As filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 2021
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
No. 333-258599
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 3
to
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Banyan Acquisition Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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6770
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86-2556699
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(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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400 Skokie Blvd
Suite 820
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
(847) 757-3812
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
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Jerry Hyman
Chairman
400 Skokie Blvd
Suite 820
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
(847) 757-3812
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Keith Jaffee
Chief Executive Officer
400 Skokie Blvd
Suite 820
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
(847) 757-3812
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(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:
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Mark D. Wood
Timothy J. Kirby
Evan S. Borenstein
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
575 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Tel: (212) 940-8800
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Stuart Neuhauser
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
Telephone: (212) 370-1300
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box: ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. ☐
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Large accelerated filer ☐
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Accelerated filer ☐
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Non-accelerated filer ☒
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Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☒
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of Security Being Registered
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Amount
to be Registered
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Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit(1)
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Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(1)(2)
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Amount of
Registration
Fee
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Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one-half of one redeemable warrant(2)
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23,000,000 units
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$
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10.00
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$
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230,000,000
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$
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25,093.00
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Shares of Class A common stock included as part of the units(3)
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23,000,000 shares
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—
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—
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—(4)
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Redeemable warrants included as part of the units(3)
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11,500,000 warrants
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—
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—
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—(4)
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Total
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—
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$
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23,000,000
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$
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25,093.00(5)
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(1)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2)
Includes 3,000,000 units, consisting of 3,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and 1,500,000 redeemable warrants, which may be issued upon exercise of a 45-day option granted to the underwriters to cover over-allotments, if any.
(3)
Pursuant to Rule 416(a), there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends, or similar transactions.
(4)
No fee pursuant to Rule 457(g).
(5)
Previously paid.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUSSUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 29, 2021
$200,000,000
Banyan Acquisition Corporation
20,000,000 Units
Banyan Acquisition Corporation is a newly incorporated blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any industry or geographic location (subject to certain limitations described in this prospectus), we currently intend to focus our efforts on identifying business combination targets in the foodservice industry.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one share of our Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus, and only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. The warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and twelve months from the closing of this offering, and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation, as described in this prospectus. Subject to the terms and conditions described in this prospectus, we may redeem the warrants once the warrants become exercisable. We have also granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any.
We are an “emerging growth company” and “smaller reporting company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 39. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.
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Per Unit
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Total
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Public offering price
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$
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10.00
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$
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200,000,000
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Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)
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$
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0.60
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$
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12,000,000
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Proceeds, before expenses, to us
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$
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9.40
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$
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188,000,000
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(1)
Includes $0.40 per unit, or $8,000,000 (or $9,200,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. Does not include certain fees and expenses payable to the underwriters in connection with this offering. See also “Underwriting” for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters.
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of private placement warrants to our sponsor and the underwriters as described in this prospectus, $204,000,000 or $234,600,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.20 per unit, in either case, which does not include up to an additional $0.20 per unit in the aggregate which may be added if we choose to extend the time to complete a business combination in certain instances as further described in this prospectus), will be deposited into a U.S.-based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, the funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of: (1) our completion of an initial business combination; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of our public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), subject to applicable law. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders.
The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. Delivery of the units will be made on or about , 2022.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Sole Bookrunner
BTIG
The date of this prospectus is , 2022.
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of our Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account described below calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of our initial business combination, including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding shares of our Class A common stock that were sold as part of the units in this offering, which we refer to collectively as our “public shares” throughout this prospectus, subject to the limitations described herein. If we have not completed our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), we will redeem 100% of the public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and as further described herein.
Our sponsor, Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (which we refer to as our “sponsor” throughout this prospectus), has committed to purchase an aggregate of 9,250,000 warrants (or 10,450,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $9,250,000, or $ 10,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and the underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (which is not subject to increase if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), also at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $1,000,000), in each case pursuant to a written agreement in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. We refer to warrants being purchased by our sponsor and the underwriters which are described above throughout this prospectus as the “private placement warrants.” Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
If we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering, we may, at our sponsor’s option, extend the period of time to consummate a business combination up to two times without stockholder approval, each for an additional three months (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a business combination) (each such three-month period, a “Funded Extension Period”), so long as our sponsor and/or its affiliates or designees deposit into the trust account: (i) with respect to a single Funded Extension Period, an additional $0.10 per unit (for an aggregate of $2,000,000, or $2,300,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (an “Extension Payment”), and (ii) with respect to two consecutive Funded Extension Periods, an Extension Payment prior to each Funded Extension Period, or $0.20 per unit in the aggregate (for an aggregate of $4,000,000, or $4,600,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), upon five days advance notice prior to the applicable deadline pursuant to the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to be entered into between us and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. However, if, prior to the time that an Extension Payment would otherwise be due for either Funded Extension Period, we enter into a definitive agreement with respect to our initial business combination, no Extension Payment will be required for that Funded Extension Period, and the period of time to consummate a business transaction will be extended for the duration of that Funded Extension Period; provided, that our entry into a definitive agreement may only be used to substitute for a single Extension Payment. Our public stockholders will not be entitled to vote or redeem their shares in connection with any Funded Extension Periods, whether as a result of an Extension Payment or a definitive agreement. As a result, we may affect such an extension even if a majority of our public stockholders do not support such an extension and none of our public stockholders will be able to redeem their shares in connection with such an extension. This feature is different than the traditional special purpose acquisition company structure, in which any extension of the company’s period to complete a business combination requires a vote of the company’s stockholders and such stockholders have the right to redeem their public shares in connection with such vote (although an extension without depositing additional funds into the trust account could still be pursued in the manner available in the traditional special purpose acquisition company structure).
Our initial stockholders currently hold 6,900,000 shares of our Class B common stock (which we refer to as “founder shares” as further described herein), up to 900,000 of which are subject to forfeiture by our
sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. The shares of our Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities (as described herein), are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts issued in this offering and related to the closing of our initial business combination, the ratio at which the shares of our Class B common stock will convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, 23% of the sum of all shares of our Class A common stock issued and outstanding upon the completion of this offering, plus all shares of our Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination, excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the business combination. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to elect all of our directors and may remove members of the board of directors for any reason. On any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, holders of our Class B common stock and holders of our Class A common stock will vote together as a single class, except as required by law.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our units, Class A common stock or warrants. We intend to apply to list our units on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “BYN.U” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on NYSE. The shares of Class A common stock and warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus (or, if such date is not a business day, the following business day) unless BTIG, LLC informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) containing an audited balance sheet of the company reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the securities constituting the units begin separate trading, we expect that the Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on NYSE under the symbols “BYN” and “BYN.WS,” respectively.
We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information, and neither we nor the underwriters take any responsibility for any other information others may give to you. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of the date on the front of this prospectus. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1
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11
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38
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39
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79
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84
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85
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87
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89
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95
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128
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137
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140
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143
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161
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171
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178
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178
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178
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F-1
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Until , 2021, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to unsold allotments or subscriptions.
Trademarks
This prospectus contains references to trademarks and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
SUMMARY
This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information under “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before investing.
Definitions
Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus or the context otherwise requires, references to:
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“amended and restated certificate of incorporation” are to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be in effect upon completion of this offering;
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“BTIG” is to BTIG, LLC, an underwriter of this offering;
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“common stock” are to our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock;
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“directors” are to our current directors and our director nominees named in this prospectus;
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“founder shares” are to shares of our Class B common stock initially purchased by our sponsor in a private placement prior to this offering and our shares of Class A common stock that will be issued upon conversion thereof as provided therein;
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“initial stockholders” are to our sponsor and the other holders of our founder shares prior to this offering (if any);
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“letter agreement” are to the letter agreement, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part;
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“management” or our “management team” are to our directors and officers;
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“private placement warrants” are to the warrants sold to our sponsor and the underwriters in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering;
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“public shares” are to shares of our Class A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
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“public stockholders” are to the holders of our public shares, including our sponsor, directors and officers to the extent our sponsor, directors or officers purchase public shares, provided their status as a “public stockholder” shall only exist with respect to such public shares;
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“special advisor” are to Brett Biggs, who will serve as a special advisor to the Company;
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“sponsor” are to Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company;
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“warrants” are to our redeemable warrants sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market); and
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“we,” “us,” “our” or our “company” are to Banyan Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option and the forfeiture by our sponsor of 900,000 founder shares.
General
We are a newly formed blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
We believe that our management team’s decades of experience and relationships with leading businesses in the foodservice industry and their founders, executives and investors, the extensive industry and geographical reach of our management team’s network and our management team’s prior experience in private markets
investing will give us a competitive advantage in pursuing a broad range of opportunities in many industries. Although we may pursue an initial business combination target in any sector, industry or geographic location, we currently intend to focus our efforts on identifying business combination targets in the foodservice industry, including:
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foodservice equipment and supply manufacturers,
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commercial food manufacturers,
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commercial food dealers,
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industry adjacent digital businesses,
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emerging restaurant concepts, and
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other similar categories of businesses.
Our management team has decades of experience as operating executives, with demonstrated success growing and investing in foodservice businesses. As both investors and operators, members of our management team have extensive insight into industry and acquisition trends and they have a vast network of industry relationships. Our management team has proficiency in utilizing industry trends and capitalizing on them through acquisition, start-up business creation, and strategic planning. We understand the challenges that the foodservice industry currently faces and believe our team can not only identify a suitable business combination target, but also assist that business in finding opportunities to maximize growth and profitability through strategic plans or acquisition. Additionally, members of our board of directors and our advisors have diverse and additive experiences and networks, enhancing our ability to successfully execute a merger.
We expect to target companies with certain industry and business characteristics, including long term growth prospects, strong management teams, high barriers to entry, opportunities for further acquisition, strong recurring revenues, sustainable operating margins and attractive free cash flow characteristics.
Our Management Team
Our management team consists of individuals who are experienced executives, operators, deal-makers, entrepreneurs and investors, with deep experience driving growth by optimizing operations, identifying strategic growth initiatives, and sourcing/structuring accretive acquisitions. Collectively the team possesses a wide-ranging set of competencies, with exceptional financial acumen and an extensive track record of growth and value creation. Our management team has differentiated experience, representing the two main business verticals within the industry, manufacturing and distribution. This experience is represented across various growth trajectories and strategic plans. The team is led by Jerry Hyman and Keith Jaffee. In addition, our management team controls our sponsor and contributed a significant portion of the funds that our sponsor will use to purchase warrants, which funds will in turn be used to pay our operating expenses and expenses of this offering, including the non-deferred portion of the underwriters’ compensation. Our initial stockholders, consisting of our sponsor, independent directors, certain advisors and an additional party, also currently own 6,900,000 shares of Class B common stock, up to 900,000 of which are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. The Class B common stock will automatically convert into Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination as described in the section entitled “Description of Securities.” Accordingly, we believe that our management team is incentivized and has the appropriate expertise to identify and acquire a high quality, high growth business in the food service industry.
Our Chairman, Jerry Hyman, is a foodservice industry veteran who spent 17 year as CEO of TriMark USA, from 2003 to 2020, leading it to become the largest foodservice dealer in the United States, and currently serves as its chairman. Jerry joined the business that became TriMark USA in 1981. During his time as CEO, annual revenue increased from approximately $50 million to $2.1 billion. Under Jerry’s leadership, TriMark USA successfully executed an industry roll-up strategy with four successive private equity sponsors. During his tenures with each private equity sponsor, including Bradford Equities, Audax Group, Warburg Pincus, and a joint venture of Blackstone and Centerbridge, Jerry transformed the businesses, through both acquisition-driven and organic growth. Notably, during his tenure as CEO, many of the acquisitions
TriMark USA completed were sourced on a proprietary basis, demonstrating his repeated ability to achieve compelling acquisition multiples. Beyond acquisitions and growth strategies, Jerry undertook a number of initiatives as CEO, including e-commerce, private label product development, and employee development. By 2019, the business had grown to encompass 3,100 employees, over 60 locations, and approximately 3.1 million square feet of warehouse and office space. During the 2008 financial crisis to 2021, Jerry founded NexGen Procurement Corp., a unique industry buying group, whose members consisted of TriMark USA and several of the other largest, competing distributors in the foodservice equipment space, which was created to focus the supply chain of the industry’s largest manufacturers and dealers to maximize profitability through increased volume. From NexGen’s establishment through January 2020, Jerry has served as its President and was also a member of its board until he stepped down from his role as TriMark CEO. Under his leadership, NexGen grew to over $4 billion in purchasing volume and changed the dynamics in the industry.
The career of our CEO, Keith Jaffee, has spanned four decades with a focus on buying and building companies in the commercial foodservice equipment and consumer products sectors. He is a career operator focused on manufacturing and distribution process improvement, business simplification/consolidation, industry relationships, and opportunistic acquisitions that offer value creation through synergy. Keith began his career at AMCO Corporation in 1982, a Chicago-based manufacturer in the foodservice equipment and supply industry, with a primary focus on commercial storage products. Keith served as President and CEO of AMCO from 1986 through 1997. As CEO, Keith oversaw its acquisition by Leggett & Platt (“L&P”), a publicly traded diversified manufacturer. Following the transaction, at L&P Keith served as the President of the Storage Products Group and eventually the Store Fixtures Group. While overseeing these divisions, Keith’s focus was on the acquisition and consolidation of 15 separate businesses in the categories, amounting for hundreds of millions of dollars in completed acquisitions. At L&P in 2000, the combined 25 operating businesses under his management produced significant revenues, primarily from the foodservice and big-box retail channels. In 2001, an investment group led by Keith purchased select businesses of the Storage Products Group division from L&P to form Focus Products Group, where he was the Chairman and CEO from 2001 through 2009. Focus Products Group went on to become a collection of brands and businesses in the housewares, foodservice, and hospitality industry. Through both organic growth and 16 accretive acquisitions, Focus Products Group grew to a business hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue in 2006. Keith sold Focus Products Group in 2006 to a Chicago-based private equity group, Sterling Partners, realizing a significant return on invested capital. Since then, Keith has remained active in the industry, most recently serving on the Board of Directors at Edward Don, as Strategic Advisor at Adams Burch, and as financial sponsor of both Snapdrape Brands and FoodServiceExchange. Additionally, from 1998 to 1999 Keith served as the first 2-year President of NAFEM (North American Food Equipment Manufacturers). In 2015, NAFEM honored Keith with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Our Chief Financial Officer, George Courtot, comes to us with 23 years of experience in the foodservice industry. In 1996, George joined the business that became TriMark USA as Chief Financial Officer. He partnered with Jerry Hyman to complete 14 acquisitions and assist in growing the business to $2.1 billion in revenue. Prior to joining TriMark USA, George worked for 16 years at V.P. Winter Distributing Company (Winter), a wholesale distributor in the millwork distribution industry, privately held and later a subsidiary of a publicly traded United Kingdom company. During his tenure at Winter, George held the positions of Chief Financial Officer and Division President.
Our Directors
Our Directors nominees have a diverse set of experiences, across a number of industries and transactions. Our director nominees are Bruce Lubin, Otis Carter and Peter Cameron, each of whom we expect to be independent directors upon consummation of this offering.
Bruce Lubin served as the Vice Chairman of CIBC Bank USA, which has over $40 billion in assets from January 2020 through December 2021, after having served as President of CIBC Illinois Commercial Banking following CIBC’s acquisition of Private Bank. Over his 37-year career in commercial banking, he played an integral part of both the growth and M&A strategy of several banks leading several multi-billion dollar transactions. His career began at Exchange National Bank from 1981 to 1989, leading to the ultimate sale to LaSalle National Bank. He then went on to a leadership role at LaSalle, serving as Executive Vice President. Bruce helped to grow LaSalle’s assets significantly from 1989 to 2007. In 2007, Bruce was
part of the team that executed a sale to Bank of America for $21 billion. At that time, he left to join publicly-listed Private Bank. Bruce currently serves as a Board Member of the Governing Committee of AJC and Board Member of the Civic Consulting Alliance.
Otis Carter has served as General Counsel of CMS/Nextech, a portfolio company of Audax Group, since January 2021, where he is responsible for all legal, governance and compliance matters, as well as executing strategic M&A activities. Prior to CMS/Nextech, he served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for TriMark USA from 2014 to 2021, partnering with Mr. Hyman to lead the negotiation and execution of strategic partnerships and M&A transactions that led to TriMark USA becoming the country’s largest commercial foodservice equipment and supplies dealer. Before TriMark USA, Mr. Carter was a private equity attorney with Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Ropes & Gray LLP, representing private equity sponsors, alternative asset managers and their portfolio companies on M&A and financing transactions as large as $7 billion. Mr. Carter earned his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, and his M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Peter Cameron is the Co-Owner of Farberware Licensing and Chairman and CEO of Acuity Management Inc. Acuity is an investment management company that owns and operates several commercial real estate and manufacturing enterprises. From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Cameron served as the CEO and later as the Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lenox Corporation, a manufacturer of tableware, giftware and collectible products. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Cameron served as CEO of Waterford Wedgwood plc, a manufacturer of fine china and crystal products, and from 1997 to 2003 Mr. Cameron was the CEO and president of All Clad Holdings, a manufacturer of cookware products that was acquired by Waterford in 2004. From 1988 to 1995, Mr. Cameron served in various senior level management capacities within Hanson plc, including as chairman of U.S. Industries Housewares Group, and president and CEO of Farberware, Inc. Prior to that, Cameron was CEO and president of Revereware, a leading manufacturer of branded cookware sold to department store and mass merchant channels. Cameron has also held senior management positions at Polaroid Corp., Bowmar Instrumental Corporation, and Starcraft. Mr. Cameron also serves on the boards of Northeastern University, Chapel Hill, The International Housewares Charity Foundation, Acuity Management, Farberware Licensing Co., Hartmann and Lenox Corporation.
Our Special Advisor
Brett Biggs is the Chief Financial Officer of Walmart and Head of Walmart Enterprise Solutions. As CFO at Walmart since 2016, Brett is responsible for finance functions including strategy, merchandising, logistics, financial services, real estate, operations, and financial planning & analysis. Prior to his current role, Brett served as CFO for other Walmart divisions, including Walmart International, Walmart U.S., and Sam's Club. He also served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Sam's Club, Senior Vice President of Capital Markets, and Senior Vice President International Strategy/M&A. Prior to joining Walmart in 2000, Brett worked in M&A at L&P, where he supported the Storage Products and Store Fixture Groups, which were run by Keith Jaffee. Brett brings significant experience and expertise in a number of areas, including multi-billion-dollar M&A, public company governance, shareholder value creation, capital markets, public company strategy, international operations, and strategy. Alongside the Walmart Executive Team, Brett has helped to create nearly $200 billion in market value for shareholders since assuming the role of CFO.
Our special advisor will assist our management team with sourcing and evaluating business opportunities and devising plans and strategies to optimize any business that we acquire following the consummation of this offering. However, unlike our management team, our special advisor will not be responsible for managing our day-to-day affairs and will have no authority to engage in substantive discussions with business combination targets on our behalf.
Our Approach
Our business strategy is to identify and complete our initial business combination with one or more target companies that complement the experiences and skills of our leadership team and can benefit from their operational and strategic guidance. We will look for a company or companies with strong and proven business practices in place and plan to support the management team to accelerate growth.
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdowns decimated the restaurant industry and its affiliated suppliers. We are confident the industry will prove to be resilient due to a pent-up demand, especially for businesses with sufficient and opportunistic capital and the vision to explore further acquisitions or strategic growth plans. We believe the recent turmoil across the foodservice industry presents a unique opportunity to identify, accelerate, and improve an already successful foodservice business. Our management team has a deep understanding of the industry dynamics, distribution, and brands necessary to capitalize on that opportunity. Furthermore, they have a track record of creating significant stockholder value, structuring deals and operating various businesses throughout the industry. This includes implementing strategic growth initiatives for their own businesses that proved to be industry defining as whole.
Upon completion of this offering, our leadership team will leverage their extensive networks of relationships to identify a business combination target. Given the current environment for the industry, we believe the target company that we identify can significantly benefit from our industry experience, expertise, and vision.
Our Opportunity
The foodservice industry is a large, resilient, and fragmented industry, achieving $864.3 billion in revenue in 2019, according to the National Restaurant Association. Within the industry, the global foodservice equipment and supply (“E&S”) space represented $34.7 billion in 2020, according to Grand View Research, which supports not only the restaurant industry but also, hospitals, hotels, nursing homes, and government entities. In addition, the industry supplies products to a number of incremental yet substantive channels including grocery, vending, industrial and residential. The E&S industry has seen some consolidation in recent years but remains generally fragmented, as ownership of businesses often remains with affiliated parties for decades, presenting an opportunity for capital injection and revitalization at these businesses.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the North American E&S industry experienced a contraction of approximately 22% in 2020. This compares to an estimated 27.8% loss for the broader foodservice industry. Based on a public report by Technomic, a restaurant industry publication, the restaurant industry could experience a full recovery by 2023, which implies a compelling growth trend of approximately 9% annually. Furthermore, industry investment is supported by The Restaurant Revitalization Fund, part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act signed into law on March 11, 2021, which has committed to awarding $28.6 billion of direct funding to restaurants. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan Act also will provide hundreds of billions of dollars of other indirect stimulus, supporting the already pent-up demand, as the consumers should emerge from COVID-19 mandated restrictions with strong savings and spending appetites. The industry has begun its recovery from its second quarter 2020 low point, but the marketplace and segmentation have proven to be non-uniform.
The current crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated many of the trends that can be seen across other industry verticals. These include digitization, robotics, food delivery, and sanitization. We believe that the pandemic and the subsequent impact on the industry, creates an opportunity to capitalize on these dynamics. Our deep experience in the industry, navigating various inflection points, will allow us to identify the next generation of public foodservice companies that can benefit from not only our investor’s capital but our proven vision and strategy.
Our Acquisition Criteria
When evaluating target companies, we anticipate that we will use the following base criteria to identify opportunities while remaining open to expanding the evaluation process criteria set forth below. While we will use the criteria and guidelines below for evaluation purposes, we may decide to enter into a business combination with a target company that does not meet any of these criteria. Our specific areas of focus are:
•
Iconic brands or established platforms in the foodservice industry that are leaders in their respective category.
•
Enterprise value range of $1 billion to $5 billion and prepared to operate as a public company from the perspective of its senior management, current ownership, and relevant business metrics.
•
Apparent and accessible opportunities for growth, through organic initiatives or acquisition.
•
Strong and seasoned management that can benefit from our leadership team’s industry focus and expertise, proven track record, and strategic guidance to further expand their position in the industry.
•
Well-incentivized management team that is aligned in an effort to create significant stockholder value.
•
Barriers to entry, including brand, manufacturing ability, intellectual property, distribution capabilities, market positioning, or technology.
•
Strong financial positioning, including strong unit economics, margin sustainability, recurring revenue, and a conservative debt to enterprise value ratio.
•
Demonstrated ability to remain a healthy, growing platform for equity investors despite the industry challenges, with an established business model and sustainable competitive advantages.
•
Attractive valuation relative to its existing financial metrics, and relative to public comparable companies, with potential for further significant operational improvement presenting an attractive potential return for stockholders.
•
Benefits from being publicly traded and having access to the public capital markets, enhancing its ability to pursue accretive acquisitions, high-return capital projects, and/or strengthen its balance sheet.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we would file with the SEC. In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, as well as reviewing financial and other information which will be made available to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, directors, officers or special advisor, or making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, directors or officers. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, directors or officers, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
Each of our sponsor, directors, officers and special advisor will, directly or indirectly, own founder shares and/or private placement warrants following this offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, such officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
Past experience or performance of our sponsor, directors or management team or their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either (1) our ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (2) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our sponsor, directors or management team or their respective affiliates as indicative of
future performance. See “Risk Factors — Past performance by our management team or their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.” Our management has no prior experience in operating blank check companies or special purpose acquisition companies.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity subject to his or her fiduciary duties. As a result, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will need to honor such fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, before we can pursue such opportunity. If these other entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing the same. However, we do not expect these duties to materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any business combination opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. In addition, the fiduciary duties and contractual obligations of our officers and directors to other entities, including confidentiality obligations that may restrict their ability to share with us or utilize on our behalf information they learn that could be beneficial to us, may otherwise adversely affect our ability to identify or pursue certain business combination opportunities. Our special advisor will have no fiduciary obligation to present business opportunities to us.
In recent years, and continuing in 2021, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and, as of the date of this prospectus, there are more than 500 special purpose acquisition companies seeking targets for their initial business combination, as well as approximately 300 such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available, and it may require more time, more effort and more resources to identify a suitable target and to consummate an initial business combination. Our sponsor and the underwriters’ aggregate investment of at least $10,275,000 in a combination of our warrants and Class B common stock will be used to pay for the expenses of this offering, including the non-deferred portion of the underwriters’ compensation, even if an initial business combination is not completed. This combination of factors could lead to our management team, which controls our sponsor, pursuing a business combination that may not be in the best interests of all public stockholders. See also “Risk Factors — As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”
Our Chairman is currently a party to an agreement with TriMark USA that contains a non-compete provision that prohibits him from consummating a transaction with a target company that engages in the business of distribution and sale of restaurant equipment and supplies at the distribution level, including as an equityholder of an entity engaged in such a business. In addition, our Chairman has fiduciary and other duties to TriMark USA as a result of serving as its chairman. Our Chairman will honor such fiduciary and other duties (and the other members of our management team will honor any fiduciary or other duties applicable to them). As a result of the foregoing, we currently do not intend to consummate a business combination with a target engaged in the industry sector covered by our Chairman's non-compete. However, we do not believe that the foregoing will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our officers, directors, special advisor and any of their respective affiliates may sponsor or form, or, in the case of individuals, serve as a director, officer or advisor of, other blank check companies similar to ours during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target. However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Initial Business Combination
As required by NYSE listing rules, approval of our initial business combination will require the affirmative vote of a majority of our board of directors, which must include a majority of our independent directors. So long as our securities are then listed on the NYSE, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of a target business or businesses, it may be unable to do so if the board is less familiar or experienced with the target company’s business, there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the company’s assets or prospects, including if such company is at an early stage of development, operations or growth, or if the anticipated transaction involves a complex financial analysis or other specialized skills and the board determines that outside expertise would be helpful or necessary in conducting such analysis. Since any opinion, if obtained, would merely state that the fair market value of the target business meets the 80% of net assets threshold, unless such opinion includes material information regarding the valuation of a target business or the consideration to be provided, it is not anticipated that copies of such opinion would be distributed to our stockholders. However, if required under applicable law, any proxy statement that we deliver to stockholders and file with the SEC in connection with a proposed transaction will include such opinion.
Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to register our securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of suspending or terminating our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-business combination company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-business combination company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for the post-business combination company not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Even if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target or issue a substantial number of new shares to third-parties in connection with financing our initial business combination. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-business combination company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses. If our securities are not then listed on the NYSE for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% of net asset test.
To the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, we may be affected by numerous risks
inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor.
Other Considerations
We currently do not have any specific business combination under consideration. Our officers and directors have neither individually selected nor considered a target business nor have they had any substantive discussions regarding possible target businesses among themselves or with our underwriters or other advisors. Our management team and board of directors is regularly made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for a business combination, but we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf) contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to a business combination transaction with our company. Additionally, we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, taken any substantive measure, directly or indirectly, to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate for us, nor have we engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any such acquisition candidate.
Corporate Information
Our executive offices are located at 400 Skokie Blvd, Suite 820, Northbrook, Illinois 60062, and our telephone number is (847) 757-3812. We maintain a corporate website at. The information contained on or accessible through our corporate website or any other website that we may maintain is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should not rely on any such information in making your decision whether to invest in our securities.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion
in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter and our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year, or (2) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
THE OFFERING
In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section below entitled “Risk Factors” of this prospectus.
20,000,000 units (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of:
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one share of Class A common stock; and
•
one-half of one redeemable warrant.
Units: “BYN.U” Class A common stock: “BYN” Warrants: “BYN.WS”
Trading commencement and separation of Class A common stock and warrants
The units are expected to begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The shares of Class A common stock and warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus (or, if such date is not a business day, the following business day) unless BTIG informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of Class A common stock and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of Class A common stock and warrants. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. Additionally, the units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our initial business combination.
Separate trading of the Class A common stock and warrants is prohibited until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K
In no event will the shares of Class A common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet of the company reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
Units:
Number issued and outstanding before this offering
0
Number issued and outstanding after this offering
20,000,000(1)
Common stock:
Number issued and outstanding before this offering
6,900,000(2)(3)
Number issued and outstanding after this offering
26,000,000(1)(3)(4)
Warrants:
Number of private placement warrants to be sold in a private placement simultaneously with this offering
10,250,000(5)
Number of warrants to be outstanding after this offering and the sale of private placement warrants
20,250,000(5)
Each whole warrant offered in this offering is exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein, and only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.
We structured each unit to contain one-half of one redeemable warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock, as compared to units issued by some other similar blank check companies which contain whole warrants exercisable for one whole share, in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of our initial business combination as compared to units that each contain a whole warrant to purchase one whole share, which we believe will make us a more attractive business combination partner for target businesses.
$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein.
In addition, if (x) we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes
(1)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture by our sponsor of 900,000 founder shares.
(2)
Consists solely of founder shares and includes up to 900,000 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
(3)
Founder shares are currently classified as shares of Class B common stock, which shares will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described below adjacent to the caption “Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights.”
(4)
Includes 20,000,000 public shares and 6,000,000 founder shares.
(5)
Includes 9,250,000 private placement warrants to be sold to our sponsor (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment) and 1,000,000 private placement warrants to be sold to the underwriters at the closing of this offering.
in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Class A common stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to our sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by our sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the completion of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our shares of Class A common stock during the 20-trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which we consummate our initial business combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 and $10.00 per share redemption trigger prices described below under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” and “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% and 100%, respectively, of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
The warrants will become exercisable on the later of:
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30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; and
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twelve months from the closing of this offering;
provided in each case that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky, laws of the state of residence of the holder (or we permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement, including as a result of a notice of redemption described below under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”). If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants at this time. However, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the
issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, and we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of our initial business combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed; provided that if our shares of Class A common stock are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement. If a registration statement covering the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of the initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption, and we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. On the exercise of any warrant, the warrant exercise price will be paid directly to us and not placed in the trust account.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (except as described herein with respect to the private placement warrants):
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in whole and not in part;
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at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
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upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and
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if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock for any 20-trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders (the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “— Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”).
We will not redeem the warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
Except as described below, none of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us so long as they are held by our sponsor, the underwriters or their permitted transferees.
In addition, for as long as the private placement warrants sold to the underwriters are held by the underwriters or their designees or affiliates, they will be subject to the lock-up and registration rights limitations imposed by FINRA Rule 5110 and may not be exercised after five years from the commencement of sales in this offering.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants:
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in whole and not in part;
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at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table set forth under “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants” based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described in “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants”;
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if, and only if, the Reference Value (as defined above under “— Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00”) equals or exceeds $10.00 per share as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like); and
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if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “— Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”), the private placement warrants must also concurrently be called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding public warrants, as described above.
The “fair market value” of our Class A common stock shall mean the volume weighted average price of our Class A
common stock during the ten trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. This redemption feature differs from the typical warrant redemption features used in other blank check offerings. We will provide our warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the ten-trading day period described above ends. In no event will the warrants be exercisable in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment).
No fractional shares of Class A common stock will be issued upon redemption. If, upon redemption, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the holder. See the section entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants” for additional information.
On March 16, 2021, our sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, to cover certain of our offering costs in consideration of 8,625,000 founder shares, par value $0.0001 per share and an aggregate of 142,500 of such shares were subsequently transferred to our independent directors, executive officers, certain advisors and an additional party. On November 30, 2021, our sponsor voluntarily forfeited certain founder shares such that our initial stockholders, consisting of our sponsor, independent directors, certain advisors and an additional party, now collectively hold 6,900,000 founders shares. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by our sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The purchase price of these founder shares was determined by dividing the amount contributed to us by the number of founder shares issued. Our initial stockholders will collectively own approximately 23% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 23% of the outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering. This is different from most other offerings similar to ours where the founder shares represent approximately 20% of all the issued and outstanding shares after the initial public offering. Up to 900,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
The founder shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that:
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prior to our initial business combination, only holders of
our Class B common stock have the right to vote on the election of directors and holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason;
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the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions contained in a letter agreement that our initial stockholders, directors, officers, certain advisors and an additional party have entered into with us, as described in more detail below;
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our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights, and further, our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have agreed to waive: (1) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them, as applicable, in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (2) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any extended time that we have to consummate a business combination beyond 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) as a result of a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (any extension as a result of such an amendment, a “Stockholder Approval Extension Period”) (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame). If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have agreed to vote any founder shares and public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need 7,000,001, or 35.0% (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, our initial stockholders do not purchase any
shares in or after this offering and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 500,001, or 2.50% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have such initial business combination approved (unless a greater vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules);
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the shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described in more detail below; and
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the founder shares are entitled to registration rights.
Transfer restrictions on founder
shares
Pursuant to a letter agreement with us, our initial stockholders have agreed, except as set forth herein, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination; and (B) subsequent to our initial business combination (x) if the last reported sale price of our shares of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20-trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”). Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the “lock-up.” See “Underwriting” for a further discussion of such restrictions, including with respect to potential waivers or amendments to such restrictions, which may result in additional securities becoming available for resale into the market, subject to applicable law, which could reduce the market price of our securities.
Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights
We have 6,900,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, issued and outstanding. The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued
or deemed issued in excess of the amounts issued in this offering and related to the closing of our initial business combination, the ratio at which the shares of Class B common stock will convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 23% of the sum of all shares of common stock issued and outstanding upon the completion of this offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination, excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in our initial business combination and any private placement-equivalent warrants issued to our sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to us. The term “equity-linked securities” refers to any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for our shares of Class A common stock issued in a financing transaction in connection with our initial business combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt.
Election and removal of directors; Voting rights
Prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. Holders of the Class A common stock will not be entitled to vote on the election of directors during such time. In addition, prior to our initial business combination, holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock may remove a member of our board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of a majority of at least 90% of the outstanding shares of our common stock voting at a stockholder meeting. With respect to any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including any vote in connection with our initial business combination, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rule, holders of our Class A common stock and holders of our Class B common stock will vote together as a single class, with each share entitling the holder to one vote.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors will be divided into three classes, with only one class of directors being elected in each year and the members of each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving three-year terms.
Private placement warrants
Our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 9,250,000 warrants (or 10,450,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $9,250,000, or $10,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full),
and the underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (which is not subject to increase if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), also at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $1,000,000), in each case pursuant to a written agreement in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, the proceeds of the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the private placement warrants will expire worthless. The private placement warrants will not be redeemable by us (except as described above under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”) so long as they are held by our sponsor, the underwriters or their permitted transferees. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than our sponsor, the underwriters or their permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us in all redemption scenarios and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering. Our sponsor and the underwriters, as well as their permitted transferees, have the option to exercise the private placement warrants on a cashless basis.
Transfer restrictions on private placement warrants
The private placement warrants (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, except as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants.”
In addition, for as long as the private placement warrants sold to the underwriters are held by the underwriters or their designees or affiliates, they will be subject to the lock-up and registration rights limitations imposed by FINRA Rule 5110 and may not be exercised after five years from the commencement of sales in this offering.
Extension of time to complete business combination
If we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering, we, at our sponsor’s option, may extend the period of time to consummate a business combination for up to two Funded Extension Periods without stockholder approval (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a business combination), so long as our sponsor or its affiliates or
designees deposit into the trust account: (i) with respect to a single Funded Extension Period, an additional Extension Payment (for an aggregate of $2,000,000, or $2,300,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and (ii) with respect to two consecutive Funded Extension Periods, an Extension Payment prior to each Funded Extension Period, or $0.20 per unit in the aggregate (for an aggregate of $4,000,000, or $4,600,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), upon five days advance notice prior to the applicable deadline pursuant to the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to be entered into between us and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. However, if, prior to the time that an Extension Payment would otherwise be due for either Funded Extension Period, we enter into a definitive agreement with respect to our initial business combination, no Extension Payment will be required for that Funded Extension Period, and the period of time to consummate a business transaction will be extended for the duration of that Funded Extension Period; provided, that our entry into a definitive agreement may only be used to substitute for a single Extension Payment. Our public stockholders will not be entitled to vote or redeem their shares in connection with any Funded Extension Periods, whether as a result of an Extension Payment or a definitive agreement. Our sponsor or its affiliates or designees will receive a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note equal to the amount of any such deposit that will not be repaid in the event that we are unable to close a business combination unless there are funds available outside the trust account to do so. Such notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, or, at the lender’s discretion, converted upon consummation of our business combination into additional warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant. In the event that we receive notice from our sponsor or its affiliates or designees five days prior to the applicable deadline of the sponsor’s intent to effect an extension, we intend to issue a press release announcing such intention at least three days prior to the applicable deadline. In addition, we intend to issue a press release the day after the applicable deadline announcing whether or not the funds had been timely deposited. Our sponsor or its affiliates or designees are not obligated to fund the trust account to extend the time for us to complete our initial business combination. To the extent that some, but not all, of the members of our sponsor or its affiliates or designees decide to extend the period of time to consummate our initial business combination, our sponsor or its affiliates or designees may elect to deposit the entire amount required. Any notes issued pursuant to these loans would be in addition to any notes issued pursuant to working capital loans made to us.
Proceeds to be held in trust account
Of the $210,250,000 in proceeds we will receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants described in this prospectus, or $241,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full,
$204,000,000 ($10.20 per unit), or $234,600,000 ($10.20 per unit) if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full (including $8,000,000 (or $9,200,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions), will be deposited into a U.S.-based trust account at J. P. Morgan Chase Bank, N. A. with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee), $750,000 will be used to pay expenses in connection with the closing of this offering and $1,500,000 will be used for working capital following this offering. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. Treasuries.
Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, the funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of: (1) our completion of an initial business combination; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of our public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), subject to applicable law. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders.
Anticipated expenses and funding sources
Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, no proceeds held in the trust account will be available for our use, except the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes or to redeem our public shares in connection with an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as described above. Based upon current interest rates, we expect the trust account to generate approximately $40,000 of interest annually (assuming an interest rate of 0.02% per year). Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from:
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the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not held in the trust account, which will be approximately $1,500,000 in working capital after the
payment of approximately $750,000 in expenses relating to this offering; and
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any loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or any of their respective affiliates or other third parties, although they are under no obligation to loan funds to, or otherwise invest in, us; and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account except to the extent that such proceeds are released to us upon completion of our initial business combination.
Conditions to completing our initial business combination
There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. NYSE listing rules require that an initial business combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account). We refer to this as the 80% fair market value test. The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Even though our board of directors will rely on generally accepted standards, our board of directors will have discretion to select the standards employed. In addition, the application of the standards generally involves a substantial degree of judgment. Accordingly, investors will be relying on the business judgment of the board of directors in evaluating the fair market value of the target or targets. If our securities are not then listed on the NYSE for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% of assets test.
We will complete our initial business combination only if the post-business combination company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for the post-business combination company not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in our initial business combination transaction. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-business combination company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test; provided that, in the event that our initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80%
fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.
Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. Any such price per share may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates are under no obligation or duty to do so and they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or warrants in any such transactions. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. If our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the sellers or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. See “Proposed Business — Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities” for a description of how our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates will select which stockholders to enter into private transactions with.
We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates will be restricted from making any purchases if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.
Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein.
The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.20 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights. Further, our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Manner of conducting redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (1) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the business combination or (2) by means of a tender offer. Except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval under Delaware law while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and transactions where we seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would typically require stockholder approval under Delaware law. Any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding common stock would typically require stockholder approval under NYSE listing rules. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on NYSE, we will be required to comply with NYSE’s stockholder approval rules. We intend to conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC
unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons.
If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and
•
file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we and our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase our Class A common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such initial business combination, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target). If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will:
•
conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and
•
file proxy materials with the SEC.
We expect that a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least ten days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be
available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Although we are not required to do so, we currently intend to comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A in connection with any stockholder vote even if we are not able to maintain our NYSE listing or Exchange Act registration.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination, unless a greater vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders, officers, directors and special advisor will count towards this quorum and have agreed to vote any founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. We expect that at the time of any stockholder vote relating to our initial business combination, our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees will own at least 23% of our outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need 7,000,001, or 35.0% (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, our initial stockholders do not purchase any shares in or after this offering and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 500,001, or 2.50% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have such initial business combination approved (unless a greater vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules). These quorum and voting thresholds and agreements may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions. Redemptions of our public shares may also be subject to a higher net tangible asset test or cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed business combination may require: (1) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners; (2) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes; or (3) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all public
shares that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target).
Tendering share certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve our initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate the applicable delivery requirements, which will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares.
Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a stockholder vote
Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, without our prior consent. We believe the restriction described above will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to redeem their shares as a means to force us or our sponsor or its affiliates to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against a business combination if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our sponsor or its affiliates at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By imposing such limitations on
our stockholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, as described above, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those stockholders that hold more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our initial business combination.
Redemption rights in connection with proposed amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter which prohibits the amendment of certain charter provisions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any of its provisions (other than amendments relating to provisions governing the election or removal of directors prior to our initial business combination, which require the approval of a majority of at least 90% of our shares of common stock attending and voting in a stockholder meeting), including those related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances), may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our issued and outstanding common stock, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our issued and outstanding common stock. Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws, or as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders, and, prior to our initial business combination, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock is required to approve the election or removal of directors. Prior to an initial business combination, we may not issue additional securities that can vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any initial business combination or any amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our initial stockholders, who will beneficially own 23% of our common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares.
Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination
On the completion of our initial business combination, all amounts held in the trust account will be disbursed directly by the trustee or released to us to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights as described above under “Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination,” to pay the underwriters their deferred underwriting commissions, to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is funded using equity consideration or the proceeds of any equity or debt financing, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or the redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed that we will initially have only 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus)to complete our initial business combination. If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter,
redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses, which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time period.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights. In addition, our initial stockholders have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period. However, if our initial stockholders acquire public shares, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time frame. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission held in the trust account in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the allotted time frame and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the trust account that will be available to fund the redemption of our public shares.
Our sponsor, officers, directors and special advisor have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders
with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares. However, we may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions.
Limited payments to insiders
There will be no finder’s fees, reimbursements or cash payments made by us to our sponsor, directors, officers or special advisor, or our or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, other than the following payments, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:
•
repayment of an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;
•
payment to an affiliate of our sponsor of a total of $10,000 per month for office space, support and administrative services (see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions — Support Services Agreement.”);
•
payment of customary fees for financial advisory services;
•
reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and
•
repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.
These payments may be funded using the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not held in the trust account or, upon completion of the initial business combination, from any amounts remaining from the proceeds of the trust account released to us in connection therewith.
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates.
We will establish, effective as of the date of this prospectus, and maintain an audit committee, which will be composed entirely of independent directors. Among its responsibilities, the audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, and their respective affiliates and monitor compliance with the other terms relating to this offering. If any noncompliance is identified, then the audit committee will be charged with the responsibility to promptly take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of this offering. For more information, see the section entitled “Management — Committees of the Board of Directors — Audit Committee.”
Our management team, in their capacities as directors, officers or employees of our sponsor or its affiliates or in their other endeavors, may choose to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future entities affiliated with or managed by our sponsor, or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. For more information, see the section entitled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.” Our special advisor will have no fiduciary obligation to present business opportunities to us.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may need to honor these fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity. See “Risk Factors — Each of our directors and officers are now, and may in the future may become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.”
We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third-party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which
we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period) or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third-party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third-party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. However, we believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Accordingly, we believe it is unlikely that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations, and therefore, no funds are currently set aside to cover any such obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Risks
We are a newly incorporated company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company. This offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, see “Proposed Business — Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.” You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 39 of this prospectus. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
•
We are a recently incorporated company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
•
Past performance by our management team or their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
•
Our stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even if a majority of our stockholders do not support such a combination.
•
Our public stockholders will not be entitled to vote or redeem their shares in connection with any Funded Extension Periods, whether as a result of an Extension Payment or a definitive agreement.
•
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash.
•
If we seek stockholders approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, it is more
likely that the necessary stockholder approval will be received than would be the case if our initial stockholders agreed to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public stockholders.
•
The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.
•
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
•
The requirement that we consummate an initial business combination within 15 months after the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
•
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and the status of debt and equity markets.
•
Although we may pursue an initial business combination target in any sector, industry or geographic location, we currently intend to focus our efforts on identifying business combination targets in the foodservice industry. Business combinations with businesses in the foodservice industry entail special considerations and risks.
•
If we seek stockholders approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, executive officers, special advisor and their affiliates may elect to purchase public shares or warrants, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A common stock or public warrants.
•
Certain of our officers and directors have or will have direct and indirect economic interests in us and/or our sponsor after the consummation of this offering and such interests may potentially conflict with those of our public stockholders as we evaluate and decide whether to recommend a potential business combination to our public stockholders.
•
Our executive officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs.
•
Our directors, officers, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
•
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
•
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. Therefore, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
•
NYSE may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
•
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
•
Because of our limited resources and the significant and increasing competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we have not consummated our initial business combination within the required time
period, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account, and our warrants will expire worthless.
•
If the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for the 15 months following the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and our ability to complete our initial business combination, and we will depend on loans from our sponsor, its affiliates or members of our management team to fund our search and to complete our initial business combination.
SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data is presented.
|
|
|
September 30, 2021
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|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
As Adjusted
|
|
Working capital (deficiency)
|
|
|
|
$
|
(443,865)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,510,936
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
|
$
|
561,027
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
205,510,936
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
|
$
|
575,841
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,977,850
|
|
|
Value of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
204,000,000
|
|
|
Stockholders’ deficit
|
|
|
|
$
|
(14,814)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(24,466,914)
|
|
|
The “as adjusted” information gives effect to the sale of the units in this offering, the sale of the private placement warrants, repayment of up to an aggregate of $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor and the payment of the estimated expenses of this offering and assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. The “as adjusted” total assets amount includes the $204,000,000 held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, which amount, less deferred underwriting commissions, will be available to us only upon the completion of our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus). The “as adjusted” total assets include $8,000,000 being held in the trust account representing deferred underwriting commissions. The underwriters will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions.
If no business combination is completed within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), the proceeds then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon) and working capital needs as described herein (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights. Our sponsor and each member of our management team has entered into an agreement with us pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within such time period.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some statements contained in this prospectus are forward-looking in nature. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:
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our being a newly incorporated company with no operating history and no revenues;
•
our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses;
•
our ability to complete our initial business combination;
•
our expectations around the performance of a prospective target business or businesses;
•
our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;
•
our directors and officers allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination;
•
certain of our officers and directors having direct and indirect economic interests in us and/or our sponsor after the consummation of this offering which may potentially conflict with those of our public stockholders as we evaluate and decide whether to recommend a potential business combination to our public stockholders;
•
our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination;
•
our pool of prospective target businesses;
•
our ability to consummate an initial business combination due to the uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases);
•
the ability of our directors and officers to generate a number of potential business combination opportunities;
•
our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;
•
the lack of a market for our securities;
•
risks we may face related to the foodservice industry.
•
the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance;
•
the trust account being subject to claims of third parties;
•
our financial performance following this offering; and
•
the other risks and uncertainties discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those expressed or projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to Our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination
Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even if a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.
We may choose not to hold a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination if the business combination would not require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange rules unless we decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons. For instance, NYSE listing rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a stockholder meeting, but would require us to obtain stockholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares in connection with any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding shares, we would seek stockholder approval of such business combination. However, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Accordingly, we may consummate our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock do not approve of the business combination we consummate. See the section entitled “Proposed Business — Completing Our Initial Business Combination — Stockholders may not have the ability to approve our initial business combination” for additional information.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
Our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have agreed (and their permitted transferees are required to agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote their founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. We expect that our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees will own at least 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock at the time of any such stockholder vote. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need 7,000,001, or 35.0% (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, our initial stockholders do not purchase any shares in or after this offering and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 500,001, or 2.50% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have such initial business combination approved (unless a greater vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules). Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, it is more likely that the necessary stockholder approval will be received than would be the case if such persons agreed to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public stockholders.
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek stockholder approval of such business combination.
At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any target businesses. Additionally, since our board of directors may complete a
business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination, unless we seek such stockholder approval. Accordingly, if we do not seek stockholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time set forth in our tender offer documents (which will be at least 20 business days) mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.
The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.
We may seek to enter into a business combination transaction agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If public stockholders holding too many public shares exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with the business combination. Furthermore, in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 or such greater amount necessary to satisfy a closing condition as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination and may instead search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target). Prospective targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into a business combination transaction with us.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
At the time we enter into an agreement for our initial business combination, we will not know how many stockholders may exercise their redemption rights and, therefore, we will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements, or arrange for third-party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares is submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third-party financing. Raising additional third-party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. Furthermore, the dilution of any equity issuances would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provision of the Class B common stock results in the issuance of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock at the time of our initial business combination. In addition, the amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriters will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with an initial business combination. The per-share amount we will distribute to stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commission and after such redemptions, the amount held in trust will continue to reflect our obligation to pay the entire deferred underwriting commissions. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.
If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful increases. If no initial business combination is successful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your shares in the open market; however, at such time our shares may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in
the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your shares in the open market.
Because we are offering our units to the public at a price per unit of $10.00 in this offering, and our trust account will initially contain $10.20 per Class A common stock (which amount may be increased if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), public stockholders may be incentivized to redeem their public shares at the time of our initial business combination.
We are offering our units to the public at a price per unit of $10.00 in this offering, and our trust account will initially contain $10.20 per Class A common stock (which amount may be increased if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus). This is different than some other similarly structured blank check companies for which the trust account will only contain $10.00 per Class A common stock. As a result of the additional funds that could be available to public stockholders upon redemption of Class A ordinary shares, our public stockholders may be more incentivized to redeem their public shares and not to hold their shares through our initial business combination. A higher percentage of redemptions by our public stockholders could make it more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination 15 months after the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus). Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the end of the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
Our public stockholders will not be entitled to vote or redeem their shares in connection with any Funded Extension Periods, whether as a result of an Extension Payment or a definitive agreement.
If we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering, we may, at our sponsor’s option, extend the period of time to consummate a business combination up to two times without stockholder approval, each for an additional three months (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a business combination), so long as our sponsor and/or its affiliates or designees deposit into the trust account: (i) with respect to a single Funded Extension Period, an additional $0.10 per unit (for an aggregate of $2,000,000, or $2,300,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and (ii) with respect to two consecutive Funded Extension Periods, an Extension Payment prior to each Funded Extension Period, or $0.20 per unit in the aggregate (for an aggregate of $4,000,000, or $4,600,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), upon five days advance notice prior to the applicable deadline pursuant to the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to be entered into between us and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. However, if, prior to the time that an Extension Payment would otherwise be due for either Funded Extension Period, we enter into a definitive agreement with respect to our initial business combination, no Extension Payment will be required for that Funded Extension Period, and the period of time to consummate a business transaction will be extended for the duration of that Funded Extension Period; provided, that our entry into a definitive agreement may only be used to substitute for a single Extension Payment. Our public stockholders will not be entitled to vote or redeem their shares in connection with any Funded Extension Periods, whether as a result of an Extension Payment or a definitive agreement.
As a result, we may affect such an extension even if a majority of our public stockholders do not support such an extension and none of our public stockholders will be able to redeem their shares in connection with such an extension. This feature is different than the traditional special purpose acquisition company structure, in which any extension of the company’s period to complete a business combination would require a vote of the company’s stockholders, with such stockholders having the right to redeem their public shares in connection with such vote. We may also choose to pursue an extension of the time to complete our business combination without depositing additional funds into the trust account, which, consistent with a traditional special purpose acquisition company structure, would require a vote of the company’s stockholders and in connection with which stockholders would have the right to redeem their public shares.
Our sponsor may decide not to extend the term we have to consummate our initial business combination, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, and the warrants will be worthless.
We will have 15 months (subject to certain extensions as described herein) from the closing of this offering to consummate our initial business combination. This 15 month period is shorter than the period of 18 to 24 months that most special purpose acquisition companies have to consummate their initial business combination. As a result, we may have more difficulty consummating our initial business combination prior to the end of the term for doing so. Our sponsor or its affiliates or designees may seek to extend the time we have to complete our business combination by depositing additional funds into the trust account (as described elsewhere in this prospectus) or by seeking stockholder approval to extend such period of time, but they are not obligated to do so. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the applicable time period, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than five business days thereafter, redeem the public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account and as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such event, the warrants included in the units purchased in this offering will be worthless.
Our initial stockholders own a higher interest in us than most other similarly structured blank check companies.
Our initial stockholders hold 6,900,000 founder shares. The number of founder shares issued to our initial stockholders was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent approximately 23% of all the issued and outstanding shares after this offering (and assumes the initial stockholders do not purchase units in the offering). This is different from most other offerings similar to ours where the founder shares represent approximately 20% of all the issued and outstanding shares after the initial public offering. The founder shares held by our initial stockholders includes an aggregate of up to 900,000 shares which are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, such that after such forfeiture, our initial stockholders will continue to own a number of shares equal to approximately 23% of the shares issued and outstanding after our initial public offering (assuming the initial stockholders do not purchase units in this offering).
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and the status of debt and equity markets.
The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in, and a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases could result in, a widespread health crisis that has, and in the future could, adversely affected the economies and financial markets worldwide, and the business of any potential target business with which we consummate a business combination could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete an initial business combination if concerns relating to COVID-19 continue to restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors, limit the ability to conduct due diligence or limit the ability of a potential target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our search for an initial business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses, and the inability to accurately predict the future impact of the pandemic on businesses, has also made determinations and negotiations of valuation
more difficult, which could make it more difficult to consummate a business combination transaction If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other matters of global concern continue, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected.
In addition, our ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing, which may be impacted by COVID-19 and other events, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all.
Finally, the outbreak of COVID-19 or other infectious diseases may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, such as those related to the market for our securities.
We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may receive only $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our initial business combination within 15 months after the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus). Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein. It may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, such as those related to the market for our securities and cross-border transactions.
If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public stockholders may receive only $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), or less than $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), on the redemption of their shares, and our warrants will expire worthless. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period)” and other risk factors herein.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates may elect to purchase shares or warrants from public stockholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our securities.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. Any such price per share may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination.
Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates are under no obligation or duty to do so and they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. See “Proposed Business — Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities” for a description of how our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates will select stockholders with which to enter into private transactions. The purpose of such purchases could be to vote such shares in favor of our initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of our initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. This may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our securities and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the tender offer documents or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares. For example, we may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer or proxy materials documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these procedures, its shares may not be redeemed. See “Proposed Business — Completing Our Initial Business Combination — Tendering share certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights.”
You will not be entitled to certain protections afforded to investors of some other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business that has not been selected, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the U.S. securities laws. However, because we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the successful completion of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet of the company demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if this offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our completion of an initial business combination. For a more detailed
comparison of our offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, see “Proposed Business — Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.”
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Your inability to redeem your Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to your Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. And as a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
In recent years, and continuing in 2021, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and, as of the date of this prospectus, there are more than 500 special purpose acquisition companies seeking targets for their initial business combination, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available, and it may require more time, more effort and more resources to identify a suitable target and to consummate an initial business combination. In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause target companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive targets could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns, geopolitical tensions or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination, and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
Because of our limited resources and the significant and increasing competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), or less in certain circumstances, on our redemption of their shares, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having business objectives similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment firms), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources or more local
industry knowledge than we do. Our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors and such competitors may be able to propose attractive deal terms to a target business, such as a “reverse termination fee” provision and other similar remedies that we do not expect to be able to be able to propose. While we believe there are numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, in the event we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we are obligated to pay cash for our shares of Class A common stock, it will potentially reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination. Any of these obligations may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. If we have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period)” and other risk factors herein.
Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
In recent months, the market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed in ways adverse to us and our management team. Fewer insurance companies are offering quotes for directors and officers liability coverage, the premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. These trends may continue into the future.
The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors. In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The need for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.
If the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for the 15 months following the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and our ability to complete our initial business combination, and we will depend on loans from our sponsor, its affiliates or members of our management team to fund our search and to complete our initial business combination.
Of the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, only approximately $1,500,000 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. We believe that, upon the closing of this offering, the funds available to us outside of the trust account, together with funds available from loans from our sponsor, its affiliates or members of our management team will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 15 months following the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination
as described in this prospectus); however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate, and our sponsor, its affiliates and members of our management team are under no obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Of the funds available to us, we expect to use a portion to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we enter into a letter of intent where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and are subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business.
In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $750,000, we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, unless funded by the proceeds of loans available from our sponsor, its affiliates or members of our management team, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account after completion of this offering would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $750,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account after completion of this offering would increase by a corresponding amount. The amount held in the trust account will not be impacted as a result of such increase or decrease. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our sponsor, its affiliates, members of our management team or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. Neither our sponsor, members of our management team nor their affiliates is under any obligation to us in such circumstances. Any such advances may be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans or advances may be convertible into warrants of the post-business combination company at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, its affiliates or members of our management team as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. If we have not consummated our initial business combination within the required time period because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. Consequently, our public stockholders may only receive an estimated $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), or possibly less, on our redemption of our public shares, and our warrants will expire worthless. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period)” and other risk factors herein.
If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period).
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third-party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will enter into an agreement with a third-party that has not executed a waiver only if management believes that such third-party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative.
Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third-party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where we are unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the ten years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.20 per public share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors.
Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third-party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period) or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third-party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third-party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. However, we believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Accordingly, we believe it is unlikely that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations, and therefore, no funds are currently set aside to cover any such obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period). In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our directors or officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties, including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Our directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of (1) $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period) or (2) such lesser amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period).
The securities in which we invest the funds held in the trust account could bear a negative rate of interest, which could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period).
The proceeds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7
under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. While short-term U.S. government treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event of very low or negative yields, the amount of interest income (which we may withdraw to pay our taxes, if any) would be reduced. In the event that we are unable to complete our initial business combination or make certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our public stockholders are entitled to receive their pro-rata share of the proceeds held in the trust account, plus any interest income, net of taxes paid or payable thereon (less, in the case we are unable to complete our initial business combination, $100,000 of interest) to pay dissolution expenses. Negative interest rates could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period).
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims seeking damages, including potential punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer,” a “fraudulent conveyance” or a “voidable transfer.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty and/or having acted in bad faith by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors, thereby exposing itself and us to claims seeking damages, including potential punitive damages.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our public stockholders in connection with our liquidation would be reduced.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:
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restrictions on the nature of our investments; and
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restrictions on the issuance of securities;
each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:
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registration as an investment company with the SEC;
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adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and
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reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations that we are currently not subject to.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. The proceeds held in the trust account may be invested by the trustee only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. Because the investment of the proceeds will be restricted to these instruments, we believe we will meet the requirements for the exemption provided in Rule 3a-1 promulgated under the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete a business combination. If we have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability continue as a “going concern.”
As of September 30, 2021, we had $131,976 of cash and a working capital deficit of $443,865. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our finance and acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this need for capital through this offering are discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to consummate an initial business combination will be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to consummate this offering or our inability to continue as a going concern.
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
If we have not completed our initial business combination within 15 months of the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, our public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond such period before redemption from our trust account.
If we have not completed our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, we will distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), pro rata to our public stockholders by way of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs, as further described herein. Any redemption of public stockholders from the trust account shall be effected automatically by function of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation prior to any voluntary winding up. If we are required to windup, liquidate the trust account and distribute such
amount therein, pro rata, to our public stockholders, as part of any liquidation process, such winding up, liquidation and distribution are subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In that case, investors may be forced to wait beyond the initial 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) before the redemption proceeds of our trust account become available to them and they receive the return of their pro rata portion of the proceeds from our trust account. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to the date of our redemption or liquidation unless, prior thereto, we consummate our initial business combination or amend certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and then only in cases where investors have properly sought to redeem their shares of Class A common stock. Only upon our redemption or any liquidation will public stockholders be entitled to distributions if we have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period and do not amend certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation prior thereto.
Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
However, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the 15th month (or the 18th month, in the event we decided to exercise our right to enact one of the available three month Funded Extension Periods, or the 21st month, in the event we decide to exercise our right to enact both of the available three month Funded Extension Periods) from the closing of this offering (or the end of any Stockholder Approval Extension Period) in the event we do not complete our initial business combination, and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the foregoing procedures.
Because we do not intend to comply with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the ten years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, consultants, etc.) or prospective target businesses. If our plan of distribution complies with Section 281(b) of the DGCL, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend beyond the third anniversary of such date. Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution.
We may not hold an annual stockholder meeting until after the consummation of our initial business combination. Our public stockholders will not have the right to elect or remove directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.
In accordance with NYSE corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NYSE. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination and thus may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting of stockholders be held for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with a company’s bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to our consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL. Until we hold an annual meeting of stockholders, public stockholders may not be afforded the opportunity to discuss company affairs with management. In addition, prior to our initial business combination, (a) as holders of our Class A common stock, our public stockholders will not have the right to vote on the election of our directors, and (b) holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock may remove a member of our board of directors for any reason.
The grant of registration rights to our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into on or prior to the closing of this offering, at or after the time of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the resale of their shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of the founder shares. In addition, our sponsor and its permitted transferees can demand that we register the resale of the private placement warrants and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants, and holders of warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register the resale of such warrants or the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants. We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Class A common stock that is expected when the shares of common stock owned by our initial stockholders or their permitted transferees, our private placement warrants or warrants issued in connection with working capital loans are registered for resale.
Because we are not limited to a particular industry, sector or geography or any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations.
While we intend to focus our efforts on identifying business combination targets in the foodservice industry, we may seek to complete a business combination with an operating company of any size (subject to our satisfaction of the 80% fair market value test) and in any industry, sector or geography. However, we will not, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination solely with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet selected or approached any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or development stage entity. Although our directors and officers will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time
to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to our investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any stockholder or warrant holder who chooses to remain a stockholder or warrant holder, respectively, following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders and warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
We may seek acquisition opportunities in acquisition targets that may be outside of our management’s areas of expertise.
We will consider a business combination outside of our management’s areas of expertise if such business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our company. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition outside of the areas of our management’s expertise, our management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this prospectus regarding the areas of our management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors relevant to such acquisition. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant holder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
We may face risks related to the foodservice industry.
Although we may pursue an initial business combination target in any sector, industry or geographic location, we currently intend to focus our efforts on identifying business combination targets in the foodservice industry. Business combinations with businesses in the foodservice industry entail special considerations and risks. The foodservice industry is sensitive to national, regional and local economic conditions. An uneven level of general economic activity, uncertainty in the financial markets, and slow job growth could have a negative impact on consumer confidence, discretionary spending, and accordingly, the foodservice industry in general. If we are successful in completing a business combination with a target business in the foodservice industry, we may also be subject to, and possibly adversely affected by, the following risks: intense competition in the industry, food price fluctuations, costs for freight, raw materials, fuel, energy and other supplies, technology obsolescence, changing consumer behaviors and preferences, labor issues and labor costs and government regulations. In addition, the foodservice industry, including restaurants and their affiliated suppliers, have been, and in the future may continue to be, particularly adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our operations following a business combination. However, our efforts in identifying prospective target businesses will not be limited to the foodservice industry. Accordingly, if we acquire a target business in another industry we will be subject to risks attendant with the specific industry in which we operate or target business which we acquire, which may or may not be different than those risks listed above.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria and guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to
meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.
We may seek acquisition opportunities with an early-stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early-stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel as well as risks related to any financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or the failure to meet such projections. Although our directors and officers will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm regarding fairness. Consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Unless we complete our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion that the price we are paying is fair to our company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
We may engage one or more of our underwriters or one of their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, which may include acting as financial advisor in connection with an initial business combination or as placement agent in connection with a related financing transaction. Our underwriters are entitled to receive deferred commissions that will released from the trust account only upon completion of an initial business combination. These financial incentives may cause them to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
We may engage one or more of our underwriters or one of their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, identifying potential business combination targets, providing financial advisory services, acting as a placement agent in a private equity offering or arranging debt financing. We may pay such underwriter or its affiliate fair and reasonable fees or other compensation that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with any of the underwriters or their respective affiliates and no fees or other compensation for such services will be paid to any of the underwriters or their respective affiliates prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering. The underwriters are also entitled to receive deferred commissions that are conditioned on the completion of an initial business combination. The fact that the underwriters’ or their respective affiliates’ financial interests tied to the consummation of a business combination transaction may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in providing any such additional
services to us, including potential conflicts of interest in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
We may issue additional shares of Class A common stock or preferred shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 240,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 60,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Immediately after this offering, there will be 220,000,000 and 54,000,000 (assuming in each case that the underwriters have not exercised their over-allotment option) authorized but unissued shares of Class A and Class B common stock, respectively, available for issuance, which amount does not take into account shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants but not upon conversion of the Class B common stock. At the time of our initial business combination, shares of our Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock, initially set at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as set forth herein. Immediately after this offering, there will be no preferred shares issued and outstanding.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock, and may issue shares of preferred stock, in order to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock to redeem the warrants as described in “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” or upon conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (1) receive funds from the trust account or (2) vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any initial business combination or any amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock:
•
may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock;
•
may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if shares of preferred stock are issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
•
could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present directors and officers;
•
may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us;
•
may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants; and
•
may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.
Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial
management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.
We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our sponsor, directors, officers or special advisor which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our sponsor, directors, officers and special advisor with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our sponsor, directors, officers and special advisor. Certain of our directors and officers also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including those described under “Management — Conflicts of Interest.” Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our sponsor, directors and officers are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no preliminary discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria and guidelines for a business combination as set forth in “Proposed Business — Completing Our Initial Business Combination — Selection of a target business and structuring of our initial business combination” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors.
Since our initial stockholders will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
On March 16, 2021, our sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, to cover certain of our offering costs in consideration of 8,625,000 founder shares, par value $0.0001 per share, and an aggregate of 142,500 of such shares were subsequently transferred to our independent directors, executive officers and special advisor and other third parties. On November 30, 2021, our sponsor voluntarily forfeited certain founder shares such that our initial stockholders, consisting of our sponsor, independent directors, certain advisors and an additional party, now collectively hold 6,900,000 founders shares. Our initial stockholders will collectively own approximately 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 23% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination.
In addition, our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 9,250,000 warrants (or 10,450,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $9,250,000, or $10,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and the underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (which is not subject to increase if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), also at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $1,000,000), in each case pursuant to a written agreement in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering, and such private placement warrants will also be worthless if we do not complete a business combination. Each private placement warrant may be exercised for one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
The founder shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering except that: (1) prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B common stock have the right to vote on the election of directors and holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason; (2) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions contained in a letter agreement that our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have entered into with us; (3) our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights and pursuant to the letter agreement that our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have entered into with us, our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have agreed to waive: (i) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them, as applicable, in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (iii) their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame); (4) the shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described in more detail below; and (5) the founder shares are entitled to registration rights. If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders have agreed (and their permitted transferees are required to agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote their founder shares and any public shares held by them purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. While we do not expect our board of directors to approve any amendment to or waiver of the letter agreement or registration rights agreement prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board of directors, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to or waivers of such agreements in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such amendments or waivers would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.
The personal and financial interests of our sponsor, directors, officers and special advisor may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination. This risk may become more acute as the deadline for completing our initial business combination nears.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of this prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following this offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our initial business combination. We have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per-share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
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default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
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acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
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our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;
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our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding;
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our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;
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using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
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limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
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increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and
•
limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
We may be able to complete only one business combination with the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operations and profitability.
The net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will provide us with $205,500,000 (or $236,100,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) that we may use for working capital and to complete our initial business combination (which includes $8,000,000 (or $9,200,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of deferred underwriting commissions being held in the trust account, and excludes estimated expenses of this offering of $750,000).
We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able to effectuate our initial business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
•
solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset; or
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dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.
We may attempt to simultaneously complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our initial business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our initial business combination. With multiple target businesses, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information generally exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete a business combination with which a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold, except that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. As a result, we may be able to complete our initial business combination even if a substantial majority of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all public shares that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target).
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or governing instruments, including our warrant agreement, in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination that some of our stockholders or warrant holders may not support.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds, extended the time to consummate an initial business combination and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our charter or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate our initial business
combination. To the extent any such amendment would be deemed to fundamentally change the nature of any of the securities offered through the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we would register, or seek an exemption from registration for, the affected securities.
Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account) may be amended with the approval of holders of at least 65% of our outstanding common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any of its provisions (other than amendments relating to the election or removal of directors prior to our initial business combination, which require the approval by holders of a majority of at least 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock voting at a stockholder meeting) related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our issued and outstanding common stock, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our issued and outstanding common stock. Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws, or as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders, and, prior to our initial business combination, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock is required to approve the election or removal of directors. We may not issue additional securities that can vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any initial business combination or any amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our initial stockholders, who will beneficially own 23% of our common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which will govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete our initial business combination with which you do not agree.
Our sponsor, officers, directors and special advisor have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares. These agreements are contained in a letter agreement that we have entered into with our sponsor, directors, officers and special advisor. Our public stockholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, this agreement and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our sponsor, directors, officers or special advisor for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in the event of a breach, our public stockholders would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
Although we believe that the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will be sufficient to allow us to complete our initial business combination, because we have not yet
selected any target business we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of our initial business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to redeem for cash a significant number of shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination, we may be required to seek additional financing or to abandon the proposed business combination. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate.
In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our directors, officers, our special advisor or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. If we have not completed our initial business combination within the required time period, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period), or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Our initial stockholders will control the election of our board of directors until consummation of our initial business combination and will hold a substantial interest in us. As a result, they will elect all of our directors prior to our initial business combination and may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon the closing of this offering, our initial stockholders will own approximately 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). This is different from most other offerings similar to ours where the founder shares represent approximately 20% of all the issued and outstanding shares after the initial public offering. In addition, prior to our initial business combination, holders of the Class B common stock will have the right to elect all of our directors and may remove members of the board of directors for any reason. Holders of our public shares will have no right to vote on the election of directors during such time. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended by holders of a majority of at least 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock voting at a stockholder meeting. As a result, you will not have any influence over the election of directors prior to our initial business combination.
As a result of their substantial ownership in our company, our initial stockholders may exert a substantial influence on other actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of major corporate transactions. If our initial stockholders purchase any additional shares of Class A common stock in this offering or in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their influence over these actions. In addition, our board of directors, whose members were elected by our initial stockholders, will be divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our initial stockholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. Accordingly, our initial stockholders will exert significant influence over actions requiring a stockholder vote at least until the completion of our initial business combination.
A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Unlike some blank check companies, if
(i)
we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share of Class A common stock;
(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 our initial business combination on the date of the completion of our initial business combination (net of redemptions); and
(iii)
the Market Value is below $9.20 per share,
then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 and $10.00 per share redemption trigger prices described below under “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” and “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% and 100%, respectively, of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
Our warrants are expected to be accounted for as a warrant liability and will be recorded at fair value upon issuance with changes in fair value each period reported in earnings, which may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock or may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Following the consummation of this offering and the concurrent private placement of warrants, we will issue an aggregate of 20,250,000 warrants in connection with this offering (comprised of the 10,000,000 warrants included in the units and the 10,250,000 private placement warrants, assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised). We expect to account for these as a warrant liability and will record at fair value upon issuance any changes in fair value each period reported in earnings as determined by us based upon a valuation report obtained from our independent third party valuation firm. As such, when our stock price increases, the fair value of the warrant liability would increase, and we would be required to recognize an expense associated with this change in fair value. Similarly, when our stock price decreases, the fair value of the warrant liability would decrease, and we would be required to recognize a gain associated with this change in fair value. The impact of changes in fair value on earnings may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, potential business combination targets may seek a special purpose acquisition company that does not have warrants that are accounted for as a warrant liability, which may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
Our warrants and founder shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We will be issuing warrants to purchase 10,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (or 11,500,000 shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $11.50 per whole share (subject to adjustment as provided herein), as part of the units offered by this prospectus and, simultaneously with the closing of this offering, we will be issuing in a private placement to our sponsor and the underwriters an aggregate of 10,250,000 (or 11,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. Our initial stockholders currently hold 6,900,000 shares of Class B common stock (up to 900,000 of which are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). At the time of our initial business combination, shares of our Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock, initially set at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as set forth herein. In addition, if our sponsor, an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers make any working capital loans, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into warrants, at the price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants. To the extent we issue shares of Class A common stock to effectuate a business
combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of these warrants or conversion rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock and reduce the value of the Class A common stock issued to complete the business combination. Therefore, our warrants and founder shares may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor, the underwriters or their permitted transferees: (1) they will not be redeemable by us (except as described below under “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Redeemable Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”); (2) they (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; (3) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (4) they (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an acquisition.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2022. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target business with which we seek to complete our initial business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
If our management team pursues a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we may face additional burdens in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing such combination, and if we effect such initial business combination, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.
If our management team pursues a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we would be subject to risks associated with cross-border business combinations, including in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing our initial business combination, conducting due diligence in a foreign market, having such transaction approved by any local governments, regulators or agencies and changes in the purchase price based on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. The fact that we are currently incorporated as a Delaware corporation could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business outside the United States as compared to an acquisition vehicle incorporated outside the United States.
If we effect our initial business combination with such a company, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:
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higher costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets;
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rules and regulations regarding currency redemption;
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complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals;
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laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected;
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tariffs and trade barriers;
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regulations related to customs and import/export matters;
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longer payment cycles;
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changes in local regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 outbreak;
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tax consequences, such as tax law changes, including termination or reduction of tax and other incentives that the applicable government provides to domestic companies, and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;
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currency fluctuations and exchange controls, including devaluations and other exchange rate movements;
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rates of inflation, price instability and interest rate fluctuations;
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challenges in collecting accounts receivable;
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cultural and language differences;
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protection of intellectual property rights;
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applicable privacy laws and regulations;
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employment regulations;
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crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and wars;
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deterioration of political relations with the United States;
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obligatory military service by personnel; and
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government appropriation of assets.
We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, we may be unable to complete such combination or, if we complete such combination, our operations might suffer, either of which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”), depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”). These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
We may reincorporate in another jurisdiction in connection with our initial business combination and such reincorporation may result in taxes imposed on stockholders.
We may effect a business combination with a target company in another jurisdiction, reincorporate in the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located, or reincorporate in another jurisdiction. Such transactions may result in tax liability for a stockholder in the jurisdiction in which the stockholder is a tax resident (or in which its members are resident if it is a tax transparent entity), in which the target company is located, or in which we reincorporate. We do not intend to make any cash distributions to stockholders to pay such taxes. Stockholders may be subject to withholding taxes or other taxes with respect to their ownership of us after the reincorporation.
Risks Relating to the Post-Business Combination Company
Subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and the price of our securities, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will identify all material issues that may be present with a particular target business that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write down or write off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing. Accordingly, any stockholder or warrant holder who chooses to remain a stockholder or warrant holder, respectively, following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders and warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
We may have limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may complete our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
When evaluating the desirability of completing our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we expected. Should the target’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholder or warrant holder who chooses to remain a stockholder or warrant holder, respectively, following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders and warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
The directors and officers of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place.
Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
We may structure our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will complete such business combination only if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post
business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in our initial business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of common stock in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity securities of a target or issue a substantial number of new shares to third-parties in connection with financing our initial business combination. In this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding common stock subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s shares than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain our control of the target business. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
If our management following our initial business combination is unfamiliar with U.S. securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws, which could lead to various regulatory issues. We will also incur costs and demands upon management as a result of complying with the laws and regulations affecting public companies.
Following our initial business combination, any or all of our management could resign from their positions as officers of the company, and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination could remain in place. Management of the target business may not be familiar with U.S. securities laws including the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and stock exchange rules. The requirements of these rules and regulations will increase legal and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time-consuming or costly and increase demand on the company’s systems and resources. The management team may not successfully or efficiently manage the transition to operating a public company that is subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the continuous scrutiny of securities analysts and investors. If new management is unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a public company regulated by the SEC, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such requirements. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.
After our initial business combination, our results of operations and prospects could be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political, social and government policies, developments and conditions in the country in which we operate.
The economic, political and social conditions, as well as government policies, of the country in which our operations are located could affect our business. Economic growth could be uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy and such growth may not be sustained in the future. If in the future such country’s economy experiences a downturn or grows at a slower rate than expected, there may be less demand for spending in certain industries. A decrease in demand for spending in certain industries could materially and adversely affect our ability to find an attractive target business with which to consummate our initial business combination and if we effect our initial business combination, the ability of that target business to become or remain profitable.
Risks Relating to Our Management Team
We are dependent upon our directors and officers and their departure could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our directors and officers, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of our or a target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our initial business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.
In addition, the directors and officers of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Our key personnel may be able to remain with our company after the completion of our initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination agreement and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the business combination. Such negotiations also could make such key personnel’s retention or resignation a condition to any such agreement. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Our directors and officers will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our directors and officers are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other responsibilities. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our business combination. Each of our directors and officers is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he or she may be entitled to substantial compensation and our directors and officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. Our independent directors will also serve as officers and/or board members for other entities. If our directors’ and officers’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. See “Management — Directors, Director Nominees and Executive Officers” for a discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs.
Each of our directors, officers and special advisor are now, and may in the future may become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Following the completion of this offering and until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our sponsor and directors, officers and special advisor are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business. Our sponsor and directors and officers are also not prohibited from sponsoring, or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies prior to us completing our initial business combination. As a result, our sponsor, officers, directors and special advisor could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other blank check company with which they may become involved. However, we do not believe that any potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
As described in “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one reasonable for us to pursue. In addition, the fiduciary duties and contractual obligations of our officers and directors to other entities, including confidentiality obligations that may restrict their ability to share with us or utilize on our behalf information they learn that could be beneficial to us, may otherwise adversely affect our ability to identify or pursue certain business combination opportunities. Our special advisor will have no fiduciary obligation to present business opportunities to us.
Our Chairman is currently a party to an agreement with TriMark USA that contains a non-compete provision that prohibits him from consummating a transaction with a target company that engages in the business of distribution and sale of restaurant equipment and supplies at the distribution level, including as an equityholder of an entity engaged in such a business. In addition, our Chairman has fiduciary and other duties to TriMark USA as a result of serving as its chairman. Our Chairman will honor such fiduciary and other duties (and the other members of our management team will honor any fiduciary or other duties applicable to them). As a result of the foregoing, we currently do not intend to consummate a business combination with a target engaged in the industry sector covered by our Chairman’s non-compete. However, we do not believe that the foregoing will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, see “Management — Directors, Director Nominees and Officers,” “Management — Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Our directors, officers, special advisor security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, special advisor, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or officers, although we do not intend to do so. Nor do we have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
Members of our management team and board of directors have significant experience as founders, board members, officers, executives or employees of other companies. Certain of those persons have been, may be, or may become, involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings, including related to those companies or otherwise. The defense or prosecution of these matters could be time-consuming and could divert our management’s attention, and may have an adverse effect on us, which may impede our ability to consummate an initial business combination.
During the course of their careers, members of our management team and board of directors have had significant experience as founders, board members, officers, executives or employees of other companies. As a result of their involvement and positions in these companies, certain of those persons have been, may be or may in the future become involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings, including relating to the business affairs of such companies, transactions entered into by such companies, or otherwise. Individual members of our management team and board of directors also may become involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings involving claims or allegations related to or as a result of their previous personal conduct, either in their capacity as a corporate officer or director or otherwise, and may be personally named in such actions and potentially subject to personal liability as a result of their previous individual conduct or otherwise. Any such liability may or may not be covered by insurance and/or indemnification, depending on the facts and circumstances. The defense or prosecution of these matters could be time-consuming. Any litigation, investigations or other proceedings and the potential outcomes of such actions may divert the attention and resources of our management team and board of directors away from identifying and selecting a target business or businesses for our initial business combination and may negatively affect our reputation, which may impede our ability to complete an initial business combination.
Risks Relating to our Securities
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares and/or warrants, potentially at a loss.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (1) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted for redemption in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of our public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares and/or warrants, potentially at a loss.
NYSE may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We intend to apply to have our units listed on the NYSE on the date of this prospectus and our Class A common stock and warrants on or promptly after their date of separation. Although after giving effect to this offering we expect to meet, on a pro forma basis, the minimum initial listing standards set forth in the NYSE listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will be, or will continue to be, listed on the NYSE in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on the NYSE prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial,
distribution and share price levels. Generally, we must maintain a minimum market capitalization (generally $50,000,000) and a minimum number of holders of our securities (generally 300 public holders).
Additionally, our units will not be traded after completion of our initial business combination and, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with the NYSE’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than the NYSE’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on the NYSE. For instance, our share price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share, our total market capitalization would be required to be at least $200.0 million, the aggregate market value of publicly held shares would be required to be at least $100.0 million and we would be required to have at least 400 round lot stockholders. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those listing requirements at that time
If NYSE delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
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a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
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reduced liquidity for our securities;
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a determination that our Class A common stock are a “penny stock” which would require brokers trading in our Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;
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a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and
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a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because we expect that our units and eventually our Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on NYSE, our units, Class A common stock and warrants will qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of covered securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on NYSE, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time, and such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise its warrants except on a cashless basis, and such warrants could expire worthless.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time. However, under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed that, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the issuance of such shares, and we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of our initial business combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so if, for example, any facts or events arise which represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement or prospectus, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current, complete or correct or the SEC issues a stop order. If the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act in accordance with the above requirements, we will be required to permit holders to exercise their
warrants on a cashless basis, in which case, the number of shares of Class A common stock that you will receive upon cashless exercise will be based on a formula subject to a maximum amount of shares equal to 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment). However, no warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration is available. Notwithstanding the above, if our shares of Class A common stock are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In no event will we be required to cashless settle any warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants, in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws and no exemption is available. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of Class A common stock included in the units. There may be a circumstance where an exemption from registration exists for holders of our private placement warrants to exercise their warrants while a corresponding exemption does not exist for holders of the public warrants included as part of units sold in this offering. In such an instance, our sponsor and its permitted transferees (which may include the underwriters and our directors, officers, advisors or related parties) would be able to exercise their warrants and sell the shares of Class A common stock underlying their warrants while holders of our public warrants would not be able to exercise their warrants and sell the underlying shares of Class A common stock. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying shares of Class A common stock for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem the warrants as set forth above even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise their warrants.
You will experience immediate and substantial dilution upon the purchase of our Class A common stock.
The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the shares of Class A common stock and none to the warrant included in the unit) and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our sponsor acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon the closing of this offering, and assuming no value is ascribed to the warrants included in the units, you and the other public stockholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 140.8% (or $14.08 per share, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option), the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $(4.08) and the initial offering price of $10.00 per unit. This dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B common stock result in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock at the time of our initial business combination and would become exacerbated to the extent that public stockholders seek redemptions from the trust. In addition, because of the anti-dilution protection in the founder shares, any equity or equity-linked securities issued in connection with our initial business combination would be disproportionately dilutive to our Class A common stock.
The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination.
We are offering our units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, implying an initial value of $10.00 per public share. However, prior to this offering, our sponsor paid a nominal aggregate purchase price of $25,000 for the founder shares, or approximately $0.0042 per share (giving effect to the forfeiture of 1,725,000 shares by our Sponsor on November 30, 2021). As a result, the value of your public shares may be significantly diluted upon the consummation of our initial business combination, when the founder shares
are converted into public shares. For example, the following table shows the dilutive effect of the founder shares on the implied value of the public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, assuming that our equity value at that time is $196,000,000, which is the amount in cash we would have for our initial business combination in the trust account after giving effect to the payment of $8,000,000 of deferred underwriting commissions, assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised, no interest is earned on the funds held in the trust account, and no public shares are redeemed in connection with our initial business combination, and without taking into account any other potential impacts on our valuation at such time, such as the trading price of our public shares, the business combination transaction costs any equity issued or cash paid to the target’s equityholders or other third parties, or the target’s business itself, including its assets, liabilities, management and prospects, or the impact of our public and private warrants. At such valuation, each share of our common stock would have an implied value of $7.54 per share upon consummation of our initial business combination, which would be a 24.6% decrease as compared to the initial implied value per public share of $10.00 (the price per unit in this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the public warrants).
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Public shares
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20,000,000
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Founder shares
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6,000,000
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Total shares
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26,000,000
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Total funds in trust available for initial business combination (less deferred underwriting commissions)
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|
|
|
$
|
196,000,000
|
|
|
|
Initial implied value per public share
|
|
|
|
$
|
10.00
|
|
|
|
Implied value per share upon consummation of initial business combination
|
|
|
|
$
|
7.54
|
|
|
Our management team and our sponsor may make a profit on any initial business combination, even if any public stockholders who did not redeem their shares would experience a loss on that business combination. As a result, the economic interests of our management team and our sponsor may not fully align with the economic interests of public stockholders.
Like most SPACs, our structure may not fully align the economic interests of our sponsor and those persons, including our officers and directors, who have interests in our sponsor with the economic interests of our public stockholders. Upon the closing of this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, our sponsor and the underwriters will have invested in us an aggregate of $10,275,000, comprised of the $25,000 purchase price for the founder shares and the $10,250,000 purchase price for the private placement warrants. Assuming a trading price of $10.00 per share upon consummation of our initial business combination, the 6,000,000 founder shares would have an aggregate implied value of $60,000,000. Even if the trading price of our Class A common stock was as low as $1.71 per share, and the private placement warrants were worthless, the value of the founder shares would be equal to our sponsor’s initial investment in us. As a result, so long as we complete an initial business combination, our sponsor is likely to be able to recoup its investment in us and make a substantial profit on that investment, even if our public shares lose significant value. Accordingly, our sponsor and members of our management team who own interests in our sponsor may have incentives to pursue and consummate an initial business combination quickly, with a risky or not well established target business, and/or on transaction terms favorable to the equityholders of the target business, rather than continue to seek a more favorable business combination transaction that could result in an improved outcome for our public stockholders or liquidate and return all of the cash in the trust to the public stockholders. For the foregoing reasons, you should consider our sponsor’s and management team's financial incentive to complete an initial business combination when evaluating whether to invest in this offering and/or redeem your shares prior to or in connection with an initial business combination.
We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants. As a result, the exercise price of the warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without the approval of the holders thereof.
Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the
warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the warrant agreement to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in this prospectus, or defective provision or (ii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem to not adversely affect the interest of the registered holders of the warrants; provided that the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants is required to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the private placement warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the private placement warrants, 65% of the number of the then outstanding private placement warrants. Although our ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our warrant agreement will provide that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “NY foreign action”) in the name of any holder of our warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (a “NY enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such NY enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the NY foreign action as agent for such warrant holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant agreement will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our warrant agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous or undesirable to you, thereby making your warrants worthless.
We have the ability to redeem the outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant if, among other things, the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “— Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”). See “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public
Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00.” If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem the warrants as set forth above even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise the warrants. Redemption of the outstanding warrants as described above could force you to: (1) exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous or undesirable for you to do so; (2) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants; or (3) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, we expect would be substantially less than the market value of your warrants. If, following our exercise of our redemption rights, a warrant holder fails to comply with the procedures for exercising its warrants, such warrant holder would be required to accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, we expect would be substantially less than the market value of the warrants. None of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us (except as described below under “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”) so long as they are held by our sponsor, the underwriters or their permitted transferees.
In addition, we have the ability to redeem the outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.10 per warrant if, among other things, the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “— Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”). In such a case, the holders will be able to exercise their warrants prior to redemption for a number of shares of Class A common stock determined based on the redemption date and the fair market value of our Class A common stock. See “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00.” Any such redemption may have similar consequences to a cash redemption described above. In addition, such redemption may occur at a time when the warrants are “out-of-the-money,” in which case you would lose the potential embedded value from a subsequent increase in the value of the Class A common stock had your warrants remained outstanding. The value received upon exercise of the warrants (1) may be less than the value the holders would have received if they had exercised their warrants at a later time where the underlying share price is higher and (2) may not compensate the holders for the value of the warrants, including because the number of shares of Class A common stock received is capped at 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment) irrespective of the remaining life of the warrants.
Because each unit contains one-half of one redeemable warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other blank check companies.
Each unit contains one-half of one redeemable warrant. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, no fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units, and only whole warrants will trade. If, upon exercise of warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Class A to be issued to the warrant holder. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one share of Class A common stock and one whole warrant to purchase one share. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of a business combination since the warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate for a half of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a whole warrant to purchase one whole share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive business combination partner for target businesses. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if they included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
The determination of the offering price of our units and the size of this offering is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size of an offering of an operating company in a particular industry. You may have less assurance, therefore, that the offering price of our units properly reflects the value of such units than you would have in a typical offering of an operating company.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the warrants were negotiated between us and the underwriters. In
determining the size of this offering, management held customary organizational meetings with representatives of the underwriters, both prior to our inception and thereafter, with respect to the state of capital markets, generally, and the amount the underwriters believed they reasonably could raise on our behalf. Factors considered in determining the size of this offering, prices and terms of the units, including the Class A common stock and warrants underlying the units, include:
•
the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies;
•
prior offerings of those companies;
•
our prospects for acquiring an operating business at attractive values;
•
our capital structure;
•
an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies;
•
general conditions of the securities markets at the time of this offering; and
•
other factors as were deemed relevant.
Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities of an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results.
There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
There is currently no market for our securities. Stockholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A common stock and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered board of directors and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock, and the fact that prior to the completion of our initial business combination only holders of our shares of Class B common stock, which are held by our initial stockholders, are entitled to vote on the election of directors, which may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
General Risk Factors
We are a newly incorporated company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a newly incorporated company with no operating results, and we will not commence operations until obtaining funding through this offering. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with
any prospective target business concerning a business combination and may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Past performance by our management team or their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information regarding performance is presented for informational purposes only. Any past experience or performance of our management team and their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either: (1) our ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (2) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of the performance of our management team or their respective affiliates as indicative of the future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. Our management has no experience in operating special purpose acquisition companies.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.
We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of any second quarter of a fiscal year, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the end of such fiscal year. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as
an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter and our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year, or (2) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
Since only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors, upon the listing of our shares on the NYSE, the NYSE may consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE rules and, as a result, we may qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
After completion of this offering, and prior to consummation of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. As a result, the NYSE may consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance standards. Under the NYSE corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that:
•
we have a board that includes a majority of “independent directors,” as defined under the rules of the NYSE;
•
we have a compensation committee of our board that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and
•
we have a nominating and corporate governance committee of our board that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities.
We do not currently intend to utilize these exemptions and intend to comply with the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE, subject to applicable phase-in rules applicable to non-controlled companies. However, if we determine in the future to utilize some or all of these exemptions, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company or our company’s directors, officers or other employees.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (1) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (2) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of our company to our company or our stockholders, or any claim for aiding and abetting any such alleged breach, (3) action asserting a claim against our company or any director, officer or employee of our company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or (4) action asserting a claim against us or any director, officer or employee of our company governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (1) through (4) above, any claim (a) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an
indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (b) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery or (c) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court may determine that this provision is unenforceable, and to the extent it is enforceable, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of the forum provisions 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: (x) 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 the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such enforcement action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such stockholder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the exclusive forum provision will 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. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act against us or our directors, officers, other employees or agents. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of federal securities laws in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provisions may limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us and may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
There may be tax consequences to our business combinations that may adversely affect us.
While we expect to undertake any merger or acquisition so as to minimize taxes both to the acquired business and/or asset and us, such business combination might not meet the statutory requirements of a tax-free reorganization, or the parties might not obtain the intended tax-free treatment upon a transfer of shares or assets. A non-qualifying reorganization could result in the imposition of substantial taxes on the acquired business and/or asset and us.
An investment in this offering may result in uncertain or adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
An investment in this offering may result in uncertain U.S. federal income tax consequences. For instance, because there are no authorities that directly address instruments similar to the units we are issuing in this offering, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of a unit between the share of Class A common stock and the one-half of one redeemable warrant included in each unit could be challenged by the IRS or the courts. In addition, if we are determined to be a personal holding company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our taxable income would be subjected to an additional 20% federal income tax, which would reduce the net after-tax amount of interest income earned on the funds placed in our trust account. Furthermore, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of a cashless exercise of warrants included in the units we are issuing in this offering and of a redemption of warrants for Class A common stock are unclear under current law. Finally, it is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to our shares suspend the running of a U.S. holder’s holding period for purposes of determining whether any gain or loss realized by such holder on the sale or exchange of Class A common stock is long-term capital gain or loss and for determining whether any dividend we pay would be considered “qualified dividends” for federal income tax purposes. See the section titled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our securities. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences when purchasing, holding or disposing of our securities.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We are offering 20,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit. We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering together with the funds we will receive from the sale of private placement warrants to our sponsor and the underwriters will be used as set forth in the following table.
|
|
|
Without
Over-allotment
Option
|
|
|
Over-allotment
Option
Exercised
|
|
Gross proceeds
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross proceeds from units offered to public(1)
|
|
|
|
$
|
200,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
230,000,000
|
|
|
Gross proceeds from private placement warrants offered in the private placement
|
|
|
|
|
10,250,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,450,000
|
|
|
Total gross proceeds
|
|
|
|
$
|
210,250,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
241,450,000
|
|
|
Estimated offering expenses(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underwriting commissions (2.0% of gross proceeds from units offered to public, excluding deferred portion)(3)
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,600,000
|
|
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
Printing and engraving expenses
|
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
|
160,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
160,000
|
|
|
SEC/FINRA Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
89,890
|
|
|
|
|
|
89,890
|
|
|
Travel and road show
|
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
NYSE listing and filing fees
|
|
|
|
|
85,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
85,000
|
|
|
Miscellaneous(4)
|
|
|
|
|
105,110
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,110
|
|
|
Total estimated offering expenses (excluding underwriting commissions)
|
|
|
|
$
|
750,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
750,000
|
|
|
Proceeds after estimated offering expenses
|
|
|
|
$
|
205,500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
236,100,000
|
|
|
Held in trust account(3)
|
|
|
|
$
|
204,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
234,600,000
|
|
|
% of public offering size
|
|
|
|
|
102%
|
|
|
|
|
|
102%
|
|
|
Not held in trust account
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,500,000
|
|
|
The following table shows the use of the approximately $1,500,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account.(5)
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
% of Total
|
|
Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, and other expenses in connection with any business combination(6)
|
|
|
|
$
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
26.7%
|
|
|
Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations
|
|
|
|
|
160,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.7%
|
|
|
Payment for office space, administrative and support services(7)
|
|
|
|
|
210,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
14%
|
|
|
NYSE continued listing fees
|
|
|
|
|
165,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
11%
|
|
|
Director & Officer liability insurance premiums(8)
|
|
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
33.3%
|
|
|
Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses and reserves
|
|
|
|
|
65,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.3%
|
|
|
Total(9)
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,500,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0%
|
|
|
(1)
Includes amounts payable to public stockholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our initial business combination.
(2)
A portion of the offering expenses have been paid from the proceeds of a loan from our sponsor of up to $300,000 as described in this prospectus. As of September 30, 2021, we had borrowed $289,425 under the promissory note. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $750,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions). These expenses are estimates only. In the event that offering expenses are less than as set forth in this table, any such amounts will be used for post-closing working capital expenses. In the event that the offering expenses are more than as set forth in this table, we may fund such excess with funds not held in the trust account.
(3)
The underwriters have agreed to defer underwriting commissions equal to 4.0% of the gross proceeds of this offering. Upon completion of our initial business combination, $8,000,000, which constitutes the underwriters’ deferred commissions (or $9,200,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be paid to the underwriters from the funds held in the trust account, and the remaining funds, less amounts used to pay redeeming stockholders, will be released to us and can be used to pay all or a portion of the purchase price of the business or businesses with which our initial business combination occurs or for general corporate purposes, including payment of principal or interest on indebtedness incurred in connection with our initial business combination, to fund the purchases of other companies or for working capital. The underwriters will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions.
(4)
Includes organizational and administrative expenses and may include amounts related to above-listed expenses in the event actual amounts exceed estimates.
(5)
These expenses are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth herein. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring a business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify an acquisition target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal counsel. In addition, our staffing needs may vary and as a result, we may engage a number of consultants to assist with legal and financial due diligence. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would not be available for our expenses. The amount in the table above does not include interest available to us from the trust account. Based upon current interest rates, we estimate that the interest earned on the trust account will be approximately $60,000 per year however this is an estimate and we can provide no assurances regarding the actual amount. This estimate assumes an interest rate of 0.02% per annum based upon current yields of securities in which the trust account may be invested. In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans may be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor and the underwriters. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
(6)
Includes estimated amounts that may also be used in connection with our initial business combination to fund a “no shop” provision and commitment fees for financing.
(7)
This amount represents payment to an affiliate of our sponsor of a total of $10,000 per month for office space, support and administrative services. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions — Support Services Agreement.” Upon the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
(8)
This amount represents the approximate amount of director and officer liability insurance premiums we anticipate paying following the completion of this offering and until we complete a business combination.
(9)
Assumes a 21-month period prior to consummation of a business combination.
Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of private placement warrants to our sponsor and the underwriters, $204,000,000 (or $234,600,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), including $8,000,000 (or $9,200,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of deferred underwriting commissions, will, upon the consummation of this offering, be placed in a U.S.-based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. Based upon current interest rates, we estimate that the interest earned on the trust account will be approximately $40,000 per year, assuming an interest rate of 0.02% per year. We will not be permitted to withdraw any of the principal or interest held in the trust account except for the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, if any. Based on current interest rates, we expect that interest earned on the trust account will be sufficient to pay taxes. The funds held in the trust account will not otherwise be released from the trust account until the earliest of: (1) our completion of an initial business combination; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of our public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), subject to applicable law.
The net proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we ultimately complete our initial business combination and to pay the deferred underwriting commissions. If our initial business combination is funded using equity consideration or the proceeds of any equity or debt financing, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or the redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
We believe that amounts not held in trust will be sufficient to pay the costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. This belief is based on the fact that while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective acquisition, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of a business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. If we are required to seek additional capital, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or any of their respective affiliates, but such persons are not under any obligation to loan funds to, or otherwise invest in, us.
We will enter into a support services agreement pursuant to which we will pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, support and administrative services. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions — Support Services Agreement.” Upon the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of September 30, 2021, we had borrowed $289,425 under the promissory note. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of March 1, 2022 and the closing of this offering. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $750,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions).
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans may be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor and the underwriters. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates may also purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. See “Proposed Business — Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities” for a description of how such persons will determine from which stockholders to seek to acquire shares. The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the sellers or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules.
We may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions and the agreement for our initial business combination may require as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If public stockholders holding too many public shares exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement or any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination, and may instead search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target).
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (1) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of our public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights. Our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation as described elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition, our initial stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. However, if our initial stockholders acquire public shares, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of this offering, in which case we will effect a stock dividend or other appropriate mechanism immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in an amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
DILUTION
The difference between the public offering price per Class A common stock, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus or the private placement warrants, and the pro forma net tangible book value per Class A common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated with the sale and exercise of warrants, including the private placement warrants, which would cause the actual dilution to the public stockholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of Class A common stock which may be redeemed for cash), by the number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock.
At September 30, 2021, our net tangible book deficit was $(443,865), or approximately $(0.06) per share of Class B common stock. After giving effect to the sale of 20,000,000 shares of Class A common stock included in the units we are offering by this prospectus, the sale of the private placement warrants and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value at September 30, 2021 would have been $(24,466,914) or $(4.08), representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value (as decreased by the value of 20,000,000 shares of Class A common stock that may be redeemed for cash and assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) of $(4.02) per share to our initial stockholders as of the date of this prospectus and an immediate dilution of $14.08 per share or 140.8% to our public stockholders not exercising their redemption rights. The dilution to new investors if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option in full would be an immediate dilution of $14.07 per share or 140.7%.
The following table illustrates the dilution to the public stockholders on a per-share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units or the private placement warrants:
|
|
|
Without
Over-allotment
|
|
|
With
Over-allotment
|
|
Public offering price
|
|
|
|
$
|
10.00
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
10.00
|
|
|
Net tangible book deficit before this offering
|
|
|
|
|
(0.06)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.06)
|
|
|
Increase attributable to public stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
(4.02)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4.01)
|
|
|
Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants
|
|
|
|
|
(4.08)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4.07)
|
|
|
Dilution to public stockholders
|
|
|
|
$
|
14.08
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
14.07
|
|
|
Percentage of dilution to public stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
140.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
140.7%
|
|
|
For purposes of presentation, we have reduced our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) by $204,000,000 because holders of up to 100% of our public shares may redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account at a per-share redemption price equal to the amount in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any, divided by the number of shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders and the public stockholders:
|
|
|
Shares Purchased
|
|
|
Total Consideration
|
|
|
Average
Price per
share
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
Class B common stock(1)
|
|
|
|
|
6,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
23.0%
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01%
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.004
|
|
|
Public Stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
20,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
77.0%
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
200,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
99.99%
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
10.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0%
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
200,025,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Assumes the full forfeiture of 900,000 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
(2)
Assumes conversion of Class B common stock into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. The dilution to public stockholders would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B common stock result in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon such conversion.
The pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering is calculated as follows:
|
|
|
Without
Over-allotment
|
|
|
With
Over-allotment
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net tangible book deficit before this offering
|
|
|
|
$
|
(443,865)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(443,865)
|
|
|
Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private placement
warrants
|
|
|
|
|
205,500,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
236,100,000
|
|
|
Plus: Offering costs accrued or paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value before this offering
|
|
|
|
|
454,801
|
|
|
|
|
|
454,801
|
|
|
Less: Warrant Liability(1)
|
|
|
|
|
(17,977,850)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20,373,680)
|
|
|
Less: Deferred underwriting commissions
|
|
|
|
|
(8,000,000)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,200,000)
|
|
|
Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption
|
|
|
|
|
(204,000,000)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(234,600,000)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(24,466,914)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(28,062,744)
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock outstanding prior to this offering
|
|
|
|
|
6,900,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,900,000
|
|
|
Common stock forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised
|
|
|
|
|
(900,000)
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Common stock included in the units offered
|
|
|
|
|
20,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
23,000,000
|
|
|
Less: Common stock subject to redemption
|
|
|
|
|
(20,000,000)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(23,000,000)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,900,000
|
|
|
(1)
The Company will account for the 20,250,000 warrants to be issued in connection with the Proposed Public Offering (the 10,000,000 Public Warrants and the 10,250,000 private placement warrants assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised) in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40. Such guidance provides that, because the warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment thereunder, each warrant must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company will classify each warrant as a liability at its fair value. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date. With each such re-measurement, the warrant liability will be adjusted to fair value, with the change in fair value recognized in the Company’s statement of operations.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization at September 30, 2021, and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our 20,000,000 units in this offering for $200,000,000 (or $10.00 per unit) and the sale of 10,250,000 private placement warrants to our sponsor and the underwriters for $10,250,000 (or $1.00 per warrant) and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities:
|
|
|
September 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
As Adjusted(2)
|
|
Promissory note – related party(1)
|
|
|
|
$
|
289,425
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
Deferred underwriting commissions
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,000,000
|
|
|
Warrant Liability(3)
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,977,850
|
|
|
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 240,000,000 shares authorized: ‑0‑ and 20,000,000 shares are subject to possible redemption(4)(5)
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
204,000,000
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, actual and as adjusted; none issued or outstanding, actual and as adjusted
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized, actual
and as adjusted; 6,900,000 and 6,000,000 shares issued and outstanding,
actual and as adjusted, respectively
|
|
|
|
|
690
|
|
|
|
|
|
600
|
|
|
Additional paid-in capital(6)
|
|
|
|
|
24,310
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
|
|
(14,064)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(24,467,514)
|
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
$
|
10,936
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(24,466,914)
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
|
|
$
|
300,361
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
205,510,936
|
|
|
(1)
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of September 30, 2021, there was $289,425 outstanding under the promissory note.
(2)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units and the corresponding forfeiture of 900,000 shares of Class B common stock held by our sponsor.
(3)
We will account for the 20,250,000 warrants to be issued in connection with this offering (the 10,000,000 warrants included in the units and the 10,250,000 private placement warrants, assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised) in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815-40. Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity. Such guidance provides that, because the warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment thereunder, each warrant must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, we will classify each warrant as a liability at its fair value. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date. With each such re-measurement, the warrant liability will be adjusted to fair value, with the change in fair value recognized in our statement of operations. The warrants are also subject to re-evaluation of the proper classification and accounting treatment at each reporting period.
(4)
The as adjusted amount is presented net of proceeds allocated to the public warrants and net of allocated transaction costs related to this offering. The shares of Class A common stock contain redemption rights that make them redeemable by our public stockholders. Accordingly, they are classified within temporary equity in accordance with the guidance provided in ASC 480-10-S99-3A.
(5)
Upon the completion of our initial business combination, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash at a per share price equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any, divided by the number of then-outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein whereby redemptions cannot cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 and any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed business combination. In accordance with the
SEC’s penny stock rules, we will calculate net tangible assets as total assets less intangible assets and liabilities. We expect our net tangible assets following this offering to exceed $5,000,001, as our total assets will primarily consist of the $204,000,000 of proceeds in the trust account and our total liabilities will consist of the warrant liability, deferred underwriting commissions and accrued offering costs.
(6)
As adjusted additional paid-in capital includes the excess of proceeds from the sale of the private placement warrants over their estimated fair value at issuance as a deemed capital contribution from our sponsor and the underwriters, compared to total proceeds of $205,500,000.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on March 10, 2021 and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private placement warrants, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing or other sources.
The issuance of additional shares of our common stock or preferred stock in a business combination:
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may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock;
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may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock are issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
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could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present directors and officers;
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may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us;
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants; and
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may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.
Similarly, if we issue debt or otherwise incur significant indebtedness, it could result in:
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default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
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acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
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our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;
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our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding;
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our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;
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using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
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limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
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increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and
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limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at September 30, 2021 we had $131,976 in cash, a working capital deficit of approximately $443,865 and deferred offering costs of $454,801. Further, we expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our initial business combination. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful.
Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied prior to the completion of this offering through receipt of $25,000 from the sale of the founder shares to our sponsor and up to $300,000 in loans from our sponsor under an unsecured promissory note. As of September 30, 2021, we had borrowed $289,425 under the promissory note. We estimate that the net proceeds from (1) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $750,000 and underwriting commissions of $4,000,000 (excluding deferred underwriting commissions of $8,000,000), or $4,600,000 (excluding deferred underwriting commissions of $9,200,000) if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, and (2) the sale of private placement warrants to our sponsor and the underwriters for a purchase price of $10,250,000 (or $11,450,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be $205,500,000 (or $236,100,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). Of this amount, $204,000,000 (or $234,600,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), an amount equal to this gross proceeds of this offering, including $8,000,000 (or $9,200,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions will be deposited into the trust account. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. Treasuries. The remaining $1,500,000 will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $750,000 we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $750,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon and excluding deferred underwriting commissions) to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest to pay taxes, if any. Delaware franchise tax is based on our authorized shares or on our assumed par and non-par capital, whichever yields a lower result. Under the authorized shares method, each share is taxed at a graduated rate based on the number of authorized shares with a maximum aggregate tax of $200,000 per year. Under the assumed par value capital method, Delaware taxes each $1,000,000 of assumed par value capital at the rate of $350; where assumed par value would be (1) our total gross assets following this offering, divided by (2) our total issued shares of common stock following this offering, multiplied by (3) the number of our authorized shares following this offering. Based on the number of shares of our common stock authorized and outstanding and our estimated total gross proceeds after the completion of this offering, our annual franchise tax obligation is expected to be capped at the maximum amount of annual franchise taxes payable by us as a Delaware corporation of $200,000. Our annual income tax obligations
will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. We expect the only taxes payable by us out of the funds in the trust account will be income and franchise taxes, if any. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our taxes. To the extent that shares of our common stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we will have available to us $1,500,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account. We will use these funds primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, structure and negotiate and complete a business combination, and to pay taxes to the extent the interest earned on the trust account is not sufficient to pay our taxes.
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business prior to our initial business combination, other than any funds available from loans from our sponsor, its affiliates or members of our management team. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans may be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor and the underwriters. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
We expect our primary liquidity requirements during that period to include approximately $400,000 for legal, accounting, due diligence, travel and other expenses in connection with any business combinations; $160,000 for legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting requirements; $165,000 for NYSE continued listing fees; $240,000 for administrative and support services; $500,000 for Director & Officer liability insurance premiums, and approximately $35,000 for general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses and reserves net of estimated interest income.
These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. In addition, we could use a portion of the funds not being placed in trust to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business, the amount that would be used as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision would be determined based on the terms of the specific business combination and the amount of our available funds at the time. Our forfeiture of such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise) could result in our not having sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.
Additionally, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon
completion of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. If we have not consummated our initial business combination within the required time period because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account.
Controls and Procedures
We are not currently required to evaluate and report on our system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2022. Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.
Prior to the closing of this offering, we have not completed an assessment, nor has our independent registered public accounting firm tested our systems, of our internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Many small and mid-sized target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:
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staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;
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reconciliation of accounts;
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proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;
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evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;
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documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and
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documentation of accounting policies and procedures.
Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expenses in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively may also take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.
Once our management’s report on internal controls is complete, we will retain our independent registered public accounting firm to audit and render an opinion on such report when required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The independent registered public accounting firm may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal controls while performing their audit of internal control over financial reporting.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be invested in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
Related Party Transactions
On March 16, 2021, our sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, to cover certain of our offering costs in consideration of 8,625,000 founder shares and an aggregate of 142,500 of such shares were subsequently transferred to our independent directors, executive officers and special advisor and other third parties. On November 30, 2021, our sponsor voluntarily forfeited certain founder shares such that our initial stockholders, consisting of our sponsor, independent directors, certain advisors and an additional party, now collectively hold 6,900,000 founders shares. The purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash used to purchase such shares by the number of founder shares issued. Our initial stockholders will collectively own approximately 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Up to 900,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
We will enter into a support services agreement pursuant to which we will pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, support and administrative services. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions — Support Services Agreement.” Upon the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Our sponsor, directors, officers and special advisor, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or our or any of their respective affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of September 30, 2021, we had borrowed $289,425 under the promissory note. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of March 1, 2022 and the closing of this offering. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $750,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions).
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans may be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor and the underwriters. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
Our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 9,250,000 warrants (or 10,450,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $9,250,000, or $10,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and the underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (which is not subject to
increase if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), also at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $1,000,000), in each case pursuant to a written agreement in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor, the underwriters or their permitted transferees: (1) they will not be redeemable by us (except as described below under “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Redeemable Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”); (2) they (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; (3) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (4) they (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights.
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement that we will enter into with our initial stockholders on or prior to the closing of this offering, we may be required to register certain securities for sale under the Securities Act. These holders, and holders of warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, are entitled under the registration rights agreement to make up to three demands that we register certain of our securities held by them for sale under the Securities Act and to have the securities covered thereby registered for resale pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In addition, these holders have the right to include their securities in other registration statements filed by us. However, the registration rights agreement provides that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until the securities covered thereby are released from their lock-up restrictions, as described herein. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing any such registration statements. See “Principal Stockholders — Registration Rights.”
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results
As of September 30, 2021, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus as we have conducted no operations to date.
JOBS Act
The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things: (1) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; (2) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; (3) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis); and (4) disclose certain executive compensation-related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the principal executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of this offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
PROPOSED BUSINESS
General
We are a newly formed blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
We believe that our management team’s decades of experience and relationships with leading businesses in the foodservice industry and their founders, executives and investors, the extensive industry and geographical reach of our management team’s network and our management team’s prior experience in private markets investing will give us a competitive advantage in pursuing a broad range of opportunities in many industries. Although we may pursue an initial business combination target in any sector, industry or geographic location, we currently intend to focus our efforts on identifying business combination targets in the foodservice industry, including:
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foodservice equipment and supply manufacturers,
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commercial food manufacturers,
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commercial food dealers,
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industry adjacent digital businesses,
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emerging restaurant concepts, and
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other similar categories of businesses.
Our management team has decades of experience as operating executives, with demonstrated success growing and investing in foodservice businesses. As both investors and operators, members of our management team have extensive insight into industry and acquisition trends and they have a vast network of industry relationships. Our management team has proficiency in utilizing industry trends and capitalizing on them through acquisition, start-up business creation, and strategic planning. We understand the challenges that the foodservice industry currently faces and believe our team can not only identify a suitable business combination target, but also assist that business in finding opportunities to maximize growth and profitability through strategic plans or acquisition. Additionally, members of our board of directors and our advisors have diverse and additive experiences and networks, enhancing our ability to successfully execute a merger.
We expect to target companies with certain industry and business characteristics, including long term growth prospects, strong management teams, high barriers to entry, opportunities for further acquisition, strong recurring revenues, sustainable operating margins and attractive free cash flow characteristics.
Our Management Team
Our management team consists of individuals who are experienced executives, operators, deal-makers, entrepreneurs and investors, with deep experience driving growth by optimizing operations, identifying strategic growth initiatives, and sourcing/structuring accretive acquisitions. Collectively the team possesses a wide-ranging set of competencies, with exceptional financial acumen and an extensive track record of growth and value creation. Our management team has differentiated experience, representing the two main business verticals within the industry, manufacturing and distribution. This experience is represented across various growth trajectories and strategic plans. The team is led by Jerry Hyman and Keith Jaffee. In addition, our management team controls our sponsor and contributed a significant portion of the funds that our sponsor will use to purchase warrants, which funds will in turn be used to pay our operating expenses and the non-deferred portion of the underwriters’ compensation. Our initial stockholders, consisting of our sponsor, independent directors, certain advisors and an additional party, also currently own 6,900,000 shares of Class B common stock, up to 900,000 of which are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. The Class B common stock
will automatically convert into Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination as described in the section entitled “Description of Securities.” Accordingly, we believe that our management team is incentivized and has the appropriate expertise to identify and acquire a high quality, high growth business in the food service industry.
Our Chairman, Jerry Hyman, is a foodservice industry veteran who spent 17 year as CEO of TriMark USA, from 2003 to 2020, leading it to become the largest foodservice dealer in the United States, and currently serves as its chairman. Jerry joined the business that became TriMark USA in 1981. During his time as CEO, annual revenue increased from approximately $50 million to $2.1 billion. Under Jerry’s leadership, TriMark USA successfully executed an industry roll-up strategy with four successive private equity sponsors. During his tenures with each private equity sponsor, including Bradford Equities, Audax Group, Warburg Pincus, and a joint venture of Blackstone and Centerbridge, Jerry transformed the businesses, through both acquisition-driven and organic growth. Notably, during his tenure as CEO, many of the acquisitions TriMark USA completed were sourced on a proprietary basis, demonstrating his repeated ability to achieve compelling acquisition multiples. Beyond acquisitions and growth strategies, Jerry undertook a number of initiatives as CEO, including e-commerce, private label product development, and employee development. By 2019, the business had grown to encompass 3,100 employees, over 60 locations, and approximately 3.1 million square feet of warehouse and office space. During the 2008 financial crisis to 2021, Jerry founded NexGen Procurement Corp., a unique industry buying group, whose members consisted of TriMark USA and several of the other largest, competing distributors in the foodservice equipment space, which was created to focus the supply chain of the industry’s largest manufacturers and dealers to maximize profitability through increased volume. From NexGen’s establishment through January 2020, Jerry has served as its President and was also a member of its board until he stepped down from his role as TriMark CEO. Under his leadership, NexGen grew to over $4 billion in purchasing volume and changed the dynamics in the industry.
The career of our CEO, Keith Jaffee, has spanned four decades with a focus on buying and building companies in the commercial foodservice equipment and consumer products sectors. He is a career operator focused on manufacturing and distribution process improvement, business simplification/consolidation, industry relationships, and opportunistic acquisitions that offer value creation through synergy. Keith began his career at AMCO Corporation in 1982, a Chicago-based manufacturer in the foodservice equipment and supply industry, with a primary focus on commercial storage products. Keith served as President and CEO of AMCO from 1986 through 1997. As CEO, Keith oversaw its acquisition by Leggett & Platt (“L&P”), a publicly traded diversified manufacturer. Following the transaction, at L&P Keith served as the President of the Storage Products Group and eventually the Store Fixtures Group. While overseeing these divisions, Keith’s focus was on the acquisition and consolidation of 15 separate businesses in the categories, amounting hundreds of millions of dollars in completed acquisitions. At L&P in 2000, the combined 25 operating businesses under his management produced significant revenues, primarily from the foodservice and big-box retail channels. In 2001, an investment group led by Keith purchased select businesses of the Storage Products Group division from L&P to form Focus Products Group, where he was the Chairman and CEO from 2001 through 2009. Focus Products Group went on to become a collection of brands and businesses in the housewares, foodservice, and hospitality industry. Through both organic growth and 16 accretive acquisitions, Focus Products Group grew to a business with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue in 2006. Keith sold Focus Products Group in 2006 to a Chicago-based private equity group, Sterling Partners, realizing a significant return on invested capital. Since then, Keith has remained active in the industry, most recently serving on the Board of Directors at Edward Don, as Strategic Advisor at Adams Burch, and as financial sponsor of both Snapdrape Brands and FoodServiceExchange. Additionally, from 1998 to 1999 Keith served as the first 2-year President of NAFEM (North American Food Equipment Manufacturers). In 2015, NAFEM honored Keith with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Our Chief Financial Officer, George Courtot, comes to us with 23 years of experience in the foodservice industry. In 1996, George joined the business that became TriMark USA as Chief Financial Officer. He partnered with Jerry Hyman to complete 14 acquisitions and assist in growing the business to $2.1 billion in revenue. Prior to joining TriMark USA, George worked for 16 years at V.P. Winter Distributing Company (Winter), a wholesale distributor in the millwork distribution industry, privately held and later a subsidiary of a publicly traded United Kingdom company. During his tenure at Winter, George held the positions of Chief Financial Officer and Division President.
Our Directors
Our Directors have a diverse set of experiences, across a number of industries and transactions. Our director nominees are Bruce Lubin, Gill Rimsza, Otis Carter and Peter Cameron, each of whom we expect to be independent directors upon consummation of this offering.
Bruce Lubin served as the Vice Chairman of CIBC Bank USA, which has over $40 billion in assets from January 2020 through December 2021, after having served as President of CIBC Illinois Commercial Banking following CIBC’s acquisition of Private Bank. Over his 37-year career in commercial banking, he played an integral part of both the growth and M&A strategy of several banks leading several multi-billion dollar transactions. His career began at Exchange National Bank from 1981 to 1989, leading to the ultimate sale to LaSalle National Bank. He then went on to a leadership role at LaSalle, serving as Executive Vice President. Bruce helped to grow LaSalle’s assets significantly from 1989 to 2007. In 2007, Bruce was part of the team that executed a sale to Bank of America for $21 billion. At that time, he left to join publicly-listed Private Bank. Bruce currently serves as a Board Member of the Governing Committee of AJC and Board Member of the Civic Consulting Alliance.
Otis Carter has served as General Counsel of CMS/Nextech, a portfolio company of Audax Group, since January 2021, where he is responsible for all legal, governance and compliance matters, as well as executing strategic M&A activities. Prior to CMS/Nextech, he served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for TriMark USA from 2014 to 2021, partnering with Mr. Hyman to lead the negotiation and execution of strategic partnerships and M&A transactions that led to TriMark USA becoming the country’s largest commercial foodservice equipment and supplies dealer. Before TriMark USA, Mr. Carter was a private equity attorney with Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Ropes & Gray LLP, representing private equity sponsors, alternative asset managers and their portfolio companies on M&A and financing transactions as large as $7 billion. Mr. Carter earned his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, and his M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Peter Cameron is the Co-Owner of Farberware Licensing and Chairman and CEO of Acuity Management Inc. Acuity is an investment management company that owns and operates several commercial real estate and manufacturing enterprises. From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Cameron served as the CEO and later as the Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lenox Corporation, a manufacturer of tableware, giftware and collectible products. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Cameron served as CEO of Waterford Wedgwood plc, a manufacturer of fine china and crystal products, and from 1997 to 2003 Mr. Cameron was the CEO and president of All Clad Holdings, a manufacturer of cookware products that was acquired by Waterford in 2004. From 1988 to 1995, Mr. Cameron served in various senior level management capacities within Hanson plc, including as chairman of U.S. Industries Housewares Group, and president and CEO of Farberware, Inc. Prior to that, Cameron was CEO and president of Revereware, a leading manufacturer of branded cookware sold to department store and mass merchant channels. Cameron has also held senior management positions at Polaroid Corp., Bowmar Instrumental Corporation, and Starcraft. Mr. Cameron also serves on the boards of Northeastern University, Chapel Hill, The International Housewares Charity Foundation, Acuity Management, Farberware Licensing Co., Hartmann and Lenox Corporation.
Our Special Advisor
Brett Biggs is the Chief Financial Officer of Walmart and Head of Walmart Enterprise Solutions. As CFO at Walmart since 2016, Brett is responsible for finance functions including strategy, merchandising, logistics, financial services, real estate, operations, and financial planning & analysis. Prior to his current role, Brett served as CFO for other Walmart divisions, including Walmart International, Walmart U.S., and Sam's Club. He also served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Sam's Club, Senior Vice President of Capital Markets, and Senior Vice President International Strategy/M&A. Prior to joining Walmart in 2000, Brett worked in M&A at L&P, where he supported the Storage Products and Store Fixture Groups, which were run by Keith Jaffee. Brett brings significant experience and expertise in a number of areas, including multi-billion-dollar M&A, public company governance, shareholder value creation, capital markets, public company strategy, international operations, and strategy. Alongside the Walmart Executive Team, Brett has helped to create nearly $200 billion in market value for shareholders since assuming the role of CFO.
Our special advisor will assist our management team with sourcing and evaluating business opportunities and devising plans and strategies to optimize any business that we acquire following the consummation of this offering. However, unlike our management team, our special advisor will not be responsible for managing our day-to-day affairs and will have no authority to engage in substantive discussions with business combination targets on our behalf.
Our Approach
Our business strategy is to identify and complete our initial business combination with one or more target companies that complement the experiences and skills of our leadership team and can benefit from their operational and strategic guidance. We will look for a company or companies with strong and proven business practices in place and plan to support the management team to accelerate growth.
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdowns decimated the restaurant industry and its affiliated suppliers. We are confident the industry will prove to be resilient due to a pent-up demand, especially for businesses with sufficient and opportunistic capital and the vision to explore further acquisitions or strategic growth plans. We believe the recent turmoil across the foodservice industry presents a unique opportunity to identify, accelerate, and improve an already successful foodservice business. Our management team has a deep understanding of the industry dynamics, distribution, and brands necessary to capitalize on that opportunity. Furthermore, they have a track record of creating significant stockholder value, structuring deals and operating various businesses throughout the industry. This includes implementing strategic growth initiatives for their own businesses that proved to be industry defining as whole.
Upon completion of this offering, our leadership team will leverage their extensive networks of relationships to identify a business combination target. Given the current environment for the industry, we believe the target company that we identify can significantly benefit from our industry experience, expertise, and vision.
Our Opportunity
The foodservice industry is a large, resilient, and fragmented industry, achieving $864.3 billion in revenue in 2019, according to the National Restaurant Association. Within the industry, the global foodservice equipment and supply (“E&S”) space represented $34.7 billion in 2020, according to Grand View Research, which supports not only the restaurant industry but also, hospitals, hotels, nursing homes, and government entities. In addition, the industry supplies products to a number of incremental yet substantive channels including grocery, vending, industrial and residential. The E&S industry has seen some consolidation in recent years but remains generally fragmented, as ownership of businesses often remains with affiliated parties for decades, presenting an opportunity for capital injection and revitalization at these businesses.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the North American E&S industry experienced a contraction of approximately 22% in 2020. This compares to an estimated 27.8% loss for the broader foodservice industry. Based on a public report by Technomic, a restaurant industry publication, the restaurant industry could experience a full recovery by 2023, which implies a compelling growth trend of approximately 9% annually. Furthermore, industry investment is supported by The Restaurant Revitalization Fund, part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act signed into law on March 11, 2021, which has committed to awarding $28.6 billion of direct funding to restaurants. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan Act also will provide hundreds of billions of dollars of other indirect stimulus, supporting the already pent-up demand, as the consumers should emerge from COVID-19 mandated restrictions with strong savings and spending appetites. The industry has begun its recovery from its second quarter 2020 low point, but the marketplace and segmentation have proven to be non-uniform.
The current crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated many of the trends that can be seen across other industry verticals. These include digitization, robotics, food delivery, and sanitization. We believe that the pandemic and the subsequent impact on the industry, creates an opportunity to capitalize on these dynamics. Our deep experience in the industry, navigating various inflection points, will allow us to identify the next generation of public foodservice companies that can benefit from not only our investor’s capital but our proven vision and strategy.
Our Acquisition Criteria
When evaluating target companies, we anticipate that we will use the following base criteria to identify opportunities while remaining open to expanding the evaluation process criteria set forth below. While we will use the criteria and guidelines below for evaluation purposes, we may decide to enter into a business combination with a target company that does not meet any of these criteria. Our specific areas of focus are:
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Iconic brands or established platforms in the foodservice industry that are leaders in their respective category.
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Enterprise value range of $1 billion to $5 billion and prepared to operate as a public company from the perspective of its senior management, current ownership, and relevant business metrics.
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Apparent and accessible opportunities for growth, through organic initiatives or acquisition.
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Strong and seasoned management that can benefit from our leadership team’s industry focus and expertise, proven track record, and strategic guidance to further expand their position in the industry.
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Well-incentivized management team that is aligned in an effort to create significant stockholder value.
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Barriers to entry, including brand, manufacturing ability, intellectual property, distribution capabilities, market positioning, or technology.
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Strong financial positioning, including strong unit economics, margin sustainability, recurring revenue, and a conservative debt to enterprise value ratio.
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Demonstrated ability to remain a healthy, growing platform for equity investors despite the industry challenges, with an established business model and sustainable competitive advantages.
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Attractive valuation relative to its existing financial metrics, and relative to public comparable companies, with potential for further significant operational improvement presenting an attractive potential return for stockholders.
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Benefits from being publicly traded and having access to the public capital markets, enhancing its ability to pursue accretive acquisitions, high-return capital projects, and/or strengthen its balance sheet.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we would file with the SEC. In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, as well as reviewing financial and other information which will be made available to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, directors, officers or special advisor, or making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, directors or officers. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, directors or officers, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
Each of our sponsor, directors, officers and special advisor will, directly or indirectly, own founder shares and/or private placement warrants following this offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate
our initial business combination. Further, such officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
Past experience or performance of our sponsor, directors or management team or their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either (1) our ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (2) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our sponsor, directors or management team or their respective affiliates as indicative of future performance. See “Risk Factors — Past performance by our management team or their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.” Our management has no prior experience in operating blank check companies or special purpose acquisition companies.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity subject to his or her fiduciary duties. As a result, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will need to honor such fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, before we can pursue such opportunity. If these other entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing the same. However, we do not expect these duties to materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any business combination opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. In addition, the fiduciary duties and contractual obligations of our officers and directors to other entities, including confidentiality obligations that may restrict their ability to share with us or utilize on our behalf information they learn that could be beneficial to us, may otherwise adversely affect our ability to identify or pursue certain business combination opportunities. Our special advisor will have no fiduciary obligation to present business opportunities to us.
Our officers, directors, special advisor and any of their respective affiliates may sponsor or form, or, in the case of individuals, serve as a director, officer or advisor of, other blank check companies similar to ours during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target. However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Initial Business Combination
As required by NYSE listing rules, approval of our initial business combination will require the affirmative vote of a majority of our board of directors, which must include a majority of our independent directors. So long as our securities are then listed on the NYSE, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of a target business or businesses, it may be unable to do so if the board is less familiar or experienced with the target company’s business, there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the company’s assets or prospects, including if such company is at an early stage of development, operations or growth, or if the anticipated transaction involves a complex financial analysis or other specialized skills and the board determines that outside expertise would be helpful or necessary in conducting such analysis. Since any opinion, if obtained, would merely state that the fair market
value of the target business meets the 80% of net assets threshold, unless such opinion includes material information regarding the valuation of a target business or the consideration to be provided, it is not anticipated that copies of such opinion would be distributed to our stockholders. However, if required under applicable law, any proxy statement that we deliver to stockholders and file with the SEC in connection with a proposed transaction will include such opinion.
Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to register our securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of suspending or terminating our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-business combination company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-business combination company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for the post-business combination company not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Even if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target or issue a substantial number of new shares to third-parties in connection with financing our initial business combination. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-business combination company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses. If our securities are not then listed on the NYSE for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% of net asset test.
To the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor.
Other Considerations
We currently do not have any specific business combination under consideration. Our officers and directors have neither individually selected nor considered a target business nor have they had any substantive discussions regarding possible target businesses among themselves or with our underwriters or other
advisors. Our management team and board of directors is regularly made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for a business combination, but we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf) contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to a business combination transaction with our company. Additionally, we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, taken any substantive measure, directly or indirectly, to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate for us, nor have we engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any such acquisition candidate.
Status as a Public Company
We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we offer target businesses an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination. In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their capital stock, shares or other equity securities in the target business for our shares or for a combination of our shares and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers. Although there are various costs and obligations associated with being a public company, we believe target businesses will find this method a more certain and cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. In a typical initial public offering, there are additional expenses incurred in marketing, road show and public reporting efforts that may not be present to the same extent in connection with a business combination with us.
Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay or prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital, including potentially for use in connection with acquisitions and other strategic transactions, and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with stockholders’ interests. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter and our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year, or (2) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
Financial Position
With funds available for a business combination initially in the amount of $187,250,000 assuming no redemptions and after payment of $8,000,000 of deferred underwriting fees (or $215,450,000 assuming no redemptions and after payment of $9,200,000 of deferred underwriting fees if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in each case, after payment of estimated offering expenses of $750,000 but including the $1,500,000 of offering proceeds held outside the trust account, we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination
of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third-party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.
Completing Our Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to complete our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, our shares, debt or a combination of these as the consideration to be paid in our initial business combination. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If our initial business combination is funded using equity consideration or the proceeds of any equity or debt financing, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or the redemptions of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the trust account.
In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our tender offer documents or proxy materials disclosing the business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law or stock exchange listing rules or we decide to do so for business or other reasons, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third-party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of our Initial Business Combination
NYSE listing rules require that our initial business combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account). We refer to this as the “80% fair market value test.” The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as discounted cash flow valuation or value of comparable businesses. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination, although there is no assurance that will be the case. Subject to this requirement, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination solely with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In any case, we will only complete an initial business combination if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for the post-business combination company not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-business combination company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. There is no basis for investors in this
offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our initial business combination.
To the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information, which will be made available to us.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. If we complete our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
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subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination; and
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cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services.
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team
Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of completing our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’s management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Following our initial business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve our Initial Business Combination
We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC subject to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. However, we will seek
stockholder approval if it is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons. Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business combinations we may consider and whether stockholder approval is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.
Type of Transaction
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Whether Stockholder
Approval is Required
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Purchase of assets
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No
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Purchase of stock of target not involving a merger with the company
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No
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Merger of target with a subsidiary of the company
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No
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Merger of the company with a target
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Yes
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However, under the NYSE’s listing rules, stockholder approval would typically be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
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we issue (other than in a public offering for cash) shares of our common stock that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of our shares of common stock then outstanding;
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any of our directors, officers or substantial security holder (as defined by the NYSE rules) has a 5% or greater interest, directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise and the present or potential issuance of common stock could result in an increase in issued and outstanding common stock or voting power of 1% or more (or 5% or more if the related party involved is classified as such solely because such person is a substantial security holder);
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the issuance or potential issuance of shares of our common stock will result in our undergoing a change of control; or
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we seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination in those instances in which stockholder approval is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rule will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and other reasons, which include a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:
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the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine stockholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek stockholder approval or doing so would place the company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the company;
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the expected cost of holding a stockholder vote;
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the risk that the stockholders would fail to approve the proposed business combination;
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other time and budget constraints of the company; and
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additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to stockholders.
Permitted Purchases and Other Transactions with Respect to our Securities
In the event we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit on the number of securities such persons may purchase. Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. In the event our initial stockholders, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective
affiliates determine to undertake any such transactions, such transactions could have the effect of influencing the vote necessary to approve such transaction. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or warrants in any such transactions. They will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the sellers or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. Subsequent to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt an insider trading policy which will require insiders to (1) refrain from purchasing securities during certain blackout periods and when they are in possession of any material non-public information and (2) clear certain trades prior to execution.
In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights or submitted a proxy to vote against our initial business combination, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares and any proxy to vote against our initial business combination. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will be required to comply with such rules.
The purpose of such transaction could be to (1) vote in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of our initial business combination, (2) reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination or (3) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. This may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our securities and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor and/or any of their respective affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates may pursue privately negotiated transactions by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders (in the case of public shares) following our mailing of tender offer or proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates enter into a private transaction, they would identify and contact only potential selling or redeeming stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination. Such persons would select the stockholders from whom to acquire shares based on the number of shares available, the negotiated price per share and such other factors as any such person may deem relevant at the time of purchase. The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. Our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates will be restricted from purchasing shares if such purchases do not comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor and/or any of their respective affiliates will be restricted from making purchases of our common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.
Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal
to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. At the completion of our initial business combination, we will be required to purchase any public shares properly delivered for redemption and not withdrawn. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.20 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (1) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the business combination or (2) by means of a tender offer. Except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval under Delaware law while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and transactions where we seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would typically require stockholder approval under Delaware law. Any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding common stock would typically require stockholder approval under NYSE listing rules. See “Proposed Business — Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve our Initial Business Combination.” We intend to conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons.
If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and
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file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we and our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such initial business combination, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target).
If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and
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file proxy materials with the SEC.
We expect that a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least ten days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Although we are not required to do so, we currently intend to comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A in connection with any stockholder vote even if we are not able to maintain our NYSE listing or Exchange Act registration.
In the event that we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination, unless a greater vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders, officers, directors and special advisor will count towards this quorum and have agreed to vote any founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds and agreements, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights. In addition, our initial stockholders have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of a business combination.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions. Redemptions of our public shares may also be subject to a higher net tangible asset test or cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed business combination may require: (1) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners; (2) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes; or (3) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all public shares that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination (including, potentially, with the same target).
Limitation on Redemption upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination if we Seek Stockholder Approval
Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange
Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed business combination as a means to force us or our sponsor or its affiliates to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our sponsor or its affiliates at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By imposing such limitations on our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, without our prior consent, as described above, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
Tendering Stock Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Pursuant to the tender offer rules, the tender offer period will be not less than 20 business days and, in the case of a stockholder vote, a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least ten days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Given the relatively short period in which to exercise redemption rights, it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker a fee of approximately $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.
The foregoing is different from the procedures used by many blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, many blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an “option window” after the completion of the business combination during which he or she could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he or she could sell his or her shares in the open market before actually delivering his or her shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would
become “option” rights surviving past the completion of the business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election to redeem is irrevocable once the business combination is approved.
Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the tender offer materials or two business days prior to the scheduled date of the stockholder meeting set forth in our proxy materials, as applicable (unless we elect to allow additional withdrawal rights). Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.
If our initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.
If our initial proposed business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete a business combination with a different target until 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period.
Extension of Time to Complete Business Combination
If we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering, we may, at our sponsor’s option, extend the period of time to consummate a business combination for up to two Funded Extension Periods without stockholder approval (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a business combination), so long as our sponsor or its affiliates or designees deposit into the trust account: (i) with respect to a single Funded Extension Period, an additional Extension Payment (for an aggregate of $2,000,000, or $2,300,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and (ii) with respect to two consecutive Funded Extension Periods, an Extension Payment prior to each Funded Extension Period, or $0.20 per unit in the aggregate (for an aggregate of $4,000,000, or $4,600,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), upon five days advance notice prior to the applicable deadline pursuant to the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to be entered into between us and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. However, if, prior to the time that an Extension Payment would otherwise be due for either Funded Extension Period, we enter into a definitive agreement with respect to our initial business combination, no Extension Payment will be required for that Funded Extension Period, and the period of time to consummate a business transaction will be extended for the duration of that Funded Extension Period; provided, that our entry into a definitive agreement may only be used to substitute for a single Extension Payment. Our public stockholders will not be entitled to vote or redeem their shares in connection with any Funded Extension Periods, whether as a result of an Extension Payment or a definitive agreement. Our sponsor or its affiliates or designees will receive a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note equal to the amount of any such deposit that will not be repaid in the event that we are unable to close a business combination unless there are funds available outside the trust account to do so. Such notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, or, at the lender’s discretion, converted upon consummation of our business combination into additional warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant. In the event that we receive notice from our sponsor or its affiliates or designees five days prior to the applicable deadline of the sponsor’s intent to effect an extension, we intend to issue a press release announcing such intention at least three days prior to the applicable deadline. In addition, we intend to issue a press release the day after the applicable deadline announcing whether or not the funds had been timely deposited. Our sponsor or its affiliates or designees are not obligated to fund the trust account to extend the time for us to complete our initial business combination. To the extent that some, but not all, of the members of our sponsor or its affiliates or designees decide to extend the period of time to consummate our initial business combination, our sponsor or its affiliates or designees may elect to deposit the entire amount required. Any notes issued pursuant to these loans would be in addition to any notes issued pursuant to working capital loans made to us.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if No Initial Business Combination
Our sponsor, directors and officers have agreed that we will initially have only 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) to complete our initial business combination. If we have not completed our initial business combination within such period or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights. Furthermore, our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period. However, if our initial stockholders, directors, officers or special advisor acquire public shares, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time frame to complete our initial business combination.
Our sponsor, directors, officers and special advisor have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares. However, we may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions.
We expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the $1,500,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. However, if those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay taxes, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $10.20. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public
stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than $10.20. See “Risk Factors — If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period)” and other risk factors described above. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.
Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third-party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will enter into an agreement with a third-party that has not executed a waiver only if management believes that such third-party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third-party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where we are unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason.
Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third-party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period) or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third-party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third-party, then our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, we believe it is unlikely that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, and therefore, no funds are currently set aside to cover any such obligations. None of our other officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below (1) $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period) or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. Accordingly, we
cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be substantially less than $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period). See “Risk Factors — If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period)” and other risk factors described above.
We will seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to $1,500,000 from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $750,000, we may fund such excess with funds from the funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $750,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period, is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution. If we have not completed our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as
soon as reasonably possible following the end of our acquisition period and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent ten years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account.
As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the trust account is remote. Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the trust account are not reduced below: (1) $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period); or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third-party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third-party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims.
If we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.20 per share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period) to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer,” a “fraudulent conveyance” or a “voidable transfer.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims seeking damages, including potential punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons. See “Risk Factors — If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims seeking damages, including potential punitive damages.”
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (1) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the
time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of our public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the consummation of our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, if we seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such amendment. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights. Furthermore, our initial stockholders, officers, directors and special advisor have agreed to waive any redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with any such amendment. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that:
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prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we shall either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public stockholders may seek to redeem their public shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of our initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), or (2) provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to tender their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of our initial business combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), in each case subject to the limitations described herein;
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we will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation;
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solely if we seek stockholder approval, a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination at a duly held stockholders meeting, unless a greater vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules;
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if we have not completed our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law; and
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prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (1) receive funds from the trust account or (2) vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any initial business combination or any amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of holders of at least 65% of our issued and outstanding common stock.
Additionally, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors and that holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of a majority of at least 90% of the outstanding shares of our common stock voting at a stockholder meeting.
Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws, or as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders.
Comparison of Redemption or Purchase Prices in Connection with our Initial Business Combination and if we Fail to Complete our Initial Business Combination.
The following table compares the redemptions and other permitted purchases of public shares that may take place in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and if we have not completed our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period.
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Redemptions in
Connection with our
Initial Business
Combination
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Other Permitted Purchases of
Public Shares by our
Affiliates
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Redemptions if we fail to
Complete an Initial
Business Combination
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Calculation of redemption price
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Redemptions at the time of our initial business combination may be made pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. The redemption price will be the same whether we conduct redemptions pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. In either case, our public stockholders may redeem their public shares for cash equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination (which is
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit to the prices that our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or their affiliates may pay in these transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when
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If we have not completed our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, we will redeem all public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (which is initially anticipated to be $10.20 per share), including interest (less up to
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Redemptions in
Connection with our
Initial Business
Combination
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Other Permitted Purchases of
Public Shares by our
Affiliates
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Redemptions if we fail to
Complete an Initial
Business Combination
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initially anticipated to be $10.20 per public share), including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any, divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to the limitation that no redemptions will take place if all of the redemptions would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions, and any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) agreed to in connection with the negotiation of terms of a proposed business combination.
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they are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the sellers or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase shares in such transactions. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will be required to comply with such rules.
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$100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares.
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Redemptions in
Connection with our
Initial Business
Combination
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Other Permitted Purchases of
Public Shares by our
Affiliates
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Redemptions if we fail to
Complete an Initial
Business Combination
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Impact to remaining stockholders
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The redemptions in connection with our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for our remaining stockholders, who will bear the burden of the deferred underwriting commissions and interest withdrawn in order to pay taxes (to the extent not paid from amounts accrued as interest on the funds held in the trust account).
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If the permitted purchases described above are made, there will be no impact to our remaining stockholders because the purchase price would not be paid by us.
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The redemption of our public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for the shares held by our initial stockholders, who will be our only remaining stockholders after such redemptions.
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Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419
The following table compares the terms of this offering to the terms of an offering by a blank check company subject to the provisions of Rule 419. This comparison assumes that the gross proceeds, underwriting commissions and underwriting expenses of our offering would be identical to those of an offering undertaken by a company subject to Rule 419, and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the provisions of Rule 419 apply to our offering.
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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Escrow of offering proceeds
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$204,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will be deposited into a U.S.-based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.
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Approximately $169,200,000 of the offering proceeds, representing the gross proceeds of this offering less allowable underwriting commissions, expenses and company deductions under Rule 419, would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account.
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Investment of net proceeds
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$204,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants held in trust will be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.
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Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States.
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Receipt of interest on escrowed funds
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Interest income (if any) on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to stockholders is reduced by (1) any taxes paid or payable thereon and (2) in the event of our liquidation for failure to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time, up to $100,000 of net interest that may be released to us should we have no or insufficient working capital to fund the costs and expenses of our dissolution and liquidation.
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Interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our completion of a business combination.
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Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business
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The NYSE rules require that our initial business combination must occur with one or more target
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The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our assets held in the trust account (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting discounts held in trust and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of signing the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. If our securities are not then listed on the NYSE for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% of net asset test.
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offering proceeds.
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Trading of securities issued
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The units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The shares of Class A common stock and warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus (or, if such date is not a business day, the following business day) unless BTIG informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
The units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our initial business combination.
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No trading of the units or the underlying shares of Class A common stock and warrants would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account.
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Exercise of the warrants
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The warrants cannot be exercised until the later of 30 days after the
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The warrants could be exercised prior to the completion of a
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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completion of our initial business combination and twelve months from the closing of this offering.
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business combination, but securities received and cash paid in connection with the exercise would be deposited in the escrow or trust account.
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Election to remain an investor
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We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest, which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein. We may not be required by applicable law or stock exchange rules to hold a stockholder vote. If we are not required by applicable law or stock exchange rules and do not otherwise decide to hold a stockholder vote, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, we hold a stockholder vote, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. Pursuant to the tender offer rules, the tender offer period will be not less than 20 business days and, in the case of a stockholder vote, a final proxy statement would be mailed to
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A prospectus containing information pertaining to the business combination required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of a post-effective amendment to the company’s registration statement, to decide if he, she or it elects to remain a stockholder of the company or require the return of his, her or its investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all funds on deposit in the escrow account must be returned to all of the investors and none of the securities are issued.
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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public stockholders at least ten days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination, unless a greater vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting and, if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
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Business combination deadline
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If we have not completed our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, we will (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on
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If an acquisition has not been completed within 18 months after the effective date of the company’s registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors.
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any, (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
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Release of funds
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Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, the funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of: (1) our completion of an initial business combination; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or
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The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time.
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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(B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of our public shares if we have not completed an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), subject to applicable law.
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Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a stockholder vote
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect Excess Shares (more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering), without our prior consent. Our public stockholders’ inability to redeem Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and they could suffer a material loss on their investment in us if they sell Excess Shares in open market transactions.
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Most blank check companies provide no restrictions on the ability of stockholders to redeem shares based on the number of shares held by such stockholders in connection with an initial business combination.
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Tendering share certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights
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We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer
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In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, holders could vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holders were seeking to exercise their redemption rights.
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve our initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights.
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After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholders to arrange for them to deliver their certificate to verify ownership.
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Competition
We expect to encounter intense and increasing competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment firms), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources or more local industry knowledge than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there are numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, in the event we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we are obligated to pay cash for our shares of Class A common stock, it will potentially reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination. Any of these obligations may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination.
Conflicts of Interest
Our management team, in their capacities as directors, officers or employees of our sponsor or its affiliates or in their other endeavors, may choose to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future entities affiliated with or managed by our sponsor, or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. For more information, see the section entitled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may need to honor these fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity. See “Risk Factors — Each of our directors and officers are now, and may in the future may become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.” In addition, the fiduciary duties and contractual obligations of our officers and directors to other entities, including confidentiality obligations that may restrict their ability to share with us or utilize on our behalf information they learn that could be beneficial to us, may otherwise adversely affect our ability to identify or pursue certain business combination opportunities. Our special advisor will have no fiduciary obligation to present business opportunities to us.
Our Chairman is currently a party to an agreement with TriMark USA that contains a non-compete provision that prohibits him from consummating a transaction with a target company that engages in the business of distribution and sale of restaurant equipment and supplies at the distribution level, including as an equityholder of an entity engaged in such a business. In addition, our Chairman has fiduciary and other duties to TriMark USA as a result of serving as its chairman. Our Chairman will honor such fiduciary and other duties (and the other members of our management team will honor any fiduciary or other duties applicable to them). As a result of the foregoing, we currently do not intend to consummate a business combination with a target engaged in the industry sector covered by our Chairman’s non-compete. However, we do not believe that the foregoing will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Indemnity
Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third-party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.20 per public share (subject to increase for any additional amounts deposited into the trust account in respect of any Funded Extension Period) or (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third-party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third-party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, we believe it is unlikely that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations, and therefore, no funds are currently set aside to cover any such obligations.
Facilities
We currently maintain our executive offices are located at 400 Skokie Blvd, Suite 820, Northbrook, Illinois 60062. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We currently have three officers and do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Members of our management team are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time that any such person will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We will register our units, Class A common stock and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public auditors.
We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, U.S. GAAP or IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with PCAOB standards. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with the requirements outlined above, or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
We will be required to evaluate our internal control procedures beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2022 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of suspending or terminating our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not
previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter and our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year, or (2) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such, and we and the members of our management team have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 12 months preceding the date of this prospectus.
MANAGEMENT
Directors, Director Nominees and Officers
Name
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Age
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Title
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Jerry Hyman
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66
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Chairman
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Keith Jaffee
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61
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Chief Executive Officer and Director
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George Courtot
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66
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Chief Financial Officer
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Bruce Lubin
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68
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Director Nominee
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Otis Carter
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43
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Director Nominee
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Peter Cameron
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74
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Director Nominee
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Our directors, director nominees and officers are as follows:
Jerry Hyman has served as our Chairman since our inception in March 2021. Mr. Hyman is a foodservice industry veteran who serves as Chairman of TriMark USA and previously served as Chief Executive Officer of TriMark USA, from 2003 to January 2020. Mr. Hyman joined the business that became TriMark USA in 1981. In addition, from 2008 until January 2020, Mr. Hyman served as President and member of the board of directors of NexGen Procurement Corp, a unique industry buying group. My Hyman is also a Director of Deiorios Foods. We believe Mr. Hyman’s experience as a foodservice industry executive, including 17 years as Chief Executive Officer of TriMark USA, make him qualified to serve on our board of directors.
Keith Jaffee has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a director since our inception in March 2021. Mr. Jaffee has served as Chairman of Middleton Partners since 2010. From 2001 to 2009 Mr. Jaffee was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Focus Products, a collection of brands and businesses in the housewares, foodservice, and hospitality industry. Prior to that, Mr. Jaffee was President of Storage Products Group at Leggett & Platt from 1997 to 2001 and President of the Leggett & Platt Store Fixture Group from 1997 to 2001. Previously, Mr. Jaffee was President of NAFEM (North American Food Equipment Manufacturers). We believe Mr. Jaffee’s experience buying and building companies in the commercial foodservice equipment and consumer products sectors make him qualified to serve on our board of directors.
George Courtot has served as our Chief Financial Officer since March 2021. Mr. Courtot served as Chief Financial Officer of TriMark USA from 1998 to December 2018 and as Business Liaison — Information Technology at TriMark USA from January 2019 to July 2019. Prior to TriMark USA, Mr. Courtot spent 16 years at V.P. Winter Distributing Company where he most recently held the position of Division President.
Bruce Lubin, will be appointed to our board of directors in connection with this offering. From January 2020 through December 2021, Mr. Lubin has served as the Vice Chairman of CIBC Bank USA and prior to that was President, Commercial Banking from September 2017 to January 2020. From 2007 to 2017 he was President of Commercial Banking at Private Bank, which was acquired by CIBC. Prior to that, Mr. Lubin held several leadership roles at LaSalle National Bank, from 1989 to 2007. Mr. Lubin also serves as a board member of the Governing Committee of AJC and board member of the Civic Consulting Alliance. We believe Mr. Lubin’s experience in commercial banking, and track record pursuing both growth and M&A strategies for several banks, make him qualified to serve on our board of directors.
Otis Carter, will be appointed to our board of directors in connection with this offering. Mr. Carter has served as General Counsel of CMS/Nextech, a portfolio company of Audax Group, since January 2021. Prior to that he served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for TriMark USA from 2014 to January 2021. Before joining TriMark USA, Mr. Carter was a private equity attorney with Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Ropes & Gray LLP, representing private equity sponsors, alternative asset managers and their portfolio companies on M&A and financing transactions. We believe Mr. Carter’s experience serving as an executive of businesses in the foodservice industry and as an M&A and financing attorney make him qualified to serve on our board of directors.
Peter Cameron, will be appointed to our board of directors in connection with this offering. Mr. Cameron is the Co-Owner of Farberware Licensing and Chairman and CEO of Acuity Management Inc.
Acuity is an investment management company that owns and operates several commercial real estate and manufacturing enterprises. From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Cameron served as the CEO and later as the Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lenox Corporation, a manufacturer of tableware, giftware and collectible products. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Cameron served as CEO of Waterford Wedgwood plc, a manufacturer of fine china and crystal products, and from 1997 to 2003 Mr. Cameron was the CEO and president of All Clad Holdings, a manufacturer of cookware products that was acquired by Waterford in 2004. From 1988 to 1995, Mr. Cameron served in various senior level management capacities within Hanson plc, including as chairman of U.S. Industries Housewares Group, and president and CEO of Farberware, Inc. Prior to that, Cameron was CEO and president of Revereware, a leading manufacturer of branded cookware sold to department store and mass merchant channels. Cameron has also held senior management positions at Polaroid Corp., Bowmar Instrumental Corporation, and Starcraft. Mr. Cameron also serves on the boards of Northeastern University, Chapel Hill, The International Housewares Charity Foundation, Acuity Management, Farberware Licensing Co., Hartmann and Lenox Corporation. We believe Mr. Cameron’s experience in the foodservice/consumer industries and as a senior manager makes him qualified to serve on our board of directors.
Special Advisor
Brett Biggs will be our special advisor. Mr. Biggs is the Chief Financial Officer of Walmart and Head of Walmart Enterprise Solutions, a position he has held since 2016. Prior to his current role, Mr. Biggs served as CFO for other Walmart divisions, including Walmart International, Walmart U.S., and Sam's Club. He also served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Sam's Club, Senior Vice President of Capital Markets, and Senior Vice President International Strategy/M&A. Prior to joining Walmart in 2000, Mr. Biggs worked in M&A at L&P, where he supported the Storage Products and Store Fixture Groups.
Our special advisor will assist our management team with sourcing and evaluating business opportunities and devising plans and strategies to optimize any business that we acquire following the consummation of this offering. However, unlike our management team, our special advisor will not be responsible for managing our day-to-day affairs and will have no authority to engage in substantive discussions with business combination targets on our behalf.
Number, Terms of Office and Election of Directors and Officers
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we expect that our board of directors will consist of five members.
Our board of directors will be divided into three classes, with only one class of directors being elected in each year and the members of each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving three-year terms. In accordance with the NYSE corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NYSE, although we may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting of stockholders be held for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with a company’s bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Bruce Lubin and Peter Cameron, will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Otis Carter, will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Jerry Hyman and Keith Jaffee, will expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders.
Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to elect all of our directors and remove members of the board of directors for any reason, and holders of our public shares will not have the right to vote on the election of directors during such time. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of a majority of at least 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock voting at a stockholder meeting. Approval of our initial business combination will require the affirmative vote of a majority of our board directors, which must include a majority of our independent directors. Subject to any other special rights applicable to the stockholders, prior to our initial business combination, any vacancies on our board
of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present and voting at the meeting of our board of directors, or by holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock.
Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our amended and restated bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that our officers may consist of a Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, a Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Director Independence
NYSE listing rules require that a majority of our board of directors be independent within one year of our initial public offering. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person that satisfies the applicable objective standards set forth in the listing rules and that, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we expect to have three “independent directors” as defined in the NYSE listing rules and applicable SEC rules prior to completion of this offering. Our board has determined that each of Bruce Lubin, Otis Carter and Peter Cameron is an independent director under applicable SEC and NYSE listing rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Officer and Director Compensation
None of our directors or officers has received directly from us any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on NYSE through the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, pursuant to a support services agreement we will enter into with an affiliate of our sponsor, we will pay such affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office, support and administrative services. In addition, our sponsor, directors and officers, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, directors, officers or our or any of their respective affiliates.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other compensation from the combined company. All compensation will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining executive officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers after the completion of our initial business combination will be determined by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors.
We are not party to any agreements with our directors and officers that provide for benefits upon termination of employment. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business, and we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination should be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our board of directors will have three standing committees: an audit committee; a compensation committee; and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Subject to phase-in rules, the NYSE listing rules and
Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the NYSE listing rules require that the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Each committee will operate under a charter that will be approved by our board of directors and will have the composition and responsibilities described below. The charter of each committee will be available on our website following the closing of this offering.
Audit Committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish an audit committee of the board of directors. The members of our audit committee will be Bruce Lubin, Peter Cameron and Otis Carter. Bruce Lubin will serve as chairman of the audit committee.
Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Bruce Lubin qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules and has accounting or related financial management expertise.
We will adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the purpose and principal functions of the audit committee, including:
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assisting board oversight of (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) our independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, and (4) the performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm;
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the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;
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pre-approving all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures;
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reviewing and discussing with the independent registered public accounting firm all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence;
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setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm;
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setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
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obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent registered public accounting firm describing (1) the independent registered public accounting firm’s internal quality-control procedures and (2) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues;
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meeting to review and discuss our annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, including reviewing our specific disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”;
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reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and
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reviewing with management, the independent registered public accounting firm, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
Compensation Committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors. The members of our compensation committee will be Bruce Lubin and Otis Carter. Otis Carter will serve as chairman of the compensation committee. We will adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail the purpose and responsibility of the compensation committee, including:
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reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;
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reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers;
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reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;
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implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
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assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
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approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees;
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producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and
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reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
The compensation committee charter will also provide that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by NYSE and the SEC.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish a nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors. The members of our nominating and corporate governance committee will be Bruce Lubin and Otis Carter. Otis Carter will serve as chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee. We will adopt a nominating and corporate governance committee charter, which will detail the purpose and responsibilities of the nominating and corporate governance committee, including:
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identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors, consistent with criteria approved by the board of directors, and recommending to the board of directors candidates for nomination for election at the annual stockholder meeting or to fill vacancies on the board of directors;
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developing and recommending to the board of directors and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines and other corporate governance related policies;
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coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the board of directors, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the company; and
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reviewing on a regular basis our overall corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary.
The nominating and corporate governance committee charter will also provide that the nominating and corporate governance committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of, and terminate, any search firm to be used to identify director candidates, and will be directly responsible for approving the search firm’s fees and other retention terms.
We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our public shares will not have the right to recommend director candidates for nomination to our board of directors.
Code of Ethics
Prior to the closing of this offering, we will adopt a code of ethics and business conduct (our “Code of Ethics”) applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We will file a copy of our form of our Code of Ethics as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You will be able to review this document by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website. In addition, a copy of our Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K or on our website, if any. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Conflicts of Interest
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may need to honor these fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. Our directors and officers are also not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. See “Risk Factors — Each of our directors and officers are now, and may in the future may become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.” Our special advisor will have no fiduciary obligation to present business opportunities to us.
We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers will materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination.
Our directors, officers and special advisor may become involved with subsequent special purpose acquisition companies similar to our company. Potential investors should also be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:
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None of our directors, officers or special advisor is required to commit his or her full time to our affairs and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among various business activities.
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In the course of their other business activities, our directors, officers and special advisor may become aware of investment and business opportunities that may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our directors and officers may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. For a complete description of our directors’ and officers’ other affiliations, see “— Directors, Director Nominees and Officers.”
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Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights and our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have further agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder
shares and public shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Additionally, our initial stockholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares if we fail to consummate our initial business combination within 15 (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) months after the closing of this offering or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period. However, if our initial stockholders (or any of our directors, officers, special advisor or affiliates) acquire public shares, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to consummate our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, the proceeds of the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, and the private placement warrants will expire worthless.
•
Pursuant to a letter agreement that our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have entered into with us, with certain limited exceptions, the founder shares will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our initial stockholders until the earlier of: (1) one year after the completion of our initial business combination; and (2) subsequent to our initial business combination (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20-trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property. With certain limited exceptions, the private placement warrants and the shares of Class A common stock underlying such warrants, will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
•
Since our sponsor and directors, officers and special advisor may directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, our directors, officers and special advisor may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination.
•
Our directors and officers may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether to proceed with a particular business combination.
•
Our directors and officers may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such directors and officers was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
•
The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
•
the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
•
the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and
•
it would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our directors and officers have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Furthermore, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the doctrine of corporate opportunity will not apply with respect to any of our directors or officers in circumstances where the application of the doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have, and there will not be any expectancy that any of our directors or officers will offer any such corporate
opportunity of which he or she may become aware to us. Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our directors, officers and director nominees currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations:
|
Individual
|
|
|
Entity
|
|
|
Entity’s Business
|
|
|
Affiliation
|
|
|
Jerry Hyman
|
|
|
TriMark USA
|
|
|
Foodservice
|
|
|
Chairman
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deiorios Foods
|
|
|
Foodservice
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
Keith Jaffee
|
|
|
Middleton Partners
|
|
|
Investments
|
|
|
Chairman
|
|
|
Bruce Lubin
|
|
|
AJC
|
|
|
Non-profit organization
|
|
|
Board member
|
|
|
Otis Carter
|
|
|
CMS/Nextech
|
|
|
Commercial services
|
|
|
General Counsel
|
|
|
Peter Cameron
|
|
|
Farberware Licensing
|
|
|
Cookware
|
|
|
Co-Owner
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acuity Management
|
|
|
Investments
|
|
|
Chairman and CEO
|
|
|
|
|
|
Northeastern University
|
|
|
Educational Institution
|
|
|
Board member
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chapel Hill
|
|
|
Educational Institution
|
|
|
Board member
|
|
|
|
|
|
International Housewares Charity
|
|
|
Non-profit organization
|
|
|
Board member
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hartmann
|
|
|
Luggage and leather goods
|
|
|
Board member
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lenox Corporation
|
|
|
Serveware
|
|
|
Board member
|
|
Accordingly, if any of the above directors or officers become aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for any of the above entities to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. We do not believe, however, that any of the foregoing fiduciary duties or contractual obligations will materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or complete our initial business combination. Our special advisor will have no fiduciary obligation to present business opportunities to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, directors, officers or special advisor. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor or any of our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
In addition, our sponsor or any of its affiliates may make additional investments in the company in connection with the initial business combination, although our sponsor and its affiliates have no obligation or current intention to do so. If our sponsor or any of its affiliates elects to make additional investments, such proposed investments could influence our sponsor’s motivation to complete an initial business combination.
In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders, directors and officers have agreed, pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote (and their permitted transferees are required to agree) any founder shares and public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will
not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted by the DGCL.
We will enter into agreements with our directors and officers to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our amended and restated bylaws also permits us to maintain insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We will obtain a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our directors and officers.
Our indemnification obligations may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced directors and officers.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our Class A common stock included in the units offered by this prospectus, and assuming no purchase of units in this offering, by:
•
each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock;
•
each of our directors, officers and director nominees; and
•
all our directors, officers and director nominees as a group.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the private placement warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
The post-offering ownership percentage column below assumes that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that our sponsor forfeits 900,000 founder shares, and that there are 26,000,000 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding after this offering.
|
|
|
Number of Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)
|
|
|
Approximate Percentage of Issued and
Outstanding Common Stock
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
|
|
|
Before Offering
|
|
|
After Offering(2)
|
|
Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC(3)
|
|
|
|
|
6,757,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
97.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.6%
|
|
|
Jerry Hyman(3)
|
|
|
|
|
6,757,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
97.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.6%
|
|
|
Keith Jaffee(3)
|
|
|
|
|
6,757,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
97.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.6%
|
|
|
George Courtot
|
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Bruce Lubin
|
|
|
|
|
37,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Otis Carter
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Peter Cameron
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
All executive officers, directors and director nominees as
a group (7 individuals)
|
|
|
|
|
6,825,000(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
23.1%
|
|
|
*
Less than one percent.
(1)
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the entities or individuals listed in the above table is c/o Banyan Acquisition Corporation, 400 Skokie Blvd, Suite 820, Northbrook, Illinois 60062.
(2)
Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, currently classified as shares of Class B common stock.At the time of our initial business combination, shares of our Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock, initially set at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as described in the section entitled “Description of Securities.”
(3)
Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC, our sponsor, is the record holder of 6,757,500 shares of Class B common stock, 900,000 of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. Jerry Hyman and Keith Jaffee are the members of the board of managers of our sponsor. As a result, Mr. Hyman and Mr. Jaffee may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares held by our sponsor.
(4)
Does not include 75,000 founder shares previously transferred to certain of our advisors and other parties.
Immediately after this offering, our initial stockholders will beneficially own approximately 23% of the then issued and outstanding shares of common stock (assuming our initial stockholders do not purchase any units in this offering) and will have the right to elect all of our directors prior to our initial business combination as a result of holding all of the founder shares. Holders of our public shares will not have the right to elect any directors to our board of directors prior to our initial business combination. In addition,
because of their ownership block, our initial stockholders may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all other matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering.
In addition, our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 9,250,000 warrants (or 10,450,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $9,250,000, or $10,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and the underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (which is not subject to increase if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), also at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $1,000,000), in each case pursuant to a written agreement in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering, and such private placement warrants will also be worthless if we do not complete a business combination. Each private placement warrant may be exercised for one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, the proceeds of the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, and the private placement warrants will expire worthless. The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor, the underwriters or their permitted transferees: (1) they will not be redeemable by us (except as described below under “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Redeemable Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”); (2) they (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, as described below; (3) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (4) they (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights, as described below.
Our sponsor and our directors and officers are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” for additional information regarding our relationships with our promoters.
Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants
The founder shares, private placement warrants and any shares of Class A common stock issued upon conversion or exercise thereof are each subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions in the letter agreement with us to be entered into by our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor. Those lock-up provisions provide that such securities are not transferable or salable (1) in the case of the founder shares, until the earlier of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination; and (B) subsequent to our initial business combination (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20-trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property, and (2) in the case of the private placement warrants and the respective shares of Class A common stock underlying such warrants, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. The foregoing restrictions are not applicable to transfers (a) to our directors, officers, advisors or the underwriters, any affiliates or family members of any of our directors, officers, advisors or the underwriters, any members of our sponsor, or any affiliates of our sponsor or any employee of such affiliates, (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family, any estate planning vehicle or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon
death of the individual; (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 a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (f) in the event of our liquidation prior to our completion of our initial business combination; (g) by virtue of the laws of Delaware or our sponsor’s limited liability company agreement, as amended, upon dissolution of our sponsor; or (h) in the event of our completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (e) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions.
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, private placement warrants and any warrants that may be issued on conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement requiring us to register such securities for resale. The holders will have the right to require us to register for resale these securities pursuant to a shelf registration under Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The holders of a majority of these securities will also be entitled to make up to three demands, plus short form registration demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders will be entitled to certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On March 16, 2021, our sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, to cover certain of our offering costs in consideration for 8,625,000 founder shares and an aggregate of 142,500 of such shares were subsequently transferred to our independent directors, executive officers and special advisor and other third parties. On November 30, 2021, our sponsor voluntarily forfeited certain founder shares such that our initial stockholders, consisting of our sponsor, independent directors, certain advisors, and an additional party, now collectively hold 6,900,000 founders shares. Our initial stockholders will collectively own approximately 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Up to 900,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
In addition, our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 9,250,000 warrants (or 10,450,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $9,250,000, or $10,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and the underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (which is not subject to increase if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), also at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $1,000,000), in each case pursuant to a written agreement in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering., and such private placement warrants will also be worthless if we do not complete a business combination. Each private placement warrant may be exercised for one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. The private placement warrants (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by it until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
As more fully discussed in “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Our directors and officers currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.
We will enter into a support services agreement pursuant to which we will pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, support and administrative services. See “— Support Services Agreement.” Upon the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. Accordingly, in the event the consummation of our initial business combination takes 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), our sponsor will be paid a total of $150,000 ($10,000 per month) for these services.
Our sponsor, directors, officers and special advisor, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or our or any of their respective affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of September 30, 2021, we had borrowed $289,425 under the promissory note. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of March 1, 2022 and the closing of this offering. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $750,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than
underwriting commissions). The value of our sponsor’s interest in this loan transaction corresponds to the principal amount outstanding under any such loan.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans may be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor and the underwriters. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to our stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive officer and director compensation.
We have entered into a registration rights agreement with respect to the founder shares, private placement warrants and warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans (if any), which is described under the heading “Principal Stockholders — Registration Rights.”
Support Services Agreement
We will enter into a support services agreement with an affiliate of our sponsor pursuant to which we will pay a total of $10,000 per month to such affiliate of our sponsor for office space, support and administrative services. Upon the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. Accordingly, in the event the consummation of our initial business combination takes 15 months, our sponsor will be paid a total of $150,000 ($10,000 per month) for these services.
Related Party Policy
We have not yet adopted a formal policy for the review, approval or ratification of related party transactions. Accordingly, the transactions discussed above were not reviewed, approved or ratified in accordance with any such policy.
Prior to the closing of this offering, we will adopt our Code of Ethics requiring us to avoid, wherever possible, all conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by our board of directors (or the appropriate committee of our board of directors) or as disclosed in our public filings with the SEC. Under our Code of Ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the company. A form of the Code of Ethics that we plan to adopt prior to the consummation of this offering is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be required in order to approve a related party transaction. A majority of the members of the entire audit committee will constitute a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written consent of all of the members
of the audit committee will be required to approve a related party transaction. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
Furthermore, there will be no finder’s fees, reimbursements or cash payments made by us to our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, other than the following payments, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:
•
Repayment of an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;
•
payment to an affiliate of our sponsor of a total of $10,000 per month for office space, support and administrative services (see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions — Support Services Agreement.”);
•
Payment of customary fees for financial advisory services;
•
Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and
•
Repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender.
The above payments may be funded using the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not held in the trust account or, upon completion of the initial business combination, from any amounts remaining from the proceeds of the trust account released to us in connection therewith.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our authorized capital stock will consist of 240,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value each, 60,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value each, and 1,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value each. The following description summarizes the material terms of our capital stock. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.
Units
Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of the company’s shares of Class A common stock. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder.
The shares of Class A common stock and warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus (or, if such date is not a business day, the following business day) unless BTIG informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of Class A common stock and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of Class A common stock and warrants. Additionally, the units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our initial business combination. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant.
In no event will the shares of Class A common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet of the company reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K, which will include this audited balance sheet, promptly after the closing of this offering. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
Common Stock
Upon the closing of this offering 26,000,000 shares of our common stock will be issued and outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of 900,000 founder shares by our sponsor), including:
•
20,000,000 shares of Class A common stock underlying the units being offered in this offering; and
•
6,000,000 shares of Class B common stock held by our initial stockholders.
If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering.
Common stockholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by stockholders and vote together as a single class, except as required by law; provided, that, prior to our initial business combination, holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to elect all of our directors and remove members of the board of directors for any reason, and holders of our Class A common stock will not be entitled to vote on the election of directors during such time. These provisions of our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of a majority of at least 90% of the outstanding shares of our common stock voting at a stockholder meeting. On any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, holders of our Class B common stock and holders of our Class A common stock will vote together as a single class, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rule.
Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws, or as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders, and, prior to our initial business combination, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock is required to approve the election or removal of directors. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the Class B common stock voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors. Our stockholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
Because our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 240,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, if we were to enter into a business combination, we may (depending on the terms of such a business combination) be required to increase the number of shares of Class A common stock which we are authorized to issue at the same time as our stockholders vote on the business combination to the extent we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination.
In accordance with NYSE corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NYSE. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination and thus may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting of stockholders be held for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with a company’s bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to our consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.20 per public share (subject to increase in the event we choose to extend the time period available to complete our initial business combination as further described herein). The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial owner must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights. Furthermore, our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation as described elsewhere in this prospectus. Permitted transferees of our initial stockholders, directors, officers or special advisor will be subject to the same obligations.
Unlike some blank check companies that hold stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and provide for related redemptions of public shares for cash upon completion of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, if a stockholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements and we do decide to not hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons,
we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation require these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, a stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination, unless a greater vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. However, the participation of our sponsor, directors, officers, special advisor or any of their respective affiliates in privately-negotiated transactions (as described in this prospectus), if any, could result in the approval of our initial business combination even if a majority of our public stockholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. We intend to give not less than ten days nor more than 60 days prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Our stockholders’ inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination, and such stockholders could suffer a material loss in their investment if they sell such Excess Shares on the open market. Additionally, such stockholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete the business combination. As a result, such stockholders will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose such shares would be required to sell their shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
If we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, our initial stockholders have agreed (and their permitted transferees will be required to agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote their founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need 7,000,001, or 35.0% (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted, our initial stockholders do not purchase any shares in or after this offering and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 500,001, or 2.50% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have such initial business combination approved (unless a greater vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules). Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting and, if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we have not completed our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, we will (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter,
redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our initial stockholders have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period. However, if our initial stockholders, directors acquire public shares, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period.
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after a business combination, our stockholders at such time will be entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of shares, if any, having preference over the common stock. Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock, except that we will provide our stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein.
Founder Shares
The founder shares are currently designated as shares of Class B common stock and are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, and holders of founder shares have the same stockholder rights as public stockholders, except that: (1) prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B common stock have the right to vote on the election of directors and holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason; (2) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions contained in a letter agreement that our initial stockholders, directors and officers have entered into with us; (3) our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only public shares and not any founder shares are entitled to redemption rights and pursuant to such letter agreement, our initial stockholders, directors and officers have agreed to waive: (i) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them, as applicable, in connection with the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (iii) their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame); (4) the Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution
rights, as described in more detail below; and (5) the founder shares are entitled to registration rights. If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders have agreed (and their permitted transferees are required to agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote their founder shares and any public shares held by them purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination.
The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts issued in this offering and related to the closing of our initial business combination, the ratio at which the shares of Class B common stock will convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, rights issuances, consolidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 23% of the sum of all common stock issued and outstanding upon the completion of this offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination, excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in our initial business combination.
Pursuant to a letter agreement that our initial stockholders, directors, officers and special advisor have entered into with us, with certain limited exceptions, the founder shares are not transferable, assignable or salable (except to our directors, officers and special advisor and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor, each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions) until the earlier of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination; and (B) subsequent to our initial business combination (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20-trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock and provide that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Our board of directors will be authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. Our board of directors will be able to, without stockholder approval, issue shares of preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the common stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management. We have no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding at the date hereof. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.
No shares of preferred stock are being issued or registered in this offering.
Redeemable Warrants
Public Stockholders’ Warrants
Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and twelve months from the closing of this offering. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A common stock. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at a given
time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least two units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. The warrants will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
We will not be obligated to deliver any Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration, or a valid exemption from registration is available. No warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of residence of the exercising holder, or an exemption is available. 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 will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will we be required to cashless settle any warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the share of Class A common stock underlying such unit.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants at this time. However, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the issuance, under the Securities Act, of the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, and we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of our initial business combination 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 the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of the initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption, and we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
Notwithstanding the above, if our shares of Class A common stock are, at the time of any exercise of a warrant, not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) less the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.361. The “fair market value” as used in the preceding sentence shall mean the volume weighted average price of the shares of Class A common stock for the ten trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00. Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the warrants (except as described herein with respect to the private placement warrants):
•
in whole and not in part;
•
at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
•
upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder;
•
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock for any 20-trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders (which we refer to as the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “— Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”).
We will not redeem the warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
We have established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Class A common stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “— Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”) as well as the $11.50 (for whole shares) warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00. Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants:
•
in whole and not in part;
•
at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described below;
•
if, and only if, the Reference Value (as defined above under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00”) equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “— Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”); and
•
if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “— Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”), the private placement warrants must also be concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding public warrants, as described above.
During the period beginning on the date the notice of redemption is given, holders may elect to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. The numbers in the table below represent the number of shares of Class A common stock that a warrant holder will receive upon such cashless exercise in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, based on the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock on the corresponding redemption date (assuming holders elect to exercise their warrants and such warrants are not redeemed for $0.10 per warrant), determined for these purposes based on volume weighted average price of our Class A common stock during the ten trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, and the number of months that the corresponding redemption date precedes the expiration date of the warrants, each as set forth in the table below. We will provide our warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the ten-trading day period described above ends.
Pursuant to the warrant agreement, references above to Class A common stock shall include a security other than Class A common stock into which the Class A common stock have been converted or exchanged
for in the event we are not the surviving company in our initial business combination. The numbers in the table below will not be adjusted when determining the number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued upon exercise of the warrants if we are not the surviving entity following our initial business combination.
The share prices set forth in the column headings of the table below will be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant or the exercise price of a warrant is adjusted as set forth under the heading “— Anti-dilution Adjustments” below. If the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant is adjusted, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the share prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a warrant as so adjusted. The number of shares in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant. If the exercise price of a warrant is adjusted, (a) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to the fifth paragraph under the heading “— Anti-dilution Adjustments” below, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the unadjusted share price multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price as set forth under the heading “— Anti-dilution Adjustments” and the denominator of which is $10.00 and (b) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to the second paragraph under the heading “— Anti-dilution Adjustments” below, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the unadjusted share price less the decrease in the exercise price of a warrant pursuant to such exercise price adjustment.
Redemption Date
|
|
|
Fair Market Value of Class A Common Stock
|
|
(period to expiration of warrants)
|
|
|
<$10.00
|
|
|
$11.00
|
|
|
$12.00
|
|
|
$13.00
|
|
|
$14.00
|
|
|
$15.00
|
|
|
$16.00
|
|
|
$17.00
|
|
|
>$18.00
|
|
60 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.261
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.281
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.297
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.311
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.324
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.337
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.348
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.358
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
57 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.257
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.277
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.294
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.310
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.324
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.337
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.348
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.358
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
54 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.252
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.272
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.291
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.307
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.322
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.335
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.347
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.357
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
51 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.246
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.268
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.287
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.304
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.320
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.333
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.346
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.357
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
48 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.241
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.263
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.283
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.301
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.317
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.332
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.344
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.356
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
45 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.235
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.258
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.279
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.298
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.315
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.330
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.343
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.356
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
42 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.228
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.252
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.274
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.294
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.312
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.328
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.342
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.355
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
39 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.221
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.246
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.269
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.290
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.309
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.325
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.340
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.354
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
36 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.213
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.239
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.263
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.285
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.305
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.323
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.339
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.353
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
33 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.205
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.232
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.257
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.280
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.301
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.320
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.337
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.352
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
30 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.196
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.224
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.250
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.274
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.297
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.316
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.335
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.351
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
27 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.185
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.214
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.242
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.268
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.291
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.313
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.332
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.350
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
24 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.173
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.204
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.233
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.260
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.285
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.308
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.329
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.348
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
21 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.161
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.193
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.223
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.252
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.279
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.304
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.326
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.347
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
18 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.146
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.179
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.211
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.242
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.271
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.298
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.322
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.345
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
15 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.130
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.164
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.197
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.230
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.262
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.291
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.317
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.342
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
12 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.111
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.146
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.181
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.216
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.250
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.282
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.312
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.339
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
9 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.090
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.125
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.162
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.199
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.237
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.272
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.305
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.336
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
6 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.065
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.099
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.137
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.178
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.219
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.259
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.296
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.331
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
3 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.034
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.065
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.104
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.150
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.197
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.243
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.286
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.326
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
0 months
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.042
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.115
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.179
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.233
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.281
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.323
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
|
The exact fair market value and redemption date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the fair market value is between two values in the table or the redemption date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued for each warrant exercised will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower fair market values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365 or
366‑day year, as applicable. For example, if the volume weighted average price of our Class A common stock during the ten trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the warrants is $11.00 per share, and at such time there are 57 months until the expiration of the warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their warrants for 0.277 shares of Class A common stock for each whole warrant. For an example where the exact fair market value and redemption date are not as set forth in the table above, if the volume weighted average price of our Class A common stock during the ten trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the warrants is $13.50 per share, and at such time there are 38 months until the expiration of the warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their warrants for 0.298 shares of Class A common stock for each whole warrant. In no event will the warrants be exercisable in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment). Finally, as reflected in the table above, if the warrants are out of the money and about to expire, they cannot be exercised on a cashless basis in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, since they will not be exercisable for any shares of Class A common stock.
This redemption feature differs from the typical warrant redemption features used in some other blank check offerings, which typically only provide for a redemption of warrants for cash (other than the private placement warrants) when the trading price for the Class A common stock exceeds $18.00 per share for a specified period of time. This redemption feature is structured to allow for all of the outstanding warrants to be redeemed when the shares of Class A common stock are trading at or above $10.00 per share, which may be at a time when the trading price of our Class A common stock is below the exercise price of the warrants. We have established this redemption feature to provide us with the flexibility to redeem the warrants without the warrants having to reach the $18.00 per share threshold set forth above under “— Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00.” Holders choosing to exercise their warrants in connection with a redemption pursuant to this feature will, in effect, receive a number of shares for their warrants based on an option pricing model with a fixed volatility input as of the date of this prospectus. This redemption right provides us with an additional mechanism by which to redeem all of the outstanding warrants, and therefore have certainty as to our capital structure as the warrants would no longer be outstanding and would have been exercised or redeemed. We will be required to pay the applicable redemption price to warrant holders if we choose to exercise this redemption right and it will allow us to quickly proceed with a redemption of the warrants if we determine it is in our best interest to do so. As such, we would redeem the warrants in this manner when we believe it is in our best interest to update our capital structure to remove the warrants and pay the redemption price to the warrant holders.
As stated above, we can redeem the warrants when the shares of Class A common stock are trading at a price starting at $10.00, which is below the exercise price of $11.50, because it will provide certainty with respect to our capital structure and cash position while providing warrant holders with the opportunity to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis for the applicable number of shares. If we choose to redeem the warrants when the shares of Class A common stock are trading at a price below the exercise price of the warrants, this could result in the warrant holders receiving fewer shares of Class A common stock than they would have received if they had chosen to exercise their warrants for shares of Class A common stock if and when such shares of Class A common stock were trading at a price higher than the exercise price of $11.50.
No fractional shares of Class A common stock will be issued upon exercise. If, upon exercise, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the holder. If, at the time of redemption, the warrants are exercisable for a security other than the shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the warrant agreement (for instance, if we are not the surviving company in our initial business combination), the warrants may be exercised for such security. At such time as the warrants become exercisable for a security other than the shares of Class A common stock, the Company (or surviving company) will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register under the Securities Act the security issuable upon the exercise of the warrants.
Redemption Procedures. A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that
after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Anti-dilution Adjustments. If the number of issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Class A common stock, or by a split-up of shares of Class A 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 Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock. A rights offering made to all or substantially all holders of Class A common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A common stock at a price less than the “historical fair market value” (as defined below) will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the product of (1) the number of shares of Class A 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 shares of Class A common stock) and (2) one minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A common stock paid in such rights offering and (y) the historical fair market value. For these purposes, (1) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Class A common stock, in determining the price payable for Class A common stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (2) “historical fair market value” means the volume weighted average price of Class A common stock during the ten-trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Class A common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay to all or substantially all of the holders of Class A common stock a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Class A common stock on account of such shares of Class A common stock (or other securities into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) any cash dividends or cash distributions which, when combined on a per share basis with all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Class A common stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution does not exceed $0.50 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) but only with respect to the amount of the aggregate cash dividends or cash distributions equal to or less than $0.50 per share, (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A common stock in connection with a proposed initial business combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A common stock in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or (e) in connection with the redemption of our public shares upon our failure to complete our initial business combination, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each shares of Class A common stock in respect of such event.
If the number of issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Class A 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 Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock.
Whenever the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will
be the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In addition, if (x) we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Class A common stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to our sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by our sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the completion of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our Class A common stock during the 20-trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which we consummate our initial business combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 and $10.00 per share redemption trigger prices described above under “— Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” and “— Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% and 100%, respectively, of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Class A common stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a merger or consolidation in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of our Class A common stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares, stock or other equity securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such merger or consolidation, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets for which each warrant will become exercisable will be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such merger or consolidation that affirmatively make such election, and if a tender, exchange or redemption offer has been made to and accepted by such holders (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the company as provided for in the company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as a result of the redemption of shares of Class A common stock by the company if a proposed initial business combination is presented to the stockholders of the company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock, the holder of a warrant will be entitled to receive the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such warrant holder had exercised the warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the shares of Class A common stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustment (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in the warrant agreement. Additionally, if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A common stock in such a transaction is payable in
the form of Class A common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within 30 days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the per share consideration minus the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant.
The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that (a) the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the warrant agreement to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in this prospectus, or defective provision or (ii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem to not adversely affect the rights of the registered holders of the warrants and (b) all other modifications or amendments require the vote or written consent of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the private placement warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the private placement warrants, at least 65% of the then outstanding private placement warrants. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants.
The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of Class A common stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.
We have agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement will 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 we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. See “Risk Factors — Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.” This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Private Placement Warrants
Except as described below, the private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in this offering. The private placement warrants (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except, among other limited exceptions as described under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants,” to our directors, officers and special advisor and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor) and they will not be redeemable by us (except as described below under “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Redeemable Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”) so long as they are held by our sponsor, the underwriters or their permitted transferees. Our sponsor, the underwriters, or their permitted transferees, has the option to exercise the private placement warrants on a cashless basis and have certain registration rights described herein. Otherwise, the private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than our sponsor, the underwriters or their permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us in all redemption scenarios and exercisable by the holders on the same
basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering. In addition, for as long as the private placement warrants sold to the underwriters are held by the underwriters or their designees or affiliates, they will be subject to the lock-up and registration rights limitations imposed by FINRA Rule 5110 and may not be exercised after five years from the commencement of sales in this offering.
Except as described under “— Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Redeemable Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00,” if holders of the private placement warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering his, her or its warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “historical fair market value” (defined below) less the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the historical fair market value. For these purposes, the “historical fair market value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for the ten trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of warrant exercise is sent to the warrant agent. The reason that we have agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by our sponsor, the underwriters and their permitted transferees is because it is not known at this time whether they will be affiliated with us following a business combination. If they remain affiliated with us, their ability to sell our securities in the open market will be significantly limited. We expect to have policies in place that restrict insiders from selling our securities except during specific periods of time. Even during such periods of time when insiders will be permitted to sell our securities, an insider cannot trade in our securities if he or she is in possession of material non-public information. Accordingly, unlike public stockholders who could exercise their warrants and sell the shares of Class A common stock received upon such exercise freely in the open market in order to recoup the cost of such exercise, the insiders could be significantly restricted from selling such securities. As a result, we believe that allowing the holders to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis is appropriate.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may loan us funds as may be required, although they are under no obligation to advance funds or invest in us. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants of the post business combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of this offering, in which case we will effect a stock dividend or other appropriate mechanism immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 23% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for our common stock and warrant agent for our warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent and warrant agent, its agents and each of its stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the indemnified person or entity.
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions (other than amendments relating to provisions governing the election or removal of directors prior to our initial business combination, which require the approval of a majority of at least 90% of the outstanding shares of our common stock voting in a stockholder meeting) cannot be amended without the approval of the holders of at least 65% of our outstanding common stock. Our initial stockholders, who collectively will beneficially own 23% of our shares of common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws, or as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders, and, prior to our initial business combination, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock is required to approve the election or removal of directors. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that:
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if we have not completed our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or during any Stockholder Approval Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law;
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prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (1) receive funds from the trust account or (2) vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any initial business combination;
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although we do not intend to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or our officers, we are not prohibited from doing so;
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if a stockholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act;
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as long as our securities are listed on NYSE, our initial business combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the assets held in trust (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account);
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if our stockholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’
rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, if any (which interest shall be net of taxes payable thereon), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares; and
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we will not effectuate our initial business combination solely with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that under no circumstances will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
We will be subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers upon completion of this offering. This statute prevents certain Delaware corporations, under certain circumstances, from engaging in a “business combination” with:
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a stockholder who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock (otherwise known as an “interested stockholder”);
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an affiliate of an interested stockholder; or
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an associate of an interested stockholder, for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder.
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A “business combination” includes a merger or sale of more than 10% of our assets. However, the above provisions of Section 203 do not apply if:
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our board of directors approves the transaction that made the stockholder an “interested stockholder,” prior to the date of the transaction;
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after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, other than statutorily excluded shares of common stock; or
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on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at a meeting of our stockholders, and not by written consent, by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.
Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that prior to our initial business combination, holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to elect all of our directors and may remove members of our board of directors for any reason.
Exclusive Forum for Certain Lawsuits
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (1) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (2) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of our company to our company or our stockholders, or any claim for aiding and abetting any such alleged breach, (3) action asserting a claim against our company or any director, officer or employee of our company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or (4) action asserting a claim against us or any director, officer or employee of our company governed by the internal affairs doctrine except for, as to each of (1) through (4) above, any claim (a) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (b) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery or (c) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court may determine that this provision is unenforceable, and to the extent it is enforceable, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of the forum provisions 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: (x) 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 the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such enforcement action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such stockholder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the exclusive forum provision will 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. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act against us or our directors, officers, other employees or agents. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us and may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Special Meeting of Stockholders
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our board of directors, by our chief executive officer or by our chairman, if any.
Action by Written Consent
Subsequent to the consummation of the offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by our common stockholders 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.
Classified Board of Directors
Our board of directors will initially be divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with members of each class serving staggered three-year terms. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that prior to our initial business combination, holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to elect all of our directors and remove members of the board of directors for any reason, and holders of our public shares will not have the right to vote on the election of directors during such time. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Subject to the terms of any preferred
stock, following our initial business combination 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 our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office.
Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our amended and restated bylaws provide for advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors or a committee of our board of directors. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice requirements and provide us with certain information. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with (and only with) the notice periods contained therein. Our amended and restated bylaws will also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. Our amended and restated bylaws allow the chairman of the meeting at a meeting of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of us.
Securities Eligible for Future Sale
Immediately after this offering we will have 26,000,000 (or 29,900,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Of these shares, the 20,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (or 23,000,000 shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the remaining 6,000,000 (or 6,900,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) founder shares and all 10,250,000 (or 11,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement warrants are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering, and are subject to transfer restrictions as set forth elsewhere in this prospectus. See “Underwriting” for a further discussion of such restrictions, including with respect to potential waivers or amendments to such restrictions, which may result in additional securities becoming available for resale into the market, subject to applicable law, which could reduce the market price of our securities.
Rule 144
Subject to the restrictions discussed below, pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock or warrants for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (1) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (2) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the twelve months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.
Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock or warrants for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:
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1% of the total number of shares of common stock then issued and outstanding, which will equal 260,000 shares immediately after this offering (or 299,000 if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full); or
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the average weekly reported trading volume of the common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.
Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies
Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:
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the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;
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the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
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the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding twelve months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Current Reports on Form 8-K; and
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at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.
As a result, our initial stockholders will be able to sell their founder shares and our sponsor and the underwriters will be able to sell their private placement warrants, pursuant to Rule 144 without registration, commencing one year after we have completed our initial business combination and filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC.
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, private placement warrants and any warrants that may be issued on conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement requiring us to register such securities for resale. The holders will have the right to require us to register for resale these securities pursuant to a shelf registration under Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The holders of a majority of these securities will also be entitled to make up to three demands, plus short form registration demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders will be entitled to certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Listing of Securities
We intend to apply to list our units, Class A common stock and warrants on NYSE under the symbols “BYN.U,” “BYN,” and “BYN.WS,” respectively. We expect that our units will be listed on NYSE promptly on or after the effective date of the registration statement. Following the date the shares of our Class A common stock and warrants are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that the shares of Class A common stock and warrants will be listed separately and as a unit on NYSE. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on NYSE.
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a discussion of U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the ownership and disposition of our units, shares of Class A common stock and warrants, which we refer to collectively as our securities. Because the components of a unit are separable at the option of the holder, the holder of a unit generally should be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant components of the unit, as the case may be. As a result, the discussion below with respect to actual holders of Class A common stock and warrants should also apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying Class A common stock and warrants that comprise the units). This discussion applies only to securities that are held as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment) and is applicable only to holders who purchased units in this offering.
This discussion is a summary only and does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances, including but not limited to the alternative minimum tax, the Medicare tax on certain investment income and the different consequences that may apply if you are subject to special rules that apply to certain types of investors, including but not limited to:
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our founders, sponsor, initial stockholders, officers, directors special advisor or holders of our Class B common stock or private placement warrants;
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financial institutions or financial services entities;
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brokers, dealers and traders in securities or foreign currencies
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traders that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting;
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governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;
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S corporations;
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regulated investment companies;
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real estate investment trusts;
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expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States;
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persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more of our voting shares;
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insurance companies;
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dealers or traders subject to a mark-to-market method of accounting with respect to the securities;
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persons holding the securities as part of a “straddle,” hedge, integrated transaction or similar transaction;
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persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation or in connection with services;
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persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to Class A common stock or warrants as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement;
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U.S. holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;
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partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes and any beneficial owners of such entities; and
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tax-exempt entities (including private foundations).
If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our securities, the tax treatment of a partner, member or other beneficial owner in such partnership or other pass-through entity will generally depend upon the status of the partner, member or other beneficial owner, the activities of the partnership or other pass-through entity and certain determinations made at the partner, member or other beneficial owner level. If you are a
partner, member or other beneficial owner of a partnership or other pass-through entity holding our securities, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our securities.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations as of the date hereof, which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, and changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus may affect the tax consequences described herein. This discussion does not address any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. taxation, or any U.S. federal taxes other than income taxes (such as gift and estate taxes).
We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the IRS as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion. You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of U.S. federal tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction.
THIS DISCUSSION OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. WE URGE PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR SECURITIES, AS WELL AS THE APPLICATION OF ANY, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. INCOME, ESTATE AND OTHER TAX CONSIDERATIONS.
Personal Holding Company Status
We could be subject to a second level of U.S. federal income tax on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company, or PHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. corporation will generally be classified as a PHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (1) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (2) at least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).
Depending on the date and size of our initial business combination, it is possible that at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income as discussed above. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our sponsor and certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts, it is possible that more than 50% of our stock will be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by five or fewer such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not become a PHC following this offering or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently 20%, on our undistributed PHC income, which generally includes our taxable income, subject to certain adjustments.
General Treatment of Units
There is no authority directly addressing the treatment, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, of instruments with terms substantially the same as the units and, therefore, their treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one share of our Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant to acquire one share of our Class A common stock. We intend to treat the acquisition of a unit in this manner and, by purchasing a unit, you agree to adopt such treatment for tax purposes. Each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the share of Class A common stock and the one-half of one redeemable warrant based on their respective relative fair market values (as determined by such holder
based on all the relevant facts and circumstances) at the time of issuance. Under U.S. federal income tax law, each investor must make his or her own determination of such value based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge each investor to consult his or her tax advisor regarding the determination of value for these purposes. A holder’s initial tax basis in the Class A common stock and the one-half of one redeemable warrant included in each unit should equal the portion of the purchase price of the unit allocated thereto. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a disposition of the share of Class A common stock and one-half of one warrant comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the share of Class A common stock and the one-half of one warrant based on their respective relative fair market values (as determined by each such unit holder based on all the relevant facts and circumstances) at the time of disposition. The separation of the Class A common stock and warrant constituting a unit should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The foregoing treatment of the units and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there is no authority that directly addresses instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and any foreign tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit and its components). The following discussion is based on the assumption that the characterization of the Class A common stock and warrants and the allocation described above are respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Holders
For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial holder of our securities who or that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes is:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes created in, or organized under the law of, the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof;
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an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or
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a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons (within the meaning of the Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has in effect a valid election under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
A “non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial holder of our securities who or that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Taxation of Distributions
If we pay distributions in cash or other property (other than certain distributions of our stock or rights to acquire our stock) to U.S. Holders of shares of our Class A common stock, such distributions will generally constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our Class A common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock and will be treated as described under “— U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below.
Dividends we pay to a U.S. Holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. Holder will generally constitute “qualified dividends” that will be subject to tax at the maximum tax rate accorded to long-term
capital gains. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the Class A common stock described in this prospectus may prevent a U.S. Holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be.
Possible Constructive Distributions with respect to Warrants
The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Class A common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution is generally not a taxable event. Nevertheless, a U.S. Holder of warrants would be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Class A common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the warrants) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property, such as other securities, to the holders of shares of our Class A common stock, or as a result of the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of shares of our Class A common stock, in each case which is taxable to such U.S. Holders as described under “— U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions” above. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if such U.S. Holder received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest. Generally, a U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrant would be increased to the extent any such constructive distribution is treated as a dividend.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants
A U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss on the sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock and warrants which, in general, would include a redemption of Class A common stock or warrants that is treated as a sale of such securities as described below, and including as a result of a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus). Any such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock or warrants so disposed of exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether the redemption rights with respect to the Class A common stock described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. The amount of gain or loss recognized will generally be equal to the difference between (1) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the Class A common stock or warrant is held as part of a unit at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the Class A common stock or warrant based upon the then fair market values of the Class A common stock and the warrant included in the unit) and (2) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock or warrant so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock or warrant will generally equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, as discussed above, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of Class A common stock or warrant or, as discussed below, the U.S. Holder’s initial basis for Class A common stock received upon exercise of a warrant) less any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Redemption of Class A Common Stock
In the event that a U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock is redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under “Description of Securities — Common Stock” or if we purchase a U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock in an open market transaction (each of which we refer to as a “redemption”), the treatment of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of the Class A common stock under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of Class A common stock under the tests described below, the tax consequences to the U.S. Holder will be the same as described under “— U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of Class A common stock, the U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving
a corporate distribution, the tax consequences of which are described above under “— U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions”. Whether the redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend primarily on the total number of shares of our stock treated as held by the U.S. Holder (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning warrants) relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after the redemption. The redemption of Class A common stock will generally be treated as a sale of the Class A common stock (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the redemption (1) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder, (2) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. Holder’s interest in us or (3) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also shares of our stock that are constructively owned by it. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any stock the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include common stock which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the warrants. A redemption of a U.S. Holder’s stock will be substantially disproportionate with respect to the U.S. Holder if the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption of common stock is, among other requirements, less than 80% of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption. Prior to our initial business combination, the shares of our Class A common stock may not be treated as voting shares for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not be applicable. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (1) all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (2) all of the shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other stock (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning warrants). The redemption of the Class A common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if the redemption results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. The IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” A U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption, including the application of the constructive ownership rules described above.
If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, the redemption will be treated as a corporate distribution, the tax consequences of which are described under “— U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions,” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. Holder in the redeemed Class A common stock should be added to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining stock, or, if it has none, to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrants or possibly in other stock constructively owned by it.
Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant
Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a warrant, a U.S. Holder will not recognize gain or loss upon the exercise of a warrant. The U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the share of our Class A common stock received upon exercise of the warrant will generally be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. Holder’s initial investment in the warrant (i.e., the portion of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under “— General Treatment of Units”) and the exercise price of such warrant. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock received upon exercise of the warrant would commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the warrant; however, in either case the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrants. If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in the warrant. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may not be taxable, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either situation, a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Class A common stock received would generally equal the holder’s tax basis in the warrant exercised. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock would commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the warrant. If, however, the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the Class A common stock would include the holding period of the warrant.
It is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated in whole or in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss is recognized. In such event, a U.S. Holder could be deemed to have surrendered a number of warrants having an aggregate fair market value equal to the exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. The U.S. Holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such warrants. Such gain or loss would be long-term or short-term depending on the U.S. Holder’s holding period in the warrants deemed surrendered In this case, a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Class A common stock received would equal the sum of the U.S. Holder’s initial investment in the warrants exercised (i.e., the portion of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the units that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under “— General Treatment of Units”) and the exercise price of such warrants. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock would commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the warrant; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrant.
Because of the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, including when a U.S. Holder’s holding period would commence with respect to the Class A common stock received, there can be no assurance which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise.
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an exercise of a warrant occurring after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the warrant for $0.01 as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” or after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the warrant for $0.10 as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” are unclear under current law. In the case of a cashless exercise, the exercise may be treated either as if we redeemed such warrant for Class A common stock or as an exercise of the warrant. If the cashless exercise of a warrant for Class A common stock is treated as a redemption, then, such redemption generally should be treated as a tax-deferred recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in which case a U.S. Holder should not recognize any gain or loss on such redemption, and accordingly, a U.S. Holder’s basis in the Class A common stock received should equal the U.S. Holder’s basis in the warrants redeemed and the holding period of the Class A common stock received should include the U.S. Holder’s holding period of the warrant. If the cashless exercise of a warrant is treated as the exercise of a warrant, the U.S. federal income tax consequences generally should be similar to those described above in the section under the heading “— U.S. Holders — Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant.” Due to the lack of clarity under current law regarding the treatment of an exercise of a warrant after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the warrant, there can be no assurance as to which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the exercise of a warrant occurring after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the warrant as described above.
If we redeem warrants for cash pursuant to the redemption provisions described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants” or if we purchase warrants in an open market transaction, such redemption or purchase generally will be treated as a taxable disposition to the U.S. holder, taxed as described above under “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants.”
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information returns may be filed with the IRS with respect to dividends or other distributions we may pay to you and proceeds from the sale of your shares of Class A common stock or warrants. You will be subject to backup withholding on these payments if you fail to provide your taxpayer identification number to the paying agent and comply with certain certification procedures or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld with respect to your shares of Class A common stock or warrants under the backup withholding rules will be refunded to you or credited against your United States federal income tax liability, if any, by the IRS provided that certain required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.
Non-U.S. Holders
Taxation of Distributions
In general, any distributions (including constructive distributions) we make to a non-U.S. Holder of shares of our Class A common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such non-U.S. Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable). In the case of any constructive dividend, it is possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to a non-U.S. Holder by the applicable withholding agent, including cash distributions on other property or sale proceeds from warrants or other property subsequently paid or credited to such holder. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our Class A common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock, which will be treated as described under “— Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below. In addition, if we determine that we are classified as a “United States real property holding corporation” (see “— Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Dividends we pay to a non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with such non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or if a tax treaty applies are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. Holder) will generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax, provided such non-U.S. Holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (usually by providing an IRS Form W-8ECI). Instead, such dividends will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at the same graduated individual or corporate rates applicable to U.S. Holders. If the non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, dividends that are effectively connected income may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty).
Possible Constructive Distributions with respect to Warrants
The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Class A common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution is generally not a taxable event. Nevertheless, a non-U.S. Holder of warrants would be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Class A common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the warrants), including as a result of a distribution of cash or other property, such as securities, to the holders of shares of our Class A common stock, or as a result of the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of
shares of our Class A common stock, in each case which is taxable to such non-U.S. Holders as described under “— Non-U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions” above. A non-U.S. Holder would be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding under that section in the same manner as if such non-U.S. Holder received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest without any corresponding receipt of cash.
Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants
A non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock, which would include a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete an initial business combination within 15 months from the closing of this offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), or warrants (including an expiration or redemption of our warrants), in each case without regard to whether those securities were held as part of a unit, unless:
•
the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the non-U.S. Holder within the United States (and, if an applicable tax treaty so requires, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. Holder);
•
the non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are met; or
•
we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the non-U.S. Holder held our Class A common stock, and, in the case where shares of our Class A common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the non-U.S. Holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our Class A common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares of our Class A common stock. There can be no assurance that our Class A common stock will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose.
Gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or lower applicable treaty rate). Gain described in the second bullet point above will generally be subject to a flat 30% U.S. federal income tax. Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding possible eligibility for benefits under income tax treaties.
If the third bullet point above applies to a non-U.S. Holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Class A common stock or warrants will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, a buyer of our Class A common stock or warrants from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a United States real property holding corporation in the future until we complete an initial business combination. We will be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation,” you are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.
Redemption of Class A Common Stock
The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a non-U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under “Description of Securities — Common Stock” will generally correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock, as described under “— U.S. Holders — Redemption of Class A Common Stock” above, and the consequences of the redemption to the non-U.S.
Holder will be as described above under “— Non-U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions” and “— Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants,” as applicable.
Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant
The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the exercise, lapse or redemption of a non-U.S. Holder’s warrant will generally correspond to the characterization described under “— U.S. Holders — Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant” above, although to the extent a cashless exercise or redemption results in a taxable exchange, the tax consequences to the non-U.S. Holder would be similar to those described above in “— Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants.”
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
We must report annually to the IRS the amount of dividends or other distributions we may pay to you on your shares of Class A common stock and the amount of tax we withhold on any such distributions regardless of whether withholding is required. The IRS may make copies of the information returns reporting those dividends and amounts withheld available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside pursuant to the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or exchange of information treaty.
The United States imposes backup withholding on dividends and certain other types of payments to United States persons. You will not be subject to backup withholding on dividends you receive on your shares of Class A common stock if you provide proper certification (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E) of your status as a non-United States person or you are a corporation or one of several types of entities and organizations that qualify for exemption (an “exempt recipient”).
Information reporting and backup withholding generally are not required with respect to the amount of any proceeds from the sale of your shares of Class A common stock or warrants outside the United States through a foreign office of a foreign broker that does not have certain specified connections to the United States. However, if you sell your shares of Class A common stock or warrants through a United States broker or the United States office of a foreign broker, the broker will be required to report to the IRS the amount of proceeds paid to you unless you provide appropriate certification (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E) to the broker of your status as a non-United States person or you are an exempt recipient. Information reporting also would apply if you sell your shares of Class A common stock or warrants through a foreign broker deriving more than a specified percentage of its income from United States sources or having certain other connections to the United States.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld with respect to your shares of Class A common stock or warrants under the backup withholding rules will be refunded to you or credited against your United States federal income tax liability, if any, by the IRS provided that certain required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (commonly referred as the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA”) generally impose withholding at a rate of 30% in certain circumstances on dividends (including constructive dividends) in respect of our securities which are held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless any such institution (1) enters into, and complies with, an agreement with the IRS to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution that are owned by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments, or (2) if required under an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, reports such information to its local tax authority, which will exchange such information with the U.S. authorities. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which our securities are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends (including constructive dividends) in respect of our
securities held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exceptions will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (1) certifies to us or the applicable withholding agent that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (2) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which will in turn be provided to the U.S. Department of Treasury. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our securities.
UNDERWRITING
Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters named below, for whom BTIG, LLC is acting as representative, the following respective numbers of units:
Underwriters
|
|
|
Number of
Units
|
|
BTIG, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
20,000,000
|
|
|
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are obligated to purchase all the units in this offering if any are purchased, other than those units covered by the over-allotment option described below.
We have granted to the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase on a pro rata basis up to 3,000,000 additional units at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The option may be exercised only to cover any over-allotments of units.
The underwriters propose to offer the units initially at the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus and to selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $ per unit.
The following table summarizes the compensation and estimated expenses we will pay:
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|
|
Per Unit(1)
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|
|
Total(1)
|
|
|
|
|
Without Over-
allotment
|
|
|
With Over-
allotment
|
|
|
Without
Over-
allotment
|
|
|
With Over-
allotment
|
|
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions paid by
us
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.60
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.60
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
12,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
13,800,000
|
|
|
(1)
Includes $0.40 per unit, or $8,000,000 (or $9,200,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriters only on completion of an initial business combination, in an amount equal to $0.40 multiplied by the number of shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering, as described in this prospectus.
We estimate that our non-reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses for this offering will be approximately $750,000. We have agreed to pay for the FINRA-related fees of the underwriters’ legal counsel, not to exceed $20,000. In addition, we have agreed to pay the expenses of any investigations and background checks of officers, directors and director nominees, not to exceed $4,000 per person (in the case of a U.S. jurisdiction) or $5,000 per person (in the case of non-U.S. jurisdictions).
The representative has informed us that the underwriters do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.
We, our sponsor and our directors, officers and special advisor have agreed that we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of BTIG for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, any units, warrants, shares of common stock or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Class A common stock; provided, however, that we may (1) issue and sell the private placement warrants; (2) issue and sell the additional units to cover our underwriters’ over-allotment option (if any); (3) register with the SEC pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, the resale of the private placement warrants and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and the founder shares; and (4) issue securities in connection with our initial business combination. However, the foregoing shall not apply to the forfeiture by our sponsor of any founder shares pursuant to their terms or any transfer of founder shares to any current or future independent
director of the company (as long as such current or future independent director transferee is subject to the letter agreement, filed herewith, or executes an agreement substantially identical to the letter agreement, as applicable to directors and officers at the time of such transfer; and as long as, to the extent any Section 16 reporting obligation is triggered as a result of such transfer, any related Section 16 filing includes a practical explanation as to the nature of the transfer). We, our sponsors, directors, officers and advisors may request that BTIG release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements from time to time, and BTIG, in its sole discretion, may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time and without prior notice.
Pursuant to a letter agreement with us, our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination; and (B) subsequent to our initial business combination (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20-trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”). Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares. This letter agreement may be amended (and the above described restrictions released) by us and our initial stockholders only with the consent of BTIG as provided in the underwriting agreement.
BTIG, in connection with any proposed release of the above described lock-up agreements, or in connection with providing a consent to any proposed amendment to the letter agreement, will consider, among other factors, the holder's reasons for requesting the release, the number of securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time. If the restrictions under the above described lock-up agreements or letter agreement are waived or amended, as applicable, our units, warrants and Class A common stock may become available for resale into the market, subject to applicable law, which could reduce the market price of our securities.
The private placement warrants (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”).
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in that respect.
We expect our units to be listed on NYSE, under the symbol “BYN.U” and, once the shares of Class A common stock and warrants begin separate trading, to have our shares of Class A common stock and warrants listed on NYSE under the symbols “BYN,” and “BYN.WS,” respectively.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the representative.
The determination of our per unit offering price was more arbitrary than would typically be the case if we were an operating company. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, our management, our capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which the units, Class A common stock or warrants will sell in the public market after this offering will not be lower than the initial public offering price or that an active trading market in our units, Class A common stock or warrants will develop and continue after this offering.
Our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 9,250,000 warrants (or 10,450,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $9,250,000, or $10,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and the
underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (which is not subject to increase if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), also at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $1,000,000), in each case pursuant to a written agreement in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The terms of the private placement warrants sold to our sponsor and the underwriters are identical to those of the public warrants, except as described in this prospectus.
The private placement warrants sold to the underwriters have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to the lock-up restrictions imposed by FINRA Rule 5110(e), pursuant to which the private placement warrants and underlying securities will 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 economic disposition of the securities by any person, for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales in this offering, except as permitted under FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2), including to any member participating in the offering and the officers or partners, registered persons or affiliates thereof. In addition, for as long as the private placement warrants sold to the underwriters in the private placement are held by the underwriters or their designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the commencement of sales in this offering. We have granted the underwriters or their designees or affiliates certain registration rights relating to these securities. The underwriters may not exercise their demand and “piggyback” registration rights after five and seven years after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise their demand rights on more than one occasion.
If we do not complete our initial business combination within the allotted time frame, the trustee and the underwriters have agreed that: (1) they will forfeit any rights or claims to their deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, including any accrued interest thereon, then in the trust account; and (2) the deferred underwriters’ discounts and commissions will be distributed on a pro rata basis, together with any accrued interest thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) to the public stockholders.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
•
Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.
•
Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of units in excess of the number of units the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of units over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of units that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of units involved is greater than the number of units in the over-allotment option. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option and/or purchasing units in the open market.
•
Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the units in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of units to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option. If the underwriters sell more units than could be covered by the over-allotment option, a naked short position, the position can only be closed out by buying units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering.
•
Penalty bids permit the representative to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the units originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.
These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price
of the units. As a result, the price of our units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on NYSE or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
We are not under any contractual obligation to engage any of the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. However, any of the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future. If any of the underwriters provide services to us after this offering, we may pay such underwriter fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with any of the underwriters and no fees for such services will be paid to any of the underwriters prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering, and we may pay the underwriters of this offering or any entity with which they are affiliated, a finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a business combination.
Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The representative may agree to allocate a number of units to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.
The units are offered for sale in the United States, Europe, Asia and other jurisdictions where it is lawful to make such offers.
Each of the underwriters has represented and agreed that it has not offered, sold or delivered and will not offer, sell or deliver any of the units directly or indirectly, or distribute this prospectus or any other offering material relating to the units, in or from any jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations thereof and that will not impose any obligations on us except as set forth in the underwriting agreement.
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom (each a “Relevant State”), no units have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that offers of units may be made to the public in that Relevant State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:
(a)
any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;
(b)
to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the Representative for any such offer; or
(c)
in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,
provided that no such offer of units shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any units in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any units, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
Each of the underwriters severally represents, warrants and agrees as follows:
(a)
has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) to persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling with Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 or in circumstances in which section 21 of FSMA does not apply to the company; and
(b)
it has complied with, and will comply with all applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the units in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Notice to Residents of Japan
The underwriters will not offer or sell any of our units directly or indirectly in Japan or to, or for the benefit of any Japanese person or to others, for re-offering or re-sale directly or indirectly in Japan or to any Japanese person, except in each case pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and any other applicable laws and regulations of Japan. For purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese person” means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.
Notice to Residents of Hong Kong
The underwriters and each of their affiliates have not (1) offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, in Hong Kong, by means of any document, our units other than (A) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance or (B) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32 of Hong Kong) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance or (2) issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere any advertisement, invitation or document relating to our units which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to our securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance. The contents of this document have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of this document, you should obtain independent professional advice.
Notice to Residents of Singapore
This prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units has not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the units will be offered in Singapore pursuant to exemptions under Section 274 and Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “Securities and Futures Act”). Accordingly our units may not be offered or
sold, or be the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to the public or any member of the public in Singapore other than (a) to an institutional investor or other person specified in Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, (b) to a sophisticated investor, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act or (c) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the Securities and Futures Act.
Notice to Residents of Germany
Each person who is in possession of this prospectus is aware that no German sales prospectus (Verkaufsprospekt) within the meaning of the Securities Sales Prospectus Act (Wertpapier-Verkaufsprospektgesetz, the “Act”) of the Federal Republic of Germany has been or will be published with respect to our units. In particular, each underwriter has represented that it has not engaged and has agreed that it will not engage in a public offering (offentliches Angebot) within the meaning of the Act with respect to any of our units otherwise then in accordance with the Act and all other applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Notice to Residents of France
The units are being issued and sold outside the Republic of France and that, in connection with their initial distribution, it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any units to the public in the Republic of France, and that it has not distributed and will not distribute or cause to be distributed to the public in the Republic of France this prospectus or any other offering material relating to the units, and that such offers, sales and distributions have been and will be made in the Republic of France only to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) in accordance with Article L.411-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code and decrét no. 98-880 dated October 1, 1998.
Notice to Residents of the Netherlands
Our units may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered in or from the Netherlands as part of their initial distribution or at any time thereafter, directly or indirectly, other than to, individuals or legal entities situated in The Netherlands who or which trade or invest in securities in the conduct of a business or profession (which includes banks, securities intermediaries (including dealers and brokers), insurance companies, pension funds, collective investment institution, central governments, large international and supranational organizations, other institutional investors and other parties, including treasury departments of commercial enterprises, which as an ancillary activity regularly invest in securities; hereinafter, “Professional Investors”); provided that in the offer, prospectus and in any other documents or advertisements in which a forthcoming offering of our units is publicly announced (whether electronically or otherwise) in The Netherlands it is stated that such offer is and will be exclusively made to such Professional Investors. Individual or legal entities who are not Professional Investors may not participate in the offering of our units, and this prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units may not be considered an offer or the prospect of an offer to sell or exchange our units.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland
This prospectus is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the securities. The securities may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the securities shares to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Cayman Islands
No invitation, whether directly or indirectly, may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for our securities.
Notice to Canadian Residents
Resale Restrictions
The distribution of units in Canada is being made only on a private placement basis exempt from the requirement that we prepare and file a prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in each province where trades of these securities are made. Any resale of the units in Canada must be made under applicable securities laws which may vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made under available statutory exemptions or under a discretionary exemption granted by the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authority. Purchasers are advised to seek legal advice prior to any resale of the securities.
Representations of Canadian Purchasers
By purchasing units in Canada and accepting delivery of a purchase confirmation, a purchaser is representing to us and the dealer from whom the purchase confirmation is received that:
•
the purchaser is entitled under applicable provincial securities laws to purchase the units without the benefit of a prospectus qualified under those securities laws as it is an “accredited investor” as defined under National Instrument 45-106 — Prospectus Exemptions, or Section 73.3 of the Securities Act (Ontario), as applicable;
•
the purchaser is a “permitted client” as defined in National Instrument 31-103 — Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations;
•
where required by law, the purchaser is purchasing as principal and not as agent; and
•
the purchaser has reviewed the text above under Resale Restrictions.
Conflicts of Interest
Canadian purchasers are hereby notified that BTIG, LLC is relying on the exemption set out in section 3A.3 or 3A.4, if applicable, of National Instrument 33-105 — Underwriting Conflicts from having to provide certain conflict of interest disclosure in this document.
Statutory Rights of Action
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if the prospectus (including any amendment thereto) such as this document contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser of these securities in Canada should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Enforcement of Legal Rights
All of our directors and officers as well as the experts named herein may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible for Canadian purchasers to effect service of process within Canada upon us or those persons. All or a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of those persons may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible to satisfy a judgment against us or those persons in Canada or to enforce a judgment obtained in Canadian courts against us or those persons outside of Canada.
Taxation and Eligibility for Investment
Canadian purchasers of units should consult their own legal and tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of an investment in the units in their particular circumstances and about the eligibility of the units for investment by the purchaser under relevant Canadian legislation.
LEGAL MATTERS
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, New York, New York, is acting as counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act, and as such, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus with respect to units, Class A common stock and warrants. In connection with this offering, Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York, is acting as counsel to the underwriters.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Banyan Acquisition Corporation as of March 16, 2021 and for the period from March 10, 2021 (inception) through March 16, 2021 appearing in this prospectus have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of Banyan Acquisition Corporation to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the financial statements), appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.
Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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Page
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Financial Statements of Banyan Acquisition Corporation:
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F-2
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F-3
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F-4
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F-5
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F-6
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F-7
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholder and Board of Directors of
Banyan Acquisition Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Banyan Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) as of March 16, 2021, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholder's equity (deficit) and cash flows for the period from March 10, 2021 (inception) through March 16, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of March 16, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from March 10, 2021 (inception) through March 16, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Explanatory Paragraph – Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As more fully described in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company’s ability to execute its business plan is dependent on the completion of the proposed initial public offering described in Note 3 to the financial statements. The Company had a working capital deficiency as of March 16, 2021 and lacks the financial resources it needs to sustain operations for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans regarding these matters are also described in Notes 1 and 3. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Marcum LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.
Boston, Massachusetts
April 1, 2021, except for Note 7 as to which the date is August 6, 2021 and Note 9 as to which the date is December 1, 2021.
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEETS
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September 30,
2021
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|
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March 16,
2021
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|
|
(unaudited)
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|
|
(audited)
|
|
Assets
|
|
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|
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|
|
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Current Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
|
|
$
|
131,976
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
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|
|
Total Current Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
131,976
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
Deferred offering costs associated with the proposed public offering
|
|
|
|
|
454,801
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,611
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
|
$
|
586,777
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
115,611
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,703
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,703
|
|
|
Accrued offering costs
|
|
|
|
|
281,713
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,611
|
|
|
Promissory note – related party
|
|
|
|
|
289,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Total Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
575,841
|
|
|
|
|
|
95,314
|
|
|
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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Stockholder’s Equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 240,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 60,000,000 shares authorized; 6,900,000 shares issued and outstanding(1)
|
|
|
|
|
690
|
|
|
|
|
|
690
|
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
|
|
24,310
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,310
|
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
|
|
(14,064)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,703)
|
|
|
Total Stockholder’s Equity
|
|
|
|
|
10,936
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,297
|
|
|
Total Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
|
|
|
|
$
|
586,777
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
115,611
|
|
|
(1)
On November 30, 2021, the Company surrendered 1,725,000 shares of Class B common stock as a result of updated terms of the proposed public offering. All share amounts and related information have been retroactively restated to reflect the surrender (see Note 9). Includes up to 900,000 Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (see Note 6).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
|
For the Period March 10, 2021
(Inception) Through
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
2021
|
|
|
March 16,
2021
|
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
(audited)
|
|
Formation, general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
|
$
|
14,064
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,703
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
$
|
(14,064)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(4,703)
|
|
|
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding(1)
|
|
|
|
|
6,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000,000
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per Class B common stock
|
|
|
|
$
|
(0.00)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(0.00)
|
|
|
(1)
On November 30, 2021, the Company surrendered 1,725,000 shares of Class B common stock as a result of updated terms of the proposed public offering. All share amounts and related information have been retroactively restated to reflect the surrender (see Note 9). Excludes up to 900,000 Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (see Note 6).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN Stockholder’s Equity (Deficit)
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
|
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
|
Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
(Deficit)
|
|
|
|
|
No. of shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
Balance – March 10, 2021 (inception)
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
Issuance of Class B common stock to Sponsor
|
|
|
|
|
6,900,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
690
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,310
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,703)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,703)
|
|
|
Balance – March 16, 2021 (audited)
|
|
|
|
|
6,900,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
690
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,310
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,703)
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,297
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,361)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,361)
|
|
|
Balance – September 30, 2021 (unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
6,900,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
690
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
24,310
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(14,064)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
10,936
|
|
|
(1)
On November 30, 2021, the Company surrendered 1,725,000 shares of Class B common stock as a result of updated terms of the proposed public offering. All share amounts and related information have been retroactively restated to reflect the surrender (see Note 9). Includes up to 900,000 Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (see Note 6).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
|
For the Period
from March 10, 2021
(Inception)
through September 30,
2021
|
|
|
For the Period
from March 10, 2021
(Inception)
through March 16,
2021
|
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
(audited)
|
|
Cash flow from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
$
|
(14,065)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(4,703)
|
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred offering cost
|
|
|
|
|
(173,087)
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
|
|
4,703
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,703
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
(182,449)
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from Promissory note – related party
|
|
|
|
|
289,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of Class B common stock to Sponsor
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
314,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
Net Change in Cash
|
|
|
|
|
131,976
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
Cash – Beginning of the period
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Cash – End of the period
|
|
|
|
$
|
131,976
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred offering costs included in accrued offering costs
|
|
|
|
$
|
281,713
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
90,611
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND
Banyan Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on March 10, 2021. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses that the Company has not yet identified (“Business Combination”).
The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic location for purposes of consummating a Business Combination. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
As of September 30, 2021, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from March 10, 2021 (inception) through September 30, 2021 relates to the Company’s formation and the proposed initial public offering (“Proposed Public Offering”), which is described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a proposed initial public offering of 20,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriter’s option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) (“Units” and, with respect to the Class A common stock included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”) which is discussed in Note 3 (the “Proposed Public Offering”) and the sale of 10,250,000 warrants (or 11,450,000 warrants if the underwriter’s option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (“Private Placement Warrants”) in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) to Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) and the underwriters that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete a Business Combination with one or more operating businesses or assets that together have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the Company’s signing a definitive agreement in connection with its initial Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target business or assets sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that an amount equal to at least $10.20 per Unit sold in the Proposed Public Offering, including the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”), located in the United States and invested only in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting certain conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the funds held in the Trust Account, as described below.
The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “public stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company. The public stockholder will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.20 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations and which interest shall be net of taxes payable), calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of the Business Combination. The per-share amount to be distributed to public stockholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters (as discussed in Note 8). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants. The Public Shares subject to redemption will be recorded at redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering in accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.”
The Company will only proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 either prior to or upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks stockholder approval, a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a stockholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rules and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor has agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5), and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of approving a Business Combination. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or do not vote at all.
Notwithstanding the above, if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company.
The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides that only Public Shares and not any Founder Shares are entitled to redemption rights. In addition, the Sponsor has agreed (a) to waive its redemption rights with respect to its Founder Shares and Public Shares held by it in connection with the completion of a Business Combination and (b) not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless the Company provides the public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment.
The Company will have until 15 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) to complete a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses, which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.
The Sponsor has agreed to waive its liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Sponsor acquires Public Shares in or after the Proposed Public Offering, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their right to the deferred underwriting commission (see Note 8) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than the Proposed Public Offering price per Unit $10.00.
The Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered (other than its independent registered public accounting firm) or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (1) $10.00 per Public Share or (2) such lesser amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay franchise and income taxes. This liability will not apply with respect to claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and will not apply as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (except the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
Going Concern Consideration
As of September 30, 2021 and March 16, 2021, the Company had $131,976 and $25,000, respectively, in cash and a working capital deficiency of approximately $443,865 and $70,314, respectively. The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of time within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Management plans to address this uncertainty through the Proposed Public Offering as discussed in Note 3. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful or successful within the Combination Period. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Risks and Uncertainties
Management is currently evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations, close of the Proposed Public Offering, and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The financial statements as of September 30, 2021 and for the period March 10, 2021 (inception) through September 30, 2021 are unaudited and in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation. The results for the period from March 10, 2021 (inception) through September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021 or for any future interim periods.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company, which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Common Stock Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its common stock subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Common stock subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable common stock (including common stock that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, common stock is classified as shareholder’s equity. The Company's common stock feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. As of September 30, 2021, there were no shares of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption presented, at redemption value, as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s balance sheet.
Income taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). Under the asset and liability, method as required by this accounting standard, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted income tax rates expected to apply to the period when assets are realized or liability is settled. Any effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the operation of statement in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws of the relevant taxing authorities. Deferred tax assets were deemed immaterial as of September 30, 2021 and March 16, 2021.
ASC 740 prescribes a comprehensive model for how companies should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in their financial statements uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. Under ASC 740, tax positions must initially be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions must initially and subsequently be measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority assuming full knowledge of the position and relevant facts. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2021 and
March 16, 2021. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties as of September 30, 2021 and March 16, 2021. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
The provision for income taxes was deemed to be de minimis for the period from March 10, 2021 (inception) to September 30, 2021.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of September 30, 2021 or March 16, 2021.
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Deferred Offering Costs
Deferred offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering and that will be charged to stockholder’s equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.
Net Loss Per Common Share
Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 900,000 shares of common stock that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Note 6). At September 30, 2021 and March 16, 2021, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into shares of common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the period presented.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed Federally insured limits. Exposure to cash and cash equivalents credit risk is reduced by placing such deposits with major financial institutions and monitoring their credit ratings. At September 30, 2021 and March 16, 2021, the Company has not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.
Fair value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
The Company applies ASC 820, which establishes a framework for measuring fair value and clarifies the definition of fair value within that framework. ASC 820 defines fair value as an exit price, which is the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the Company’s principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820 generally requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the entity’s own assumptions based on market data and the entity’s judgments about the assumptions that
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are to be developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
Level 1 — Assets and liabilities with unadjusted, quoted prices listed on active market exchanges. Inputs to the fair value measurement are observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 — Inputs to the fair value measurement are determined using prices for recently traded assets and liabilities with similar underlying terms, as well as direct or indirect observable inputs, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.
Level 3 — Inputs to the fair value measurement are unobservable inputs, such as estimates, assumptions, and valuation techniques when little or no market data exists for the assets or liabilities.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt with Conversion and other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). The new guidance eliminates the beneficial conversion and cash conversion accounting models for convertible instruments. It also amends the accounting for certain contracts in an entity’s own equity that are currently accounted for as derivatives because of specific settlement provisions. In addition, the new guidance modifies how particular convertible instruments and certain contracts that may be settled in cash or shares impact the diluted EPS computation. This guidance is effective as of January 1, 2022 (early adoption is permitted effective January 1, 2021). The Company is currently evaluating the effect the updated standard will have on its financial position, results of operations or financial statement disclosure.
The Company has considered all new accounting pronouncements and has concluded that there are no new pronouncements that may have a material impact on the results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows, based on the current information.
NOTE 3 — PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING
Pursuant to the Proposed Public Offering, the Company intends to offer for sale up to 20,000,000 Units (or 23,000,000 Units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit is expected to consist of one share of Class A common stock and one-half of one warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each whole Public Warrant is anticipated to entitle the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 6).
The shares of common stock to be sold in the Proposed Public Offering will begin trading on or promptly after the effective date of the registration statement relating to the Proposed Public Offering (“Effective Date”).
NOTE 4 — PRIVATE PLACEMENT
The Company anticipates entering into an agreement with the Sponsor and the underwriters pursuant to which the Sponsor will purchase an aggregate of 9,250,000 Private Placement Warrants (or 10,450,000 warrants if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) and the underwriters will purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 Private Placement Warrants (which is not subject to increase if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), also at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant (generating proceeds of approximately $10,250,000 in the aggregate or $11,450,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Each Private Placement Warrant is anticipated to be exercisable to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 6). A portion of the proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants will be added to the proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering to be held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law), and the Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless.
NOTE 5 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
In March 2021, the Sponsor purchased 8,625,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock (the “Founder Shares”) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 and an aggregate of 142,500 of such shares were subsequently transferred to our independent directors, executive officers and special advisor and other third parties. On November 30, 2021, the Sponsor surrendered 1,725,000 Founder Shares as a result of changes to the terms of the Proposed Public Offering, resulting in the Sponsor owning 6,900,000 Founder Shares (see Note 9). The Founder Shares include an aggregate of up to 900,000 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriter’s overallotment is not exercised in full or in part, so that the number of Founder Shares will collectively represent approximately 23% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering.
The Sponsor has agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of a Business Combination or (B) subsequent to a Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after a Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Promissory Note — Related Party
In March 2021, the Sponsor issued an unsecured promissory note to the Company (the “Promissory Note”), pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. The Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and due at the earlier of March 1, 2022 and the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering. As of September 30, 2021 and March 16, 2021 there was $289,425 and $0 outstanding under the Promissory Note, respectively.
Related Party Loans
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor, an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, of the post Business Combination entity. If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. As of September 30, 2021 and
March 16, 2021, no Working Capital Loans were outstanding.
NOTE 6 — STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
Preferred Stock — The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
time by the Company’s board of directors. At September 30, 2021 and March 16, 2021, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Class A Common Stock — The Company is authorized to issue 240,000,000 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. At September 30, 2021 and March 16, 2021, there were no shares of Class A common stock issued or outstanding.
Class B Common Stock — The Company is authorized to issue 60,000,000 shares of Class B common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. On November 30, 2021, the Sponsor surrendered 1,725,000 shares of Class B common stock as a result of changes to the terms of the Proposed Public Offering. Share amounts and related information have been retrospectively restated for the share surrender (see Note 9). At September 30, 2021 and March 16, 2021, there were 6,900,000 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding, of which an aggregate of up to 900,000 shares are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that such shares will collectively represent 23% of the Comfpany’s issued and outstanding common stock after the Proposed Public Offering.
With respect to any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including any vote in connection with our initial business combination, except as required by law, holders of our Founder Shares and holders of our public shares will vote together as a single class, with each share entitling the holder to one vote. However, prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, holders of the Class B common stock will have the right to elect all of the Company’s directors and may remove members of the board of directors for any reason.
The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of a Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in the Proposed Public Offering and related to the closing of a Business Combination, the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, rights issuances, consolidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 23% of the sum of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with a Business Combination, excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination and excluding any private placement warrants issued to our sponsor, its affiliates or any member of our management team upon conversion of working capital loans.
NOTE 7 — WARRANT LIABILITY
The Company will account for the 20,250,000 warrants to be issued in connection with the Proposed Public Offering (the 10,000,000 Public Warrants and the 10,250,000 Private Placement Warrants assuming the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised) in accordance with the guidance contained in
ASC 815-40. Such guidance provides that because the warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment thereunder, each warrant must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company will classify each warrant as a liability at its fair value. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date. With each such re-measurement, the warrant liability will be adjusted to fair value, with the change in fair value recognized in the Company’s statement of operations.
Warrants — Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless a unit holder purchases at least two units, they will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant.
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 12 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering and (b) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination.
The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a Public Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such Public Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations with respect to registration, or a valid exemption from registration is available. No Public Warrant will be exercisable, and the Company will not be obligated to issue any shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of a Public Warrant unless the share of Class A common stock issuable upon such Public Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the Public Warrants.
The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of a Business Combination, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the public warrants, and the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of a Business Combination, and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the public warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the public warrant agreement; provided that if the Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a public warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their public warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but it will use its commercially reasonably efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the public warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of a Business Combination, public warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise public warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption, but the Company will use its commercially reasonably efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00. Once the public warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the Public Warrants:
•
in whole and not in part;
•
at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
•
upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and
•
if, and only if, the closing price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three trading days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.
If and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by the Company, it may exercise its redemption right even if the Company is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00. Once the Public Warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the Public Warrants:
•
in whole and not in part;
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
•
at $0.10 per warrant
•
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares based on the redemption date and the fair market value of the Class A common stock;
•
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted per stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, reclassifications, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within the 30-trading day period ending three trading days before the Company send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders; and
•
if the closing price of the Class A common stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders is less than $18.00 per share, the Private Placement Warrants must also be concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding Public Warrants, as described above.
In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of a Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Class A common stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of a Business Combination on the date of the consummation of a Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the shares of Class A common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates a Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price and the “Redemption of Warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” described above will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $10.00 per share redemption trigger price described above under “Redemption of Warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
The Private Placement Warrants will be identical to the Public Warrants included in the Units being sold in the Proposed Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or saleable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees (except for a number of shares of Class A common stock as described above under Redemption of warrants for Class A common stock). If the Private Placement Warrants are held by someone other than the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company in all redemption scenarios and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
NOTE 8 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of the Working
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering, requiring the Company to register such securities for resale. The holders will have the right to require us to register for resale these securities pursuant to a shelf registration under Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The holders of a majority of these securities will also be entitled to make up to three demands, plus short form registration demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders will be entitled to certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of the Proposed Public Offering to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Proposed Public Offering price less the underwriting discount. The underwriters will be entitled to a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate (or $4,600,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. In addition, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred fee of $0.40 per Unit, or $8,000,000 in the aggregate (or $9,200,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full). The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
NOTE 9 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through the date that the financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, management did not identify any subsequent events other than as described above that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements, other than the following event.
On November 30, 2021, the Sponsor surrendered 1,725,000 Founder Shares as a result of changes to the terms of the Proposed Public Offering, resulting in the Sponsor owning 6,757,500 Founder Shares, inclusive of 900,000 Founder Shares subject to forfeiture if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part. All share amounts and related information have been retrospectively restated for the share surrender.
20,000,000 Units
Banyan Acquisition Corporation
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
, 2021
Sole Bookrunner
BTIG
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:
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Legal fees and expenses
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$
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250,000
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|
|
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Accounting fees and expenses
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|
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160,000
|
|
|
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SEC expenses
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|
|
|
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37,640
|
|
|
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FINRA expenses
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|
|
|
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52,250
|
|
|
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Travel and road show expenses
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|
|
|
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20,000
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|
|
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NYSE listing and filing fees
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|
|
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85,000
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|
|
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Printing and engraving expenses
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|
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40,000
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|
|
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Miscellaneous expenses
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|
|
|
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105,110
|
|
|
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Total offering expenses
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|
|
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$
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750,000
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|
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Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that all of our directors, officers, employees and agents shall be entitled to be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL. Section 145 of the DGCL concerning indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.
Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.
(a)
A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
(b)
A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable
to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c)
To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
(d)
Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
(e)
Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former officers and directors or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
(f)
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.
(g)
A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
(h)
For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a merger or consolidation which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent
of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(i)
For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
(j)
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(k)
The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any by law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, provides that no director shall be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is to eliminate our rights and those of our stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except, as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care.
If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by applicable law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors on a retroactive basis.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that we will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify our current and former officers and directors, as well
as those persons who, while directors or officers of our corporation, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will be indemnified by us in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by our board of directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification.
The right to indemnification which will be conferred by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by our officer or director (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of our corporation) will be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or otherwise.
The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may have or hereafter acquire under law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by applicable law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also permit us, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other that those specifically covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Our amended and restated bylaws includes the provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those which will be set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In addition, our amended and restated bylaws provides for a right of indemnity to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by us within a specified period of time. Our amended and restated bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance, at our expense, to protect us and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of our corporation or another entity, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by our board of directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by applicable law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
We will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors a form of which is to be filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We also expect to maintain standard policies of insurance under which
coverage shall be provided to our officers and directors against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful acts.
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify us against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this offering, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
On March 16, 2021, Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC, our sponsor, purchased an aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares, par value $0.0001 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share and an aggregate of 142,500 of such shares were subsequently transferred to our directors, executive officers and special advisor and other third parties. On November 30, 2021, our sponsor forfeited certain founder shares such that our initial stockholders, consisting of our sponsor, independent directors and certain advisors, now collectively hold 6,900,000 founders shares. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 23% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock upon completion of this offering. Such securities were issued in connection with our incorporation pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Our sponsor is an accredited investor for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D.
In addition, our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 9,250,000 warrants (or 10,450,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $9,250,000 or $10,450,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), and the underwriters have committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (which is not subject to increase if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), also at a price of $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate of $1,000,000), in each case pursuant to a written agreement in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) Exhibits. The following exhibits are being filed herewith:
Exhibit
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Description
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10.3*
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10.4*
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10.5**
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10.6*
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10.7*
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Form of Warrants Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and the Underwriters.
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10.8**
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10.9**
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14**
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23.1**
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23.2**
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24**
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99.1**
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99.2**
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99.3**
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99.4**
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99.5**
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99.6**
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*
Filed herewith.
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Previously filed.
(b)
Financial Statements. See page F-1 for an index to the financial statements and schedules included in the registration statement.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(b)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1)
For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2)
For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)
For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(4)
For the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;
(iii)
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv)
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Northbrook, State of Illinois, on the 29th day of December, 2021.
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Keith Jaffee
Name: Keith Jaffee
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Name
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Position
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Date
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*
Jerry Hyman
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Chairman
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December 29, 2021
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/s/ Keith Jaffee
Keith Jaffee
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Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
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December 29, 2021
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George Courtot
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Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
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December 29, 2021
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By:
/s/ Keith Jaffee
Attorney-in-Fact
Exhibit 1.1
Underwriting
Agreement
between
BANYAN
Acquisition Corporation
and
BTIG,
LLC
Dated [ ], 2022
BANYAN
Acquisition Corporation
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
[ ], 2022
BTIG, LLC
65 East 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
As Representative of the Underwriters
named on Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Banyan Acquisition
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with BTIG, LLC
(“BTIG” or the “Representative”) and with the other underwriters named on Schedule A
hereto (if any), for which the Representative is acting as representative (the Representative and such other underwriters being collectively
referred to herein as the “Underwriters” or, each underwriter individually, an “Underwriter,”
provided that, if only BTIG is listed on such Schedule A, any references to the underwriters shall refer exclusively to BTIG) 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 contained herein, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to the several Underwriters, severally and not jointly, and the Underwriters agree to purchase from the Company, severally
and not jointly, an aggregate of 20,000,000 units (the “Firm Units”), ratably in accordance with the number of Firm
Units set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A attached hereto, at a purchase price of $9.80 per Firm Unit. The Firm
Units 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 share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Class A Common Stock”),
and one-half of one redeemable warrant (each a “Warrant,” and, collectively with each of the other redeemable warrants being
sold hereunder, the “Warrants”). The Class A Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Firm Units will trade separately
on the 52nd day following the date hereof unless the Representative determines to allow earlier separate trading. Notwithstanding
the immediately preceding sentence, in no event will the Class A Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Firm Units trade separately
until (i) the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Current Report
on Form 8-K that includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the proceeds of the Offering and the Warrant
Private Placement (as defined in Section 1.4.2) and updated financial information with respect to any proceeds the Company receives
from the exercise of the Over-allotment Option (defined below) if such option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (ii) the
Company has filed with the Commission all reports required to be filed under the federal securities laws and issued a press release announcing
when such separate trading will begin. Each whole Warrant entitles its holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock for $11.50
per share, subject to adjustment, commencing on the later of twelve months from the Closing Date (defined below) or 30 days after
the consummation by the Company of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business
combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”) and expiring on the five year anniversary of the
consummation by the Company of its initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
1.1.2 Payment and Delivery. Delivery
and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the 2nd Business Day (as
defined below) following the commencement of trading of the Units, or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the
Representative and the Company, at the offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, counsel to the Underwriters
(“EG&S”), or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and
date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is called the “Closing Date.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be
made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: $204,000,000 of the proceeds received by
the Company for the Firm Units and the sale of Private Placement Warrants (as defined in Section 1.4.2) shall be deposited in
the trust account (“Trust Account”) established by the Company for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as
defined below), as described in the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1) pursuant to the terms of an
Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company (“CST&T”). The funds deposited in the Trust Account shall include an aggregate of
$8,000,000 ($0.40 per Firm Unit), payable to the Underwriters as Deferred Underwriting Commission, in accordance with Section
1.3 hereof. The remaining proceeds (less commissions and actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this
Agreement), if any, shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company
(“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 two full Business Days prior to the Closing
Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver any of the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the
Representative for all the Firm Units. As used herein, the term “Public Stockholders” means the holders of shares
of Class A Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Offering or acquired in the aftermarket, including the Sponsor (defined
below), any member of the Sponsor, or any officer or director of the Company, to the extent he, she or it acquires such shares of
Class A Common Stock in the aftermarket (and solely with respect to such shares of Class A Common Stock). “Business
Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are
authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be
authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”,
“non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at
the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of
commercial banks in The City of New York are generally are open for use by customers on such day.
1.2 Over-Allotment Option.
1.2.1 Option Units. The Underwriters are
hereby granted an option (the “Over-allotment Option”) to purchase, ratably in accordance with the number of Firm Units
to be purchased by each of them, up to an additional 3,000,000 units (the “Option Units”), the net proceeds of which,
together with the proceeds of the Option Private Placement Warrants (as defined below), will be deposited in the Trust Account, for the
purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units. Such Option Units shall be identical
in all respects to the Firm Units and shall be sold at the same purchase price per Firm Unit to be paid by the Underwriters to the Company.
The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Units,” and the Units, the Class
A Common Stock, the Warrants included in the Units and the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are hereinafter
referred to collectively as the “Public Securities.” No Option Units shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Units
previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Option Units, or any portion thereof, may be
exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the
Representative to the Company. The purchase price to be paid for each Option Unit will be the same price per Firm Unit set forth in Section
1.1.1 hereof.
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 45 days after the effective date (“Effective Date”) of
the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof). 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 by the Representative, which must be confirmed in accordance with Section
10.1 herein setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the
Option Units (the “Option Closing Date”), which will not be later than five full Business Days after the
date of the notice or such other time and in such other manner as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the
offices of EG&S or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) 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 Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. 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. Payment for
the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: $9.80 per
Option Unit 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 Representative) representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account
of the Representative. The amount of the payment for the Option Units to be deposited in the Trust Account will include $0.40 per Option
Unit (up to $1,200,000), payable to the Underwriters, as Deferred Underwriting Commission, in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof.
The certificates representing the Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative
requests in writing not less than two full Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The
Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Units except upon tender of payment by the Underwriters for applicable Option
Units.
1.3 Deferred Underwriting Commission. The
Representative agrees that 4.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units ($8,000,000) and the Option Units (up to $1,200,000)
(collectively, the “Deferred Underwriting Commission”) will be deposited and held in the Trust Account and payable
directly from the Trust Account, without accrued interest, to the Representative (on behalf of the Underwriters) for its own account upon
consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination. In the event that the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination
and CST&T, as the trustee of the Trust Account (in this context, the “Trustee”), commences liquidation of the Trust
Account as provided in the Trust Agreement, the Representative agrees that: (i) the Representative shall forfeit any rights or claims
to the Deferred Underwriting Commission; and (ii) the Deferred Underwriting Commission, together with all other amounts on deposit
in the Trust Account, shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis among the Public Stockholders.
1.4 Private Placements.
1.4.1 Founder Shares. In March 2021, Banyan
Acquisition Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) purchased 8,625,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value
per share, of the Company (the “Founder Shares”). Prior to the Closing Date, the Sponsor transferred 142,500 Founder
Shares to the Company’s independent directors, executive officers, special advisor and other third parties. On November 30, 2021,
the Sponsor voluntarily forfeited certain Founder Shares such that the Sponsor and the Company’s independent directors, executive
officers, special advisor and other third parties collectively held, as of that date, 6,900,000 Founder Shares. No underwriting discounts,
commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the purchase of Founder Shares. Except as described in the
Registration Statement, none of the Founder Shares may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Sponsor until the earlier of: (i) one year
following the consummation of the Business Combination; or (ii) subsequent to the consummation of a Business Combination, (x) the
date on which the closing price of the shares of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share consolidations,
share splits, share capitalizations, rights issuances, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within
any 30-trading day period commencing 150 calendar days after the consummation of the Business Combination; or (y) the date on
which the Company consummates a transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their
shares for cash, securities, or other property. The holders of Founder Shares shall have no right to any liquidating distributions from
the Trust Account with respect to any portion of the Founder Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination.
The holders of the Founder Shares shall not have redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares. In the event that the Over-allotment
Option is not exercised in full, the Sponsor will be required to forfeit such number of Founder Shares (up to 900,000 Founder
Shares) such that the Founder Shares then outstanding will comprise 23% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company after
giving effect to the Offering and exercise, if any, of the Over-allotment Option.
1.4.2 Private Placement
of Warrants. Simultaneously with the Closing Date, the Sponsor and the Underwriters will purchase from the Company pursuant to the
Purchase Agreements (as defined in Section 2.21.2 hereof), 10,250,000 private placement warrants (9,250,000 to be purchased by
the Sponsor and 1,000,000 to be purchased by the Underwriters), each exercisable to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at
$11.50 per share, at a purchase price of $1.00 per warrant (the “Private Placement Warrants”) in a private placement
intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2)
of the Act. Simultaneously with the Option Closing Date (if any), the Sponsor will purchase from the Company, pursuant to the Sponsor
Purchase Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.2 hereof), up to an additional 1,200,000 Private Placement Warrants (if the Over-allotment
Option is exercised in full) at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement intended to be exempt
from registration under the Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Act (the “Option Private Placement Warrants”).
The private placement of the Private Placement Warrants is referred to herein as the “Warrant Private Placement.”
None of the Private Placement Warrants nor the underlying shares of Class A Common Stock may be sold, assigned or transferred by the
Sponsor, the Underwriters or their permitted transferees until 30 days after consummation of a Business Combination. $8,000,000
of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants and all of the proceeds from the sale of the Option Private Placement
Warrants, if any, shall be deposited into the Trust Account.
1.4.3 The Private Placement Warrants and shares
of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Placement
Securities.” No underwriting discounts, commissions, or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Placement
Securities. The Public Securities, the Placement Securities, and the Founder Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities.”
1.5 Working Capital. Upon consummation of
the Offering, it is intended that approximately $1,500,000 of the Offering proceeds will be released to the Company and held outside of
the Trust Account to fund the working capital requirements of the Company.
1.6 Interest Income. Prior to the Company’s
consummation of a Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation, interest earned on the Trust Account may be released to the
Company from the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement to pay any taxes incurred by the Company and up to
$100,000 for liquidation expenses, all as more fully described in the Prospectus (as defined below).
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 Commission a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No.
333-258599), including any related preliminary prospectus (“Preliminary Prospectus”), including any
prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement), for
the registration of the Units under the Act, which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the
Company in conformity 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. 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 by the Company 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 4:00
p.m. New York City time, on the date of this Agreement. Prior to the Time of Sale, the Company prepared a Preliminary Prospectus,
which was included in the Registration Statement filed on [ ], 2021, for distribution by the Underwriter (such
Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Time of Sale, the “Sale Preliminary Prospectus”). 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
Act registering additional 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 the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which became effective upon filing, no other document
with respect to the Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission. All of the Public Securities have been registered for
public sale under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement or, if any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is filed, will be
duly registered for public sale under the 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 determines that at the Time of Sale, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact
or omits a statement of material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading and the Company and the Representative agree to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Units to terminate
their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase contracts, then the Sale Preliminary 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 No. 001-[ ]) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Units, the Class A Common Stock and the Warrants. The registration
of the Units, Class A Common Stock and Warrants under the Exchange Act is effective on the date hereof and the Units, the Class A Common
Stock and the Warrants have been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.
2.1.3 No Stop Orders, Etc. Neither the Commission
nor, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any federal, state, or other regulatory authority has issued any order
or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Sale
Preliminary Prospectus, or Prospectus or any part thereof, or has instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable
inquiry, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
2.2 Disclosures in Registration Statement.
10b-5 Representation. At the time of effectiveness
of the Registration Statement (and at the time any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) and at all times subsequent
thereto up to the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus do and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations,
and did or will, in all material respects, conform to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations. The Registration Statement, as
of the Effective Date, did not, and the amendments and supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, will not 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,
not misleading. The Prospectus, as of its date and the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, did not, and the amendments
and supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The Sale Preliminary Prospectus, as of the Time of Sale (or such subsequent Time of Sale pursuant to Section 2.1.1), did not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. When any Preliminary Prospectus or the Sale Preliminary Prospectus was
first filed with the Commission (whether filed as part of the Registration Statement for the registration of the Public Securities or
any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Regulations) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first filed
with the Commission, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto
complied or will have been corrected in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus to comply in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of the Act and the Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty made in this Section 2.2 does not apply to statements
made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with Underwriters’ Information (as defined below) furnished to the
Company by the Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of the Underwriters
consists solely of the following: the names of the Underwriters, the information with respect to dealers’ concessions and reallowances
contained in the fourth paragraph of the section entitled “Underwriting,” the information with respect to stabilizing transactions
contained in the sixteenth and seventeenth paragraphs of the section entitled “Underwriting” and the identity of counsel to
the Underwriters contained in the section entitled “Legal Matters” (such information, collectively, the “Underwriters’
Information”).
2.2.1 Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements
and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus conform to the descriptions
thereof contained therein in all material respects and there are no agreements or other documents required to be described in the Registration
Statement, the Sale 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,
Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business,
has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect and is enforceable against the Company and,
to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, 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 foreign, 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 no such agreement or instrument has
been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any other party
is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, 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,
assuming reasonable inquiry, the performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result
in a 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.
2.2.2 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.
2.2.3 Regulations. The disclosures in the
Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, foreign, state, and local regulation
on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
2.3 Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.
2.3.1 No Material Adverse Change. Since
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and 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 (the “Board of Directors”) or management
has resigned from any position with the Company, other than a change in the title of such officer, 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
Board of Directors or management to act in their capacities with the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.3.2 Recent Securities Transactions. Subsequent
to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus 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 share capital.
2.4 Independent Accountants. To the
Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, Marcum LLP (“Marcum”), whose report is filed with the
Commission as part of, and is included in, the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus, is an
independent registered public accountant firm as required by the Act, the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (the “PCAOB”), including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity. To the Company’s
knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, Marcum is currently registered with the PCAOB. Marcum has not, during the periods covered by
the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Sale 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.
2.5 Financial Statements; Statistical Data.
2.5.1 Financial Statements. The financial
statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules (if any) included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present the financial position, the results of operations and the cash flows of the Company at the
dates and for the periods to which they apply; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally
accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules
included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information required to
be stated therein in conformity with the Regulations. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement,
the Sale 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. There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial
statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in accordance
with Regulation S-X that have not been included as required.
2.5.2 Statistical Data. The statistical,
industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and/or the Prospectus
are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data materially
agree with the sources from which they are derived.
2.6 Authorized Capital; Options. The Company
had at the date or dates indicated in each of the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus, as the
case may be, duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus,
and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus,
the Company will have on the Closing Date or on the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the adjusted share capitalization set forth
therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, on
the Effective Date and on the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights
to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock or any security convertible into shares of
Class A Common Stock, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell shares of Class A Common Stock or any such options, warrants, rights
or convertible securities.
2.7 Valid Issuance of Securities.
2.7.1 Outstanding Securities. All issued
and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement 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 was 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 authorized and outstanding securities
of the Company conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus. All offers and sales and any transfers of the outstanding securities of the Company 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 securities, exempt from such registration requirements.
2.7.2 Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement.
The Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will
be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; 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 action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and
sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken. The form of certificates for the Securities conform to the corporate law of the
jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation and applicable securities laws. The Securities conform in all material respects to the
descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be.
When paid for and issued, the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities
of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such 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 foreign, 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 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise
of the Warrants and upon payment of the consideration therefor, and when issued in accordance with the terms thereof such shares of Class
A Common Stock 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.
2.7.3 Placement Securities.
2.7.3.1 The Private Placement Warrants will constitute
valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance
with the terms thereof, and will be 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 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of the Private Placement Warrants have been reserved for issuance and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Private Placement
Warrants, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued and upon payment therefor, 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.
2.7.4 No Integration. Neither the Company
nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities (other than the Public Securities) which
are required to be or may be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the Offering.
2.8 Registration Rights of Third Parties.
Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and 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.
2.9 Validity and Binding Effect of
Agreements. This Agreement, the Warrant Agreement (as defined in Section 2.23), the Trust Agreement, the Services
Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.3), the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.4) and the
Purchase Agreements (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) have been duly and validly authorized by the
Company and, when executed and delivered, will constitute the 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 foreign, 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.
2.10 No Conflicts, Etc. The execution, delivery,
and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, 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 breach or violation of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a 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, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company is a party or
bound or to which its property is subject except pursuant to the Trust Agreement (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of
the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company or its bylaws, as amended (collectively, the “Charter Documents”);
or (iii) violate any existing applicable statute, 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, assets or business constituted as of the date
hereof; except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above for any such conflict, breach or violation that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.11 No Defaults; Violations. No default or
violation exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any 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 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, except for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below). The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Charter
Documents or in violation of any franchise, 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 any such
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.12 Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.12.1 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 purpose as described
in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except where the failure thereto would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on this 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 this Offering.
2.12.2 Transactions Contemplated Herein.
The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into the Transaction Documents and to carry out the provisions and
conditions hereof and thereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection herewith and therewith have
been obtained. No consent, authorization, or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body, foreign or domestic,
is required for the valid issuance, sale, and delivery, of the Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated
by the Transaction Documents and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except
as contemplated by the Transaction Documents and with respect to applicable foreign, federal and state securities laws and the rules
and regulations promulgated by FINRA.
2.13 D&O Questionnaires. To the
Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, all information contained in the questionnaires (i)
(“Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s officers, directors and stockholders holding greater
than 5% of any class of the Company’s equity securities (“Insiders”) and provided to the Representative and
their counsel and (ii) the biographies of the Insiders and any other persons contained in the Registration Statement, Sale
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (to the extent a biography is contained) (“Biographies”) is true and correct
in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the
Questionnaires completed by each Insider or in the Biographies to become inaccurate, incorrect or incomplete in any material
respect.
2.14 Litigation; Governmental Proceedings.
There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to the Company’s
knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened against or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable
inquiry, any Insider or any stockholder or member of an Insider that would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, that
has not been disclosed, and that is required to be disclosed, in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus.
2.15 Good Standing. The Company has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company
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 condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, assets, prospects, business, operations or properties of the Company, whether
or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
2.16 No Contemplation of a Business Combination.
As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has not selected any specific Business Combination target (each a “Target Business”)
and it has not, nor has anyone on its behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any Business Combination
target.
2.17 Transactions Requiring Disclosure to FINRA.
2.17.1 Finder’s Fees. Except as described
in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements
or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect
to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or to the Company’s
knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as defined by FINRA.
2.17.2 Payments Within 180 Days. 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 ”participating member, as defined in FINRA Rule 5110, with respect to the Offering
(“Participating Member”), within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement, other
than the prior payments to the Representative in connection with the Offering. The Company has not issued any warrants or other securities,
or granted any options, directly or indirectly, to any Participating Member within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date
of the Registration Statement. 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, to the Company’s knowledge (assuming reasonable inquiry), any relationship
or affiliation or association with any Participating Member. 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 filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission, which arrangement
or agreement provides for the receipt of any “underwriting compensation” as defined in FINRA Rule 5110.
2.17.3 FINRA Affiliation. No officer
or director or any Insiders) of any class of the Company’s unregistered securities (whether debt or equity, registered or
unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived), or any affiliate of the Company, has any direct or
indirect affiliation or association with any Participating Member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of
FINRA). The Company will advise the Representative and EG&S if it learns that any officer or director or any direct or indirect
beneficial owner or affiliate of the Company (including any Insider) is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a
Participating Member.
2.17.4 Share Ownership. Except as disclosed
in the FINRA Questionnaires provided to the Representative, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, no officer
or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including any Insider) of any class of the Company’s unregistered securities,
or any affiliate of the Company, is an owner of shares or other securities of any Participating Member (other than securities purchased
on the open market).
2.17.5 Loans. To the Company’s knowledge,
assuming reasonable inquiry, no officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including any Insider) of any class of
the Company’s unregistered securities, or any affiliate of the Company, has made a subordinated loan to any Participating Member.
2.17.6 Proceeds of the Offering. Except
as described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, no proceeds from the sale of the Public
Securities (excluding underwriting compensation) , the Private Placement Warrants or Option Private Placement Warrants, if any, will be
paid to any Participating Member, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.17.7 Conflicts of Interest. To the Company’s
knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, no Participating Member has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict
of interest” exists when a Participating Member and/or 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.
2.18 Taxes.
2.18.1 There are no transfer taxes or other similar
fees or charges under U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state or any political subdivision of the United States, required to be
paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Public Securities.
2.18.2 The Company has filed all U.S. federal,
state and local tax returns required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof in a timely manner or has duly obtained
extensions of time for the filing thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect). The Company has paid all taxes shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed
on it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable,except as
would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made appropriate provisions in the applicable financial
statements referred to in Section 2.5.1 above in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign income taxes for all current
or prior periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined.
2.19 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; Anti-Money
Laundering; Patriot Act.
2.19.1 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither
the Company nor to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any of the Insiders 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 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, or (iii) if
not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business or operations of the Company. The Company has taken reasonable
steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
2.19.2 Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting
Act. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with (i) the requirements of the U.S.
Treasury Department Office of Foreign Asset Control and (ii) applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the
Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, including the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended, the
rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar money laundering statutes, rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered
or enforced by any Federal governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding
by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering
Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened.
2.19.3 Patriot Act. Neither the Company
nor to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider has violated the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended,
or 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.
2.20 Officer’s Certificate. Any certificate
signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company in connection with the Offering and delivered to the Representative or to EG&S
shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
2.21 Agreements With Insiders.
2.21.1 Insider Letter. On the date of this
Agreement, the Company will cause to be duly executed and delivered to the Underwriters a legally binding and enforceable agreement (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 noncompete provision may be limited under foreign, 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), a form of
which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Insider Letter”), pursuant to which each of the
Insiders of the Company agrees to certain matters.
2.21.2 Purchase Agreements. On the date
of this Agreement, the Company and the Sponsor have executed and delivered to the Underwriters a Private Placement Warrants Purchase
Agreement, the form of which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Sponsor Purchase Agreement”),
pursuant to which the Sponsor will, among other things, on the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, consummate the purchase of and
deliver the purchase price for the Private Placement Warrants to be purchased by the Sponsor as described in Section 1.4.2 and as provided
for in such Sponsor Purchase Agreement. On the date of this Agreement, the Company and the Underwriters have executed a Private Placement
Warrants Purchase Agreement, the form of which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Underwriters Purchase
Agreement,” and, together with the Sponsor Purchase Agreement, the “Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which
the Underwriters will, among other things, consummate the purchase of and deliver the purchase price for the Private Placement Warrants
to be purchased by the Underwriters as described in Section 1.4.2 and as provided for in such Underwriters Purchase Agreement. Pursuant
to the Purchase Agreements, (i) the Sponsor and the Underwriters have waived any and all rights and claims they may have to any
proceeds, and any interest thereon, held in the Trust Account in respect of the Private Placement Warrants, and (ii) $8,000,000 of the
proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants and all of the proceeds from the sale of the Option Private Placement Warrants,
if any, will be deposited by the Company in the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement on the Closing Date
and Option Closing Date (if any) as provided for in the Purchase Agreements.
2.21.3 Administrative Services. On the date
of this Agreement, the Company and an affiliate of the Sponsor will enter into an agreement (the “Services Agreement”)
substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which such affiliate will make available to
the Company general and administrative services including office space, support and administrative services for the Company’s use
for $10,000 per month payable until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the
Trust Account, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Services Agreement.
2.21.4 Registration Rights Agreement. On
the date of this Agreement, the Company, the Sponsor, the Underwriters and the Company’s officers and directors will enter into and deliver to the
Underwriters a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) substantially in the form annexed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby such parties will be entitled to certain registration and stockholder rights with
respect to the securities they hold or may hold, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration
Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.21.5 Loans. The Sponsor has agreed to
make loans to the Company in the aggregate amount of up to $300,000 (the “Insider Loans”) pursuant to a promissory
note substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The Insider Loans do not bear any interest and are
repayable by the Company on the earlier of March 1, 2022 or the consummation of the Offering.
2.22 Investment Management Trust Agreement.
On the date of this Agreement, the Company has entered into and delivered to the Underwriters the Trust Agreement with respect to certain
proceeds of the Offering and the Warrant Private Placement substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
2.23 Warrant Agreement. On the date of this
Agreement, the Company has entered into and delivered to the Underwriters a warrant agreement with respect to the Warrants underlying
the Units and Private Placement Warrants and certain other warrants that may be issued by the Company with CST&T substantially in
the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”).
2.24 No Existing Non-Competition Agreements.
No Insider is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially
affect his ability to be an employee, officer and/or director of the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.25 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)
or money market funds meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act.
2.26 Investment Company Act. The Company is
not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom
as described in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company”
under the Investment Company Act.
2.27 Subsidiaries. The Company does not own
an interest in any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business entity.
2.28 Related Party Transactions. No relationship,
direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and any Insider, on the other hand, which is required by the
Act, the Exchange Act or the Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
which is not so 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 Sale Preliminary Prospectus and 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.
2.29 No Influence. The Company has not offered,
or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Firm Units to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (a) a customer
or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business
with the Company or such affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any
such affiliate.
2.30 Sarbanes-Oxley. The Company is, or on
the Closing Date will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules or regulations promulgated by any governmental or self-regulatory entity
or agency, that are applicable to it as of the date hereof or thereof.
2.31 Distribution of Offering Material by
the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion
of the distribution of the Units, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than the Sale
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, in each case as supplemented and/or amended.
2.32 NYSE. The Public Securities have been
authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on The New York Stock Exchange
(the “NYSE”), and the Company knows of no reason or set of facts that is likely to adversely affect such authorization.
2.33 Board of Directors. As of the Effective
Date, the Board of Directors of the Company will be comprised of the persons set forth as “Directors” or “Director nominees”
under the heading of the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus captioned “Management.” As of the Effective Date,
the qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board will comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of NYSE that are, in each case, applicable to the Company. As of the Effective
Date, the Company will have an Audit Committee that satisfies the applicable requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the
rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of NYSE.
2.34 Emerging Growth Company. From its formation
through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an
“Emerging Growth Company”).
2.35 No Disqualification Events. Neither the
Company, nor any of its predecessors or any affiliated issuer, nor any director, executive officer, or other officer of the Company participating
in the Offering, nor any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the
basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Act) connected with the Company in any capacity
at the time of sale (each, a “Company Covered Person”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications
described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification
Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Company Covered Person is
subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e),
and has furnished to the Representative a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.
2.36 Free-Writing Prospectus and Testing-the-Waters.
The Company has not made any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined
in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405. The Company:
(a) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative
with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited
investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act and (b) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications
other than its officers and the Representative and individuals engaged by the Representative. The Company has not distributed any written
Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule B hereto. “Testing-the-Waters Communication”
means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.
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, any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and the Company shall not file any such amendment or supplement
to which the Representative reasonably objects 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 its best 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 Securities in accordance with the
provisions hereof and the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the
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 Representative, 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
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to 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 or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Act.
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. The Company
will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the shares of Class A Common Stock (or any successor security for which shares
of Class A Common Stock are exchangeable in connection with a Business Combination) and the Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange
Act (except in connection with a going-private transaction) for a period of five years from the Effective Date, or until the Company is
required to be liquidated or is acquired, if earlier, or, in the case of the Warrants, until the Warrants expire and are no longer exercisable
or have been exercised or redeemed in full. The Company will not deregister the Public Securities under the Exchange Act without the prior
written consent of the Representative prior to the Business Combination.
3.2.4 Exchange Act Filings. From the Effective
Date until the earlier of the Company’s initial Business Combination, or its liquidation and dissolution, the Company shall timely
file with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) such statements
and reports as are required to be filed by it under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.
3.2.5 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 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.
3.3 Free-Writing Prospectus. The Company agrees
that it will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined
in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405, without
the prior consent of the Representative.
3.4 Delivery to Underwriters of Prospectuses.
The Company will deliver to the Underwriters, without charge and 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 the Prospectus as the Underwriters
may reasonably request.
3.5 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 as promptly as reasonably possible 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 foreign or 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 that, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, and in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If
the Commission or any foreign or 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.
3.6 Affiliated Transactions.
3.6.1 Business Combinations. The Company
will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity that is affiliated with any Insider unless (i) the Company obtains an
opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that the Business
Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view and (ii) a majority of the Company’s disinterested and independent
directors (if there are any) approve such transaction.
3.6.2 Compensation to Insiders. Except as
disclosed in the Prospectus or any other filing with the Commission, the Company shall not pay any of the Insiders 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 consummation of a
Business Combination.
3.7 Reports to the Representative. For a period
from the Effective Date until such time when the Company either completes its Business Combination or 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 files with the Commission, (ii) a copy of every press release and every news
item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs that was released by the Company, (iii) a copy of each current Report
on Form 8-K or Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company, (iv) two copies of each registration statement
filed by the Company with the Commission under the Act, 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 the
Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable
to the Representative and their counsel in connection with the Representative receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission
pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section.
3.8 Transfer Agent. For a period from the
Effective Date until such time when the Company either completes its business combination or is required to be liquidated, the Company
shall retain a transfer agent and warrant agent acceptable to the Representative. CST&T is acceptable to the Representative.
3.9 Payment of Expenses. 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 Closing Date, all
Company 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 preparation, printing, filing, mailing and
delivery (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus, including any pre or post effective amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and mailing
of 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) fees incurred in connection with
conducting background checks of the Company’s management team, not to exceed a maximum of $4,000 per person (in the case
investigations and background checks in U.S. jurisdictions) and $5,000 per person (in the case of investigations and background
checks in non-U.S. jurisdictions), (iv) the preparation, printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, the Class A Common
Stock and the Warrants included in the Units, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (v) filing fees incurred
in registering the Offering with FINRA and the reasonable fees of counsel not to exceed $20,000 in connection therewith,
(vi) fees, costs and expenses incurred in listing the Securities on the NYSE or such other stock exchanges as the Company and
the Underwriter together determine, (vii) all fees and disbursements of the transfer and warrant agent, (viii) reasonable
expenses of the Company and the Underwriters associated with “road show” meetings arranged by the Representative and any
presentations made available by way of a net roadshow, including without limitation trips for the Company’s management to meet
with prospective investors, and all travel, food and lodging expenses associated with such trips incurred by the Company or such
management; and (ix) all other costs and expenses customarily borne by an issuer incident to the performance of its obligations
hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 3.9. If the Offering is consummated, the
Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date the expenses set forth
above (which shall be mutually agreed upon between the Company and the Representative prior to Closing) to be paid by the Company to
the Representative. If the Offering is not consummated for any reason (other than a breach by the Representative of any of its
obligations hereunder), then the Company shall reimburse the Representative in full for its out-of-pocket accountable expenses
actually incurred through such date, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Representative. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 3.9 and in Sections 5 and 9.3 hereof, the
Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel.
3.10 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company
will apply the net proceeds from the Offering and Warrant Private Placement received by it in a manner materially consistent with the
application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
3.11 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 last day
of the fifteenth 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 consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date. Any
financial statements filed or furnished on the Commission’s EDGAR website will be considered to be generally available to security
holders for purposes of this Section 3.11.
3.12 Notice to FINRA.
3.12.1 Notice to the Representative. For
a period of 60 days after the date of the Prospectus, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association)
is engaged, in writing, to assist the Company in its search for a Target Business or to provide any other services in connection therewith,
the Company will provide the following to 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 Participating Member with respect to the Offering. The Company also agrees
that, if required by law, proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the tender offer documents or
proxy statement which the Company will file with the Commission in connection with the Business Combination.
3.12.2 FINRA. The Company shall advise the
Representative if it is aware that any 10% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes a Participating Member.
3.12.3 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.
3.13 Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor
to its knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any of its employees, directors or stockholders (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.
3.14 Intentionally Omitted.
3.15 Payment of Deferred Underwriting Commission
on Business Combination. Upon the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination, the Company agrees that it will
cause the Trustee to pay the Deferred Underwriting Commission directly from the Trust Account to the Representative, in accordance with
Section 1.3. The Representative shall have no claim to payment of any interest earned on the portion of the proceeds held in the
Trust Account representing the Deferred Underwriting Commission.
3.16 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 GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
3.17 Accountants. Until the earlier of five
years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain
Marcum or another nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm.
3.18 Form 8-K. The Company shall, on or prior
to the date hereof, retain its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing
Date (“Audited Financial Statements”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the
Warrant Private Placement. Within four Business Days after the Closing Date, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K
with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Financial Statements. Promptly after the Option Closing Date,
if the Over-allotment Option is exercised after the Closing Date, the Company shall file with the Commission a Current Report on Form
8-K or an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of such option.
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 EG&S.
3.20 Investment Company. The Company shall
cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only as provided for 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 shall be engaged in a business other than that of investing,
reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.
3.21 Amendments to Charter Documents. The
Company covenants and agrees, that prior to its initial Business Combination it will not seek to amend or modify its Charter Documents,
except as in compliance with the provisions set forth therein.
3.22 Press Releases. The Company agrees that
it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s prior written consent (not to be
unreasonably withheld), for a period of 25 days after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company
be prohibited from issuing any press releases required by law, except that including the name of any Underwriter therein shall require
the prior written consent of such Underwriter.
3.23 Insurance. The Company will maintain
directors’ and officers’ insurance (including, without limitation, insurance covering the Company, its directors and officers
for liabilities or losses arising in connection with this Offering, including, without limitation, liabilities or losses arising under
the Act, the Exchange Act, the Regulations and any applicable foreign securities laws) until the consummation of the initial business
combination.
3.24 Electronic Prospectus. The Company
shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Underwriters, at the Company’s expense, promptly, but in no event later than
two Business Days from the Effective Date of this Agreement, 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, such as PDF, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the 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 prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR; and (iii) it shall be
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).
3.25 Private Placement Proceeds. On or prior
to the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall have caused the applicable proceeds from the Warrant Private
Placement and the Option Private Placements, if any, to be deposited into the Trust Account in accordance with the Purchase Agreements.
3.26 Future Financings. The Company agrees
that neither it, nor any successor or subsidiary of the Company, will consummate any public or private equity or debt financing prior
to the consummation of a Business Combination, unless all investors in such financing expressly waive, in writing, any rights in or claims
against the Trust Account with respect to such financing.
3.27 Amendments to Agreements. Prior to the
consummation of the Business Combination, the Company shall not amend, modify or otherwise change the Warrant Agreement, Trust Agreement,
Registration Rights Agreement, Purchase Agreements, Services Agreement, or any Insider Letter without the prior written consent of the
Representative, which will not be unreasonably withheld.
3.28 Maintenance of NYSE Listing. Until the
consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the listing of the Public Securities on the
NYSE or another national securities exchange acceptable to the Representative.
3.29 Reservation of Shares. The Company will
reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
and Private Placement Warrants outstanding from time to time.
3.30 Notice of Disqualification Events. The
Company will notify the Representative in writing, prior to the Closing Date, of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Company
Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Company Covered
Person.
3.31 Disqualification of S-1. Until the earlier
of seven years from the date hereof or until the Warrants have either expired and are no longer exercisable or have all been exercised,
the Company will not take any action or actions that prevent or disqualify the Company’s use of Form S-1 (or other appropriate form)
for the registration of the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants under the Act.
4. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.
The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Units, as provided herein, shall be subject to the continuing accuracy
in all material respects 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 in all material respects 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 4:00 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.
4.1.2 FINRA Clearance. By the Effective
Date, the Underwriters shall have received a letter of no objections from FINRA as to the terms and arrangements 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 the Closing
Date, the Commission shall not have issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any part thereof, and shall not have instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable
inquiry, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
4.1.4 Listing on NYSE. The Securities shall
have been approved for listing on NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, satisfactory
evidence of which shall have been provided to the Representative.
4.2 Company Counsel Matters.
4.2.1 Closing Date and Option Closing Date Opinions
of Counsel. On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received (i) the opinion and negative
assurance statement of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (“Katten”), dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Representative and EG&S. and (ii) the favorable opinion and negative assurance letter of EG&S, dated the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative. In rendering such opinion and negative assurance, Katten and EG&S may
rely on the matters specified in Section 4.2.2 hereof.
4.2.2 Reliance. In rendering such opinion,
such counsel 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 Representative counsel
if requested. The opinion of counsel for the Company shall include a statement to the effect that it may be relied upon by counsel for
the Underwriters in its opinion delivered to the Underwriters.
4.3 Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement
is executed, and at the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a letter or letters, addressed
to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory in all respects
to the Representative from Marcum dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and Option Closing
Date, if any.
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 Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (in their capacities as such),
dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, to the effect that the Company has performed in all
material respects 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 (in their capacities as such) 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 of the Company (or any person fulfilling an equivalent role), dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case
may be, respectively, certifying (i) that the Charter Documents are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force
and effect, (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the public offering contemplated by this
Agreement are in full force and effect and have not been modified, (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence
between the Company or its counsel and the Commission, (iv) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the
Company or its counsel and the NYSE and (v) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. 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 involving
a prospective 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 the Prospectus, (ii) no action, suit
or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Insider before or by any court or
federal, foreign or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially
adversely affect the business, operations, or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated
or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened by the Commission, and (iv) the Registration Statement,
the Sale 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 Sale 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4.6 Delivery of Agreements. On the Effective
Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Transaction Documents and all of the Insider Letters.
5. Indemnification.
5.1 Indemnification of the Underwriters.
Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and their
affiliates, and each dealer selected by the Underwriters that participates in the offer and sale of the Securities (each a
“Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective directors, officers, agents, partners, members and employees and
each person, if any, who controls within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act
(“Controlling Person”) any Underwriter, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever
as incurred to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or
otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in (i) the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented, including, but not limited to any information deemed
to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C); (ii) any materials or information provided to investors
by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including any
“road show” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically);
(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 Public Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any foreign
or state securities commission or agency, the NYSE, the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), the Nasdaq Global
Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, any other securities exchange or the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (“ the OTCBB”);
or (iv) any post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or new Registration Statement or Prospectus
filed by the Company with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, OTCBB or any securities exchange; or
(v) the omission or alleged omission from the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or subsequent filing by the Company under clause (iv) 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,
and to reimburse each Underwriter, its affiliates, each Selected Dealer and each of their respective directors, officers, partners,
agents, members and employees and each Controlling Person, if any, for any and all reasonable expenses (including the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriters) as such expenses are incurred by each Underwriter, its affiliates,
such Selected Dealer or each of their respective directors, officers, partners, agents, members and employees or any such
Controlling Person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim damage,
liability, expense or action, whether or not any such person is a party to any such claim or action and including any and all
reasonable legal and other expenses incurred in giving testimony or furnishing documents in response to a subpoena or otherwise;
provided however, that the foregoing agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expenses to the extent, but
only to the extent, arising out of or based upon (x) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters’ Information provided expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereof, or in any application, as the case may be, or the jurisdictions listed in the section entitled
“Underwriting” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, as the case may be; (y) the use of the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or
Prospectus in violation of any stop order or other notice received by the Underwriters indicating the then current Prospectus is not
to be used in connection with the sale of any Securities or (z) any Underwriter otherwise failing in its prospectus delivery
obligations. The Company agrees promptly to 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 Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in
this Section 5.1 shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.
5.2 Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter,
severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration
Statement and each Controlling Person of the Company, if any, and their affiliates, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriter, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements
or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written
information furnished to the Company with respect to, any Underwriter by or on behalf of any Underwriter expressly for use in, the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,
and to reimburse the Company or any such director, officer or Controlling Person, if any, for any and all expenses as such expenses are
reasonably incurred, in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim damage, liability,
expense or action; provided, however, that the obligation of each Underwriter to indemnify the Company (including any director, officer
or Controlling Person thereof), shall be limited to the commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten
by it pursuant to this Agreement. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the
Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto, shall consist solely of the Underwriters’ Information. The indemnity agreement set forth
in this Section 5.2 shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Underwriter may otherwise have.
5.3 Notifications and Other Indemnification
Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any
action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section
5, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the indemnifying party
(i) will not relieve it from liability under Sections 5.1 or 5.2 above unless and to the extent it did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and
defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other
than the indemnification obligation provided in Sections 5.1 or 5.2 above. In case any such action is brought against
any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties
similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such
indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, (a) if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have
reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in
conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that
are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (b) the indemnifying party agrees to such separate
representation, then, in each case, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such
legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon
receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the
defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with
the provision to the preceding sentence reasonably approved by the indemnifying party (or by the Underwriter in the case of Section
5.2), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have
employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of
commencement of the action, or (iii) the indemnifying party is not defending such action in good faith, in each of which cases the
fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or
elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (as well
as one local counsel for each applicable jurisdiction) for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such
claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party
and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim.
5.4 Settlements. The indemnifying party under
this Section 5 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which shall not be
withheld, delayed or conditioned unreasonably, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement
or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 5.3 hereof, the indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying
party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying
party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of
judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party
and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes
an unconditional written release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit
or proceeding and (y) 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 party.
5.5 Contribution.
5.5.1 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 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,
each Underwriter shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by
said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and each Underwriter, as incurred, in such proportion as is represented by the
percentage of the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus as compared to the offering price per Unit and
the Company shall be responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) with respect to any action or claim shall be entitled to contribution from any person who
was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation with respect to such action or claim. If the allocation provided by the
immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and the Underwriters in connection with the actions or omissions
which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault of the Company and the Underwriters shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
furnished by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.5.1, no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in
connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public pursuant to this Agreement. For purposes of this
Section, each director, officer, agent, partner, member 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 such Underwriter or the Company, as applicable.
5.5.2 Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen
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 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
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 5.5 are several and not joint.
6. Default by an Underwriter.
6.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Units.
If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Units and if the number of the Firm
Units with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Units that all Underwriters
have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm 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. In
the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 above relates to more than 10% of the Firm Units, the Representative may, in
its discretion, arrange for it or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Units to which such default relates on the terms
contained herein. If within one Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Units the Representative does
not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one Business Day within
which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to the Representative to purchase said Firm Units on such terms. In the event that
neither the Representative nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6,
this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided
in Sections 3.10, 5, and 9.3 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof);
provided 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
that the Firm 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 for a reasonable period,
but not in any event exceeding five Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration
Statement 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 and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, that in the reasonable opinion
of counsel for the Company or 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 consummation of a Business Combination, it shall not issue any shares of Class A Common Stock
or any options or other securities convertible into Class A Common Stock, or any preferred shares or other securities of the Company
which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote as a class with the Class A Common Stock on a Business
Combination.
7.2 Trust Account Waiver Acknowledgments.
The Company hereby agrees that it will use its reasonable best efforts prior to commencing its due diligence investigation of any prospective
Target Business or obtaining the services of any vendor to have such Target Business and/or vendor acknowledge 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 (a) it has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account,
initially in an amount of $204,000,000 (without giving effect to any exercise of the Over-allotment Option) for the benefit of the Public
Stockholders and that, except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse
monies from the Trust Account only (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem shares of Class A Common Stock
contained in the Public Securities in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Stockholders
if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter Documents and the Prospectus,
or (iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination and (b) for and in consideration
of the Company (i) agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it or (ii) agreeing
to engage the services of the vendor, as the case may be, such Target Business or vendor agrees that it does not have any right, title,
interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in 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 foregoing letters shall substantially be in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and
B respectively. The Company may forego obtaining such waivers only if the Company shall have received the approval of its Chief Executive
Officer and the approving vote of at least a majority of its Board of Directors.
7.3 Insider Letters. The Company shall not
take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of any Insider Letter and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers
of, any such Insider Letter without the prior written consent of the Representative.
7.4 Joint Written Instruction. The Trust Agreement
shall provide that the trustee is required to obtain a joint written instruction signed by both the Company and the Representative with
respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account from the Trust Account, prior to commencing any liquidation of the assets
of the Trust Account in connection with the consummation of any Business Combination, and such provision of the Trust Agreement shall
not be permitted to be amended without the prior written consent of the Representative.
7.4 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.
7.5 Tender Offer Documents, Proxy Materials and
Other Information. The Company shall provide to the Representative or their counsel (if so instructed by the Representative) with
a copy 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. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall
be deemed to have been provided to the Representative pursuant to this Section. In addition, the Company shall furnish any other state
in which its initial public offering was registered, such information as may be requested by such state.
7.6 Emerging Growth Company. The Company shall
promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the completion of the distribution
of the Securities within the meaning of the Act.
7.7 Target Net Assets. The Company
agrees that the Target Business that it acquires must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust
Account at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the Business Combination with such Target Business (excluding taxes
payable and the Deferred Underwriting Commissions). The fair market value of such business must be determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company based upon standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as actual and potential sales,
earnings, cash flow and book value. If the Board of Directors of the Company is not able to independently determine that the target
business meets such fair market value requirement, the Company will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or
another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. The Company
is not required to obtain an opinion as to the fair market value if the Company’s Board of Directors independently determines
that the Target Business does have sufficient fair market value.
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 as of 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 the Underwriters, the Company
or any Controlling Person, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Public Securities to the
Underwriters until the earlier of the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations and the 7th 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 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become
effective on the Effective Date.
9.2 Termination. The Representative shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date, if (i) 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; (ii) trading on the NYSE, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq
Global Market, or the Nasdaq Capital 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
by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction; (iii) the United States shall have
become involved in a new war or an increase in existing major hostilities; (iv) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by
a New York State or Federal authority; (v) a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely
impacts the United States securities market; (vi) the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane,
earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity (including, without limitation, a calamity relating to a public health matter or natural
disaster) or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative sole opinion, make it
inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Units; (vii) the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties
or covenants hereunder; or (viii) the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change
in the conditions of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions, including without limitation as a result
of terrorist activities after the date hereof, as in the Representative’s sole 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 Public Securities.
9.3 Expenses. In the event that this Agreement
shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein,
(i) the obligations of the Company to pay the out of pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed
by Section 3.9 hereof and (ii) the Company shall reimburse the Representative for any costs and expenses incurred in connection
with enforcing any provisions of this Agreement.
9.4 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 affected 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 e-mail and shall be deemed given when so delivered or emailed or if mailed, two days after such mailing.
If to the Representative:
BTIG, LLC
65 East 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
Attn: General Counsel
E-mail: legal@btig.com
Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
Attn: Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.
E-mail: sneuhauser@egsllp.com
If to the Company:
Banyan Acquisition Corporation
400 Skokie Blvd, Suite 820
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
Attn: Jerry Hyman, Chairman
Keith Jaffee, Chief Executive Officer
E-mail: [ ]
Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
575 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Mark D. Wood, Esq., Brian Hecht, Esq. and Evan Borenstein, Esq.
E-mail: mark.wood@katten.com
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 Selected Dealers, the
Company and the Controlling Persons, directors, agents, partners, members, employees and officers referred to in Section 5
hereof, and their respective successors, legal Representative and permitted 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. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from
the Underwriters.
10.6 Waiver of Immunity. To the extent that
the Company may be entitled in any jurisdiction in which judicial proceedings may at any time be commenced hereunder, to claim for itself
or its revenues or assets any immunity, including sovereign immunity, from suit, jurisdiction, attachment in aid of execution of a judgment
or prior to a judgment, execution of a judgment or any other legal process with respect to its obligations hereunder and to the extent
that in any such jurisdiction there may be attributed to the Company such an immunity (whether or not claimed), the Company hereby irrevocably
agrees not to claim and irrevocably waives such immunity to the maximum extent permitted by law.
10.7 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the
Company and each Underwriter irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court
sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement,
the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or the offering of the Securities. Each of the Company
and each Underwriter irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding
brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company or any Underwriter
may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to
it at the address set forth in Section 10.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon
the Company or such Underwriter in any action, proceeding or claim. Each of the Company and each Underwriter waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any action based on this Agreement may be instituted by the Underwriters in any competent court. The Company agrees that the Underwriters
shall be entitled to recover all of their reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to any action or proceeding and/or incurred
in connection with the preparation therefor if any of them are the prevailing party in such action or proceeding. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
10.8 Governing Law. 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.
10.9 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 facsimile, email/pdf transmission or other electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient
delivery thereof.
10.10 Waiver. 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 affect 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.
10.11 No Fiduciary Relationship. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length
commercial transaction pursuant to a contractual relationship between the Company and the Underwriters, (ii) in connection
therewith and with the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or
fiduciary of the Company, (iii) the Underwriters have not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the
Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Underwriters
have advised or are currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations
expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a
fiduciary to the Company, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the
Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of this offering of the Company’s securities, either before or
after the date hereof and (v) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed
appropriate. 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 agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered
advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transactions
or the process leading thereto. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own
independent judgment 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.
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Very truly yours,
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BANYAN Acquisition CorpORATION
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Accepted on the date first above written.
BTIG, LLC,
as Representative of the several underwriters
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]
Schedule A
Banyan
Acquisition Corporation
20,000,000 Units
Underwriter
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Number of
Firm Units
to be
Purchased
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BTIG, LLC
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TOTAL
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20,000,000
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Schedule B
Investor Presentation, Dated [ ], 2022
Exhibit A
Form
of Target Business Letter
Banyan
Acquisition Corporation
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Banyan
Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”), dated as of [ ], 2022 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms
used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in Prospectus.
We have read the Prospectus and understand that
the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $204,000,000 for the benefit of the Public Stockholders
and the Underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for a portion
of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to
the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their public shares in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination,
(ii) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period set forth
in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation as the same may be amended from time to time, or (iii) to the Company after
or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination.
For and in consideration of the Company agreeing
to evaluate the undersigned for purposes of consummating a Business Combination 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 (each, a “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.
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Print Name of Target Business
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Authorized Signature of Target Business
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Exhibit B
Form
of Vendor Letter
banyan
Acquisition Corporation
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Banyan
Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”), dated as of [ ], 2022 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms
used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in Prospectus.
We have read the Prospectus and understand that
the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $204,000,000 for the benefit of the Public Stockholders
and the Underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for a portion
of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to
the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their public shares in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination,
(ii) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period set forth
in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation as the same may be amended from time to time, or (iii) to the Company after
or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination.
For and in consideration of the Company agreeing
to engage the 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 (each, a “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the
future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for
any reason whatsoever.
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Print Name of Vendor
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Authorized Signature of Vendor
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Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
[●], 2022
Banyan Acquisition Corporation, 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 Banyan Acquisition Corporation. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 10, 2021 (the “Original Certificate”).
2. This
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Amended and Restated Certificate”) was duly adopted
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) and the stockholders of the Corporation 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 restates, integrates and amends the provisions of the Original Certificate. Certain capitalized terms
used in this Amended and Restated Certificate are defined where appropriate herein.
4. The
text of the Original Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:
Article I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Banyan Acquisition
Corporation (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 850 New Burton Road, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19904, County of Kent. The name of its registered agent
at such address is Cogency Global Inc.
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 301,000,000, consisting of (a) 300,000,000 shares of common stock, including (i) 240,000,000 shares
of Class A common stock (the “Class A Common Stock”) and (ii) 60,000,000 shares of Class B
common stock (the “Class B Common Stock,” and together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common
Stock”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”).
Section 4.2 Preferred
Stock. Subject to Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Preferred Stock may be issued from time to
time in one or more series. The Board is hereby expressly authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of the Preferred Stock in one
or more series 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 and other special 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 (each, 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.
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. Subject to the provisions in Article IX
hereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the
stockholders on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote.
(b) Class B
Common Stock.
(i)
Shares of Class B Common Stock shall automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis (the “Initial
Conversion Ratio”) on the closing of the initial Business Combination (subject to the following clause (ii)) and shall not be convertible at any other time.
(ii) Notwithstanding
the Initial Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional shares of Class A Common Stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued
or deemed issued in excess of the amounts 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:
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the numerator shall be equal to the sum of (A) 30% of all shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable (upon the conversion
or exercise of any equity-linked securities or otherwise) in each case by the Corporation related to or in connection with the consummation
of the initial Business Combination (net of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed in connection with the initial
Business Combination and excluding any securities issued or issuable to any seller in the initial Business Combination) plus (B) the
number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination; and
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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.
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As used herein, the term “equity-linked securities”
means any debt or equity securities of the Corporation that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock
issued in a financing transaction in connection with the initial Business Combination, including but not limited to a private placement
of equity or debt.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, (i) the foregoing adjustment provisions 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 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 provisions 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.
(c) Except
as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation and Section 9.9
hereof), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the holders of the Class A Common Stock and the
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 a Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the 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 the Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred
Stock are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this
Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.
(d) 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.
(e) 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 the 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 shall 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.
Section 4.5 Number
of Authorized Shares. The number of authorized shares of the Class A Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased
(but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of
the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any
successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any of the Class A Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately
as a class shall be required therefor, unless a vote of any such holder is required pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate
(including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock). The holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled
to vote as a separate class to increase the authorized number of shares of Class B Common Stock.
Article V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Board
Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the
powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation
(the “Bylaws”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as
may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate
and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders
of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
Section 5.2 Number,
Election and Term.
(a) The
number of directors of the Corporation, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by
a majority of the Board.
(b) Subject
to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated
Class I, Class II and Class III. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting
of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate; the term of the initial Class II
Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended
and Restated Certificate; and the term of the initial Class III Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders
of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders
of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this
Amended and Restated Certificate, each of the successors elected to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall
be elected for a three-year term until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to such director’s
earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
(c) Subject
to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors that constitutes 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 any
contractual rights of stockholders, in accordance with the DGCL, or 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
Section 5.3 Newly
Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to Section 5.5 and 9.9 hereof in accordance with the DGCL, 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 and 9.9 hereof in accordance with the DGCL, 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 of the Corporation; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of
the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate (including
any Preferred Stock Designation), the 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 of the Corporation to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided further, however,
that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been
valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
Article VII
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, President or 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.
Section 7.2 Advance
Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before
any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
Section 7.3 Action
by Written Consent. Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including
any Preferred Stock Designation) relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, subsequent to the
consummation of the Offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation 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 of the Corporation
other than with respect to 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. 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 Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify, defend
and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”)
by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation,
is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”),
whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other
capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without
limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred
by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay
the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in
advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses
in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee,
to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this
Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2
shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent
and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a),
except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses
to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof)
was authorized by the Board.
(b) The
rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive
of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any
repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any
other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required
by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification
rights on a retroactive 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. The Corporation has until 15 months from the closing of the Offering to consummate a Business Combination; provided,
however, that, if the Corporation anticipates that it may not be able to consummate a Business Combination within 15 months from the closing
of the Offering, the Corporation may, at the option of Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), extend
the period of time to consummate a Business Combination up to two times without stockholder approval, each for an additional three months
(for a total of 21 months to complete a Business Combination), subject to the Sponsor depositing additional funds into a trust account
(the “Trust Account”) in accordance with the terms of the trust agreement (the “Trust Agreement”)
governing the Trust Account as described in the Corporation’s registration statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 6, 2021, as amended (the “Registration Statement”).
(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 Registration
Statement, shall be deposited in the Trust Account, established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant
to the Trust Agreement. Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, 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 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 15 months from the closing of the Offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of
the Offering in certain circumstances as described in Section 9.1(a)) and (iii) the redemption of Offering Shares in connection with
a vote seeking to amend any provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s
obligation to allow redemptions in connection with the Corporation’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering
Shares if the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 15 months from the date of the closing of the Offering
(or up to 21 months from the closing of the Offering in certain circumstances as described in Section 9.1(a)) or (B) relating to stockholders’
rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in Section 9.7). Holders of shares of the Common Stock included
as part of the units sold in the Offering (the “Offering Shares”) (whether such Offering Shares were purchased
in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are the Sponsor or officers or directors
of the Corporation, or affiliates of any of the foregoing), solely in their capacity as such, are referred to herein as “Public
Stockholders.”
Section 9.2 Redemption
Rights.
(a) Prior
to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall provide all holders of Offering Shares with the opportunity
to have their Offering Shares redeemed upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations
of, Sections 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) (such rights of such holders to have their Offering Shares redeemed (which redemption
may be in the form of a repurchase by the Corporation) pursuant to such Sections, the “Redemption Rights”) hereof
for cash equal to the applicable redemption price per share determined in accordance with Section 9.2(b) hereof (the
“Redemption Price”); provided, however, that the Corporation shall not redeem Offering Shares
to the extent that such redemption would result in the Corporation’s failure to have 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)) of less than $5,000,001 (such limitation hereinafter called the “Redemption Limitation”).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, there shall be no Redemption Rights or liquidating
distributions with respect to any warrant issued pursuant to the Offering.
(b) If
the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares other than in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination
with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A 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 law to approve the proposed initial
Business Combination, or the Corporation decides to submit the proposed initial Business Combination to the stockholders for their approval
for business or other reasons, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares, subject to lawfully available funds therefor,
in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a) hereof in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the Proxy
Solicitation Rules (and not the Tender Offer Rules) at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price calculated in accordance with
the following provisions of this Section 9.2(b). In the event that the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares pursuant
to a tender offer in accordance with the Tender Offer Rules, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of
the Offering Shares tendering their Offering Shares pursuant to such tender offer shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing:
(i) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business
Combination, including interest (net of taxes payable), 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 as of two business
days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest (net of taxes payable), by (b) the total number
of then outstanding Offering Shares.
(c) If
the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination pursuant
to a proxy solicitation, a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder
is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), shall be restricted
from redeeming Offering Shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Offering Shares without the prior consent of the Corporation.
(d)
In the event that the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 15 months from the closing of the
Offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of the Offering in certain circumstances as described in Section 9.1(a)), 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,
(net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of such interest to pay dissolution expenses which shall be net of taxes payable thereon),
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), 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 would not be 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 would not be 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, including the requirement that any Public Stockholder that holds Offering Shares beneficially
through a nominee must identify itself to the Corporation in connection with any redemption election in order to validly redeem such Offering
Shares. Holders of Offering Shares seeking to exercise their Redemption Rights will be required to either tender their certificates (if
any) to the Corporation’s transfer agent or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust
Corporation’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, in each case up to two business days
prior to the originally scheduled vote on the proposal to approve a Business Combination. Payment of the amounts necessary to satisfy
the Redemption Rights properly exercised shall be made as promptly as reasonably 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 on any amendment to this Article IX.
Section 9.5 Transactions
with Affiliates. In the event the Corporation enters into an initial Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated
with the Sponsor, 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 reviews
valuation opinions, that such Business Combination is fair to the Corporation from a financial point of view.
Section 9.6 No
Transactions with Other Blank Check Companies. The Corporation shall not enter into an initial Business Combination solely with another
blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
Section 9.7
Additional Redemption Rights. If, in accordance with Section 9.1(a), any amendment is made to this Amended and Restated
Certificate that would modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to allow redemptions in connection with the
Corporation’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation has not consummated an initial
Business Combination within 15 months (or up to 21 months from the closing of the Offering in certain circumstances as described in Section
9.1(a)) from the date of the closing of the Offering, or with respect to any other provision herein relating to stockholder’s rights
or pre-initial Business Combination activity, the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering
Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit
in the Trust Account, including interest (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares. The Corporation’s
ability to provide such opportunity is subject to the Redemption Limitation.
Section 9.8 Minimum
Value of Target. The Corporation’s initial Business Combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together
have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting
discount).
Section 9.9 Appointment
and Removal of Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Amended and Restated Certificate, prior to the closing of the
initial Business Combination, the holders of Class B Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to elect, remove and replace any
director, and the holders of Class A Common Stock shall have no right to vote on the election, removal or replacement of any director.
This Section 9.9 may only be amended by a resolution passed by a majority of holders of at least ninety percent (90%) of the
outstanding Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.
Section 9.10 Approval
of Business Combination. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Amended and Restated Certificate, approval of the initial Business
Combination shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board, which must include a majority of the Corporation’s independent
directors.
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 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 only with respect to a corporate opportunity that was
expressly 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) the director or officer is permitted to refer the opportunity to the Corporation without violating any 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.
Article XII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS
Section 12.1 Forum.
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any
derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary
duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders,
or any claim for aiding and abetting such alleged breach (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors,
officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, or (iv) any
action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except
for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim (A) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an
indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal
jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction
of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction,
The federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum
for any action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, unless the Corporation
consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 12.1
shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder
or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum.
Section 12.2 Consent
to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 12.1 is filed in a court other
than the applicable court specified in Section 12.1 above (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 (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. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest
in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XII.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Banyan Acquisition Corporation
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.
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Banyan Acquisition Corporation
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By:
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Name:
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Keith Jaffee
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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[Signature
Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
Exhibit 4.1
NUMBER UNITS
U-
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
CUSIP
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE SHARE OF CLASS A
COMMON STOCK AND
ONE-HALF OF ONE REDEEMABLE WARRANT, EACH WHOLE WARRANT
ENTITLING THE HOLDER TO PURCHASE ONE SHARE OF CLASS A COMMON
STOCK
THIS CERTIFIES THAT ______________ is the owner
of ______________ Units.
Each Unit (“Unit”) consists
of one (1) share of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), of Banyan Acquisition
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and one-half (1/2) of one redeemable warrant (each whole
warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock) (the “Warrant”). Each whole Warrant entitles the
holder to purchase one (1) share of Class A Common Stock (subject to adjustment) for $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). Only whole
Warrants are exercisable. Each Warrant will become exercisable on the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the Company’s completion
of an initial merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination
with one or more businesses (each a “Business Combination”), and (ii) twelve (12) months from the closing of
the Company’s initial public offering, and will expire unless exercised before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the date that is
five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The shares of Class A Common Stock and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable separately prior
to ________________, 2022, unless BTIG, LLC elects to allow separate trading earlier, subject to the Company’s filing of a Current
Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt
of the gross proceeds of its initial public offering and issuing a press release announcing when separate trading will begin. No fractional
Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Warrants will trade. The terms of the Warrants are governed by a Warrant
Agreement, dated as of ________________, 2022, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent,
and are subject to the terms and provisions contained therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents
to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at One State Street, 30th Floor,
New York, New York 10004, and are available to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost.
Upon the consummation of the
Business Combination, the Units represented by this certificate will automatically separate into the Class A Common Stock and Warrants
comprising such Units.
This certificate is not valid
unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company.
This certificate shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
Witness the facsimile signature
of its duly authorized officers.
Chief Executive Officer
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Chief Financial Officer
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BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
The Company will furnish without
charge to each unitholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional
or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of
such preferences and/or rights.
The following abbreviations,
when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to
applicable laws or regulations:
TEN
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—
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as tenants in common
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UNIF GIFT
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—
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_____
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Custodian
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_____
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COM
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MIN ACT
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(Cust)
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(Minor)
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TEN ENT
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—
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as
tenants by the entireties
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Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
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JT TEN
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—
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as
joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
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________________
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(State)
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Additional abbreviations may also be used though
not in the above list.
For value received, ______________ hereby sell(s),
assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
_______________
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING
ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
________________ Units represented by the within
Certificate, and do(es) hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
_____________________________ Attorney to transfer
the said Units on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated __________________
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Notice:
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The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
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Signature(s) Guaranteed:
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THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST 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) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).
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In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s
final prospectus dated ______________, 2022, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain
funds held in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering only in the event that (i)
the Company redeems the shares of Class A Common Stock sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate
an initial business combination by ______________, 2023 (subject to extension in certain circumstances as described in the registration
statement relating to the public offering of the Units), or by such later date approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance
with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (ii) the Company redeems the shares of Class A Common Stock
sold in its initial public offering in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s
initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock sold in its initial public offering if it does not
complete its initial business combination by ______________, 2023 (subject to extension in certain circumstances as described in the registration
statement relating to the public offering of the Units), or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the holder(s) rights or
pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her, its or their respective shares
of Class A Common Stock in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks stockholder approval
of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances
shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.
Exhibit
4.4
WARRANT AGREEMENT
BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
and
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
Dated
[●], 2022
THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this
“Agreement”), dated [●], 2022, is by and between Banyan Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant
agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”).
WHEREAS, it is proposed that
the Company enter into certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreements, with (i) Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Sponsor”), (ii) BTIG, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“BTIG”)
and (iii) certain other additional purchasers(s) (“Additional Purchasers“ and, collectively with the Sponsor and BTIG,
the “Investors”), pursuant to which the Investors will purchase an aggregate of 10,250,000 warrants (or up
to 11,450,000 warrants depending on the extent to which the underwriters in the Offering (defined below) exercise their Over-allotment
Option (as defined below)) simultaneously with the closing of the Offering (and the closing of the Over-allotment Option, if applicable),
bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price
of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant. Each Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock
(as defined below) at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein; and
WHEREAS, in order to
finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial merger, capital stock exchange, asset
acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a
“Business Combination”), (i) the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s
officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000
of such loans may be convertible into additional Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant and
(ii) the Sponsor or its affiliates or designees also have the option in certain circumstances described in the Prospectus (as
defined below), to the extent the Company desires to extend the time it has to consummate a Business Combination, to deposit up
to an aggregate of $4,000,000 into the Trust Account (as defined below) in exchange for a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory
note equal to the amount of any such deposit, which may, at any such lender’s discretion, be converted upon consummation of a Business
Combination into additional Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant; and
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged
in an initial public offering (the “Offering”) of units of the Company’s equity securities, each such
unit comprised of one share of Common Stock and one-half of one Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “Units”)
and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 11,500,000 redeemable warrants (including up to 1,500,000 redeemable
warrants issuable as part of the Units issued in connection with the exercise in the event the Over-allotment Option is exercised) to
public investors in the Offering (the “Public Warrants” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants, the
“Warrants”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock of
the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described
herein. Only whole Warrants are exercisable. A holder of the Public Warrants will not be able to exercise any fraction of a Warrant; and
WHEREAS, the Company has filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1, File No.
333-258599, and a prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Units, the Public Warrants and the Common Stock included in the Units;
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 (if a physical certificate is issued), 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 initially be issued in registered form only.
2.2 Effect
of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this
Agreement, a certificated Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.3 Registration.
2.3.1 Warrant
Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of
original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the
Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise
in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. 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 institutions that have accounts
with The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account,
a “Participant”).
If the Depositary subsequently
ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding
making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary
to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver
to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each book- entry Public Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to
the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificates”)
which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.
Physical certificates, if
issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President
or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have
ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same
effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.
2.3.2 Registered
Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat
the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the
absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby, 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 shares of Common Stock and Public Warrants comprising the Units
shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday,
Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “Business Day”),
then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “Detachment Date”) with
the consent of BTIG, but in no event shall the shares of Common Stock and the Public Warrants comprising the Units be separately traded
until (A) the Company has filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt
by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including the proceeds then received by the Company from the exercise by the underwriters
of their right to purchase additional Units in the Offering (the “Over- allotment Option”), if the Over-allotment
Option is exercised prior to the filing of the Current Report on Form 8-K, and (B) the Company issues a press release announcing when
such separate trading shall begin.
2.5 Fractional
Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants other than as part
of the Units, each of which is comprised of one shares of Common Stock and one-half of one whole Public Warrant. If, upon the detachment
of Public Warrants from the Units or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall
round down to the nearest whole number the number of Warrants to be issued to such holder.
2.6 Private
Placement Warrants. The Private Placement Warrants shall be identical to the Public Warrants,
except that so long as they are held by the Investors or any of their Permitted Transferees (as defined below) the Private Placement Warrants:
(i) may be exercised for cash or on a “cashless basis,” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) hereof, (ii) including the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, may not be transferred, assigned or sold until thirty
(30) days after the completion by the Company of an initial Business Combination, (iii) shall not be redeemable by the Company pursuant
to Section 6.1 hereof and (iv) shall only be redeemable by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 if the Reference Value (as
defined below) is less than $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof); provided, however,
that in the case of (ii), the Private Placement Warrants and any shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Private Placement
Warrants may be transferred by the holders thereof:
(a) to
the Company’s directors or officers, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s directors or officers, any
members of the Sponsor or any of its affiliates, the Investors or any of their affiliates or any employees of any of the Investors
or their affiliates;
(b) in
the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family, any estate planning vehicle or to a trust,
the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization;
(c) in
the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual;
(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 the Company’s Business Combination at prices
no greater than the price at which the Private Placement Warrants, or shares of Common Stock, were originally purchased;
(f)
in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the Company’s completion of its initial Business Combination;
(g)
by virtue of the laws of Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement, as amended, upon dissolution
of the Sponsor; and
(h ) in the event of the Company’s completion of a
liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s
stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the
completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination; provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (a)
through (e), these permitted transferees (the “Permitted Transferees”) must enter into a written agreement
with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Agreement.
3. Terms
and Exercise of Warrants.
3.1 Warrant
Price. Each whole Warrant shall entitle
the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number
of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof
and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall
mean the price per share (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted
hereunder) described in the prior sentence at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised.
3.2 Duration
of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise
Period”) (A) commencing on the later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company
completes a Business Combination, and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the Offering, and (B) terminating
at the earliest to occur of (x) 5:00 p.m., New York City time on 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 in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, as amended from time to time, if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination, and (z) other than with respect
to the Private Placement Warrants then held by any of the Investors or their Permitted Transferees with respect to a redemption pursuant
to Section 6.1 hereof or, if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section
4 hereof), Section 6.2 hereof, 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section
6.4 hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, 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 or a valid exemption therefrom being available. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price
(as defined below) (other than with respect to a Private Placement Warrant then held by any of the Investors or their Permitted Transferees
in connection with a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof or, if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject
to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), Section 6.2 hereof) in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section
6 hereof), each Warrant (other than a Private Placement Warrant then held by any of the Investors or their Permitted Transferees in
the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof or, if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject
to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), Section 6.2 hereof) 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
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 Warrant represented by a book- entry, 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”) any 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, properly delivered by the Participant in accordance with the Depositary’s
procedures, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each 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) in
lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or wire payable to the Warrant Agent;
(b) [Reserved];
(c) with respect to any Private
Placement Warrant, so long as such Private Placement Warrant is held by any of the Investors or their Permitted Transferee, by surrendering
the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) if in connection with a redemption of Private Placement Warrants
pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, as provided in Section 6.2 hereof with respect to a Make-Whole Exercise (as defined below)
and (ii) in all other scenarios the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying
the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Investor Exercise Fair Market Value” (as defined in this subsection
3.3.1(c)) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Investor Exercise Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(c),
the “Investor Fair Market Value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the shares of Common Stock
for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third (3rd) trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Private Placement
Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent;
(d) as
provided in Section 6.2 hereof with respect to a Make-Whole Exercise; or
(e) 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 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 on the register of members of the Company, 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
as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. 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 or a valid exemption
from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue shares of Common Stock
upon exercise of a Warrant unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed
to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants.
Subject to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number
of shares of Common Stock. The Company may require holders of Public Warrants to settle the Warrant on a “cashless basis”
pursuant to 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 and the Company’s
amended and restated certificate of incorporation shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
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 3.3.5; however, 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 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 Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as transfer agent (in such capacity, 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 issued and 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 issued and 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; provided, however, 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 issued and outstanding shares
of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend of 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 issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. A rights
offering made to all or substantially all holders of shares of Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Common Stock at a
price less than the “Historical Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable
under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the shares of Common Stock)
multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided
by (y) the Historical Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities
convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, in determining the price payable for shares of Common Stock, there shall be
taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and
(ii) “Historical Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the shares of Common Stock 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. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued
at less than their par value.
4.1.2 Extraordinary
Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays to all or substantially all of the holders
of Common Stock a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets on account of such shares of Common Stock (or other
shares 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 Common Stock in connection with a proposed
initial Business Combination, (d) 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 (i) to modify the substance or timing of the
Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of
the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time period required by the Company’s
amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time, or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating
to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity or (e) in connection with the redemption of public shares
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 Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), in good faith) of any securities
or other assets paid on each share of Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2,
“Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis,
with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the shares of Common Stock during the 365- day period
ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution to the extent it does not exceed $0.50 (which amount shall be 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).
4.2 Aggregation
of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, 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
issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.
4.3 Adjustments
in Exercise Price. 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.
4.4 Raising
of the Capital in Connection with the Initial Business Combination. If (x) the Company issues additional shares of Common Stock
or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its initial Business Combination at an issue
price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Common Stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined
in good faith by the Board and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any shares
of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior
to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) 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 Company’s initial Business Combination
on the date of the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume-weighted
average trading price of the Common Stock during the twenty (20) trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which
the Company consummates its 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 higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued
Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 shall be adjusted
(to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price and the $10.00 per share redemption
trigger price described in Section 6.2 shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value
and the Newly Issued Price.
4.5 Replacement
of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding shares
of Common Stock (other than a change under Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value
of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other
than a merger or consolidation in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or
reorganization of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation
or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company
is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and
conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and
receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares, stock or other equity 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 (i) if the holders
of Common Stock were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable
upon such merger or consolidation, 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 merger or consolidation 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 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) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2
under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder
of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which
such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such Warrant holder had exercised the Warrant prior to the expiration
of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the shares of Common Stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant
to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly
equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 4; provided further that if less than 70% of
the consideration receivable by the holders of Common Stock in the applicable event is payable in the form of common stock in the successor
entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be
so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty
(30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on
Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the
Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event
less than zero) 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 (assuming zero dividends) (“Bloomberg”). For purposes
of calculating such amount, (i) Section 6 of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (ii) the price of each
share of Common Stock shall be the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock during the ten (10) trading day period ending
on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (iii) 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 (iv) 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 Common
Stock consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per share of Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted
average price of the Common Stock 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 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and this Section 4.5.
The provisions of this Section 4.5 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations,
sales or other transfers. In no event shall the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of
such Warrant.
4.6 Notices
of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares 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 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 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 or 4.9, 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.
4.7 No
Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional
shares 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.
4.8 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 as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant
to this Agreement; provided, however, 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.
4.9 Other
Events. In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of the preceding subsections of this
Section 4 are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid
an adverse impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4, then, in each such case,
the Company shall appoint a firm of independent registered 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 4.9
as a result of any issuance of securities in connection with a Business Combination. The Company shall adjust the terms of the Warrants
in a manner that is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion.
5. Transfer
and Exchange of Warrants.
5.1 Registration
of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register,
upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, 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; provided, however, that except as otherwise
provided herein or with respect to any Book-Entry Warrant, each Book- Entry Warrant may be transferred only in whole and only to the Depositary,
to another nominee of the Depositary, to a successor depository, or to a nominee of a successor depository; provided further, however
that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants),
the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion
of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive
legend.
5.3 Fractional
Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance
of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a warrant, except as part of the Units.
5.4 Service
Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.
5.5 Warrant
Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company,
whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.
5.6 Transfer
of Warrants. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which
such Warrant is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore,
each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on and after the Detachment
Date.
6. Redemption.
6.1 Redemption
of Warrants When Shares Trade At or Above $18.00. Subject to Section 6.6 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding
Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time during the Exercise Period, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon
notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.4 below, at a Redemption Price of $0.01 per Warrant,
provided that (a) the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4
hereof) and (b) there is an effective registration statement covering the issuance of 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 6.4
below).
6.2 Redemption
of Warrants When Shares Trade At or Above $10.00. Subject to Section 6.6 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding
Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time during the Exercise Period, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon
notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.4 below, at a Redemption Price of $0.10 per Warrant,
provided that (i) the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4
hereof) and (ii) if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4
hereof), the Private Placement Warrants are also concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding Public Warrants.
During the 30-day Redemption Period in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2, Registered Holders of the
Warrants may elect to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1 and receive a number
of shares of Common Stock determined by reference to the table below, based on the Redemption Date (calculated for purposes of the table
as the period to expiration of the Warrants) and the “Redemption Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in this Section 6.2)
(a “Make-Whole Exercise”). Solely for purposes of this Section 6.2, the “Redemption
Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock during the ten (10) trading days
immediately following the date on which notice of redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2 is sent to the Registered Holders.
In connection with any redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2, the Company shall provide the Registered Holders with the
Redemption Fair Market Value no later than one (1) Business Day after the ten (10) trading day period described above ends.
Redemption Date
|
|
Redemption
Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock
|
|
(period
to expiration of
warrants
|
|
≤10.00
|
|
|
11.00
|
|
|
12.00
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
14.00
|
|
|
15.00
|
|
|
16.00
|
|
|
17.00
|
|
|
≥18.00
|
|
60 months
|
|
|
0.261
|
|
|
|
0.281
|
|
|
|
0.297
|
|
|
|
0.311
|
|
|
|
0.324
|
|
|
|
0.337
|
|
|
|
0.348
|
|
|
|
0.358
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
57 months
|
|
|
0.257
|
|
|
|
0.277
|
|
|
|
0.294
|
|
|
|
0.310
|
|
|
|
0.324
|
|
|
|
0.337
|
|
|
|
0.348
|
|
|
|
0.358
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
54 months
|
|
|
0.252
|
|
|
|
0.272
|
|
|
|
0.291
|
|
|
|
0.307
|
|
|
|
0.322
|
|
|
|
0.335
|
|
|
|
0.347
|
|
|
|
0.357
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
51 months
|
|
|
0.246
|
|
|
|
0.268
|
|
|
|
0.287
|
|
|
|
0.304
|
|
|
|
0.320
|
|
|
|
0.333
|
|
|
|
0.346
|
|
|
|
0.357
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
48 months
|
|
|
0.241
|
|
|
|
0.263
|
|
|
|
0.283
|
|
|
|
0.301
|
|
|
|
0.317
|
|
|
|
0.332
|
|
|
|
0.344
|
|
|
|
0.356
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
45 months
|
|
|
0.235
|
|
|
|
0.258
|
|
|
|
0.279
|
|
|
|
0.298
|
|
|
|
0.315
|
|
|
|
0.330
|
|
|
|
0.343
|
|
|
|
0.356
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
42 months
|
|
|
0.228
|
|
|
|
0.252
|
|
|
|
0.274
|
|
|
|
0.294
|
|
|
|
0.312
|
|
|
|
0.328
|
|
|
|
0.342
|
|
|
|
0.355
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
39 months
|
|
|
0.221
|
|
|
|
0.246
|
|
|
|
0.269
|
|
|
|
0.290
|
|
|
|
0.309
|
|
|
|
0.325
|
|
|
|
0.340
|
|
|
|
0.354
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
36 months
|
|
|
0.213
|
|
|
|
0.239
|
|
|
|
0.263
|
|
|
|
0.285
|
|
|
|
0.305
|
|
|
|
0.323
|
|
|
|
0.339
|
|
|
|
0.353
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
33 months
|
|
|
0.205
|
|
|
|
0.232
|
|
|
|
0.257
|
|
|
|
0.280
|
|
|
|
0.301
|
|
|
|
0.320
|
|
|
|
0.337
|
|
|
|
0.352
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
30 months
|
|
|
0.196
|
|
|
|
0.224
|
|
|
|
0.250
|
|
|
|
0.274
|
|
|
|
0.297
|
|
|
|
0.316
|
|
|
|
0.335
|
|
|
|
0.351
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
27 months
|
|
|
0.185
|
|
|
|
0.214
|
|
|
|
0.242
|
|
|
|
0.268
|
|
|
|
0.291
|
|
|
|
0.313
|
|
|
|
0.332
|
|
|
|
0.350
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
24 months
|
|
|
0.173
|
|
|
|
0.204
|
|
|
|
0.233
|
|
|
|
0.260
|
|
|
|
0.285
|
|
|
|
0.308
|
|
|
|
0.329
|
|
|
|
0.348
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
21 months
|
|
|
0.161
|
|
|
|
0.193
|
|
|
|
0.223
|
|
|
|
0.252
|
|
|
|
0.279
|
|
|
|
0.304
|
|
|
|
0.326
|
|
|
|
0.347
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
18 months
|
|
|
0.146
|
|
|
|
0.179
|
|
|
|
0.211
|
|
|
|
0.242
|
|
|
|
0.271
|
|
|
|
0.298
|
|
|
|
0.322
|
|
|
|
0.345
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
15 months
|
|
|
0.130
|
|
|
|
0.164
|
|
|
|
0.197
|
|
|
|
0.230
|
|
|
|
0.262
|
|
|
|
0.291
|
|
|
|
0.317
|
|
|
|
0.342
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
12 months
|
|
|
0.111
|
|
|
|
0.146
|
|
|
|
0.181
|
|
|
|
0.216
|
|
|
|
0.250
|
|
|
|
0.282
|
|
|
|
0.312
|
|
|
|
0.339
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
9 months
|
|
|
0.090
|
|
|
|
0.125
|
|
|
|
0.162
|
|
|
|
0.199
|
|
|
|
0.237
|
|
|
|
0.272
|
|
|
|
0.305
|
|
|
|
0.336
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
6 months
|
|
|
0.065
|
|
|
|
0.099
|
|
|
|
0.137
|
|
|
|
0.178
|
|
|
|
0.219
|
|
|
|
0.259
|
|
|
|
0.296
|
|
|
|
0.331
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
3 months
|
|
|
0.034
|
|
|
|
0.065
|
|
|
|
0.104
|
|
|
|
0.150
|
|
|
|
0.197
|
|
|
|
0.243
|
|
|
|
0.286
|
|
|
|
0.326
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
0 months
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.042
|
|
|
|
0.115
|
|
|
|
0.179
|
|
|
|
0.233
|
|
|
|
0.281
|
|
|
|
0.323
|
|
|
|
0.361
|
|
The exact Redemption Fair
Market Value and Redemption Date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the Redemption Fair Market Value is between
two values in the table or the Redemption Date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of shares of Common Stock to be
issued for each Warrant exercised in a Make-Whole Exercise shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of
shares set forth for the higher and lower Redemption Fair Market Values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based
on a 365-day or 366-day year, as applicable.
6.3 The
stock prices set forth in the column headings of the table above shall be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable
upon exercise of a Warrant or the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 4 hereof. If the number of shares issuable
upon exercise of a Warrant is adjusted pursuant to Section 4 hereof, the adjusted stock prices in the column headings shall
equal the stock prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares
deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable
upon exercise of a Warrant as so adjusted. The number of shares in the table above shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same
time as the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant. If the Exercise Price is adjusted, (a) in the case of an adjustment
pursuant to Section 4.4 hereof, the adjusted stock prices in the column headings shall equal the stock prices immediately
prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price
and the denominator of which is $10.00 and (b) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.1.2 hereof, the adjusted
stock prices in the column headings shall equal the stock prices immediately prior to such adjustment less the decrease in the Exercise
Price pursuant to such Exercise Price adjustment. In no event shall the Warrants be exercisable in connection with a Make-Whole Exercise
for more than 0.361 shares of Common Stock per Warrant (subject to adjustment).
6.4 Date
Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption; Redemption Price; Reference Value. In the event that the Company elects to redeem the Warrants
pursuant to Sections 6.1 or 6.2, 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 period lasting from such time until 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. As used in this Agreement, (a) “Redemption Price” shall mean the price per Warrant at which
any Warrants are redeemed pursuant to Sections 6.1 or 6.2 and (b) “Reference Value” shall
mean the last reported sales price of the shares of Common Stock for any twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period
ending on the third (3rd) trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given.
6.5 Exercise
After Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 6.2
of this Agreement) at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.4 hereof
and prior to the Redemption Date. 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.
6.6 Exclusion
of Private Placement Warrants. The Company agrees that (a) the redemption rights provided in Section
6.1 hereof shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants continue
to be held by any of the Investors or their Permitted Transferees and (b) if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject
to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), the redemption rights provided in Section 6.2 hereof shall not apply
to the Private Placement Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants continue to be held any of the Investors
or their Permitted Transferees. However, once such Private Placement Warrants are transferred (other than to Permitted Transferees in
accordance with Section 2.6 hereof), the Company may redeem the Private Placement Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1 or 6.2
hereof, provided that the criteria for redemption are met, including the opportunity of the holder of such Private Placement Warrants
to exercise the Private Placement Warrants prior to redemption pursuant to Section 6.5 hereof. Private Placement Warrants that
are transferred to persons other than Permitted Transferees shall upon such transfer cease to be Private Placement Warrants and shall
become Public Warrants under this Agreement, including for purposes of Section 9.8 hereof.
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 Shares of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares
of Common Stock that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.
7.4 Registration
of Shares of Common Stock; Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option.
7.4.1 Registration
of the shares of Common Stock. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days
after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its commercially reasonable 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 commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within sixty (60) Business Days following
the closing of its initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus
relating thereto, until the expiration or redemption of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such
registration statement has not been declared effective by the sixtieth (60th) Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination,
holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after the closing of
the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other
period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the issuance of 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 another exemption) for that number of shares of Common Stock equal
to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the
Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair
Market Value and (B) 0.361. Solely for purposes of this subsection 7.4.1, “Fair Market Value” shall
mean the volume-weighted average price of the shares of Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on
the 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) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided in subsection
7.4.2, for the avoidance of doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have expired, the Company shall continue
to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this subsection 7.4.1.
7.4.2 Cashless
Exercise at Company’s Option. If the shares of Common Stock are at the time of any exercise of a Public Warrant not listed on
a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of
the Securities Act, 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 as described
in subsection 7.4.1 and (ii) in the event the Company so elects, the Company shall (x) not be required to file or maintain
in effect a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of the Warrants, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, and (y) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register
or qualify for sale the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrant under applicable blue sky laws 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.
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, her or its 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 or other entity organized and existing
under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the United States of America, 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 shares of Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
8.2.3 Merger
or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any
entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under
this Agreement without any further act.
8.3 Fees
and Expenses of Warrant Agent.
8.3.1 Remuneration.
The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant
to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably
incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.
8.3.2 Further
Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying
out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4 Liability
of Warrant Agent.
8.4.1 Reliance
on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or
desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact
or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by a statement signed by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or the President 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, fraud or bad faith. The Company agrees
to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, out-of-pocket costs and reasonable
outside 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, fraud 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 nonassessable.
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 Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company 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:
Banyan Acquisition Corporation
400 Skokie Blvd., Suite 280
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
Attention: Keith Jaffee & Jerry Hyman
with a copy to:
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
575 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Mark D. Wood, Timothy J. Kirby & Evan S.
Borenstein
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, New York 10004
Attention: Compliance Department
9.3 Applicable
Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in
all respects by the laws of the State of New York. Subject to applicable law, the Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or
claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New
York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction
shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction
and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to
suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of
the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Any person or entity purchasing
or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in
this Section 9.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court
other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign
action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction
of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”),
and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s
counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.
9.4 Persons
Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person, corporation
or other entity other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason
of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises,
and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and
assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.
9.5 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 United States of America, 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 for the purpose of curing any ambiguity
or correcting any mistake, including conforming the provisions hereof to the description of the terms of the Warrants and this Agreement
set forth in the Prospectus, or defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any 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 under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase
the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period and any amendment to the terms of only the Private Placement Warrants, shall require
the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding Public Warrants; provided that any amendment
that solely affects the terms of the Private Placement Warrants or any provision of this Agreement solely with respect to the Private
Placement Warrants shall also require at least 65% of the then outstanding Private Placement Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2,
respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.
9.9 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.
Exhibit A – Form of Warrant Certificate
Exhibit B – Legend – Private
Placement Warrants
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties
hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
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BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name: Keith Jaffee
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
[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
Banyan Acquisition Corporation
Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of
Delaware
CUSIP: [_]
Warrant Certificate
This
Warrant Certificate certifies that [_], or registered assigns, is the registered holder of warrant(s) (the “Warrants”
and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value (“Common
Stock”), of Banyan Acquisition Corporation, 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 nonassessable 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 whole Warrant is initially
exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock. Fractional shares shall not 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
shall, 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
as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
The initial Exercise Price
per one 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 as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the conditions
set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the
end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth
in the Warrant Agreement.
Reference is hereby made to
the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This Warrant Certificate shall
not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.
This Warrant Certificate shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
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BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name:
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Title: Authorized Signatory
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[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 [_], 2022 (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 issuance of 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 Banyan Acquisition Corporation (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 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement and a holder thereof elects
to exercise its Warrant pursuant to a Make-Whole Exercise, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall
be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c) or Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement, as applicable.
In the event that the Warrant
is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) of
the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with
subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant
is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares
of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.
In
the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number
of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant
Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby
irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant
Agreement, to receive shares of Common Stock. If said number of shares of Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Common Stock
purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing
the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of [·],
whose address is [·] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [·],
whose address is [·].
[Signature Page Follows]
Date: ____________________, 20__
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(Signature)
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(Address)
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(Tax Identification Number)
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Signature Guaranteed:
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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 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).
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 BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), BANYAN ACQUISITION 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 THE RECITALS 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.
NO. WARRANT
Exhibit 10.2
[•], 2022
Banyan Acquisition Corporation
400 Skokie Blvd, Suite 820
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
Re: Initial Public Offering
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered
to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into or proposed to be
entered into by and among Banyan Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and BTIG, LLC and
with the other underwriters named on Schedule A thereto, as the underwriters (the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten
initial public offering (the “Public Offering”), of up to 23,000,000 of the Company’s units (including up to
3,000,000 units that may be purchased to cover the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional units, if any) (the “Units”),
each comprised of one share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”),
and one-half of one redeemable warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof
to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units shall be sold in the
Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in
paragraph 11 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the
Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”),
and the other undersigned persons (each such other undersigned persons an “Insider” and, collectively, the “Insiders”),
each hereby agrees, severally but not jointly, with the Company as follows:
1. The Sponsor and each Insider
agrees that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business
Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any Shares owned by it, him or her in favor of any proposed Business Combination (including
any proposals recommended by the Company’s Board of Directors in connection with such Business Combination) and (ii) not redeem
any Shares owned by it, him or her in connection with such stockholder approval.
2. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees that in the event that the
Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 15 months from the closing of the Public Offering (or up to 21 months from the
closing of the Public Offering if the Company extends the time to complete a business combination as described in the Prospectus), or
such later period approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, the Sponsor and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except
for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, subject
to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering
(the “Offering Shares”), at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the
Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution
expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Stockholders’
rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably
possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s Board
of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims
of creditors and the other requirements of applicable law. The Sponsor and each Insider agrees to not propose any amendment to the Company’s
amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow
redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company
does not complete its initial Business Combination within 15 months from the closing of the Public Offering (or up to 21 months from the
closing of the Public Offering if the Company extends the time to complete a business combination as described in the Prospectus) or (B) with
respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, unless the Company
provides its Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per share
price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be
net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.
The Sponsor and each Insider acknowledges that it, he or she has no
right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the Company as a result
of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares held by it. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby further waives, with
respect to any Shares held by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with (x) the consummation
of a Business Combination, including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of a stockholder vote to approve such
Business Combination or in the context of a tender offer made by the Company to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock and (y) a
stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the
substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemptions in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination
or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company has not consummated its initial Business Combination within 15 months from the
closing of the Public Offering (or up to 21 months from the closing of the Public Offering if the Company extends the time to complete
a business combination as described in the Prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’
rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (although the Sponsor and the Insiders shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation
rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 15 months
from the date of the closing of the Public Offering (or up to 21 months from the date of the closing of the Public Offering if the Company
extends the time to complete a business combination as described in the Prospectus)).
3. Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 7(a) and (b)
below, during the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Sponsor
and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell
any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise
transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with, or submit to, the Commission a registration statement under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” ), relating to any Units, shares of Class A Common Stock, Founder
Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, any Units, shares of Class A Common Stock,
Founder Shares, or Warrants, or publicly disclose the intention to undertake any of the foregoing, or (ii) enter into any swap or
other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, shares of Class A
Common Stock, Founder Shares, or Warrants or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above
is to be settled by delivery of units or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, however, that the foregoing does not apply
to the forfeiture of any Founder Shares pursuant to their terms or any Transfer of Founder Shares to any current or future independent
director of the company (as long as such current or future independent director transferee is subject to this Letter Agreement or executes
an agreement substantially identical to the terms of this Letter Agreement, as applicable to directors and officers at the time of such
Transfer; and as long as, to the extent any Section 16 reporting obligation is triggered as a result of such Transfer, any related Section
16 filing includes a practical explanation as to the nature of the Transfer). Each of the Insiders and the Sponsor acknowledges and agrees
that, prior to the effective date of any release or waiver, of the restrictions set forth in this paragraph 3 or paragraph 7 below, the
Company may announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the
effective date of the release or waiver. The immediately preceding sentence will not apply if (i) the release or waiver is effected
solely to permit a Transfer of securities that is not for consideration and (ii) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound
by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of
the Transfer.
4. In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account, the Sponsor (which
for purposes of clarification shall not extend to any other stockholders, members or managers of the Sponsor) agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any
and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party (other
than the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company or (ii) a
prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement (a “Target”);
provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Sponsor shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure
that such claims by a third party for services rendered (other than the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm)
or products sold to the Company or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.20 per Offering
Share or (ii) such lesser amount per Offering Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account
due to reductions in the value of the trust assets as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, in each case, net of the amount
of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights
to seek access to the Trust Account whether or not such waiver is enforceable and except as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity
of the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In the event that
any such executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against such third party, the Sponsor shall not be responsible to the extent of
any liability for such third party claims. The Sponsor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice
reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Sponsor, the Sponsor
notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense.
5. (a) To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise in full
their option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described
in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees that it shall forfeit, at no cost, a number of Founder Shares in the aggregate equal to 900,000
multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 3,000,000 minus the number of Units (if any) purchased by the Underwriters
upon the exercise of their option to purchase additional Units and (ii) the denominator of which is 3,000,000. All references in
this Letter Agreement to Founder Shares of the Company being forfeited shall take effect as a contribution of such Founder Shares to the
Company’s capital as a matter of Delaware law. The Initial Stockholders further agree that to the extent that the size of the Public
Offering is increased or decreased, the Company will effect a stock dividend or stock repurchase or redemption, as applicable, immediately
prior to the consummation of the Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the number of Founder Shares at approximately 23.0% of
the Company’s issued and outstanding Shares upon the consummation of the Public Offering. In connection with such increase or decrease
in the size of the Public Offering, then (A) the references to 3,000,000 in the numerator and denominator of the formula in the first
sentence of this paragraph shall be changed to a number equal to 15.0% of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock included in
the Units issued in the Public Offering, (B) the reference to 900,000 in the formula set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph
shall be adjusted to, respectively, the total number of Founder Shares that the Sponsor would have to return to the Company in order for
the number of Founder Shares that the Sponsor owns (together with the Insiders) to equal an aggregate of approximately 23.0% of the Company’s
issued and outstanding Shares after the Public Offering (not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class A Common Stock underlying
the Private Placement Warrants). This paragraph 5(a) of this Letter Agreement supersedes paragraph 3.1, which will be of no force or effect,
of the Securities Subscription Agreement, dated March 16, 2021, by and between the Company and the Sponsor.
6. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees and acknowledges that: (i) the
Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such Sponsor or Insider of its, his or her obligations
under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7(a), 7(b), and 9 of this Letter Agreement (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for
such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such
party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.
7. (a) The Sponsor and
each Insider agrees that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Founder Shares (or shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion
thereof) until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent
to the Business Combination, the earlier of (x) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization
or other similar transaction that results in all of the Public Stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock
for cash, securities or other property or (y) the date on which the last reported sale price of the Class A Common Stock equals
or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20
trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination (the
“Founder Shares Lock-Up Period”).
(b) The Sponsor agrees
that it shall not Transfer any Private Placement Warrants or any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise
of the Private Placement Warrants, until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination (the “Private Placement Warrants
Lock-Up Period”, together with the Founder Shares Lock-Up Period, the “Lock-Up Periods”).
(c) Notwithstanding
the provisions set forth in paragraphs 7(a) and (b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and shares of Class A
Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants or the Founder Shares and that are
held by the Sponsor or any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 7(c)), are permitted
(a) to the Company’s directors or officers, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s directors or officers,
any members of the Sponsor, or any affiliates of the Sponsor, (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s
immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiaries of which are members of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of
such person, or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon
death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) in the case
of a trust, by distribution to one or more of the permissible beneficiaries of such trust; (f) by private sales or Transfers made
in connection with the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities
were originally purchased; (g) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the Company’s completion of an initial
Business Combination; (h) by virtue of the laws of Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement, as amended,
upon dissolution of the Sponsor; or (i) in the event of the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange,
reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Public Stockholders having the right to exchange their shares
of Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Company’s completion of an initial Business
Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f), these permitted transferees must enter
into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the Transfer restrictions and other applicable restrictions in this
Letter Agreement.
8. The Sponsor and each Insider
represents and warrants that it, he or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange
or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. Each Insider’s biographical
information furnished to the Company, if any (including any such information included in the Prospectus), is true and accurate in all
material respects and does not omit any material information with respect to such Insider’s background. The Sponsor and each Insider’s
questionnaire furnished to the Company, if any, is true and accurate in all material respects. The Sponsor and each Insider represents
and warrants that: it is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation
to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; it has never been convicted
of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of
another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.
9. Except as disclosed in,
or as expressly contemplated by, the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any Insider nor any affiliate of the Sponsor or any Insider,
nor any director or officer of the Company, shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies
in respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate
the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is).
10. The Sponsor and each Insider
has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or
non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and, as applicable, to serve as
an officer and/or a director on the board of directors of the Company and hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer
and/or a director of the Company.
11. As used herein, (i) “Business Combination”
shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving
the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Shares” shall mean, collectively, the shares of Class A Common
Stock and the Founder Shares; (iii) “Founder Shares” shall mean the 6,900,000 shares of Class B common stock,
par value $0.0001 per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of the Public Offering; (iv) “Initial
Stockholders” shall mean the Sponsor and any Insider that holds Founder Shares; (v) “Private Placement Warrants”
shall mean the Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 10,450,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company (or up to 11,450,000
shares of Class A Common Stock depending on the extent to which the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised pursuant
to the Underwriting Agreement) that the Sponsor and the Underwriters have agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of $10,450,000
in the aggregate (or up to $11,450,000 depending on the extent to which the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised pursuant
to the Underwriting Agreement), or $1.00 per Warrant, in a private placement that shall occur substantially concurrently with the consummation
of the Public Offering; (vi) “Public Stockholders” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering;
(vii) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering
shall be deposited; and (viii) “Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract
or agreement to sell, hypothecation, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or other disposition of or agreement to dispose of, directly
or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent
position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery
of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause
(a) or (b) of the previous paragraph.
12. This Letter Agreement,
together with the other agreements entered into in connection with the Public Offering or otherwise contemplated by the prospectus, constitutes
the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings,
agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter
hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct
a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by (1) each Insider that is the subject
of any such change, amendment modification or waiver and (2) the Sponsor.
13. The Company will maintain
an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and the Insiders shall be covered
by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any of the Company’s
directors or officers.
14. No party hereto may assign
either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other
parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to Transfer or assign
any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor and each Insider and their respective
successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.
15. This Letter Agreement
shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability
of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision,
the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid
or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
16. This Letter Agreement
shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of
law provisions of such jurisdiction, without regard to any conflict of law provisions that would cause the applications of the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the state of New York. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute
arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the
State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive
any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
17. Any notice, consent or
request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by
express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile or other
electronic transmission.
18. Each party hereto shall
not be liable for any breaches or misrepresentations contained in this Letter Agreement by any other party to this Letter Agreement (including,
for the avoidance of doubt, any Insider with respect to any other Insider), and no party shall be liable or responsible for the obligations
of another party, including, without limitation, indemnification obligations and notice obligations.
19. Nothing in this Letter
Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or
claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof. All covenants,
conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.
20. This Letter Agreement
may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts, including electronic transmission, 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.
21. This Letter Agreement
shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-Up Periods and (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided,
however, that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed
by [_], 2022; provided further that paragraph 4 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation.
22. This Letter 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.
[Signature page follows]
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Sincerely,
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BANYAN ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC
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By:
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Name: Keith Jaffee
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Title: Manager
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Keith Jaffee
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Jerry Hyman
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Bruce Lubin
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Otis Carter
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George Courtot
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Brett Biggs
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Peter Cameron
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Matt Jaffee
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OTHER
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Kimberley Annette Rimsza
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[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]
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Acknowledged and Agreed:
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BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name: Keith Jaffee
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]
Exhibit 10.3
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Investment Management
Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of [●], 2022, by and between Banyan Acquisition
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New
York limited purpose trust company (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Company’s
registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-258599 (the “Registration Statement”), and prospectus (the
“Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”),
each of which consists of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”),
and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock (such initial
public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”), has been declared effective as of the date hereof
by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Company has entered
into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with BTIG, LLC and with the other underwriters
named on Schedule A thereto (the “Underwriters”); and
WHEREAS, as described in the
Prospectus, $204,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined in the Underwriting
Agreement) (or $234,600,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase additional Units 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 shares of Common Stock included in the Units issued in the
Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred
to herein as the “Property,” the stockholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be
referred to as the “Public Stockholders,” and the Public Stockholders and the Company will be referred to together
as the “Beneficiaries”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $8,000,000, or $9,200,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised
in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that may be payable by the Company to the Underwriters upon
the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below) (the “Deferred Discount”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the
Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS
AGREED:
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1.
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Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby
agrees and covenants to:
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(a) Hold
the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee
located in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of
$100 billion or more) and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company;
(b) Manage,
supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
(c) In
a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property in United States government securities
within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less,
or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations,
as determined by the Company; the Trustee may not invest in any other securities or assets, it being understood that the Trust Account
will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder; while account funds are
invested or invested, the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration;
(d) Collect
and receive, when due, all principal, interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property”
as such term is used herein;
(e) Promptly notify the Company and the Underwriters of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property
requiring action by the Company;
(f) Supply
any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s
preparation of tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account or in connection with the preparation or completion of the audit
of the Company’s financial statements by the Company’s auditors;
(g) Participate
in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the
Company to do so;
(h) Render
to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements
of the Trust Account;
(i)
Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly following (x) receipt of, and only in accordance
with the terms of, a letter from the Company (“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that
attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or other authorized officer of the Company (an “Authorized
Representative”), and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including
interest (which interest shall be net of any taxes payable thereon, and less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company
to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date
which is the later of (1) 15 months after the closing of the Offering (or up to 21 months after the closing of the Offering if the Company
extends the time to complete a business combination as described in the Prospectus) and (2) such later date as may be approved by
the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended
from time to time, if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall
be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the
Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of any taxes payable thereon, and less up to $100,000 of interest that
may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses) shall be distributed to the Public Stockholders of record as of such date;
(j) Upon
written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C
(a “Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute on behalf of the Company
the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of
assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic
funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority; provided,
however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate
such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution so long as there is no
reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided, further, however,
that if the tax to be paid is a franchise tax, the written request by the Company to make such distribution shall be accompanied by a
copy of the franchise tax bill for the Company and a written statement from an Authorized Officer of the Company setting forth the actual
amount payable (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be
payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company
is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;
(k) Upon
written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D
(a “Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction”), the Trustee shall distribute to or on behalf of the Company
the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem shares of Common Stock from Public Stockholders pursuant to the Company’s
amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence
that the Company is entitled to distribute said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request; and
(l) Not
make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i), (j) or (k) above.
2. Agreements
and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Give
all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by an Authorized Representative of the Company. In addition, except with
respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k) hereof, 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 and with reasonable care,
believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly
confirm such instructions in writing;
(b) Subject
to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all reasonable and documented
expenses, including reasonable outside counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action
taken by it hereunder and in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or
in connection with any claim or demand, which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder,
or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence,
fraud or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action,
suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(B), it shall notify
the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall
have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of
the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which 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 such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company
may participate in such action with its own counsel;
(c) Pay
the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction
processing fee, which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property
shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until it is distributed to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i) through 1(j) hereof.
The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Offering.
The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(C) and
as may be provided in Section 2(B) hereof;
(d) In
connection with any vote of the Company’s stockholders regarding any merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase,
reorganization or other similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”),
provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the stockholder meeting verifying the vote of such
stockholders regarding such Business Combination;
(e) Provide the Underwriters with a copy of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee
with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;
(f) Unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Underwriters, expressly provide in any Instruction Letter (as defined
in Exhibit A) delivered in connection with a Termination Letter in the Form of Exhibit A that the Deferred Discount be paid
directly to the account or accounts directed by the Underwriters; and
(g) Instruct
the Trustee to make only those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make
any distributions that are not permitted under this Agreement.
3. Limitations
of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:
(a) 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;
(b) Take
any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability
to any third party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;
(c) Institute
any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind
with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received instructions from the Company given as provided herein to
do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;
(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 Trustee’s best judgment, except for the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The
Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any written direction, order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion
or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee with written notification to the Company, which counsel may be the Company’s
counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness
of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good
faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be
bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless
evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the
Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;
(g) Verify
the accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement;
(h) Provide
any assurance that any Business Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by
the Registration Statement;
(i) File
information returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements
to the Company documenting the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;
(j) Prepare,
execute and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating
to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, franchise
and income tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or
(k) Verify
calculations, qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j) or
1(k) hereof.
4. Trust
Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”)
to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it
may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation,
under Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company
and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.
5. Termination.
This Agreement shall terminate as follows:
(a) If
the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts
to locate a successor trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the
Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement
(whether following the Trustee giving notice that it desires to resign under this Agreement or the Company otherwise electing to replace
the Trustee under 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 ninety (90)
days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with
any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit,
the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever;
(b) At
such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1(i) hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement
shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b); or
(c) If
the Offering is not consummated within ten (10) business days of the date of this Agreement, in which case any funds received by
the Trustee from the Company or Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC, as applicable, shall be returned promptly following the receipt by the
Trustee of written instructions from the Company.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) The
Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth herein with respect to funds transferred
from the Trust Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures
to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained
access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee shall
rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information
relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s
gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or out-of-pocket 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 or electronic transmission 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
Section 1(i), 1(j) or 1(k) (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative
vote of sixty-five percent (65%) of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share,
of the Company voting together as a single class; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Stockholder who has otherwise
validly indicated his, her or its election to redeem his, her or its shares of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote sought
to amend this Agreement), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical
error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
(d) The
parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York,
for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT,
EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
(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 electronic
mail:
if to the Trustee, to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Email: fwolf@continentalstock.com; cgonzalez@continentalstock.com
if to the Company, to:
Banyan Acquisition Corporation
400 Skokie Blvd, Suite 820
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
Attn: Keith Jaffee & Jerry Hyman
Email: keith@middletonpartners.net; jerryhyman@cox.net
in each case, with copies
to:
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
575 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Mark D. Wood, Timothy J. Kirby & Evan S. Borenstein
Emails: mark.wood@katten.com; tim.kirby@katten.com; and evan.borenstein@katten.com
and
BTIG, LLC
65 East 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Gil Ottensoser
Email: gottensoser@btig.com
and
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
Attn: Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.
Email: sneuhauser@egsllp.com
(f) Each
of the Company and the Trustee hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this
Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make
any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account
under any circumstance.
(g) This
Agreement is the joint product of the Trustee and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation
and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
(h) 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.
(i) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters is a third party beneficiary of
this Agreement.
(j) Except
as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.
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Banyan Acquisition Corporation
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By:
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Name: Keith Jaffee
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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TRUSTEE:
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Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
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as Trustee
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By:
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Name: Francis Wolf
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Title: Vice President
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[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
Fee Item
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Time and method of payment
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Amount
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Initial acceptance fee
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Initial closing of the Offering by wire transfer.
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$
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3,500.00
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Annual fee
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First year fee payable at initial closing of the Offering by wire transfer, thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the Offering by wire transfer or check.
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$
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10,000.00
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Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Sections 1(i) and 1(k)
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Billed to Company following disbursement made to Company under Sections 1(i) and 1(j)
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$
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250.00
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Paying Agent Services as required pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k)
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Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Sections 1(i) and 1(j)
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Prevailing rates
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EXHIBIT A
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez
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Re:
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Trust Account - Termination Letter
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Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of
the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Banyan Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2022 (the “Trust Agreement”),
this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with ____________________ (the “Target Business”)
to consummate a business combination with the Target Business (the “Business Combination”) on or about [insert
date]. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date (or such shorter time period as you
may agree) of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used
but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms
of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account and to transfer the proceeds
into the above-referenced trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of
the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Underwriters (with
respect to the Deferred Discount) and the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the
funds are on deposit in the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. awaiting distribution, neither the Company nor the
Underwriters will earn any interest or dividends.
On the Consummation Date (i)
counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated
substantially, concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “Notification”)
and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) a certificate by the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s stockholders, if a vote is held,
and (b) joint written instruction signed by the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust
Account, including payment of the Deferred Discount from the Trust Account (the “Instruction Letter”). You are
hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the
Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account
may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall
direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company.
Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the
Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
In the event that the Business
Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the
original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the
funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately
following the Consummation Date as set forth in the notice as soon thereafter as possible.
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Very truly yours,
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Banyan Acquisition Corporation
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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cc: BTIG, LLC
EXHIBIT B
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez
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Re:
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Trust Account - Termination Letter
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Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section l(i) of
the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Banyan Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) and Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2022 (the “Trust
Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a business combination with a target business
(the “Business Combination”) within the time frame specified in the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms
of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account and to transfer the total proceeds
into the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to await distribution to the Public Stockholders. The Company has selected
______________ as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Stockholders will be entitled to receive their share
of the liquidation proceeds. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute
said funds directly to the Company’s Public Stockholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the amended and
restated certificate of incorporation of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, your obligations under the Trust Agreement
shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(j) of the Trust Agreement.
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Very truly yours,
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Banyan Acquisition Corporation
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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cc: BTIG, LLC
EXHIBIT C
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez
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Re:
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Trust Account - Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction
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Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(j) of
the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Banyan Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2022 (the “Trust Agreement”),
the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $_____________ of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date
hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds
to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement,
you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s
operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
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Very truly yours,
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Banyan Acquisition Corporation
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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cc: BTIG, LLC
EXHIBIT D
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez
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Re:
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Trust Account - Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction
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Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(k) of
the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Banyan Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) and Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2022 (the “Trust
Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the redeeming Public Stockholders on behalf of the Company
$____________ of the principal and 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 funds as described above
are needed to pay the Public Stockholders who have properly elected to have their shares of Common Stock redeemed by the Company in accordance
with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. As such, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer
(via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the redeeming Public Stockholders in accordance with your
customary procedures.
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Very truly yours,
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Banyan Acquisition Corporation
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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cc: BTIG, LLC
Exhibit 10.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),
dated as of [●], 2022, is made and entered into by and among Banyan Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and the other parties listed
on the signature pages hereto and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2
of this Agreement (each such party, together with the Sponsor, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Sponsor and certain other Holders collectively own an aggregate of 8,625,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock,
par value $0.0001 per share (the “Founder Shares”), up to 1,125,000 of which are subject to forfeiture depending on
the extent to which the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering exercise their overallotment option;
WHEREAS,
the Founder Shares are convertible into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common
Stock”), on the terms and conditions provided in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as may
be amended from time to time;
WHEREAS, on [●], 2022, the Company,
the Sponsor, BTIG, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“BTIG”) [and [ ] (“[ ], together with BTIG, the
“Underwriters”) entered into certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreements, pursuant to which the Sponsor
and the Underwriters agreed to purchase an aggregate of 10,250,000 warrants (or up to 11,450,000 warrants depending on the extent to
which the underwriters in the Company’s initial public offering exercise over-allotment option) (the “Private Placement
Warrants”) in a private placement transaction to close substantially concurrently with the closing of the Company’s initial
public offering; each Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50
per share;
WHEREAS,
in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with its search for and consummation of an initial Business Combination,
the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor 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 private placement-warrants (“Working
Capital Warrants”) at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender; and
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration
rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby
agree as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions.
The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean
any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer, President, Secretary or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would
be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not
to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein
(in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading,
(ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed and (iii) the Company
has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning
given in the Preamble.
“Board” shall mean the Board
of Directors of the Company.
“Business Combination” shall
mean any merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with
one or more businesses, involving the Company.
“Commission” shall mean the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” shall have the
meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company” shall have the meaning
given in the Preamble.
“Demand Registration” shall
have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Demanding Holder” shall have
the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Form S-1” shall have the
meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Form S-3” shall have the
meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.
“Founder Shares” shall have
the meaning given in the Recitals hereto and shall be deemed to include the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof.
“Founder Shares Lock-Up Period”
shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period ending on the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s
initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the Company’s initial Business Combination, (x) the date on which the
last reported sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations,
recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30- trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s
initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization
or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares
of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property.
“Holders” shall have the meaning
given in the Preamble.
“Insider Letter” shall mean
that certain letter agreement, dated the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and each of the Company’s officers,
directors and director nominees.
“Maximum Number of Securities”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“Misstatement” shall mean an
untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus
or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made) not misleading.
“Permitted Transferees” shall
mean, during the Founder Shares Lock-Up Period or Private Placement Lock-Up Period, as the case may be, any person or entity to whom a
Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-Up
Period or Private Placement Lock-Up Period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letter and any other applicable agreement between such
Holder and the Company and to any transferee thereafter.
“Piggyback Registration” shall
have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.
“Private Placement Lock-Up Period”
shall mean, with respect to Private Placement Warrants and any Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the
Private Placement Warrants that are held by the initial purchasers of the Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the
period ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
“Private Placement Warrants”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.
“Prospectus” shall mean the
prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all
post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable Securities” shall
mean (a) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of any Founder Shares, (b) the Private Placement
Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any Private Placement Warrant) and any Working
Capital Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any Working Warrant), (c) any outstanding
share of Common Stock or any other equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any
other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement or acquired by a Holder prior to the consummation
of the Company’s initial Business Combination, and (d) any other equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
or any successor, issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection
with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off or reorganization; provided, however, that,
as to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement
with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold,
transferred, disposed of or exchanged pursuant to such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding;
(C) such securities have been sold without registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(l) of the Securities Act or Rule 144
or Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission); (D) such
securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction
or (E) such securities do not constitute “restricted securities” or “control securities” as such terms are
understood within the meaning of the Securities Act.
“Registration” shall mean a
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the
Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” shall
mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
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(A)
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all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;
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(B)
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fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of outside counsel for
the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
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(C)
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printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
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(D)
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reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
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(E)
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reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection
with such Registration; and
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(F)
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reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating
a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.
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“Registration Statement” shall
mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus
included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement,
and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Requesting Holder” shall have
the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Securities Act” shall mean
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Shelf” shall have the meaning
given in subsection 2.3.1.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning
given in the Preamble.
“Subsequent Shelf Registration”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.2.
“Takedown Requesting Holder”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.3.
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities
dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making
activities.
“Underwritten Registration”
or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter
in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
“Underwritten Shelf Takedown”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.3.
“Working Capital Warrants” shall
have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
Article II
REGISTRATIONS
2.1 Demand
Registration.
2.1.1
Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time
and from time to time on or after the date the Company consummates the initial Business Combination, (i) the Holders of at least fifteen
percent (15%) in interest of the then outstanding number of Registrable Securities, or (ii) the Underwriters (or their permitted designees) (the “Demanding
Holders”) may make a written demand for Registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities,
which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of
distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the
Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and
each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities
in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable
Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days
after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting
Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration
pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, the Registration of all Registrable
Securities requested by the Demanding Holder(s) and Requesting Holder(s) pursuant to such Demand Registration, including by filing a Registration
Statement relating thereto as soon as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt
of the Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations
pursuant to a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1 with respect to any or all Registrable Securities.
2.1.2 Effective
Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement , a Registration
pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the
Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the
Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if,
after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand
Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental
agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until,
(i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding
Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the
Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days, of such election.
2.1.3 Underwritten
Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the
Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant
to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder
(if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such
Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided
herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection
2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering
by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.
2.1.4 Reduction
of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration,
in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number
of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other
shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which
a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders
who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering
without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering
(such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”),
then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding
Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder
and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities
that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration) that can be sold without
exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached
under the foregoing clause (i), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without
exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached
under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Common Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company
is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold
without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.5 Demand
Registration Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest
of the Requesting Holders (if any), pursuant to a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration
pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters
(if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the
Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration (or in the case of an
Underwritten Registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, at least two business days prior to the time of pricing
of the applicable offering). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the Company may effect any Underwritten
Registration pursuant to any then effective Registration Statement, including a Form S-3, that is then available for such offering
and (ii) the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a
Demand Registration notwithstanding its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5.
2.2 Piggyback
Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback
Rights. If, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates an initial Business Combination, the Company proposes to file
a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations
exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the
Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof),
or otherwise effect an underwritten offering of securities, other than with respect to a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection
with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s
existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a
dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities
as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice
shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution,
and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders
of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in
writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”).
The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best
efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested
by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as
any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities
in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities
through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with
the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.
2.2.2 Reduction
of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration,
in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that
the dollar amount or number of shares of the Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of
Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or
entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has
been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration
has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds
the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) If
the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the
shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number
of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A),
the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1
hereof , pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has so requested exercising its rights to
register its Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number
of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses
(A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back
registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(b) If
the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall
include in any such Registration (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons
or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second,
to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of
Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, pro rata, based on the respective
number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number
of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Registration, which can be sold without
exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under
the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which
can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities
has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities for the
account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with
such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.2.3 Piggyback
Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any
or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention
to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect
to such Piggyback Registration (or in the case of an Underwritten Registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, at
least two business days prior to the time of pricing of the applicable offering). The Company (whether on its own good faith determination
or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration
Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses
incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration notwithstanding its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.
2.2.4 Unlimited
Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall
not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.
2.3 Shelf
Registrations.
2.3.1 Any
Holder of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to Rule 415
under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale of any or all of their
Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-3”),
or if the Company is ineligible to use Form S-3, on Form S-1; a registration statement filed pursuant to this subsection
2.3.1 (a “Shelf”) shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method
or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder including block sales, underwritten offerings, agented transactions,
sales directly into the market and other customary provisions. Within three (3) days of the Company’s receipt of a written
request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on a Shelf, the Company shall promptly give written notice
of the proposed Registration to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter
wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration shall so notify the Company, in
writing, within three (3) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. As soon as practicable thereafter,
but not more than ten (10) days after the Company’s initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on a Shelf,
the Company shall file with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-1 or Form S-3 (which in either case shall be filed
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act as a secondary- only registration statement) to register all or such portion of such
Holder ‘s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities
of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders and
the Company shall use its best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof,
but no later than the earlier of (1) the 60th calendar day after the filing thereof (or 90th calendar day if the Commission notifies
the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement) and (2) the fifth business day after the date the Company
is notified by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to this subsection
2.3.1 if the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to
inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate
price to the public of less than $5,000,000. The Company shall maintain each Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments, including post- effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep such Shelf
continuously effective, available for the public resale of the Registrable Securities and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities
Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities included or required to be included on such Shelf. The Shelf shall
contain a Prospectus in such form as to permit any Holder to sell its Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities
Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such
Registration Statement, and the Company shall file with the Commission the final form of such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 (or
successor thereto) under the Securities Act no later than the first (1st) Business Day after the Shelf becomes effective In the event
the Company files a Shelf on Form S-1, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 to
a Form S-3 as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3.
2.3.2 If
any Shelf ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities included thereon are
still outstanding, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Shelf
to again become effective under the Securities Act (including obtaining the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness
of such Shelf), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Shelf in a manner
reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf or file an additional registration
statement (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities including on such
Shelf, and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder. If a Subsequent Shelf
Registration is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration
to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof and (ii) keep such
Subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective, available for use and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until
such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities included thereon. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3
to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form; otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on another appropriate
form. In the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the
Company, upon request of such a Holder shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable
Securities to be covered by either, at the Company’s option, a Shelf (including by means of a post-effective amendment) or a Subsequent
Shelf Registration and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Shelf or Subsequent Shelf
Registration shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities
to be so covered once annually after inquiry of the Holders.
2.3.3. At any time and from time to time after a Shelf has been declared effective by the Commission, the Holders of at least fifteen
percent (15%) in interest of the then outstanding number of Registrable Securities may request to sell all or any portion of its Registrable
Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”);
provided that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include securities with
a total offering price (including piggyback securities and before deduction of underwriting discounts) reasonably expected to exceed,
in the aggregate, $5,000,000. All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company at least
48 hours prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable
Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions)
of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. The Company shall include in any Underwritten Shelf Takedown the securities requested to be included
by any Holder (each a “Takedown Requesting Holder”) at least 24 hours prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten
Shelf Takedown pursuant to written contractual piggyback (or other applicable) registration rights of such Holder (including to those
set forth herein). The majority-in-interest of the Takedown Requesting Holders shall have the right to select the underwriter(s) for
such offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the Company’s prior
approval which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. For purposes of clarity, any registration effected pursuant
to this subsection 2.3.3 shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1
hereof.
2.3.4. If the managing Underwriter
or Underwriters in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advises the Company, the Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders
(if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders (if
any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, exceeds
the Maximum Number of Securities, then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, as follows: (i) first, the
Registrable Securities of the Takedown Requesting Holders that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities, determined
Pro Rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Takedown Requesting Holder has so requested to be included
in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under
the foregoing clause (i), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without
exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached
under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), any other shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Takedown Requesting
Holders, if any, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities, determined Pro Rata based on the respective number
of Registrable Securities that each Takedown Requesting Holder has so requested to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown.
2.3.5. Each Holder shall have
the right to withdraw from an Underwritten Shelf Takedown for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and
the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of its intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown prior to the public announcement
of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for
the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with an Underwritten Shelf Takedown prior to a withdrawal under this subsection 2.3.5.
2.4 Restrictions
on Registration Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith
estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated
Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant
to subsection 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration
Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable
to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration
would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration
Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would
be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential
to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period
of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more
than once in any 12-month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required
to effect or permit any Registration or cause any Registration Statement to become effective, with respect to any Registrable Securities
held by any Holder, until after the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-Up Period or the Private Placement Lock-Up Period, as the case
may be.
Article III
COMPANY
PROCEDURES
3.1 General
Procedures. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates an initial Business Combination, the Company is required to
effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale
of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as
expeditiously as possible:
3.1.1 prepare
and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable
best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by
such Registration Statement have been sold;
3.1.2 prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the
Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the majority-in-interest of the Holders with Registrable Securities registered on such Registration
Statement or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement
effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution
set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
3.1.3 prior
to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters,
if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such
Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all
exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each
preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration
or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Holders;
3.1.4 prior
to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as
the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request
and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with
or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do
any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required
to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it
is not then otherwise so subject;
3.1.5 cause
all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued
by the Company are then listed;
3.1.6 provide
a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of
such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise
each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any
stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding
for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if
such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 at
least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration
Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each Holder of such Registrable Securities or its counsel and provide such Holders,
promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of any comment letters received with respect to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus;
3.1.9 notify
the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act,
of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes
a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;
3.1.10 permit
a representative of the Holders (to be selected majority-in-interest of the Holders), the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant
retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration
Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration, provided, however, that such representatives
or Underwriters shall be required to enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company,
prior to the release or disclosure of any such information ; and provided further, the Company may not include the name of any Holder
or Underwriter or any information regarding any Holder or Underwriter in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement
to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or
Prospectus, or any response to any comment letter, without providing each such Holder or Underwriter a reasonable amount of time to review
and comment on such applicable document, which comments the Company shall include unless contrary to applicable law;
3.1.11 obtain
a “comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration,
in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter
may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.12 on
the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel
representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any,
and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given
as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and
negative assurance letters;
3.1.13 in
the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary
form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;
3.1.14 make
available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12)
months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement
which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated
thereafter by the Commission), which for the avoidance of doubt, will be deemed satisfied by the filing of periodic reports required by
the Exchange Act;
3.1.15 if
the Registration or an Underwritten Offering involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of
$25,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show”
presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Registration and/or Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.16 otherwise,
in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection
with such Registration.
3.2 Registration
Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the
Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions
and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,”
all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders. The Company also shall pay all of its internal expenses
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense
of any annual audit or quarterly review, the expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to
be registered on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed. Each person that sells securities
hereunder shall bear and pay Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and transfer taxes
applicable to the securities sold for such person’s account.
3.3 Requirements
for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company
pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities
on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires,
powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required
under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
3.4 Suspension
of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains
a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received
copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare
and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing
by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration
Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion
in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control,
the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend
use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event in an aggregate of more than ninety (90) days (which
need not be consecutive) in any 12-month period, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event
the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice
referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities;
provided, however, the Holders shall be entitled to consummate any sale pursuant to a contract entered into, or order placed, by a Holder
prior to receipt of notice described in the preceding sentence. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of
any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.
3.5 Reporting
Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities that may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 only if the Company
is in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable),
the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined
in Rule 144. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company
under the Exchange Act, covenants to use its reasonable best efforts to file timely (without given effect to any extensions pursuant to
Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections
13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company
further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to
time to enable such Holder to sell shares of the Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within
the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated
thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such
Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
3.6 Limitations
on Registration Rights. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Underwriters may not exercise their rights
under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereunder after five (5) and seven (7) years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration
statement relating to the Company’s initial public offering and (ii) the Underwriters may not exercise their rights under
Section 2.1 more than one time.
Article IV
INDEMNIFICATION
AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 The
Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers, directors and agents
and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement
of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing to the Company
by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who
controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to
the indemnification of the Holder.
4.1.2 In
connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to
the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration
Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors, officers and agents and each
person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket
expenses (including, without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material
fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any
omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by
such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and
several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion
to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters
(within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
4.1.3 Any
person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect
to which he, she or it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right
to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in
such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist
with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made
by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled
to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all
parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party
a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim.
No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms
of such settlement) which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified
party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation or which includes an admission as to fault, culpability or
failure to act on the part of such indemnified party.
4.1.4 The
indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer
of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions
as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s
indemnification is unavailable for any reason.
4.1.5 If
the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless
an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault
of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including
any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates
to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however,
that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such
Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability (less the aggregate amount of any damages or other amounts such Holder has otherwise
been required to pay (pursuant to this Section 4.1 or otherwise). The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses
or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2
and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection
4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
Article V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Notices.
Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed
to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or
by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery or electronic mail. Each notice or communication
that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent and received,
in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered
by courier service, hand delivery or electronic mail, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the
affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this
Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: Banyan Acquisition Corporation, 400 Skokie Blvd., Suite 280, Northbrook, Illinois
60062, email: keith@middletonpartners.net, with a copy (which shall not be deemed to constitute notice) to: Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP,
575 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, email: mark.wood@katten.com; brian.hecht@katten.com and evan.borenstein@katten.com, and, if to
any Holder, at such Holder’s address as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for
notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective
thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.
5.2 Assignment;
No Third Party Beneficiaries.
5.2.1 This
Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or
in part.
5.2.2 Prior
to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-Up Period or the Private Placement Lock-Up Period, as the case may be, no Holder may assign
or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer
of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee and only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the
transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement.
5.2.3 This
Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and
the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees and all persons entitled to indemnification pursuant to
Section 4 hereof.
5.2.4 This
Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than persons entitled to indemnification
pursuant to Section 4 hereof or as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 hereof.
5.2.5 No
assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company
unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof
and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions
of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made
other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.
5.3 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts or other electronic transmission), each
of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
5.4 Governing
Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY
AGREE THAT (I) THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT
OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY ACTION DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
5.5 TRIAL
BY JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY
TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.
5.6 Amendments
and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities (which majority interest must include BTIG if such amendment or modification materially and adversely affects the rights
of BTIG hereunder) at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this
Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however,
that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or
its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other
Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the
Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or
remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial
exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other
rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
5.7 Other
Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right
to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration
filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents
and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and
in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
5.8 Term.
This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (ii) the date
as of which no Registrable Securities remain outstanding. The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive
any termination.
5.9 Holder
Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Company the total number of Registrable Securities held
by such Holder in order for the Company to make determinations hereunder. The obligations of each Holder hereunder are several
and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder, and no provision of this Agreement is intended to confer any obligations on any
Holder vis-à-vis any other Holder. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto, shall be deemed
to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that
the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated herein.
5.10 Descriptive
Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part
of this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise required: (i) the use of the word “including” herein shall mean “including
without limitation,” (ii) all references to Sections, Schedules or Exhibits are to Sections, Schedules or Exhibits contained
in or attached to this Agreement, and (iii) words in the singular or plural include the singular and plural, and pronouns stated
in either the masculine, the feminine or neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
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COMPANY:
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BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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BANYAN ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC
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By:
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Name:
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Keith Jaffee
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Jerry Hyman
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Bruce Lubin
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Kimberley Gill Rimsza
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Otis Carter
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George Courtot
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Brett Biggs
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Matt Jaffee
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Peter Cameron
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BTIG, LLC
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature Page to
Registration Rights Agreement]
Other Holders:
[_____________________]
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Exhibit 10.6
WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT (as it may from
time to time be amended and including all exhibits referenced herein, this “Agreement”), dated as of [l],
2022, is entered into by and between Banyan Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and Banyan Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an initial
public offering of the Company’s units (the “Public Offering”), each unit consisting of one share of Class
A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (a “Share”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant,
each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share, as set forth in the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, No. 333-258599 (the “Registration
Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
WHEREAS, the Purchaser has agreed to purchase,
at a price of $1.00 per warrant, an aggregate of 9,250,000 warrants (or 10,450,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment
option is exercised in full) (the “Private Placement Warrants”), each Private Placement Warrant entitling the
holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises
contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
Section 1. Authorization, Purchase and
Sale; Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.
A. Authorization of the Private Placement Warrants.
The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants, and, subject to proper exercise of the Private
Placement Warrants and against payment therefor, the Shares underlying such Private Placement Warrants, to the Purchaser.
B. Purchase and Sale of the Private Placement
Warrants.
(i) On the date of the consummation of the Public
Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (the “IPO Closing Date”),
the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, 9,250,000 Private Placement Warrants
at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, for an aggregate purchase price of $9,250,000 (the “Purchase Price”).
The Purchaser shall pay, at least one (1) business day prior to the IPO Closing Date, the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately
available funds, to accounts designated by the Company, including to the trust account (the “Trust Account”),
at a financial institution to be chosen by the Company, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee,
in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions. On the IPO Closing Date, subject to receipt of funds pursuant to the immediately
prior sentence, the Company shall, at its option, deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased on such date
duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
(ii) On the date of the consummation of the
closing of the over-allotment option, if any, in connection with the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be
mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (an “Over-allotment Closing Date,” and each
Over-allotment Closing Date (if any) and the IPO Closing Date, a “Closing Date”), the Company shall issue
and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, 1,200,000 Private Placement Warrants (or, to the
extent the over-allotment option is not exercised in full, a lesser number of Private Placement Warrants in proportion to the
portion of the over-allotment option that is then exercised) at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, for an aggregate
purchase price of up to $1,200,000 (the “Over-allotment Purchase Price”). The Purchaser shall pay the
Over-allotment Purchase Price in accordance with the Company’s wire instruction by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the Company or the Trust Account (as set forth in the wire instructions), at least one (1) business day prior to the
applicable Over-allotment Closing Date. On each Over-allotment Closing Date, subject to receipt of funds pursuant to the immediately
prior sentence, the Company shall, at its option, deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased by the
Purchaser on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry
form.
C. Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.
(i) The Private Placement Warrants are substantially
identical to the warrants underlying the units to be offered in the Public Offering except that (a) the Private Placement Warrants
(including the underlying Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) will not, except in limited circumstances,
be transferable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial business combination (the “Business
Combination”) so long as they are held by the Purchaser or its permitted transferees, and (b) the Private Placement
Warrants are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely
tradable only after the expiration of the lockup described above in clause (a) and they are registered pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement (as defined below) or an exemption from registration is available, and the restrictions described above in clause (a) have
expired and (c) each Private Placement Warrant shall have the terms set forth for private placement warrants in a Warrant Agreement
to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent in connection with the Public Offering (the “Warrant Agreement”).
(ii) On or prior to the IPO Closing Date, the
Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”)
pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to, among other things, the Private Placement
Warrants and the Shares underlying the Private Placement Warrants.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties
of the Company.
As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter
into this Agreement and purchase the Private Placement Warrants, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations
and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:
A. Incorporation and Corporate Power. The
Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified
to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority
necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.
B. Authorization; No Breach.
(i) The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants, and, subject to proper exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and against payment
therefor, the Shares underlying such Private Placement Warrants, have been duly authorized by the Company. This Agreement constitutes
the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to
general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law). Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant
to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants, will constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms as of each Closing Date.
(ii) The execution and delivery by the Company
of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance of the Shares
upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the fulfillment of and compliance with the respective terms hereof and thereof by
the Company, do not and will not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions
of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the
Company’s capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval,
exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant
to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws (each, in effect on the date
hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering) or any material law, statute, rule or regulation
to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings required
after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.
C. Title to Securities. Upon issuance in
accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private
Placement Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. On the date of issuance of the Private Placement Warrants,
the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance
with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement (as applicable), the Purchaser will have good title to the
Private Placement Warrants purchased pursuant to the terms hereto, including the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement
Warrants, when and as such Private Placement Warrants are exercised, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind,
other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal
and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Purchaser.
D. Governmental Consents. Assuming the accuracy
of the representations and warranties made by the Purchaser in this Agreement, no consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any federal, state or local governmental authority is required on the part of
the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for applicable requirements
of the Securities Act.
E. Regulation D Qualification. Neither the
Company nor, to its actual knowledge, any of its affiliates, members, officers, directors or beneficial shareholders of 20% or more of
its outstanding securities, has experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under
the Securities Act.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties
of the Purchaser.
As a material inducement to the Company to enter
into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to
the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:
A. Organization and Requisite Authority.
The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
B. Authorization; No Breach.
(i) This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles
(whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).
(ii) The execution and delivery by the Purchaser
of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser do not and shall not as of each Closing
Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default
under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Purchaser’s equity or assets
under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice
or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to the Purchaser’s organizational
documents in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering, or any material law,
statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the
Purchaser is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.
C. Investment Representations.
(i) The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Placement
Warrants, and, upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, the Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”)
for its own account, and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof.
(ii) The Purchaser understands that the Securities
are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal
and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the
representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility
of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities.
(iii) The Purchaser is an “accredited
investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D under the Securities Act, and the Purchaser has not
experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act. The Purchaser
did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of
Regulation D under the Securities Act.
(iv) The Purchaser has been furnished with all
materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities
which have been requested by the Purchaser. The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers
and directors of the Company. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk and it has
sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the
acquisition of the Securities.
(v) The Purchaser understands that no United
States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement
of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such authorities passed
upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
(vi) The Purchaser understands that: (a) the
Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for
sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom;
and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under
any obligation to register the resale of the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms
and conditions of any exemption thereunder. While the Purchaser understands that Rule 144 under the Securities Act is not available
for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers
that have been at any time previously a shell company, the Purchaser understands that Rule 144 includes an exception to this prohibition
if the following conditions are met: (i) the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell
company; (ii) the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); (iii) the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act
reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required
to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and (iv) at least one year has elapsed from the time that
the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the Securities and Exchange Commission reflecting its status as an entity
that is not a shell company.
(vii) The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience
in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in
the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able
to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The
Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future
needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities. The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investments
in the Securities.
(viii) The Purchaser understands that the Private
Placement Warrants shall bear the legend substantially in the form set forth in the Warrant Agreement and be subject to appropriate “stop
transfer restrictions.”
Section 4. Conditions of the Purchaser’s
Obligations.
The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and
pay for the Private Placement Warrants are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A. Representations and Warranties. The representations
and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.
B. Performance. The Company shall have performed
and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied
with by it on or before such Closing Date.
C. No Injunction. No litigation, statute,
rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any
court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated
hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.
D. Warrant Agreement and Registration Rights
Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, in each case on terms
satisfactory to the Purchaser.
Section 5. Conditions of the Company’s
Obligations.
The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser
under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A. Representations and Warranties. The representations
and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.
B. Performance. The Purchaser shall have
performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or
complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date.
C. Corporate Consents. The Company shall
have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Warrant
Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder.
D. No Injunction. No litigation, statute,
rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any
court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated
hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.
E. Warrant Agreement. The Company shall
have entered into the Warrant Agreement.
Section 6. Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time after
[_], 2022 upon the election by either the Company or the Purchaser upon written notice to the other party if the closing of the Public
Offering has not occurred prior to such date.
Section 7. Survival of Representations
and Warranties.
All of the representations and warranties contained
herein shall survive the applicable Closing Date.
Section 8. Definitions.
Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement
shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement.
Section 9. Miscellaneous.
A. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall
bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not. Notwithstanding the foregoing
or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, other than assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof
(including, without limitation, one or more of its members).
B. Severability. Whenever possible, each
provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision
of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent
of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.
C. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Signatures to this Agreement transmitted via facsimile or e-mail or other
electronic transmission shall be valid and effective to bind the party so signing.
D. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation.
The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement.
The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.
E. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be
deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal
laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the laws of
another jurisdiction.
F. Amendments. This Agreement may not be
amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed
this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
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COMPANY:
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BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name: Keith Jaffee
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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PURCHASER:
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BANYAN ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC
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By:
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Name: Keith Jaffee
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Title: Manager
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[Signature Page to Private
Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement (Sponsor)]
Exhibit 10.7
WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT (as it may
from time to time be amended and including all exhibits referenced herein, this “Agreement”), dated as of
[l], 2022, is entered into by and between Banyan
Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and BTIG, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“BTIG” or the “Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an initial
public offering of the Company’s units (the “Public Offering”), each unit consisting of one share of Class
A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (a “Share”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant,
each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share, as set forth in the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, No. 333-258599 (the “Registration
Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
WHEREAS, the Purchaser has agreed to purchase,
at a price of $1.00 per warrant, an aggregate of [ ] warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”),
each Private Placement Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises
contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
Section
1. Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.
A.
Authorization of the Private Placement Warrants. The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement
Warrants, and, subject to proper exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and against payment therefor, the Shares underlying such Private
Placement Warrants, to the Purchaser.
B.
Purchase and Sale of the Private Placement Warrants. On the date of the consummation of the Public Offering or on such earlier
time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (the “Closing Date”), the Company shall
issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, [ ] Private Placement Warrants at a price of
$1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, for an aggregate purchase price of [ ] (the “Purchase Price”). The
Purchaser shall pay, at least one (1) business day prior to the Closing Date, the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available
funds, to accounts designated by the Company, including to the trust account (the “Trust Account”), at a financial
institution to be chosen by the Company, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, in accordance
with the Company’s wiring instructions. On the Closing Date, subject to receipt of funds pursuant to the immediately prior sentence,
the Company shall, at its option, deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased on such date duly registered
in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
C.
Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.
(i)
The Private Placement Warrants are substantially identical to the warrants underlying the units to be offered in the Public Offering
except that (a) the Private Placement Warrants (including the underlying Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants)
will not, except in limited circumstances, be transferable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial
business combination (the “Business Combination”) so long as they are held by the Purchaser or its permitted
transferees, and (b) the Private Placement Warrants are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after the expiration of the lockup described above in clause (a) and they are
registered pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below) or an exemption from registration is available, and the restrictions
described above in clause (a) have expired and (c) each Private Placement Warrant shall have the terms set forth for private placement
warrants in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent in connection with the Public Offering (the “Warrant
Agreement”).
(ii)
On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration
Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to, among
other things, the Private Placement Warrants and the Shares underlying the Private Placement Warrants.
(iii)
The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Private Placement Warrants and underlying Shares will be deemed compensation by
the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and will be subject to lock-up immediately following the
commencement of sales of the IPO. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), the Private Placement Warrants and the underlying Shares 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 economic disposition of such securities by any person during the 180 day period following the commencement of
sales of the Public Offering except to any underwriter or selected dealer participating in the Public Offering and the officers or partners,
registered persons or affiliates of the undersigned and of any such participating underwriter or selected dealer participating in the
Public Offering except as permitted by FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2)(B). Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants may not be exercised more
than five years from the commencement of sales of the Public Offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(A).
(iv)
The obligation of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Private Placement Warrants as provided herein shall be subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 4 of the Underwriting Agreement, dated the date hereof, by and among the Company and BTIG as
representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”).
Section
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter
into this Agreement and purchase the Private Placement Warrants, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations
and warranties shall survive the Closing Date) that:
A.
Incorporation and Corporate Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company
possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant
Agreement.
B.
Authorization; No Breach.
(i)
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants, and, subject to proper exercise of
the Private Placement Warrants and against payment therefor, the Shares underlying such Private Placement Warrants, have been duly authorized
by the Company. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating
to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law). Upon
issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants,
will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms as of the Closing Date.
(ii)
The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance and sale of the Private
Placement Warrants, the issuance of the Shares upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the fulfillment of and compliance with
the respective terms hereof and thereof by the Company, do not and will not as of the Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach
of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest,
charge or encumbrance upon the Company’s capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization,
consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental
body or agency pursuant to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws (each,
in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering) or any material law, statute,
rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except
for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.
C.
Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement,
the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. On
the date of issuance of the Private Placement Warrants, the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants shall have
been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement (as
applicable), the Purchaser will have good title to the Private Placement Warrants purchased pursuant to the terms hereto, including the
Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, when and as such Private Placement Warrants are exercised, free and clear
of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated
hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the
actions of the Purchaser.
D.
Governmental Consents. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Purchaser in this Agreement,
no consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any federal,
state or local governmental authority is required on the part of the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, except for applicable requirements of the Securities Act.
E.
Regulation D Qualification. Neither the Company nor, to its actual knowledge, any of its affiliates, members, officers,
directors or beneficial shareholders of 20% or more of its outstanding securities, has experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated
pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
Section
3. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser.
As a material inducement to the Company to enter
into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to
the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Date) that:
A.
Organization and Requisite Authority. The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
B.
Authorization; No Breach.
(i)
This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).
(ii)
The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the
Purchaser do not and shall not as of the Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions
or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon
the Purchaser’s equity or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption
or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to
the Purchaser’s organizational documents in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated
Public Offering, or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, instrument, order,
judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities
laws.
C.
Investment Representations.
(i)
The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Placement Warrants, and, upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, the Shares issuable
upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”) for its own account, and not with a view towards, or for
resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof.
(ii)
The Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from
the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and
accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order
to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities.
(iii)
The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D under the Securities
Act, and the Purchaser has not experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities
Act. The Purchaser did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the
meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
(iv)
The Purchaser has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials
relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by the Purchaser. The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity
to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Company. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities
involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed
investment decision with respect to the acquisition of the Securities.
(v)
The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed
on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the
Purchaser nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
(vi)
The Purchaser understands that: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state
securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold
in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company
nor any other person is under any obligation to register the resale of the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities
laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. While the Purchaser understands that Rule 144 under the Securities
Act is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies)
or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company, the Purchaser understands that Rule 144 includes an exception to this
prohibition if the following conditions are met: (i) the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a
shell company; (ii) the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); (iii) the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material
required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such
reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and (iv) at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current
Form 10 type information with the Securities and Exchange Commission reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.
(vii)
The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated
with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and
risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated
hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies
and will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities. The
Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investments in the Securities.
(viii)
The Purchaser understands that the Private Placement Warrants shall bear the legend substantially in the form set forth in the
Warrant Agreement and be subject to appropriate “stop transfer restrictions.”
Section
4. Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations.
The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and
pay for the Private Placement Warrants are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A.
Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and
correct at and as of the Closing Date as though then made.
B.
Performance. The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in
this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing Date.
C.
No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted,
entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization
having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.
D.
Warrant Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement and the Registration
Rights Agreement, in each case on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser.
Section
5. Conditions of the Company’s Obligations.
The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser
under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A.
Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true
and correct at and as of the Closing Date as though then made.
B.
Performance. The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in
this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before the Closing Date.
C.
Corporate Consents. The Company shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder.
D.
No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted,
entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization
having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.
E.
Warrant Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement.
Section
6. Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time after
[_], 2022 upon the election by either the Company or the Purchaser upon written notice to the other party if the closing of the Public
Offering has not occurred prior to such date.
Section
7. Survival of Representations and Warranties.
All of the representations and warranties contained
herein shall survive the Closing Date.
Section
8. Definitions.
Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement
shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement.
Section
9. Miscellaneous.
A.
Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement
by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether
so expressed or not. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, other
than assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof (including, without limitation, one or more of its members).
B.
Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective
and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such
provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.
C.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the
signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Signatures to
this Agreement transmitted via facsimile or e-mail or other electronic transmission shall be valid and effective to bind the party so
signing.
D.
Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do
not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of
example rather than by limitation.
E.
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all
purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles
that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
F.
Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument
executed by the parties hereto.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed
this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
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COMPANY:
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BANYAN ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name:
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Keith Jaffee
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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PURCHASER:
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BTIG, LLC
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature Page to Private Placement Warrants
Purchase Agreement (BTIG)]