course of business, the Advisor and its affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions, and may trade or otherwise effect transactions, for their own account or the accounts of customers, in debt or equity securities of the Company, its affiliates, or other entities that may be involved in the transactions contemplated hereby. Additionally, the Advisor regularly enters into agreements similar to this Agreement with other companies. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit or restrict the Advisor or any of its affiliates in conducting such business.

 

  9. Entire Agreement.

 

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the Company and Advisor with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect thereto. This Agreement may not be modified or terminated orally or in any manner other than by an agreement in writing signed by the Company and the Advisor.

 

  10. Notices.

 

Any notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when mailed by certified mail or private courier service, return receipt requested, addressed to each party at its respective addresses set forth above, or such other address as may be given by a party in a notice given pursuant to this Section.

 

  11. Successors and Assigns.

 

This Agreement may not be assigned by any party without the written consent of the other parties. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and, except where prohibited, to their successors and assigns.

 

  12. Non-Exclusivity.

 

Nothing herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the engagement by the Company of other consultants providing the same or similar services or the payment by the Company of fees to such other consultants. The Company’s engagement of any other consultant(s) shall not affect the Advisor’s right to receive the Fee and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to this Agreement.

 

  13. Applicable Law; Venue.

 

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to conflict of laws. In the event of any dispute under this Agreement, then and in such event, each party hereto agrees that the dispute shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York, County of New York, or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in each event at the discretion of the party initiating the dispute. Each party irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. Each party hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon a party may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth at the beginning of this Agreement. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the party being served in any action, proceeding or claim. The parties agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor.

 

 

 

 

  14. Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Advisor and the Company with respect to the foregoing, please so indicate your agreement by signing in the place provided below, at which time this letter shall become a binding contract.

 

  I-Bankers Securities, Inc.
   
  By:  /s/ Jamie Khurshid
  Name:  Jamie Khurshid
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer

AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY:  
   
Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.  
   
By:  /s/ Shelley Leonard  
Name: Shelley Leonard  
Title:  President  

 

[Signature Page to Business Combination Marketing Agreement]

 

 

 

 

ANNEX I

Indemnification

 

In connection with the Company’s engagement of I-Bankers Securities, Inc. (the “Advisor”) pursuant to that certain letter agreement (“Agreement”) of which this Annex forms a part, Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) hereby agrees, subject to Section 5 of the Agreement, to indemnify and hold harmless the Advisor and its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, shareholders, agents and employees of any of the foregoing (collectively the “Indemnified Persons”), from and against any and all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (including those of shareholders), damages, liabilities and expenses incurred by any of them (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), as incurred, (collectively a “Claim”), that are related to or arise out of the Agreement and any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any Indemnified Person as contemplated by the Agreement or in accordance with and at the Company’s request or with the Company’s consent in connection with the Agreement, and the Company shall advance or reimburse, at the Indemnified Person’s option, any Indemnified Person for all expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) as incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such claim, action, suit or proceeding, in connection with pending or threatened litigation in which any Indemnified Person is a party. The Company will not, however, be responsible for any Claim that is finally judicially determined to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any person seeking indemnification for such Claim. The Company further agrees that no Indemnified Person shall have any liability to the Company for or in connection with the Company’s engagement of the Advisor except for any Claim incurred by the Company as a result of such Indemnified Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

The Company further agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the Advisor, settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened Claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Person is an actual or potential party to such Claim), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional, irrevocable release of each Indemnified Person from any and all liability arising out of such Claim, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

 

Promptly upon receipt by an Indemnified Person of notice of any complaint or the assertion or institution of any Claim with respect to which indemnification is being sought hereunder, such Indemnified Person shall notify the Company in writing of such complaint or of such assertion or institution but failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have hereunder, except and only to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the Company of substantial rights and defenses. If the Company so elects or is requested by such Indemnified Person, the Company will assume the defense of such Claim, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person and the payment of the fees and expenses of such counsel. In the event, however, that legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably determines that having common counsel would present such counsel with a conflict of interest or if the defendant in, or target of, any such Claim, includes an Indemnified Person and the Company, and legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably concludes that there may be legal defenses available to it or other Indemnified Persons different from or in addition to those available to the Company, then such Indemnified Person may employ its own separate counsel to represent or defend him, her or it in any such Claim and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company fails timely or diligently to defend, contest, or otherwise protect against any Claim, the relevant Indemnified Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to defend, contest, compromise, settle, assert crossclaims, or counterclaims or otherwise protect against the same, and shall be fully indemnified by the Company therefor, including without limitation, for the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and all amounts paid as a result of such Claim or the compromise or settlement thereof.

 

In addition, with respect to any Claim in which the Company assumes the defense, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such Claim and to retain his, her or its own counsel therefor at his, her or its own expense.

 

The Company agrees that if any indemnity sought by an Indemnified Person hereunder is held by a court to be unavailable for any reason then (whether or not the Advisor is an Indemnified Person), the Company and the Advisor shall contribute to the Claim for which such indemnity is held unavailable in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and the Advisor on the other, in connection with the Advisor’s engagement referred to above, subject to the limitation that in no event shall the amount of Advisor’s contribution to such Claim exceed the amount of fees actually received by Advisor from the Company pursuant to the Advisor’s engagement hereunder. The Company hereby agrees that the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and the Advisor on the other, with respect to the Advisor’s engagement shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (a) the total value paid or proposed to be paid or received by the Company or its shareholders as the case may be, pursuant to the transaction (whether or not consummated) for which the Advisor is engaged to render services bears to (b) the fee paid or proposed to be paid to the Advisor in connection with such engagement.

 

The Company's indemnity, reimbursement and contribution obligations under this Agreement (a) shall be in addition to, and shall in no way limit or otherwise adversely affect any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at law or at equity and (b) shall be effective whether or not the Company is at fault in any way.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.

 

December 9, 2021

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. The name of the Corporation is “Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.” The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 1, 2020 (the “Certificate”).

 

2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE I

NAME

 

The name of the corporation is Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (the “Corporation”).

 

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

 

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

 

ARTICLE III

REGISTERED AGENT

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19808, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

ARTICLE IV

CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 111,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 110,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”), including (i) 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Class A Common Stock”), and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

  1  

 

 

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

 

Section 4.3 Common Stock.

 

(a) Voting.

 

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

 

(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), 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 of the Corporation on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote.

 

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

 

(b) Class B Common Stock.

 

(i) Shares of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis (the “Initial Conversion Ratio”) (A) at any time and from time to time at the option of the holder thereof and (B) automatically upon the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

(ii) Notwithstanding the Initial Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional shares of Class A Common Stock, or Equity-linked Securities (as defined below), are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts issued in the Corporation’s initial public offering of securities (the “Offering”) and related to the closing of the initial Business Combination, all issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock at the time of the closing of the initial Business Combination at a ratio for which:

 

· the numerator shall be equal to the sum of (A) 25% of all shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable (upon the conversion or exercise of any Equity-linked Securities or otherwise) by the Corporation, related to or in connection with the consummation of the initial Business Combination (excluding any securities issued or issuable to any seller in the initial Business Combination, any private placement warrants (or underlying securities) issued to Emil Assentato upon conversion of loans to the Corporation, and any private placement units (or underlying securities) issued to FSC Sponsor LLC (FSC Sponsor LLC, together with Celtic Sponsor VII LLC, the “Co-Sponsors”) or any of its affiliates upon conversion of loans to the Corporation) plus (B) the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination;

 

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· and the denominator shall be the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

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

 

Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term.

 

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

 

(b) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into two classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I and Class II. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I and Class II. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate and the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate, each of the successors elected to replace the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a two-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors that constitute the Board is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, 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. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Amended and Restated Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.

 

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(c) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

  

(d) Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights with regard to election of directors.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE VI

BYLAWS

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws 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 law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided further, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.

 

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ARTICLE VII

SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.3 Action by Written Consent. Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock and Section 4.3(b)(iii) hereof), subsequent to the consummation of the Offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders other than with respect to our Class B Common Stock with respect to which action may be taken by written consent.

 

ARTICLE VIII

LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

 

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

 

Section 8.2 Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.

 

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

 

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

 

(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

 

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

 

ARTICLE IX

BUSINESS COMBINATION REQUIREMENTS; EXISTENCE

 

Section 9.1 General.

 

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

 

(b) Immediately after the Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 22, 2021, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes (less up to $100,000 interest to pay dissolution expenses), none of the funds held in the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares (as defined below) if the Corporation is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within 12 months from the closing of the Offering (or, if the Office of the Delaware Division of Corporations shall not be open for business (including filing of corporate documents) on such date the next date upon which the Office of the Delaware Division of Corporations shall be open), which may be extended pursuant to Section 9.2(c) (the “Deadline Date”) and (iii) the redemption of shares in connection with a vote seeking to amend any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation does not complete its initial Business Combination by the Deadline Date or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in Section 9.7) and, for purposes of this clause (iii), only with respect to the redemption of those Offering Shares that a stockholder properly elects to redeem. Holders of shares of Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering (the “Offering Shares”) (whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are the Co-Sponsors or officers or directors of the Corporation, or affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred to herein as “Public Stockholders.

 

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(c) In the event that the Corporation has not consummated a Business Combination within 12 months from the consummation of the Offering, the Board of Directors may extend the Deadline Date (i) up to two times, each by an additional three months for an aggregate of six additional months (or, if the Office of the Delaware Division of Corporations shall not be open for business (including filing of corporate documents) on such date the next date upon which the Office of the Delaware Division of Corporations shall be open), provided that, for each such extension, the Co-Sponsors (or their designees) must deposit into the Trust Account $720,000 (or up to $828,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) per extension in exchange for a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note. The gross proceeds from the issuance of such promissory notes will be added to the offering proceeds in the Trust Account and shall be used to fund the redemption of the Offering Shares in accordance with this Section 9.

 

Section 9.2 Redemption Rights.

 

(a) Prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall provide all holders of Offering Shares with the opportunity to have their Offering Shares redeemed upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of, Sections 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) (such rights of such holders to have their Offering Shares redeemed pursuant to such Sections, the “Redemption Rights”) hereof for cash equal to the applicable redemption price per share determined in accordance with Section 9.2(b) hereof (the “Redemption Price”); provided, however, that the Corporation will only redeem Offering Shares so long as (after such redemption) such redemption would the Corporation’s net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (or any successor rule)), or of any entity that succeeds the Corporation as a public company, will be at least $5,000,001 or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to the initial Business Combination either immediately prior to or upon consummation of the initial Business Combination (such limitation hereinafter called the “Redemption Limitation”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, there shall be no Redemption Rights or liquidating distributions with respect to any warrant issued pursuant to the Offering.

 

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

 

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

 

(d) In the event that the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination by the Deadline Date, the Corporation shall (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay taxes (less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 9.3 Distributions from the Trust Account.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 9.4 Share Issuances. Prior to the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall not issue any additional shares of capital stock of the Corporation that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the Trust Account or vote on any initial Business Combination, or vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate.

 

Section 9.5 Transactions with Affiliates. In the event the Corporation enters into an initial Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with the Co-Sponsors, or the directors or officers of the Corporation, the Corporation, or a committee of the independent directors of the Corporation, shall obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such Business Combination is fair to the Corporation from a financial point of view.

 

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

 

Section 9.7 Additional Redemption Rights. If, in accordance with Section 9.1(a), any amendment is made to this Amended and Restated Certificate (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination by the Deadline Date or (ii) with respect to any other provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Corporation’s ability to provide such redemption opportunity is subject to the Redemption Limitation.

 

Section 9.8 Minimum Value of Target. So long as the Corporation is listed on a national securities exchange, the Corporation’s initial Business Combination must occur with one or more operating businesses or assets having an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount held in, and taxes payable on the income earned on, the Trust Account) at the time of the Corporation’s signing a definitive agreement in connection with its initial Business Combination.

 

ARTICLE X

CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

 

To the extent allowed by law, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Amended and Restated Certificate or in the future, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that any of the directors or officers of the Corporation will offer any such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to the Corporation, except, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall apply with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation with respect to a corporate opportunity that was offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and (i) such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue and (ii) to the extent that the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to the Corporation without violating another legal obligation.

 

ARTICLE XI

AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

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

 

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ARTICLE XII

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION

 

Section 12.1 Forum.

 

(a) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 12.1 shall not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Additionally, unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933 against us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or agents. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions.

 

Section 12.2 Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 12.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 12.1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

Section 12.3 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article XII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 12.4 Deemed Notice. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article XII.

 

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

 

  Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.
     
  By: /s/ Jamie Khurshid
    Name: Jamie Khurshid
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

 

   

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

WARRANT AGREEMENT

 

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 9, 2021, is by and between Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent,” also referred to herein as the “Transfer Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in an initial public offering (the “Offering”) of units of the Company’s equity securities (the “Units”), each such Unit comprised of one share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), one redeemable Public Warrant (as defined below) and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of Common Stock (the “Rights”), and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 8,700,000 warrants (or up to 10,005,000 warrants if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) to public investors in the Offering (the “Public Warrants”); and

 

WHEREAS, on December 9, 2021, the Company entered into that certain Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement with FSC Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Celtic Sponsor VII LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, I-Bankers Securities, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Representative”), Sixth Borough Capital Fund LP, a Delaware limited partnership (and certain members of its general partner), Eagle Point Credit Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Greentree Financial Group Inc., a Florida corporation and Sea Otter Securities Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the “Private Investors”), pursuant to which the Private Investors agreed to purchase an aggregate of 459,275 units, or 504,950 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full (the “Private Placement Units”), which Private Placement Units include 459,275 underlying warrants, or 504,950 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full (the “Private Placement Warrants”), simultaneously with the closing of the Offering at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, and in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 459,275 Private Placement Warrants (or 504,950 Private Placement Warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) underlying the Private Placement Units bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Offering, the Company has agreed to issue and deliver to the Representative 696,000 warrants, or 800,400 warrants if the Representative’s over-allotment option is exercised in full (the “Representative Warrants”), bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit C hereto; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination (as defined below), the Private Investors or affiliates of the Private Investors or certain of the Company’s executive officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan to the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 150,000 units (the “Working Capital Units”) at a price of $10.00 per unit, which Working Capital Units would each include one underlying warrant, for an aggregate of up to an additional 150,000 warrants (the “Working Capital Warrants”); and

 

WHEREAS, following consummation of the Offering, the Company may issue additional warrants (“Post-IPO Warrants”; together with the Private Placement Warrants, the Representative Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants and the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”) in connection with, or following the consummation by the Company of, a Business Combination (defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-260434 (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Units, the Public Warrants, the Rights, the Common Stock included in the Units, the Representative Warrants and the Common Stock to be issued to the Representative; and

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2. Warrants.

 

2.1 Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall be issued in registered form only, and, if a physical certificate is issued, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

 

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

 

2.3 Registration.

 

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

 

If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificate”). Such Definitive Warrant Certificate shall be in substantially the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as provided above.

 

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

 

 

 

 

2.4 Detachability of Warrants. The Common Stock, Rights and Public Warrants comprising the Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “Business Day”), then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “Detachment Date”) with the consent of the Representative, as representative of the several underwriters, but in no event shall the Common Stock, the Public Warrants and the Rights comprising the Units be separately traded until the Company has filed a current report on Form 8-K with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering and the Company issues a press release announcing when such separate trading shall begin.

 

2.5 No Fractional Warrants Other Than as Part of Units. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants. If, upon the detachment of Public Warrants from Units, upon the detachment of Private Placement Warrants from Private Placement Units or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number the number of Warrants to be issued to such holder.

 

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

 

(a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate of a Private Investor or to any member(s) of a Private Investor;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to consummation of the Company’s Business Combination; or

 

(g) by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware or a Private Investor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of such Private Investor;

 

providedhowever, that, in the case of clauses (a) through (e) or (g), these transferees (the “Permitted Transferees”) enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Agreement.

 

2.7 Representative Warrants. The Representative Warrants shall have the same terms, and be in the same form, as the Public Warrants except as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative.

 

 

 

 

2.8 Working Capital Warrants. The Working Capital Warrants shall be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.

 

2.9 Post-IPO Warrants. The Post-IPO Warrants, when and if issued, shall have the same terms and be in the same form as the Public Warrants except as may be agreed upon by the Company.

 

3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.1 Warrant Price. Each Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1; provided, however, that the Representative Warrants shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein at the price of $12.00 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price of all Warrants other than the Representative Warrants at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days; provided, however, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided, further, that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants.

 

3.2 Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) commencing on the later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), or (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the Offering, and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of: (x) the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, (y) the liquidation of the Company, or (z) other than with respect to the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants to the extent then held by the original purchasers thereof or their Permitted Transferees or with respect to the Representative Warrants, the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.2 hereof (the Expiration Date”); providedhowever, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below with respect to an effective registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Representative Warrants may not be exercised following the fifth anniversary of the commencement date of sales in the Offering. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined below) (other than with respect to a Representative Warrant or a Private Placement Warrant or a Working Capital Warrant) to the extent then held by the original purchasers thereof or their Permitted Transferees in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each outstanding Warrant (other than a Representative Warrant or a Private Placement Warrant or a Working Capital Warrant to the extent then held by the original purchasers thereof or their Permitted Transferees in the event of a redemption) not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided, however, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided, further, that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

 

3.3 Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.3.1 Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, the Warrants to be exercised (the “Book-Entry Warrants”) on the records of the Depositary to an account of the Warrant Agent at the Depositary designated for such purposes in writing by the Warrant Agent to the Depositary from time to time, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, properly delivered by the Participant in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures, and (iii) payment in full of the Warrant Price with lawful money of the United States for each full share of Common Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the shares of Common Stock and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock, as follows:

 

(a) by certified check payable to the order of the Warrant Agent or by wire transfer;

 

 

 

 

(b) in the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6 hereof in which the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) has elected to require all holders of the Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the Warrant Price and the “Fair Market Value”, as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b) by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.3, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average last sale price of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the Warrants, pursuant to Section 6 hereof;

 

(c) with respect to any Representative Warrant or Private Placement Warrant or Working Capital Warrant, so long as such Representative Warrant or Private Placement Warrant or Working Capital Warrant is held by, with respect to the Private Placement Warrant or Working Capital Warrant, one of the Private Investors or its Permitted Transferees, as applicable, or with respect to the Representative Warrant, the Representative (or its designees), by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the Warrant Price and the “Fair Market Value”, as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(c), by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(c), the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent; or

 

(d) as provided in Section 7.4 hereof.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

4. Adjustments.

 

4.1 Stock Dividends.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

4.3 Adjustments in Exercise Price.

 

4.3.1 Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

 

4.3.2 If (i) the Company issues additional shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Common Stock, with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Board (and in the case of any such issuance to a Private Investor or its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by such holder or affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “New Issuance Price”), (ii) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation thereof (net of redemptions) and (iii) the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates the initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the greater of the Market Value and the New Issuance Price and the Redemption Trigger Price (as defined below) shall be adjusted to equal to 180% of the greater of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price; provided, however, that no adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 4.3.2 with respect to any Representative Warrants.

 

 

 

 

4.4 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change under subsections 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or conversion of the Company as another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance” ); provided, however, that in connection with the closing of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, the successor or purchasing entity shall execute an amendment hereto with the Warrant Agent providing for delivery of such Alternative Issuance; providedfurther, that (i) if the holders of the Common Stock were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Common Stock in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and (ii) if a tender, exchange or redemption offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of the Common Stock (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the Company as provided for in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as a result of the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the stockholders of the Company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such Warrant holder had exercised the Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Common Stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 4providedfurther, that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Common Stock in the applicable event is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) (but in no event less than zero) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The “Black-Scholes Warrant Value” means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for a Capped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (1) Section 6 of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (2) the price of each share of Common Stock shall be the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (3) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event, and (4) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “Per Share Consideration” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Common Stock consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per share of Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the amount of cash per share of Common Stock, if any, plus the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in shares of Common Stock covered by subsection 4.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.24.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event will the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of the Warrant.

 

 

 

 

4.5 Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.14.24.3 or 4.4, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

4.9 No Adjustment. For the avoidance of doubt, no adjustment shall be made to the terms of the Warrants solely as a result of an adjustment to the conversion ratio of the Company’s Class B common stock (the “Class B Common Stock”) into shares of Common Stock or the conversion of the shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Common Stock, in each case, pursuant to the Company’s Charter, as amended from time to time.

 

5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

 

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

 

 

 

 

5.2 Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; providedhowever, that except as otherwise provided herein or in any Book-Entry Warrant Certificate or Definitive Warrant Certificate, each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate and Definitive Warrant Certificate may be transferred only in whole and only to the Depositary, to another nominee of the Depositary, to a successor depositary, or to a nominee of a successor depositary; provided furtherhowever, that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants), the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

5.7 Transfer of Representative Warrants. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), the Representative Warrants may not be 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 the Representative Warrants (or the Common Stock underlying the Representative Warrants) for a period of 180 days beginning on the date of the commencement of sales in the Offering, subject to certain exceptions pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2).

 

6. Redemption.

 

6.1 Redemption. Subject to Section 6.4 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.2 below, at the price of $0.01 per Warrant (the Redemption Price), provided, that the last reported sales price of the Common Stock has been at least $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof) (the Redemption Trigger Price), on each of twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third Business Day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given and provided, that there is an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.2 below) or the Company has elected to require the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1; provided, however, that if and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may not exercise such redemption right if the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or the Company is unable to effect such registration or qualification.

 

 

 

 

6.2 Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event that the Company elects to redeem all of the Warrants, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date (the “30-day Redemption Period”) to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice.

 

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

 

6.4 Exclusion of Representative Warrants and Private Placement Warrants and Working Capital Warrants. The Company agrees that the redemption rights provided in this Section 6 shall not apply to the Representative Warrants or the Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants if, with respect to the Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants, at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants continue to be held by one of the Private Investors or its Permitted Transferees, as applicable. However, with respect to the Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants, once such Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants are transferred (other than to Permitted Transferees under Section 2.6), the Company may redeem the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants, provided, that the criteria for redemption are met, including the opportunity of the holder of such Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants to exercise the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants prior to redemption pursuant to Section 6.3. Private Placement Warrants and Working Capital Warrants that are transferred to persons other than Permitted Transferees shall upon such transfer cease to be Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants and shall become Public Warrants under this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 6.4 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

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

 

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

 

7.2 Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.

 

8.1 Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares of Common Stock.

 

8.2 Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.

 

8.2.1 Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

8.3 Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

8.4 Liability of Warrant Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

9. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

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

 

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

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75204

Attention: Jamie Khurshid

 

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

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Attention: Compliance Department

 

9.3 Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction. The Company hereby waives any objection to such jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

9.4 Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants and, for purposes of Sections 7.4, 9.4 and 9.8, the Representative, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and, for purposes of Sections 7.4, 9.4 and 9.8, the Representative, and its successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

 

 

 

 

9.5 Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.

 

9.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

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

 

9.8 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder (i) for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any mistake, including to confirm the provisions of this Agreement to the description of the terms of the Warrants and this Agreement set forth in the Prospectus, or any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Registered Holders, and (ii) to provide for the delivery of Alternative Issuance pursuant to Section 4.4. All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Public Warrants. Any amendment solely to the Private Placement Warrants, the Representative Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants shall require the vote or written consent of a majority of the holders of the then outstanding Private Placement Warrants, the Representative Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

 

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

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

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

 

  FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Jamie Khurshid 
  Name: Jamie Khurshid
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
   
  By: /s/ Douglas Reed 
  Name: Douglas Reed 
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[FACE]

 

Number

 

Warrants

 

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

 

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.

Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Delaware

 

CUSIP 31772T 115

 

Warrant Certificate

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

 

 

 

  FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:                      
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

 

 

 

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[Reverse]

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

Election to Purchase

 

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

 

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

 

In the event that the Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6 of the Warrant Agreement and the Company has required cashless exercise pursuant to Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

Date:                      , 20  
  (Signature)
   
   
   
   
  (Address)
   
   
  (Tax Identification Number)
   
Signature Guaranteed:  
   
   
   

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)).

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

LEGEND

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

REPRESENTATIVE WARRANTS LEGEND

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER PURSUANT TO FINRA RULE 5110(E)(1).

 

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

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of December 9, 2021, by and between Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Rights Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a public offering (the “Public Offering”) of 8,700,000 units (the “Public Units”) of the Company (and up to 1,305,000 additional Public Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), each Public Unit consisting of one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), one right to receive one-tenth of one share of Common Stock upon the happening of the triggering event described herein (the “Public Right”), and one warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock (the “Public Warrant”);

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the Public Offering, FSC Sponsor LLC, Celtic Sponsor VII LLC, Sea Otter Securities Group LLC, Sixth Borough Capital Fund LP (and certain members of its general partner), Eagle Point Credit Management LLC, Greentree Financial Group Inc. and I-Bankers Securities, Inc. (collectively, the “Subscribers”) will be purchasing up to 459,275 private units (“Private Units”) at $10.00 per Private Unit (for a total purchase price of $4,592,750), with each Private Unit consisting of one share of Common Stock, one right to receive one-tenth of one share of Common Stock upon the happening of the triggering event described herein (the “Private Right”), and one warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock (the “Private Warrant”); the Subscribers have also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, they will purchase up to a maximum of an additional 45,675 Private Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit (for a total additional purchase price of $456,750);

 

WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation), FSC Sponsor LLC, Celtic Sponsor VII LLC, an affiliate of FSC Sponsor LLC or Celtic Sponsor VII LLC or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may loan to the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units (the “Working Capital Units,” and collectively with the Public Units and the Private Units, the “Units”), each consisting of one share of Common Stock, one warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock (the “Working Capital Warrants”) and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of Common Stock upon an initial business combination (the “Working Capital Rights,” and collectively with the Public Rights and the Private Rights, the “Rights”), at a price of $10.00 per Working Capital Unit;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-260434 (the “Registration Statement”), and related Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of, among other securities, the Rights and the shares of Common Stock issuable to the holders of the Rights;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

   

 

 

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

 

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

 

2. Rights.

 

2.1. Form of Right. Each Right shall be issued in registered form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Right shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Right before such Right is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

 

2.2. Effect of Countersignature. Unless and until countersigned by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Right shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exchanged for shares of Common Stock.

 

2.3. Registration.

 

2.3.1. Right Register. The Rights Agent shall maintain books (the “Right Register”) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Rights. Upon the initial issuance of the Rights, the Rights Agent shall issue and register the Rights in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Rights Agent by the Company.

 

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

 

2.4. Detachability of Rights. Each of the securities comprising the Units will begin to trade separately on (i) the 52nd day after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or (ii) such earlier date as I-Bankers Securities, Inc., as representative of the underwriters, shall determine is acceptable (such date, the “Detachment Date”). In no event will separate trading of the securities comprising the Units commence until the Company (i) files a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC including an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering and (ii) issues a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Upon the Detachment Date, holders of Units will have the option to continue to hold Units or separate their Units into the component pieces.

 

3. Terms and Exchange of Rights

 

3.1. Rights. Each Right shall entitle the holder thereof to receive one-tenth of one share of Common Stock upon the happening of an Exchange Event (defined below). No additional consideration shall be paid by a holder of Rights in order to receive his, her or its shares of Common Stock upon an Exchange Event as the purchase price for such shares of Common Stock has been included in the purchase price for the Units. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights or issue fractional shares of Common Stock.

 

3.2. Exchange Event. An “Exchange Event” shall occur upon the Company’s consummation of an initial Business Combination.

 

   

 

 

3.3. Exchange of Rights.

 

3.3.1. Issuance of Shares of Common Stock. As soon as practicable upon the occurrence of an Exchange Event, the Company shall direct holders of the Rights to return their Rights Certificates to the Rights Agent. Upon receipt of a valid Rights Certificate, the Company shall issue to the registered holder of such Right(s) the number of full shares of Common Stock to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it and issue to such registered holder(s) a certificate or book-entry position for such shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights. The Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exchange of Rights. In the event that any holder would otherwise be entitled to any fractional share upon exchange of Rights, at the time of an Exchange Event, the Company will instruct the Rights Agent how any such entitlement will be addressed. To the fullest extent permitted by the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation the Company reserves the right to deal with any such fractional entitlement at the relevant time in any manner permitted by the Act and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which would include the rounding down of any entitlement to receive shares of Common Stock to the nearest whole share (and in effect extinguishing any fractional entitlement), or the holder being entitled to hold any remaining fractional entitlement (without any share being issued) and to aggregate the same with any future fractional entitlement to receive shares in the Company until the holder is entitled to receive a whole number. Any rounding down and extinguishment may be done with or without any in lieu cash payment or other compensation being made to the holder of the relevant Rights, such that value received on exchange of the Rights may be considered less than the value that the holder would otherwise expect to receive.

 

3.3.2. Valid Issuance. All shares of Common Stock issued upon an Exchange Event in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

3.3.3. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any such certificate or book-entry position for shares of Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date of the Exchange Event, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate or entry of position.

 

3.3.4 Company Not Surviving Following Exchange Event. Upon an Exchange Event in which the Company does not continue as the publicly held reporting entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of Rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the shares of Common Stock will receive in such transaction, for the number of shares such holder is entitled to pursuant to Section 3.3.1 above. If the Company does not continue as the publicly held reporting entity upon an Exchange Event, each holder of a Right will be required to affirmatively convert his/her or its rights in order to receive the one-tenth of one share underlying each right (without paying any additional consideration) upon consummation of the Exchange Event. In such a case, each holder of a Right will be required to indicate his, her or its election to convert the Rights into underlying shares of Common Stock as well as to return the original certificates evidencing the Rights to the Company.

 

3.5 Duration of Rights. If an Exchange Event does not occur within the time period set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, the Rights shall expire and shall be worthless.

 

4. Transfer and Exchange of Rights.

 

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

 

4.2. Procedure for Surrender of Rights. Rights may be surrendered to the Rights Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Rights Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Rights as requested by the registered holder of the Rights so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Rights; provided, however, that in the event that a Right surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend and the new Rights to be issued will not bear a restrictive legend, the Rights Agent shall not cancel such Right and issue new Rights in exchange therefor until the Rights Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating no restrictive legend is required.

 

4.3. Fractional Rights. The Rights Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the issuance of a Right Certificate for a fraction of a Right.

 

   

 

 

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

 

4.5. Adjustments to Conversion Ratios. The number of shares of Common Stock that the holders of Rights are entitled to receive as a result of the occurrence of an Exchange Event shall be equitably adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share split, reverse share split, share dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to the shares of Common Stock occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the Exchange Event.

 

4.6. Right Execution and Countersignature. The Rights Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Rights required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4, and the Company, whenever required by the Rights Agent, will supply the Rights Agent with Rights duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

5. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Rights.

 

5.1. No Rights as Stockholder. Until the exchange of a Right for shares of Common Stock as provided for herein, a Right does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of the meetings of stockholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

5.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Rights. If any Right is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Rights Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Right, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Right of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Right so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Right shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Right shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

 

5.3. Reservation of Shares of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exchange of all outstanding Rights issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

6. Concerning the Rights Agent and Other Matters.

 

6.1. Payment of Taxes. The Company will from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Rights Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exchange of Rights, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Rights or such shares of Common Stock.

 

6.2. Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Rights Agent.

 

6.2.1. Appointment of Successor Rights Agent. The Rights Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Rights Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Rights Agent in place of the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Rights Agent or by the holder of the Right (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Right for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Right may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Rights Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Rights Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Rights Agent with like effect as if originally named as Rights Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Rights Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Rights Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Rights Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Rights Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Rights Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

 

   

 

 

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

 

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

 

6.3. Fees and Expenses of Rights Agent.

 

6.3.1. Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Rights Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Rights Agent hereunder and will reimburse the Rights Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Rights Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

 

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

 

6.4. Liability of Rights Agent.

 

6.4.1. Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer and delivered to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

6.4.2. Indemnity. The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. Subject to Section 6.6 below, the Company agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in the execution of this Agreement except as a result of the Rights Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith.

 

6.4.3. Exclusions. The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Right (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will when issued be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.

 

6.5. Acceptance of Agency. The Rights Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

 

6.6 Waiver. The Rights Agent hereby waives any right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Rights Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

   

 

 

7. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

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

 

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

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75204

 

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

 

Haynes and Boone, LLP

2323 Victory Ave, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75219

Attn: Matthew L. Fry, Esq.

 

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

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

 

One State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Compliance Department

 

7.3. Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Rights shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws. Subject to applicable law, the Company and the Rights Agent hereby agree that any action, proceeding or claim against either of them arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Rights Agent hereby waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum, or any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Act against us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or agents. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Rights shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 7.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any Rights holder, such Rights holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such Rights holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such Rights holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such Rights holder.

 

   

 

 

7.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the registered holders of the Rights and any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the registered holders of the Rights.

  

7.5. Examination of the Right Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Rights Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the registered holder of any Right. The Rights Agent may require any such holder to submit his, her or its Right for inspection by it.

 

7.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

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

 

7.8 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any registered holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the registered holders. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent or vote of the registered holders of a majority of the then outstanding Rights.

 

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

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

   

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.

 

  FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Jamie Khurshid 
  Name: Jamie Khurshid
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
     
  By: /s/ Douglas Reed 
  Name: Douglas Reed 
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Rights Agreement]

 

   

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of December 9, 2021 by and between Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Trustee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, No. 333-260434 (“Registration Statement”) for its initial public offering of securities (“IPO”) has been declared effective as of the date hereof (“Effective Date”) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Registration Statement);

 

WHEREAS, I-Bankers Securities, Inc. (the “Representative”) is acting as representative of the underwriters in the IPO;

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the IPO, FSC Sponsor LLC, Celtic Sponsor VII LLC, Sea Otter Securities Group LLC, Sixth Borough Capital Fund LP (and certain members of its general partner), Eagle Point Credit Management LLC, Greentree Financial Group Inc. and I-Bankers Securities, Inc. (collectively, the “Subscribers”) will be purchasing up to 459,275 private units (“Private Units”) at $10.00 per Private Unit (for a total purchase price of $4,592,750); the Subscribers have also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, they will purchase up to a maximum of an additional 45,675 Private Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Unit (for a total additional purchase price of $456,750);

 

WHEREAS, as described in the Registration Statement, and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Charter”), an aggregate of $87,870,000 of the gross proceeds of the IPO and sale of the Private Units ($101,050,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Company’s shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock,” and together with the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, “Common Stock”), issued in the IPO as hereinafter provided (the proceeds to be delivered to the Trustee will be referred to herein as the “Property;” the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Shareholders,” and the Public Shareholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $3,045,000, or $3,501,750 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, is attributable to marketing services that may become payable by the Company to the Representative upon the consummation of an initial business combination (as described in the Registration Statement) (the “Marketing Fee”); and

 

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

 

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(c) In a timely manner, upon the instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property (i) in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), having a maturity of 185 days or less and/or (ii) in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in U.S. treasuries, as determined by the Company, it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while the account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder; while the account funds are invested or uninvested, the Trustee may earn bank credits and other consideration;

 

 

 

 

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

 

(e) Notify the Company and the Representative of all communications received by it with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;

 

(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company in connection with the Company’s preparation of its tax returns;

 

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

 

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

 

(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (“Termination Letter”), in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or Chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) or other authorized officer of the Company, and, in the case of a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, acknowledged and agreed to by the Representative, complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein; provided, however, that in the event that a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee by the 12-month anniversary of the closing of the IPO (the “Closing”) or, in the event that the Company extended the time to complete the Business Combination for up to 18 months from the Closing but has not completed the Business Combination within such 18-month period, the 18-month anniversary of the Closing (as applicable, the “Applicable Deadline”), the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B hereto and including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), distributed to the Public Shareholders as of the Applicable Deadline.

 

(j) Upon receipt of an extension letter (“Extension Letter”) substantially similar to Exhibit D hereto at least five business days prior to the Applicable Deadline, signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer, and receipt of the dollar amount specified in the Extension Letter on or prior to the Applicable Deadline, to follow the instructions set forth in the Extension Letter.

 

(k) Not disburse any amounts from the Trust Account in connection with a Business Combination in the event that the amount per share to be received by the redeeming Public Shareholders is less than $10.10 per share (plus the amount per share deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to any Extension Letter).

 

(l) In connection with a Business Combination, before making disbursements to the Depository Trust Company, the Company or any other person, disburse the per share amount to redeeming Public Shareholders (other than shares tendered through the Depository Trust Company) that have tendered their shares directly to the Trustee.

 

2. Limited Distributions of Income from Trust Account.

 

(a) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C, the Trustee shall distribute to the Company the amount of interest income earned on the Trust Account requested by the Company to cover any income or other tax obligations owed by the Company.

 

 

 

 

(b) The limited distributions referred to in Section 2(a) above shall be made only from income collected on the Property. Except as provided in Section 2(a), no other distributions from the Trust Account shall be permitted except in accordance with Section 1(i) hereof.

 

(c) The Company shall provide the Representative with a copy of any Termination Letters and/or any other correspondence that it issues to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after such issuance.

 

(d) If applicable, the Company shall issue a press release at least three days prior to the Applicable Deadline announcing that, at least five days prior to the Applicable Deadline, the Company received notice from the Company’s sponsor or its affiliates or designees that the sponsor or its affiliates or designees intend to extend the Applicable Deadline.

 

(e) Promptly following the Applicable Deadline, disclose whether or not the term the Company has to consummate a Business Combination has been extended.

 

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

 

(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer. In addition, except with respect to its duties under paragraphs 1(i) and 2(a) above, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it in good faith believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing.

 

(b) Subject to the provisions of Sections 5 and 7(h) of this Agreement, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against, any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the Trustee in connection with any claim, potential claim, action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any income earned from investment of the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this paragraph, it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”); provided, however, that the Trustee’s failure to provide such notice shall not relieve the Company of its liability hereunder, except to the extent that it is materially prejudiced by such failure. The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim, provided, that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel.

 

(c) Pay the Trustee an initial acceptance fee, an annual fee and a transaction processing fee for each disbursement made pursuant to Section 2(a) as set forth on Schedule A hereto, which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees and further agreed that any fees owed to the Trustee shall be deducted by the Trustee from the disbursements made to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i) solely in connection with the consummation of the Company’s initial acquisition, share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of, or any other similar business combination with, one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”). The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and first year’s fee at the consummation of the IPO and thereafter on the anniversary of the Effective Date. Except as set forth in this Section 3(c) and Section 3(b) hereof, the Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee.

 

 

 

 

(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding a Business Combination, provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of a firm regularly engaged in the business of soliciting proxies and/or tabulating shareholder votes verifying the vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding such Business Combination.

 

(e) In the event that the Company directs the Trustee to commence liquidation of the Trust Account pursuant to Section 1(i), the Company agrees that it will not direct the Trustee to make any payments that are not specifically authorized by this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

(a) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct;

 

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

 

(c) Change the investment of any Property, other than in compliance with paragraph 1(c);

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(g) Verify the correctness of the information set forth in the Registration Statement or to confirm or assure that any Business Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by it is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

 

(h) File local, state and/or federal tax returns or information returns with any taxing authority on behalf of the Trust Account and payee statements with the Company documenting the taxes, if any, payable by the Company or the Trust Account, relating to the income earned on the Property;

 

(i) Prepare, execute and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes on behalf of the Trust Account regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, franchise and income tax obligations (it being expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay any such taxes and that such taxes, if any, shall be paid by the Company from funds not held in the Trust Account or released to it under Section 2(a) hereof);

 

 

 

 

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

 

(k) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Section 1(i) or 2(a) above.

 

5. Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 3(b) or Section 3(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.

 

6. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:

 

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

 

(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1(i) hereof, and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Paragraph 3(b).

 

7. Miscellaneous.

 

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

 

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

 

(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Sections 1(i), 1(k), 1(l), 7(c) and 7(h) (which may only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that no such change, amendment or modification may be made without the prior written consent of the Representative. As to any claim, cross-claim or counterclaim in any way relating to this Agreement, each party waives the right to trial by jury. The Trustee may require from Company counsel an opinion as to the propriety of any proposed amendment.

 

 

 

 

(d) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder.

 

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

 

if to the Trustee, to:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

E-mail: fwolf@continentalstock.com; cgonzalez@continentalstock.com

 

if to the Company, to:

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75204

Attn: Jamie Khurshid, Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: ceo@finspac.com

 

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

 

I-Bankers Securities, Inc.

1208 Shady Lane N

Keller, TX 76248

Attn.: Shelley Leonard, President

Email: shelley@ibsgroup.net

 

and:

 

Haynes and Boone, LLP

2323 Victory Avenue, Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75219

Attn: Matthew L. Fry

E-mail: matt.fry@haynesboone.com

 

and:

 

Schiff Hardin LLP

901 K. St. NW

Suite 700

Washington, DC 20001

Attn: Ralph De Martino and Cavas Pavri

Email: rdemartino@schiffhardin.com; cpavri@schiffhardin.com

 

(f) The parties hereto consent to the delivery of notices or other communications by electronic transmission at the e- mail address set forth below the respective party’s name in Section 7(e) hereto. To the extent that any notice given by means of electronic transmission is returned or undeliverable for any reason, the foregoing consent shall be deemed to have been revoked until a new or corrected e-mail address has been provided, and such attempted electronic notice shall be ineffective and deemed to not have been given. Each party agrees to promptly notify the other parties of any change in its e-mail address, and that failure to do so shall not affect the foregoing.

 

 

 

 

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

 

(h) This Agreement is the joint product of the Company and the Trustee 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.

 

(i) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.

 

(j) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledge that the Representative is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

(k) Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity, without the written consent of the other party.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

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

 

  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Francis Wolf 
  Name: Francis Wolf
  Title: Vice President
     
  FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Jamie Khurshid 
  Name: Jamie Khurshid
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Fee Item   Time and method of payment   Amount  
Initial acceptance fee   Initial closing of IPO by wire transfer   $ 3,500  
Annual fee   First year ($10,000), initial closing of IPO by wire transfer; thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the IPO by wire transfer or check   $ 10,000  
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Section 2   Deduction by Trustee from accumulated income following disbursement made to Company under Section 2   $ 250  
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Section 1(i)   Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Section 1(i)     Prevailing rates  

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

  Re: Trust Account – Termination Letter

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

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

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate the Trust Account investments and to transfer the proceeds to the above-referenced account to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date (including as directed to it by the Representative (with respect to the Marketing Fee)). It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust operating account awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends.

 

On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer, which verifies the vote of the Company’s shareholders in connection with the Business Combination if a vote is held and (b) joint written instructions from the Company and I-Bankers Securities, Inc. (whose consent not to be unreasonably withheld) with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account (“Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the counsel’s letter and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms hereof, the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

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

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name: Jamie Khurshid
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and Agreed:  
   
I-Bankers Securities, Inc.  
     
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[Date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

  Re: Trust Account – Termination Letter

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraph 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [●], 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a Business Combination with a Target Company within the time frame specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as described in the Company’s prospectus relating to its IPO. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all the Trust Account investments and to transfer the total proceeds to the trust operating account to await distribution to the Public Shareholders. The Company has selected [●, 20__] as the date for the purpose of determining when the Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. It is acknowledged that no interest will be earned by the Company on the liquidation proceeds while on deposit in the trust operating account. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, to distribute said funds directly to the Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name: Jamie Khurshid
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

cc: I-Bankers Securities, Inc.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[Date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

  Re: Trust Account – Interest Withdrawal (Taxes)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraph 2(a) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [●], 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $[●] of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

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

 

[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
   
   
  Name: Jamie Khurshid
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

cc: I-Bankers Securities, Inc.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[Date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

  Re: Trust Account – Extension Letter

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [●], 2021 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company is extending the time available in order to consummate a Business Combination with the Target Businesses for an additional three (3) months, from _______________ to _______________ (the “Extension”).

 

This Extension Letter shall serve as the notice required with respect to the Extension prior to the Applicable Deadline. Capitalized words used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to deposit $870,000 (or $1,050,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option was exercised in full), which will be wired to you, into the Trust Account investments upon receipt.

 

This is the _____ of up to two Extension Letters.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  FINANCIAL STRATEGIES ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

cc: I-Bankers Securities, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. Announces Pricing of $87 Million Initial Public Offering

 

Dallas, Texas, December 9, 2021 – Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: FXCOU, the “Company”) announced today that it priced its initial public offering of 8,700,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units are expected to be listed on The Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”) and trade under the ticker symbol “FXCOU” beginning on December 10, 2021. Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock, one right and one redeemable warrant. Each right entitles the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of Class A common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination, and each redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A common stock, rights and warrants are expected to be listed on NASDAQ under the symbols “FXCO,” “FXCOR” and “FXCOW,” respectively.

 

The offering is expected to close on December 14, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

I-Bankers Securities, Inc. is acting as sole book running manager in the offering. The underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,305,000 units offered by the Company to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2021. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained, when available, by contacting I-Bankers Securities, Inc., 1208 Shady Ln N., Keller, Texas 76248. Copies of the registration statement can be accessed through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 

About Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company 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. Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. intends to focus its initial search on target businesses in the financial technology and financial services industries with an equity value of approximately $300 million to $500 million. The proceeds of the offering will be used to fund such business combination.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including with respect to the successful consummation of the Company’s initial public offering and anticipated use of net proceeds, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based, except as required by law.

 

   

 

 

Contact:

 

Horst Rzepka

Chief Financial Officer, Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

Tel: +1 (469) 851 9070

Email: cfo@finspac.com

 

Media Contact:

 

Alexander V. Schinzing

Celtic Asset & Equity Partners Ltd.

Tel: +1 (469) 265 7180

Email: contact@celticequitypartners.com

 

   

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. Announces Closing of $100 Million Initial Public Offering, which Includes Full Exercise of the Underwriters' Over-Allotment Option

 

Dallas, Texas, December 14, 2021 – Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: FXCOU, the “Company”) announced today that it closed its initial public offering of 10,005,000 units, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. The units were sold at $10.00 per unit, resulting in total gross proceeds of $100,050,000. Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock, one right and one redeemable warrant. Each right entitles the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of Class A common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination, and each redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A common stock, rights and warrants are expected to be listed on NASDAQ under the symbols “FXCO,” “FXCOR” and “FXCOW,” respectively. The units began trading on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “FXCOU” on December 10, 2021.

 

I-Bankers Securities, Inc. acted as sole book running manager in the offering.

 

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2021. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting I-Bankers Securities, Inc., 1208 Shady Ln N., Keller, Texas 76248. Copies of the registration statement can be accessed through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 

About Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

 

Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company 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. Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp. intends to focus its initial search on target businesses in the financial technology and financial services industries with an equity value of approximately $300 million to $500 million. The proceeds of the offering will be used to fund such business combination.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including with respect to the Company’s anticipated use of net proceeds, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based, except as required by law.

 

   

 

 

Contact:

 

Horst Rzepka

Chief Financial Officer, Financial Strategies Acquisition Corp.

Tel: +1 (469) 851 9070

Email: cfo@finspac.com

 

Media Contact:

 

Alexander V. Schinzing

Celtic Asset & Equity Partners Ltd.

Tel: +1 (469) 265 7180

Email: contact@celticequitypartners.com