UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 13, 2023

 

Mars Acquisition Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Cayman Islands   001-41619   N/A

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

Americas Tower, 1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY

  10036
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (888) 622-1218

 

Not Applicable

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

 

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

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Units, each consisting of one ordinary share, par value $0.000125, and one right entitling the holder to receive 2/10 of an ordinary share   MARXU   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Ordinary Shares, $0.000125 par value   MARX   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Rights to receive two-tenths (2/10) of one ordinary share   MARXR   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

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

 

Emerging growth company x

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On February 16, 2023, Mars Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) consummated its initial public offering (the “IPO”) of 6,900,000 units (the “Units”), including 900,000 additional Units issued pursuant to the exercise by the underwriter of its over-allotment option in full. Each Unit consists of one ordinary share, par value $0.000125 per share, of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”) and one right to receive two-tenths (2/10) of one Ordinary Share upon the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination (the “Rights”). The Units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit, generating total gross proceeds of $69,000,000.

 

In connection therewith and the closing of the IPO, the Company entered into the following agreements, the forms of which were previously filed as exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-265240) related to the IPO, originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 26, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”) and declared effective by the Commission on February 13, 2023:

 

  An Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between the Company and Maxim Group LLC, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference;

 

  A Rights Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference;
     
  A Letter Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and among the Company, its directors and members of its management team, and Mars Capital Holding Corporation (the “Sponsor”), a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference;
     
  An Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference;

 

  A Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between the Company and the initial shareholders, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated herein by reference;

 

  A Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between the Company and the Sponsor, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO and the sale of the Units, the Company consummated the private placement (the “Private Placement”) of 391,000 Units (the “Placement Units”), each Placement Unit consisting of one Ordinary Share and one Right, to the Sponsor at a price of $10.00 per Placement Unit, generating total proceeds of $3,910,000. The Placement Units (and the underlying securities) are identical to the Units sold in the IPO, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement. No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sale. The issuance of the Placement Units was made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

 

On February 13, 2023, the Company adopted its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association is attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

 

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

A total of $70,380,000 of the net proceeds from the IPO and the Private Placement were placed in a U.S.-based trust account established for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders and maintained by 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 the Company to pay its taxes, if any, the funds in the trust account will not be released until the earliest of (i) the completion of the Company’s initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to (A) modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within twelve months from the closing of the IPO (or up to 18 months from the closing of the IPO if the Company extends the period of time to consummate a business combination) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity and (iii) the redemption of all of the Company’s public shares if the Company is unable to complete its initial business combination within twelve months from the closing of the IPO (or up to 18 months from the closing of the IPO if the Company extends the period of time to consummate a business combination), subject to applicable law.

 

Copies of the press releases issued by the Company announcing the pricing of the IPO and the closing of the IPO are included as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

1.1   Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between the Company and Maxim Group LLC
     
3.1   Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
     
4.1   Rights Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
     
10.1   Letter Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and among the Company, its directors and members of its management, and Mars Capital Holding Corporation
     
10.2   Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
     
10.3   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between the Company and the initial shareholders
     
10.4   Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and between the Company and Mars Capital Holding Corporation
     
99.1   Press Release Announcing Pricing of IPO
     
99.2   Press Release Announcing Closing of IPO

  

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Date: February 17, 2023 Mars Acquisition Corp.
   
  By: /s/ Karl Brenza
  Name: Karl Brenza
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

6,000,000 Units

Mars Acquisition, Corp.

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

February 13, 2023

 

MAXIM GROUP LLC

300 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10022

As Representative of the Underwriters

named on Schedule A hereto

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned, Mars Acquisition, Corp., a company incorporated as a Cayman Islands company ("Company"), hereby confirms its agreement with Maxim Group LLC (hereinafter referred to as "you", "Maxim", or as the "Representative") and with the other underwriters named on Schedule A hereto for which you are acting as representative (the Representative and the other Underwriters being collectively referred to herein as the "Underwriters" or, individually, an "Underwriter"), as follows:

 

1.              Purchase and Sale of Securities.

 

1.1          Firm Securities.

 

1.1.1           Purchase of Firm Units. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell, severally and not jointly, to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of 6,000,000 units (the “Firm Units”) of the Company at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $9.80 per Firm Unit. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Units set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $9.80 per Firm Unit. The Firm Units (and the Option Units (as hereinafter defined), if any) are to be offered initially to the public (the “Offering”) at the offering price of $10.00 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of (i) one ordinary share of the Company, $0.000125 par value per share (each, a “Ordinary Share”) and (ii) one right (“Right(s)”) with each Right entitling the holder thereof to receive two-tenths (2/10) of one Ordinary Share upon consummation of the initial Business Combination (defined below). The Ordinary Shares and Rights included in the Firm Units will not be separately transferable until the 52nd day after the Effective Date (as defined below) or the announcement by the Company of the Representative’s decision to allow earlier trading, subject, however, to the Company filing a Current Report on Form 8-K (“Form 8-K”) with the Commission (as defined below) containing an audited balanced sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the Offering and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. In no event will the Company allow separate trading until (i) the preparation of an audited balance sheet of the Company reflecting receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the filing of such audited balance sheet with the Commission (as herein defined) on a Form 8-K or similar form by the Company which includes such balance sheet and (ii) the issuance of a press release announcing when such separate trading shall begin. Except in cases where the Company is not the surviving company in a Business Combination (as defined below), each holder of a Right will automatically receive two-tenths (2/10) of one Ordinary Share upon consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (as defined below). The Company will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of Rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of Cayman law. In the event the Company will not be the surviving company upon completion of its initial Business Combination (as defined below), each holder of a Right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the two-tenths (2/10) of one Ordinary Share underlying each right upon consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below). If the Company is unable to complete an initial Business Combination (as defined below) within the required time period and the Company redeems the public shares for the funds held in the trust account, holders of Rights will not receive any of such funds for their rights and the rights will expire worthless. As used herein, the term “Business Combination” shall mean any share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, share purchase, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements with, or engaging in any other similar business combination with, one or more operating businesses by the Company. As used herein, the term “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day on which national banks in New York, New York are not open for business.

 

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1.1.2           Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the second (2nd) Business Day following the Effective Date of the Registration Statement (or the third Business Day following the Effective Date, if the Registration Statement is declared effective at or after 4:00 p.m.) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of Maxim or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The closing of the public offering contemplated by this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Closing” and the hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds. $61,200,000 (or $70,380,000 if the Over-allotment Option (as defined in Section 1.2) is exercised in full), or approximately $10.20 per unit, of the proceeds received by the Company for the Firm Units and from the Private Placement (as defined in Section 1.6) shall be deposited in the trust account established by the Company for the benefit of the public shareholders as described in the Registration Statement (the “Trust Account”) pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”). The proceeds (less commissions, expense allowance and actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement) shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package the Firm Units for delivery at least one (1) full Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units.

 

1.2           Over-Allotment Option.

 

1.2.1           Option Units. For the purpose of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units, the Underwriters are hereby granted, severally and not jointly, an option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 units from the Company (the “Over-allotment Option”). Such additional 900,000 units shall be identical in all respects to the Firm Units and are hereinafter referred to as “Option Units.” The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Units,” and the Units, the Ordinary Shares and the Rights included in the Units, and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Rights are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Public Securities.” The purchase price to be paid for the Option Units (net of discounts and commissions) will be $9.80 per Option Unit. The Option Units are to be offered initially to the public at the offering price of $10.00 per Option Unit.

 

1.2.2           Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within 45 days after the Effective Date. The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile or e-mail transmission setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units, which will not be later than five Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the Representative or at such other place or in such other manner as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Option Units does not occur on the Closing Date, the date and time of the closing for such Option Units will be as set forth in the notice (hereinafter the “Option Closing Date”). Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.

 

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1.2.3           Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Option Units shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York time, on the Option Closing Date or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date (or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company) at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds, by deposit of the sum of $9.80 per Option Unit in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The certificates representing the Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative requests not less than one Business Day prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and will be made available to the Representative for inspection, checking and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one full Business Day prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date.

 

1.3          [Intentionally Omitted]

 

1.4          Representative’s Shares. The Company hereby agrees to issue to Maxim Partners LLC and/or its designees 240,000 Ordinary Shares (or 276,000 Ordinary Shares if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full, with proportional increase to the number of shares for partial exercise of the Over-allotment Option) (the “Issuance Shares”) on the Closing Date, or Option Closing Date, as applicable. Maxim Partners LLC has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any such Issuance Shares until the completion of the initial Business Combination. In addition, Maxim Partners LLC has agreed (i) to waive its redemption rights with respect to such shares in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination and (ii) to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such shares if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination within 12 months from the closing of the Offering (or up to 18 months from the closing of this Offering if the Company extends the period of time to consummate an initial Business Combination by the full amount of time). Maxim Partners LLC will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Issuance Shares, or cause the Issuance Shares to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the Issuance Shares by any person, for a period of 180 days (pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of the Conduct Rules of FINRA) following the Effective Date to anyone other than (i) Maxim or an underwriter or selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) any officers, partners, registered persons or affiliates of Maxim or of any such underwriter or selected dealer. On and after the 181st day following the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws.

 

1.5          Delivery and Payment. Delivery of the Issuance Shares shall be made on the Closing Date, or Option Closing Date, as applicable. The Company shall deliver to Maxim and their designees, book-entry confirmations certificates for the Issuance Shares in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as Maxim may request.

 

1.6          Private Placements.

 

1.6.1           Founder Shares. As a result of transactions in May 2021, October 2022 and December 2022, as of the date hereof, Mars Capital Holding Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Sponsor”) and each of the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to the Offering (collectively, the “Initial Shareholders”) hold an aggregate of 1,725,000 shares of ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”). Up to 225,000 of the Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the Underwriters’ over-allotment is not exercised in full. The purchase price of the Founder Shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the Company by the number of Founder Shares issued. As such, the Initial Shareholders will own approximately 19.4% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Offering (assuming the Sponsors do not purchase units in this offering and excluding the private placement shares) or approximately 22.9% (including private placement shares). If the Company increases or decreases the size of the Offering, the Company will effect a capitalization or share surrender or redemption or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable with respect to its ordinary shares immediately prior to the consummation of the Offering in such amount as to maintain the proportional ownership of Founder Shares of the Initial Shareholders, at approximately 19.4% of the Company’s issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of the Offering (excluding the private placement shares) or approximately 22.9% (including private placement shares).

 

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1.6.2           Placement Units. Simultaneously with the consummation of the Offering, the Sponsor shall purchase from the Company pursuant to the Subscription Agreement (as defined in Section 2.25.2 hereof) an aggregate of 355,000 Units (or 391,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “Placement Units”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Placement Unit in a private placement (the “Private Placement”). The Placement Units, the Ordinary Shares and the Rights, included in the Placement Units, and the Ordinary Shares underlying the Rights and issuable upon conversion of the Rights included in the Placement Units are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Placement Securities.” Each Placement Unit shall be identical to the Units, except that the Rights included in the Placement Units shall be non-redeemable by the Company so long as the Rights continue to be held by the initial purchasers of the Rights or their permitted transferees (as described in the Subscription Agreement and the Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.27 hereof)). Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, there will be no placement agent in the Private Placement and no party shall be entitled to a placement fee or expense allowance from the sale of the Placement Securities. The Subscription Agreement shall state that the Sponsors have agreed (i) to waive its redemption rights with respect to the Placement Securities in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination and (ii) to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the Placement Securities if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination.

 

1.6.3           Additional Placement Units. Immediately prior to the Option Closing, the Sponsors shall purchase from the Company pursuant to the Subscription Agreement an additional number of Placement Units (up to a maximum of 36,000 Placement Units) pro rata with the amount of the Over-allotment Option exercised by the Representative so that at least $10.00 per Firm Unit and Option Unit sold to the public in the Offering is held in trust regardless of whether the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full or part (the “Additional Placement Units”), at a purchase price of $10.00 per Additional Placement Unit in a private placement (the “Additional Private Placement”). The Additional Placement Units, the Ordinary Shares and the Rights, included in the Additional Placement Units, and the Ordinary Shares underlying the Rights and issuable upon conversion of the Rights included in the Additional Placement Units are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Additional Placement Securities.” Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, there will be no placement agent in the Additional Private Placement and no party shall be entitled to a placement fee or expense allowance from the sale of the Additional Placement Securities. The Subscription Agreement shall state that the Sponsors have agreed (i) to waive its redemption rights with respect to the Additional Placement Securities in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination and (ii) to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the Additional Placement Securities if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination. The Public Securities, the Founder Shares, the Placement Securities, the Additional Placement Securities are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities.”

 

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

 

2.1          Filing of Registration Statement.

 

2.1.1           Pursuant to the Act. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-265240), including any related preliminary prospectus (the “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 Public Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in conformity in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (the “Regulations”) of the Commission under the Act. The conditions for use of Form S-1 to register the Offering under the Act, as set forth in the General Instructions to such Form, have been satisfied in all material respects. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement,” and the form of the final prospectus dated the Effective Date included in the Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the form of final prospectus containing information permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule 430A of the Regulations filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Time of Sale”, as used in the Act, means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement. 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 the Securities (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Other than a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which, if filed, becomes effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission. All of the Public Securities have been registered under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement or, if any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is filed, will be duly registered under the 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 has determined that at the Time of Sale the Prospectus included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and have agreed to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Firm Units to terminate their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase contracts, the Prospectus will be deemed to include any additional information available to purchasers at the time of entry into the first such new purchase contract.

 

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2.1.2           Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File Number 001-41619 ) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Units, the Ordinary Shares, and the Rights. The registration of the Units, Ordinary Shares, and Rights under the Exchange Act will be declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effective Date.

 

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

 

2.3          Disclosures in Registration Statement.

 

2.3.1           10b-5 Representation. At the time the Registration Statement became effective, upon the filing or first use (within the meaning of the Regulations) of the Prospectus and at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained or 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. Neither the Registration Statement nor any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, nor any amendment or supplement thereto, on their respective dates, did or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading. When any 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) or first used (within the meaning of the Regulations) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first filed with the Commission or first used (within the meaning of the Regulations), such Preliminary Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto complied or will have been corrected in 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty made in this Section 2.3.1 does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. It is understood the following identified statements set forth in the Prospectus under the heading “Underwriting” constitute, for the purposes of this Agreement, information furnished by the Representative with respect to the Underwriters: (i) the names of the Underwriters; (ii) the table of underwriters in the first paragraph of the section captioned “Underwriting”, and (iii) the subsections titled “Regulatory Restrictions on Purchase of Securities,” and “Electronic Distribution” included in the section captioned “Underwriting.”

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2.4          Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2.6          Financial Statements; Statistical Data.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2.8           Valid Issuance of Securities, Etc.

 

2.8.1           Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company (including, without limitation, the Placement Securities and the Additional Placement Securities) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The Public Securities conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. Subject to the disclosure contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus with respect to the Placement Securities and the Additional Placement Securities, the offers and sales of the outstanding Ordinary Shares 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 Ordinary Shares, exempt from such registration requirements.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2.10          Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This Agreement, the Trust Agreement (as defined in Section 2.26 hereof), the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.25.3 hereof), the Subscription Agreement (as defined in Section 2.25.2 hereof), and the Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.27 hereof) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

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

 

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

 

2.13          Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2.17          No Contemplation of a Business Combination. Prior to the date hereof, neither the Company, its officers and directors nor the Initial Shareholders had, and as of the Closing, the Company and such officers and directors and Initial Shareholders will not have had: (i) any specific Business Combination under consideration or contemplation; or (ii) any substantive interactions or discussions with any target business regarding a possible Business Combination.

 

2.18          Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.

 

2.18.1        Except as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or its officers or directors or any Initial Shareholder 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, any of its officers, directors or Initial Shareholders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.

 

2.18.2        The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any FINRA member; or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the twelve (12) months prior to the Effective Date, other than payments to the Representative.

 

2.18.3        No officer, director, or beneficial owner of any class of the Company’s securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) is a member, a person associated, or affiliated with a member of FINRA.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2.18.7        The Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly to anyone who is a potential underwriter in the Offering or a related person (as defined by FINRA rules) of such an underwriter within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement.

 

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

 

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

 

2.18.10    Except with respect to the Representative in connection with the Offering, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, any consulting agreement or any other type of agreement) during the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement, which arrangement or agreement provides for the receipt of any item of value and/or the transfer of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Company to a FINRA member, any person associated with a member (as defined by FINRA rules), any potential underwriters in the Offering and any related persons.

 

2.19          Taxes.

 

2.19.1        There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Delaware law, U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state or any political subdivision thereof, 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.

 

2.19.2        The Company has filed all non-U.S. and U.S. federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be a filed or has requested extensions thereof, except in any case in which the failure to so file would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing in due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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

 

2.21          Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “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 best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

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2.22          Bank Secrecy Act; Patriot Act; OFAC. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer, director or Initial Shareholder has violated: (i) the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended; (ii) the Money Laundering Laws; or (iii) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law. None of the Company, the Sponsors or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, director nominee, officer, agent or affiliate of the Company is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) or any similar sanctions imposed by any other body, governmental or other, to which any of such persons is subject (collectively, “other economic sanctions”); and the Company (either directly or through the Trust Account) will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any sanctions administered by OFAC or other economic sanctions.

 

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

 

2.24          [Intentionally Omitted].

 

2.25          Agreements With Officers, Directors and Initial Shareholders.

 

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

 

2.25.2        Subscription Agreement. The Sponsor has executed and delivered an agreement, annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Subscription Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor, among other things, has purchased an aggregate of up to 355,000 Placement Units in the Private Placement, and an aggregate of up to 36,000 Additional Placement Units should the Representative exercise the Over-allotment Option. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, all of the proceeds from the sale of the Placement Units and Additional Placement Units will be deposited by the Company in the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement prior to the Closing.

 

2.25.3        Registration Rights Agreement. The Company, the Sponsor, the Initial Shareholders and Maxim have entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby the parties will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to their securities, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2.32         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: (i) a customer or supplier of the Company or any Company Affiliate to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate; or (ii) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.

 

2.33         Trading of the Public Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market. As of the Effective Date and the Closing Date, the Public Securities will have been authorized for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market and no proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would effect, and no event or circumstance has occurred as of the Effective Date which is reasonably likely to effect, the listing of the Public Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

2.34         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.

 

2.35         Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains effective “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), to the extent required by such rule.

 

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

 

2.37         Emerging Growth Company. From the time of the initial submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged, directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf, in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the Closing Date, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”). The Company will promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Public Securities within the meaning of the Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement.

 

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

 

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

 

3.2            Federal Securities Laws.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

3.2.4           Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company 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.

 

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, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by any other governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency with jurisdiction over the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

3.7            Affiliated Transactions.

 

3.7.1           Business Combinations. The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity which is affiliated with any of its officers, directors or Initial Shareholders unless the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm regulated by FINRA stating the Business Combination is fair to the Company’s shareholders from a financial perspective.

 

3.7.2           Compensation. Except as set forth in this Section 3.7.2, the Company shall not pay any of its officers, directors or Initial Shareholders or any of their affiliates any fees or compensation from the Company, for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, this Offering or the consummation of a Business Combination; provided that the officers, directors and the Initial Shareholder shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred on the Company’s behalf, which includes any loans and advances made to the Company prior to the Closing.

 

3.7.3           Administrative Services. The Company has entered into an administrative services agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with the Sponsor pursuant to which the Sponsor will make available to the Company general and administrative services including office space, utilities, receptionist and secretarial support for the Company’s use for $10,000 per month for up to eighteen months.

 

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

 

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

 

3.10         Reports to the Representative.

 

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

 

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

 

3.10.3        Trading Reports. If the Public Securities are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or any successor trading market) or a market operated by the OTC Market Group Inc. (or similar publisher of quotations), then during such time the Company shall provide to the Representative, at its expense, such reports published by the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTC Market Group Inc. relating to price trading of the Public Securities, as the Representative shall reasonably request. In addition to the requirements of the preceding sentence, if the Public Securities are not listed on a national securities exchange, for a period of two (2) years from the Closing Date, the Company, at its expense, shall provide Maxim a subscription to the Company’s weekly Depository Transfer Company Security Position Reports.

 

3.11         Disqualification of Form S-1. Until the earlier of seven years from the date hereof or until the Rights have either expired and are no longer convertible or have all been converted, 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 ordinary share issuable upon conversion of the Rights under the Act.

 

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3.12         Payment of Expenses.

 

3.12.1        General Expenses Related to the Offering. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (i) the preparation, printing, filing and mailing (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the final Prospectus 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; (ii) the printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, and the Ordinary Shares, and the Rights included in the Units, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon; (iii) if the public securities are not listed on a national securities exchange, the qualification of the Public Securities under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws, including the costs of printing and mailing the “Preliminary Blue Sky Memorandum,” and all amendments and supplements thereto, fees and disbursements for counsel of Maxim’s choice retained for such purpose; (iv) filing fees incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA (including all Public Offering System filing fees); (v) fees and disbursements of the transfer and rights agent; (vi) the Company’s expenses associated with “road show” marketing “due diligence” meetings arranged by the Representative (none of which will be received or paid on behalf of an underwriter and related person); (vii) the preparation of leather bound volumes and Lucite cube or similar commemorative items in a style as reasonably requested by Maxim; (viii) background checks on the Company’s directors, director nominees and executive officers as requested by the Representative; (ix) transfer taxes, all fees and any expenses and fees incurred by Maxim’s counsel, transfer and rights agent and registrar fees; and (x) all other reasonable costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 3.12.1. The Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth above to be paid by the Company to the Representative and others, as agreed to by the Company in writing; provided, however, that such fees and expenses deducted from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company shall not exceed $100,000 in the aggregate (less any amounts previously paid).

 

3.12.2        Fee on Termination of Offering. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, upon termination of the Offering the Company shall: (A) reimburse the Representative for, or otherwise pay and bear, the expenses and fees to be paid and borne by the Company as provided for in Section 3.12 above, as applicable, and (B) reimburse the Representative for the full amount of its accountable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred to such date (which shall include, but shall not be limited to, all fees and disbursements of the Representative’s counsel, travel, lodging and other “road show” expenses, mailing, printing and reproduction expenses, and any expenses incurred by the Representative in conducting its due diligence, including background checks of the Company’s officers and directors), up to an aggregate amount of $50,000, less the amounts previously paid and any amounts previously paid to the Representative in reimbursement for such expenses. If applicable, and solely in the event of a termination of this Offering, the Representative shall refund to the Company any portion of the Advance previously received by the Representative which is in excess of the accountable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred to such date by the Representative.

 

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

 

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

 

3.15         Notice to FINRA.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

3.18         Accountants. For a period 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 Freed or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Representative.

 

3.19         Form 8-K. The Company shall, on the date hereof, retain its independent public accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company as of the Closing Date (the “Audited Financial Statements”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement, as well as the proceeds from the exercise of the Over-Allotment if such exercise has occurred on the date of the Prospectus. Within four (4) Business Days of the Closing Date, the Company will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Audited Financial Statements.

 

3.20         FINRA. The Company shall advise FINRA if it is aware that any 5% or greater shareholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the distribution of the Company’s Public Securities.

 

3.21         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 of counsel for the Underwriters.

 

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

 

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

 

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3.24          Press Releases. The Company agrees that it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without Maxim’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), for a period of forty five (45) days from the Effective Date.

 

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

 

3.26         Reservation of Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable upon conversion of the Rights, the Placement Securities, and the Additional Placement Securities outstanding from time to time.

 

3.27         Private Placement Proceeds. Immediately upon establishment of the Trust Account and prior to the Closing, the Company shall deposit all of the proceeds from the Private Placement in the Trust Account and shall provide the Representative with evidence of the same.

 

3.28         No Amendment to Memorandum and Articles of Association.

 

(i)             Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, the Company covenants and agrees it will not seek to amend or modify its Memorandum and Articles of Association without the prior approval of its Board of Directors and the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the Ordinary Shares.

 

(ii)             The Company acknowledges that the purchasers of the Units in this Offering shall be deemed to be third party beneficiaries of this Section 3.28.

 

(iii)            The Representative and the Company specifically agree that this Section 3.28 shall not be modified or amended in any way without the approval of at least 65% of the voting power of the Ordinary Shares that were issued in the Offering.

 

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

 

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

 

3.31         Obligations in Connection with Business Combination. If requested by the Representatives:

 

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3.31.1        Prior to entering into any definitive agreement with respect to the Business Combination and until such time as such Business Combination is consummated:

 

a.             The Company will furnish or arrange to have furnished to the Representatives all information concerning the Company, the target business of such proposed Business Combination, any entity that succeeds or will succeed the Company as a public company in connection with the Business Combination, or any direct or indirect parent or subsidiary of any of them (any such issuer or co-issuer, a “Registrant”) and the proposed Business Combination that the Representatives deem appropriate and will provide the Representatives with access to the Company’s officers, directors, employees, affiliates, appraisers, independent accountants, financial advisors, legal counsel and other agents, consultants and advisors (“Registrant Representatives”) and properties of any Registrant as requested by the Representatives. The Company shall take all reasonable steps requested by the Representatives to ensure that each Registrant and each of the Registrant Representatives cooperate fully with all requests by the Representatives for such information and access.

 

b.             The Company agrees to notify the Representatives with respect to, and to permit the Representatives, at their request, to participate in all diligence sessions with any Registrant or its Registrant Representatives and all drafting sessions in respect of any registration statement, preliminary or final prospectus, proxy statement, tender offer document or offering memorandum, including, without limitation, any document incorporated by reference into any of the foregoing, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, related to or in connection with the Business Combination (“Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document”).

 

c.             The Company shall provide drafts of all Business Combination Securities Disclosure Documents to the Representatives and their legal counsel reasonably in advance of the filing of any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document with the Commission or the circulation of any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document to any prospective investor, sufficient to allow the Representatives and their legal counsel a reasonable time to request changes determined by them to be necessary or appropriate to such Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document before its filing or circulation. The Company shall not permit the filing with or furnishing to the Commission of any document (including, without limitation, any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Documents), the issuance of any press release or the publication of any other communication in any form, in each case relating to the issuance of Business Combination Securities, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, delayed or conditioned.

 

3.31.2        Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, in connection with any Business Combination, the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to (i) require counsel to the Company and the Registrant to provide negative assurance letters to the Representatives as of the consummation of the Business Combination in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, (ii) require the accounting firm or firms that have audited any financial statements set forth in any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document to provide “comfort letters” to the Representatives pursuant to AU 634 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as of the effectiveness of any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document that was filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission, and as of the consummation of the Business Combination, and (iii) take any other actions reasonably requested by the Representatives. The Company agrees that it shall be responsible for the payment of all costs associated therewith and shall promptly reimburse the Representatives for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Representatives in connection with the foregoing, including the cost of any counsel retained by the Representatives as they may deem necessary or desirable.

 

3.31.3        In connection with the Business Combination, to the extent the Company retains the services of independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA, an independent accounting firm, or another provider (“the Fairness Opinion Provider”) to prepare a report and provide an opinion (the “Fairness Opinion”) concerning the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Business Combination to the Company and its unaffiliated shareholders based upon, among other things, a financial review of the target business in the Business Combination (“Target Business”) and its business and operations, the Company shall disclose in reasonable detail in a Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document the results of that report and, as necessary or appropriate, a copy of that report. The Company and each Registrant shall provide the Fairness Opinion Provider with all information and access to persons and documents that the Fairness Opinion Provider deems reasonably necessary and appropriate in connection with the preparation of its Fairness Opinion.

 

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3.31.4        In connection with the Business Combination, the Company will engage an investigative search firm to conduct an investigation of the directors and executive officers of the Target Business and shall provide copies of the search reports to the Representatives.

 

3.31.5        Prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, if the Business Combination does not directly or indirectly provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations hereunder and the Company is not and will not be the surviving public company of such Business Combination, the Company shall ensure that each Target Business or other Registrant agrees to execute and deliver to the Representatives a joinder agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives (such satisfaction not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), pursuant to which it shall join this Agreement as a signatory and a party and thus to be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement that pertain to the Company and remain in full force and effect after consummation of the Business Combination. In addition, in connection with the Business Combination, the Company will, and will use all reasonable efforts to cause each Registrant to, comply with the obligations and covenants of the Company set forth in this Agreement that then remain in full force and effect and comply in all material respects with all laws, rules and regulations applicable either to any Registrant and its business activities or to the Business Combination, as such laws, rules and regulations may be in effect at the time of the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

3.31.6        To the extent that the Representatives determine, in their sole judgment, that the Underwriters are required to make any filing with FINRA other than in connection with the Offering (as referred to in Section 3.15) or otherwise to comply with FINRA rules in connection with the Business Combination, the Company shall, upon the reasonable request of the Underwriters accompanied by a reasonable explanation of the applicable requirement(s), provide all necessary cooperation to the Representatives and shall provide or cause to be provided to the Representatives all information that the Representatives deem necessary in order to make any such filings and in order to comply with FINRA rules. The Company shall be responsible for the fees and expenses of the Representatives in connection with such filings, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel in an amount mutually agreed upon by the parties, and all filing fees associated therewith.

 

3.31.7        The Company acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Section 3.31 shall be interpreted to obligate the Underwriters to take any action, or to refrain from taking any action, in connection with the Business Combination and any such actions will be undertaken by each Underwriter, in respect of itself, in its sole discretion and may be governed by a separate, definitive written agreement between such Underwriter and the Company or another Registrant as such parties may mutually agree.

 

3.32         Right of First Refusal. The Company agrees that if the Firm Units are sold in accordance with the terms of this Underwriting Agreement, the Company shall grant Representative the right of first refusal to act as a lead left book -running manager or lead left placement agent, as applicable, with at least 75% of the economics or, in the case of a three-handed deal 50% of the economics, for any and all future private and public equity, equity-linked, convertible and debt offerings of the Company, or any successor to or any subsidiary of the Company. The right of first refusal shall terminate on the twelve (12) month anniversary of the closing of a Business Combination. This right of first refusal shall also encompass the time period leading up to the closing of the Business Combination while the Company is still a Special Purpose Acquisition Company. The Company and any such subsidiary or successor will use its best efforts to offer the Representative the opportunity to purchase or sell any securities in such a proposed financing on terms not more favorable to the Company or any such subsidiary or successor, as the case may be, than it or they can secure elsewhere. If the Representative fails to accept such offer within ten (10) Business Days after the mailing or electronic transmission (which transmission must be acknowledged by the recipient) of a notice containing the material terms of the proposed financing by registered mail, overnight courier service, or via fax or e-mail addressed to the Representative, then the Representative shall have no further claim or right with respect to the financing proposal contained in such notice. If, however, the terms of such financing proposal are subsequently modified in any material respect, the preferential right referred to herein shall apply to such modified proposal as if the original proposal had not been made. The Representative’s failure to exercise its preferential right with respect to any particular proposal shall not affect its preferential rights relative to future proposals.

 

3.33          Tail fee. If, within twelve (12) months following the Closing, the Company completes any financing of equity, equity-linked, convertible or debt securities, or other capital raising activity (other than the exercise by any person or entity of any options, warrants or other convertible securities) with any of the investors contacted by the Representative prior to Closing, then the Company will pay to Maxim 6.0% of the gross proceeds received from such investors upon the closing of such offering.

 

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

 

4.1            Regulatory Matters.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

4.1.5           The Nasdaq Global Market. By the Effective Date, the Securities shall have been approved for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

4.2            Company Counsel Matters.

 

4.2.1           Closing Date Opinion of Counsel. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of VCL Law LLP (“VCL”), U.S. counsel to the Company, and Ogier, Cayman Islands counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and the other Underwriters and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.

 

The opinion of VCL shall further include a statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company and representatives of the Underwriters at which the contents of the Registration Statement, final Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and related matters were discussed and although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, final Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (except as otherwise set forth in such opinion), no facts have come to the attention of such counsel which lead them to believe that either the Registration Statement, final Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the date of such opinion contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a 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 (it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion with respect to the financial statements and related notes and schedules and other financial and statistical data included in the Registration Statement, final Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or matters relating to the sale of securities in any jurisdiction outside the U.S.).

 

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4.2.2           Option Closing Date Opinion of Counsel. On each Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions of VCL and Ogier, dated each Option Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Representative, confirming as of each Option Closing Date, the statements made by VCL and Ogier, as applicable, in its opinion delivered on the Closing Date.

 

4.2.3           Reliance. In rendering such opinions, such counsels may rely: (i) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representative, familiar with the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to the Underwriters’ counsel if requested. The opinions of VCL and Ogier and any opinion relied upon by such 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            Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects (including the nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below) to the Representative from Freed dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any:

 

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

 

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

 

Stating that, on the basis of limited procedures which included a reading of the latest available minutes of the shareholders and board of directors and the various committees of the board of directors, consultations with officers and other employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that: (a) at a date not later than five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any change in the share capital or long-term debt of the Company, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or, if there was any decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease; and (c) during the period from September 30, 2022 (balance sheet date) to a specified date not later than five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any decrease in net earnings or net earnings per Ordinary Share, in each case as compared with Statement of Operations for the period from April 23, 2021 (inception) to September 30, 2022, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease;

 

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

 

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

 

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4.4           Officers’ Certificates.

 

4.4.1           Officers’ Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in Section 4.5 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

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

 

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

 

4.6           Delivery of Agreements.

 

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

 

4.6.2           Closing Date Deliveries. On the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to Maxim book-entry confirmation representing the Issuance Shares.

 

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5.             Indemnification.

 

5.1           Indemnification of Underwriters.

 

5.1.1           General. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and each dealer selected by the Representative that participates in the offer and sale of the Units (each a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter (“Controlling Person”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriters and the Company or between any of the Underwriters and any third party or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other federal, state or local statute, law, rule, regulation or ordinance or at common law or otherwise or under the laws, rules and regulation of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in: (i) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) in any post-effective amendment or amendments or any new registration statement and prospectus in which is included securities of the Company; or (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “Application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Units under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any securities exchange; or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Securities to such person as required by the Act and the Regulations, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under Section 3.4 hereof. The Company agrees to promptly notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or Controlling Persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities or in connection with the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus. For purposes of this Section 3.5, the term Underwriter or Underwriters shall refer to each Underwriter whether acting as an underwriter or as a qualified independent underwriter. The Company agrees to advance, or at the option of the Underwriters or any Controlling Person reimburse, each Underwriter or Controlling Person for all expenses as they are incurred in connection with such person’s enforcement of his, her or its rights under this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

5.3           Contribution.

 

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

 

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

 

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6.             Default by an Underwriter.

 

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

 

6.2           Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Units or Option Units. In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 above relates to more than 10% of the Firm Units or Option Units, the Representative may in its discretion arrange for itself or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Units or Option Units to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If, within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Units or Option Units, the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units or Option Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to the Company and the Representative to purchase said Firm Units or Option Units on such terms. In the event the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of the Firm Units or Option Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.12 and 5 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided, however, that if such default occurs with respect to the Option Units, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Units; and provided further that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other several Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

 

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

 

7.             Additional Covenants.

 

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

 

7.2           Trust Account Waiver Acknowledgments. The Company hereby agrees that it will not commence its due diligence investigation of any operating business or businesses which the Company seeks to acquire (each, a “Target Business”) unless and until such Target Business acknowledges in writing, whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that: (i) it has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $61,200,000 (or $70,380,000 if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) for the benefit of the public shareholders, and that (ii) for and in consideration of the Company agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it, such Target Business agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies of the Trust Account (“Claim”) and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Company further agrees that it will use its best efforts, prior to obtaining the services of any vendor, to obtain a written acknowledgment from such vendor, whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that: (i) such vendor has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $61,200,000 (or $70,380,000 if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) for the benefit of the public shareholders, and that (ii) for and in consideration of the Company agreeing to engage the services of the vendor, such vendor agrees that it does not have any Claim and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The foregoing letters shall substantially be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and Exhibit B, respectively. Furthermore, each officer and director of the Company shall execute a waiver letter in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

Page 27 of 31

 

 

7.3           Insider Letters. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of any of the Insider Letters executed between each of the Company’s officers, directors and Initial Shareholders or the Subscription Agreement and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, such Insider Letters or the Subscription Agreement without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

7.4           Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the Company to be in breach or violation of its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Except as provided in Section 3.28, prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will not amend its Memorandum and Articles of Association, without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

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

 

7.6           Acquisition/Liquidation Procedure. The Company agrees that it will comply with its Memorandum and Articles of Association in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination or the failure to consummate a Business Combination within 12 months from the Effective Date (subject to extension to up to 18 months as described in the Prospectus).

 

7.7           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.

 

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

 

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

 

Page 28 of 31

 

 

9.             Effective Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof.

 

9.1           Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date at the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.

 

9.2           Termination. The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date: (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the Representative’s opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American or the Nasdaq Stock Market shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required on the over the counter markets or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a war or an initiation or increase in major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities markets; or (vi) if 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 malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Units; or (vii) if any of the Company’s representations, warranties or covenants hereunder are breached; or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such material adverse change in general market conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof, as in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Units or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Units.

 

9.3           Expenses. In the event this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, except as a result of the Representative’s or any Underwriters’ breach or default with respect to any of its material obligations pursuant to this Agreement, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the obligations of the Company to pay the out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by the Representative related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 3.12 hereof.

 

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 facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed, or by electronic transmission via PDF, and shall be deemed given when so mailed, delivered or faxed or transmitted (or if mailed, three (3) days after such mailing):

 

If to the Representative:

Maxim Group LLC

300 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn.: Clifford A. Teller, Co-President

James Siegel, General Counsel

Fax: ____________ / ___________

Email: ______________ / ______________

 

Page 29 of 31

 

 

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

Harter Secrest & Emory LLP

1600 Bausch & Lomb Place

Rochester, NY 14604

Attn: C. Christopher Murillo, Esq.

Fax: ______________

Email: ______________

   
If to the Company:

Mars Acquisition Corp.

Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY (10036)

Attn: Karl Brenza

Email: ______________

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

VCL Law LLP

1945 Old Gallows Road, Suite 630

Vienna, VA 22182

Attn: Fang Liu, Esq.

Email: ______________

 

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) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof (and thereof), and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Engagement Agreement, dated March 18, 2021 (“Engagement Agreement”), by and between the Company and Maxim, shall continue to be effective and the terms therein, shall continue to survive and be enforceable by Maxim in accordance with its terms, provided that, in the event of a conflict between the terms of the Engagement Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

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

 

10.6         Governing Law; Venue; Etc.

 

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

 

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

 

Page 30 of 31

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

Page 31 of 31

 

 

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

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  MARS ACQUISITION CORP.
 

 

 

  By: /s/ Karl Brenza
  Name: Karl Brenza
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Agreed to and accepted on the date first above written.  
   
Maxim Group LLC, as Representative of the several Underwriters  

 

 
By: /s/ Clifford Teller  
Name: Clifford Teller  
Title: Co-President  

 

[Signature Page]

Mars Acquisition Corp. – Underwriting Agreement

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

MARS ACQUISITION CORP.

6,000,000 Units

 

 

Underwriter 

Number of Firm

Units

to be purchased

 
Maxim Group LLC   6,000,000 
TOTAL   6,000,000 

 

[Schedule A]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE B

MARS ACQUISITION CORP.

Written Communications

 

None.

 

[Schedule B]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

Form of Target Business Letter

 

Mars Acquisition Corp.

Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Mars Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), dated February 13, 2023 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established a “trust account”, initially in an amount of at least $61,200,000 (or $70,380,000 if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) for the benefit of the “public shareholders” and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for interest earned on the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay any taxes it incurs, proceeds in the trust account will not be released until (a) the consummation of a Business Combination, or (b) the dissolution and liquidation of the Company if it is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the allotted time.

 

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

 

   
  Print Name of Target Business
   
   
  Authorized Signature of Target Business

 

[Exhibit A – Form of Target Business Letter]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

Form of Vendor Letter

 

Mars Acquisition Corp.

Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Mars Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), dated February 13, 2023 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established a “trust account”, initially in an amount of at least $61,200,000 (or $70,380,000 if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) for the benefit of the “public shareholders” and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for interest earned on the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay any taxes it incurs, proceeds in the trust account will not be released until (a) the consummation of a Business Combination, or (b) the dissolution and liquidation of the Company if it is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the allotted time.

 

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

 

   
  Print Name of Vender
   
   
  Authorized Signature of Vendor Letter

 

[Exhibit B – Form of Vendor Letter]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

Form of Director/Officer Letter

 

Mars Acquisition Corp.

Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned officer or director of Mars Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) hereby acknowledges that the Company has established the “trust account”, initially in an amount of at least $61,200,000 (or $70,380,000 if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) for the benefit of the “public shareholders” and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for interest earned on the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay any taxes it incurs, proceeds in the trust account will not be released until (a) the consummation of a Business Combination, or (b) the dissolution and liquidation of the Company if it is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the allotted time.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, such waiver shall not apply to any shares acquired by the undersigned in the public market.

 

   
  Print Name of Officer/Director
   
   
  Authorized Signature of Officer or Director

 

[Exhibit C – Form of Director/Officer Letter]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

Companies Act (revised)

 

Company Limited by Shares

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

OF

 

MARS ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

 

Adopted by special resolution dated 13 FEBRUARY 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BTLG2-5463573-5

 

 

Companies Act (Revised)

 

Company Limited by Shares

 

Amended and Restated

 

Memorandum of Association

 

of

 

Mars Acquisition Corp.

 

Adopted by special resolution on 13 February 2023

 

1The name of the Company is Mars Acquisition Corp..

 

2The Company’s registered office will be situated at the office of Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, KY1-9009, Cayman Islands, or at such other place in the Cayman Islands as the directors may at any time decide.

 

3The Company’s objects are unrestricted. As provided by section 7(4) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law of the Cayman Islands.

 

4The Company has unrestricted corporate capacity. Without limitation to the foregoing, as provided by section 27 (2) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has and is capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit.

 

5Nothing in any of the preceding paragraphs permits the Company to carry on any of the following businesses without being duly licensed, namely:

 

(a)the business of a bank or trust company without being licensed in that behalf under the Banks and Trust Companies Act (Revised); or

 

(b)insurance business from within the Cayman Islands or the business of an insurance manager, agent, sub-agent or broker without being licensed in that behalf under the Insurance Act (Revised);or

 

(c)the business of company management without being licensed in that behalf under the Companies Management Act (Revised).

 

6The Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of its business carried on outside the Cayman Islands. Despite this, the Company may effect and conclude contracts in the Cayman Islands and exercise in the Cayman Islands any of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands.

 

7The Company is a company limited by shares and accordingly the liability of each member is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on that member’s shares.

 

8The share capital of the Company is US$100,000 divided into 800,000,000 ordinary shares of par value US$0.000125 each. Subject to the Companies Act (Revised) and the Company’s articles of association, the Company has power to do any one or more of the following:

 

(a)to redeem or repurchase any of its shares; and

 

BTLG2-5463573-5

 

 

(b)to increase or reduce its capital; and

 

(c)to issue any part of its capital (whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced):

 

(i)with or without any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; or

 

(ii)subject to any limitations or restrictions

 

and unless the condition of issue expressly declares otherwise, every issue of shares (whether declared to be ordinary, preference or otherwise) is subject to this power; or

 

(d)to alter any of those rights, privileges, conditions, limitations or restrictions.

 

9The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

 

BTLG2-5463573-5

 

 

Companies Act (revised)

 

Company Limited by ShareS

 

Amended and Restated

 

articles of Association

 

of

 

Mars Acquisition Corp.

 

Adopted by special resolution on 13 February 2023

 

BTLG2-5463573-5

 

 

CONTENTS

 

1. Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A 1
  Definitions 1
  Interpretation 4
  Exclusion of Table A Articles 5
2. Commencement of Business 5
3. Shares 5
  Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights 5
  Power to issue fractions of a Share 6
  Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees 6
  Trusts not recognised 6
  Power to vary class rights 6
  Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights 7
  No bearer Shares or warrants 7
  Treasury Shares 7
  Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters 8
4. Register of Members 8
5. Share certificates 8
  Issue of share certificates 8
  Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates 8
6. Lien on Shares 9
  Nature and scope of lien 9
  Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien 9
  Authority to execute instrument of transfer 9
  Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien 9
  Application of proceeds of sale 10
7. Calls on Shares and forfeiture 10
  Power to make calls and effect of calls 10
  Time when call made 10
  Liability of joint holders 10
  Interest on unpaid calls 10
  Deemed calls 11
  Power to accept early payment 11
  Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares 11
  Notice of default 11

 

 iBTLG2-5463573-5

 

 

  Forfeiture or surrender of Shares 11
  Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender 11
  Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member 12
  Evidence of forfeiture or surrender 12
  Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares 12
8. Transfer of Shares 12
  Form of transfer 12
  Power to refuse registration 13
  Power to suspend registration 13
  Company may retain instrument of transfer 13
9. Transmission of Shares 13
  Persons entitled on death of a Member 13
  Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy 13
  Indemnity 14
  Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy 14
10. Alteration of capital 14
  Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital 14
  Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares 15
  Reducing share capital 15
11. Redemption and purchase of own Shares 15
  Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares 15
  Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie 16
  Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share 16
12. Meetings of Members 16
  Power to call meetings 16
  Content of notice 17
  Period of notice 18
  Persons entitled to receive notice 18
  Publication of notice on a website 18
  Time a website notice is deemed to be given 18
  Required duration of publication on a website 18
  Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice 19
13. Proceedings at meetings of Members 19
  Quorum 19
  Lack of quorum 19

 

 iiBTLG2-5463573-5

 

 

  Use of technology 19
  Chairman 19
  Right of a director to attend and speak 20
  Adjournment and Postponement 20
  Method of voting 20
  Taking of a poll 20
  Chairman’s casting vote 21
  Amendments to resolutions 21
  Written resolutions 21
  Sole-member company 22
14. Voting rights of Members 22
  Right to vote 22
  Rights of joint holders 22
  Representation of corporate Members 22
  Member with mental disorder 23
  Objections to admissibility of votes 23
  Form of proxy 23
  How and when proxy is to be delivered 24
  Voting by proxy 24
15. Number of directors 24
16. Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors 25
  No age limit 25
  Corporate directors 25
  No shareholding qualification 25
  Appointment and removal of directors 25
  Resignation of directors 26
  Termination of the office of director 26
17. Alternate directors 26
  Appointment and removal 26
  Notices 27
  Rights of alternate director 27
  Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director 28
  Status of alternate director 28
  Status of the director making the appointment 28

 

 iiiBTLG2-5463573-5

 

 

18. Powers of directors 28
  Powers of directors 28
  Appointments to office 28
  Remuneration 29
  Disclosure of information 29
19. Delegation of powers 30
  Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee 30
  Power to appoint an agent of the Company 30
  Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company 30
  Power to appoint a proxy 31
20. Meetings of directors 31
  Regulation of directors’ meetings 31
  Calling meetings 31
  Notice of meetings 31
  Period of notice 31
  Use of technology 31
  Place of meetings 32
  Quorum 32
  Voting 32
  Validity 32
  Recording of dissent 32
  Written resolutions 32
  Sole director’s minute 32
21. Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure 33
  Permissible interests subject to disclosure 33
  Notification of interests 33
  Voting where a director is interested in a matter 33
22. Minutes 34
23. Accounts and audit 34
  No automatic right of inspection 34
  Sending of accounts and reports 34
  Validity despite accidental error in publication on website 34
  Audit 35
24. Financial year 35
25. Record dates 36
26. Dividends 36
  Declaration of dividends by Members 36

 

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  Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors 36
  Apportionment of dividends 37
  Right of set off 37
  Power to pay other than in cash 37
  How payments may be made 37
  Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights 38
  Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed 38
27. Capitalisation of profits 38
  Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve 38
  Applying an amount for the benefit of members 38
28. Share premium account 39
  directors to maintain share premium account 39
  Debits to share premium account 39
29. Seal 39
  Company seal 39
  Duplicate seal 39
  When and how seal is to be used 39
  If no seal is adopted or used 39
  Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal 40
  Validity of execution 40
30. Indemnity 40
  Indemnity 40
  Release 41
  Insurance 41
31. Notices 41
  Form of notices 41
  Electronic communications 41
  Persons authorised to give notices 42
  Delivery of written notices 42
  Joint holders 42
  Signatures 42
  Evidence of transmission 42
  Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member 42
  Date of giving notices 42
  Saving provision 43

 

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32. Authentication of Electronic Records 43
  Application of Articles 43
  Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means 43
  Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means 44
  Manner of signing 44
  Saving provision 44
33. Transfer by way of continuation 45
34. Winding up 45
  Distribution of assets in specie 45
  No obligation to accept liability 45
  The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition 45
35. Amendment of Memorandum and Articles 45
  Power to change name or amend Memorandum 45
  Power to amend these Articles 45
36. Mergers and Consolidations 46
37. Business Combination 46
38. Certain Tax Filings 49
39. Business Opportunities 49

 

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Companies Act (Revised)

 

Company Limited by Shares

 

 

Amended and Restated

 

Articles of Association

 

of

 

Mars Acquisition Corp.

 

Adopted by special resolution on 13 February 2023

 

1.Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A

 

Definitions

 

1.1In these Articles, the following definitions apply:

 

Act means the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands.

 

Affiliate in respect of a person, means any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person, and (a) in the case of a natural person, shall include, without limitation, such person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, whether by blood, marriage or adoption or anyone residing in such person’s home, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, a company, partnership or any natural person or entity wholly or jointly owned by any of the foregoing and (b) in the case of an entity, shall include a partnership, a corporation or any natural person or entity which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity.

 

Applicable Law means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person.

 

Articles means, as appropriate:

 

(a)these Amended and Restated Articles of Association as amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time: or

 

(b)two or more particular Articles of these Articles;

 

and Article refers to a particular Article of these Articles.

 

Audit Committee means the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to Article 23.8 hereof, or any successor audit committee.

 

Auditor means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company.

 

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Business Combination means a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganisation or similar business combination involving the Company, with one or more businesses or entities (each a target business), which Business Combination: (a) must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account); (b) must not be effectuated solely with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations; (c) must not be effectuated with a company that is headquartered in the People's Republic of China (China), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (Hong Kong) or the Macau Special Administrative Region of China (Macau) or conducts a majority of its operations in China, Hong Kong or Macau.

 

Business Day means a day other than a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City, a Saturday or a Sunday.

 

Clear Days, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:

 

(a)the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and

 

(b)the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect.

 

Clearing House means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction.

 

Company means the above-named company.

 

Compensation Committee means the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.

 

Default Rate means 10% (ten per cent) per annum.

 

Designated Stock Exchange means any United States national securities exchange, including the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, the NYSE American LLC or The New York Stock Exchange LLC or any OTC market on which the Shares are listed for trading.

 

Electronic has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).

 

Electronic Record has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).

 

Electronic Signature has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).

 

Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Founders means all Members immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO.

 

Fully Paid and Paid Up:

 

(a)in relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth;

 

(b)in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth.

 

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Independent Director means a director who is an independent director as defined in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange as determined by the directors.

 

Investor Group means the Sponsor and its Affiliates, successors and assigns.

 

IPO means the Company’s initial public offering of securities.

 

IPO Redemption has the meaning given to it in Article 37.6.

 

Islands means the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands.

 

Member means any person or persons entered on the Register of Members from time to time as the holder of a Share.

 

Memorandum means the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company as amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Nominating Committee means the nominating committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.

 

Officer means a person then appointed to hold an office in the Company; and the expression includes a director, alternate director or liquidator.

 

Ordinary Resolution means a resolution of a duly constituted general meeting of the Company passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by, or on behalf of, the Members entitled to vote thereon. The expression also includes a unanimous written resolution.

 

Over-Allotment Option means the option of the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 15% of the firm units (as described at Article 3.4) issued in the IPO at a price equal to US$10.00 per unit, less underwriting discount and commissions.

 

Public Share means a Share issued as part of the units (as described in Article 3.4) issued in the IPO.

 

Redemption Price has the meaning given to it in Article 37.6.

 

Register of Members means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Act and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of Members.

 

Representative means a representative of the Underwriters.

 

SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Secretary means a person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary.

 

Share means a share in the share capital of the Company; and the expression:

 

(a)includes stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); and

 

(b)where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a share.

 

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Special Resolution has the meaning given to that term in the Act; and the expression includes a unanimous written resolution.

 

Sponsor means Mars Capital Holding Corporation, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands.

 

Tax Filing Authorised Person means such person as any director shall designate from time to time, acting severally.

 

Treasury Shares means Shares of the Company held in treasury pursuant to the Act and Article 3.14.

 

Trust Account means the trust account established by the Company upon the consummation of its IPO and into which a certain amount of the net proceeds of the IPO, together with a certain amount of the proceeds of a private placement of units simultaneously with the closing date of the IPO, will be deposited.

 

Underwriter means an underwriter of the IPO from time to time, and any successor underwriter.

 

Interpretation

 

1.2In the interpretation of these Articles, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)A reference in these Articles to a statute is a reference to a statute of the Islands as known by its short title, and includes:

 

(i)any statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment; and

 

(ii)any subordinate legislation or regulations issued under that statute.

 

Without limitation to the preceding sentence, a reference to a revised Act of the Cayman Islands is taken to be a reference to the revision of that Act in force from time to time as amended from time to time.

 

(b)Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity.

 

(c)If a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day.

 

(d)A word which denotes the singular also denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural also denotes the singular, and a reference to any gender also denotes the other genders.

 

(e)A reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, body corporate or government agency.

 

(f)Where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning.

 

(g)All references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located.

 

(h)The words written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form, but do not include an Electronic Record where the distinction between a document in writing and an Electronic Record is expressed or implied.

 

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(i)The words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation.

 

(j)Any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles including the execution of the Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an Electronic Signature.

 

(k)Sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply.

 

(l)The term "holder" in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of such Share.

 

Exclusion of Table A Articles

 

1.3The regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule of the Act and any other regulations contained in any statute or subordinate legislation are expressly excluded and do not apply to the Company.

 

2.Commencement of Business

 

2.1The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation of the Company as the directors see fit.

 

2.2The directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration.

 

3.Shares

 

Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights

 

3.1Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Act the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting), these Articles and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), issue, grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares of the Company to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

 

3.2Without limitation to the preceding Article, the directors may so deal with the unissued Shares of the Company:

 

(a)either at a premium or at par;

 

(b)with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise.

 

3.3The Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company at such times and on such terms and conditions as the directors may decide.

 

3.4The Company may issue units of securities in the Company, which may be comprised of Shares, rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company, on such terms and conditions as the directors may decide. The securities comprising any such units which are issued pursuant to the IPO can only be traded separately from one another on the 52nd day following the date of the prospectus relating to the IPO unless the Representative(s) determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to the Company having filed a current report on Form 8-K containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the IPO with the SEC and a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Prior to such date, the units can be traded, but the securities comprising such units cannot be traded separately from one another.

 

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Power to issue fractions of a Share

 

3.5Subject to the Act, the Company may issue fractions of a Share of any class. A fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a Share of that class of Shares.

 

Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees

 

3.6The Company may, in so far as the Act permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person:

 

(a)subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or

 

(b)procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional

 

for any Shares in the Company. That commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid or partly-paid Shares or partly in one way and partly in another.

 

3.7The Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay him any proper commission or brokerage.

 

Trusts not recognised

 

3.8Except as required by Applicable Law:

 

(a)the Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by these Articles or the Act) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder; and

 

(b)no person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share.

 

Power to vary class rights

 

3.9If the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may only be varied if one of the following applies:

 

(a)the Members holding two thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or

 

(b)the variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class.

 

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3.10For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that:

 

(a)the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and

 

(b)any Member holding issued Shares of the class, present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a corporate Member, by its duly authorised representative, may demand a poll.

 

Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights

 

3.11Unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class.

 

Capital contributions without issue of further Shares

 

3.12With the consent of a Member, the directors may accept a voluntary contribution to the capital of the Company from that Member without issuing Shares in consideration for that contribution. In that event, the contribution shall be dealt with in the following manner:

 

(a)It shall be treated as if it were a share premium.

 

(b)Unless the Member agrees otherwise:

 

(i)if the Member holds Shares in a single class of Shares, it shall be credited to the share premium account for that class of Shares;

 

(ii)if the Member holds Shares of more than one class, it shall be credited rateably to the share premium accounts for those classes of Shares (in the proportion that the sum of the issue prices for each class of Shares that the Member holds bears to the total issue prices for all classes of Shares that the Member holds).

 

(c)It shall be subject to the provisions of the Act and these Articles applicable to share premiums.

 

No bearer Shares or warrants

 

3.13The Company shall not issue Shares or warrants to bearers.

 

Treasury Shares

 

3.14Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Act shall be held as Treasury Shares and not treated as cancelled if:

 

(a)the directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and

 

(b)the relevant provisions of the Memorandum and Articles and the Act are otherwise complied with.

 

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Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters

 

3.15No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share.

 

3.16The Company shall be entered in the Register as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However:

 

(a)the Company shall not be treated as a member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void;

 

(b)a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Act.

 

3.17Nothing in the preceding Article prevents an allotment of Shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares.

 

3.18Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Act and otherwise on such terms and conditions as the directors determine.

 

4.Register of Members

 

4.1The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Act.

 

4.2The directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Act. The directors may also determine which Register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time.

 

5.Share certificates

 

Issue of share certificates

 

5.1Upon being entered in the Register of Members as the holder of a Share, a Member shall be entitled:

 

(a)without payment, to one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and

 

(b)upon payment of such reasonable sum as the directors may determine for every certificate after the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares.

 

5.2Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid or partly paid up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the directors determine.

 

5.3The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.

 

Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates

 

5.4If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to:

 

(a)evidence;

 

(b)indemnity;

 

(c)payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and

 

(d)payment of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate

 

as the directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.

 

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6.Lien on Shares

 

Nature and scope of lien

 

6.1The Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all moneys payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate:

 

(a)either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and

 

(b)whether or not those moneys are presently payable.

 

6.2At any time the directors may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article.

 

Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien

 

6.3The Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met:

 

(a)the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable;

 

(b)the Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and

 

(c)that sum is not paid within 14 Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles.

 

6.4The Shares may be sold in such manner as the directors determine.

 

6.5To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, the directors shall incur no personal liability to the Member concerned in respect of the sale.

 

Authority to execute instrument of transfer

 

6.6To give effect to a sale, the directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The title of the transferee of the Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in respect of the sale.

 

Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien

 

6.7On sale pursuant to the preceding Articles:

 

(a)the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the Register of Members as the holder of those Shares; and

 

(b)that person shall deliver to the Company for cancellation the certificate for those Shares.

 

Despite this, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which, at the date of sale, were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares. That person shall also be liable to pay interest on those monies from the date of sale until payment at the rate at which interest was payable before that sale or, failing that, at the Default Rate. The directors may waive payment wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Shares at the time of sale or for any consideration received on their disposal.

 

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Application of proceeds of sale

 

6.8The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to the person whose Shares have been sold:

 

(a)if no certificate for the Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or

 

(b)if a certificate for the Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation

 

but, in either case, subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Shares before the sale.

 

7.Calls on Shares and forfeiture

 

Power to make calls and effect of calls

 

7.1Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the Members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on his Shares as required by the notice.

 

7.2Before receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in whole or in part.

 

7.3A Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. A person shall not be liable for calls made after such person is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares.

 

Time when call made

 

7.4A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the directors authorising the call was passed.

 

Liability of joint holders

 

7.5Members registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share.

 

Interest on unpaid calls

 

7.6If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid:

 

(a)at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or

 

(b)if no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate.

 

The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.

 

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Deemed calls

 

7.7Any amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise, shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call.

 

Power to accept early payment

 

7.8The Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares held by him although no part of that amount has been called up.

 

Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares

 

7.9Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares.

 

Notice of default

 

7.10If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of:

 

(a)the amount unpaid;

 

(b)any interest which may have accrued;

 

(c)any expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default.

 

7.11The notice shall state the following:

 

(a)the place where payment is to be made; and

 

(b)a warning that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited.

 

Forfeiture or surrender of Shares

 

7.12If the notice under the preceding Article is not complied with, the directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing, the directors may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture.

 

7.13The directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any Fully Paid Share.

 

Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender

 

7.14A forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors determine either to the former Member who held that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit at any time before a sale, re-allotment or other disposition. Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred to any person, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the transferee.

 

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Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member

 

7.15On forfeiture or surrender:

 

(a)the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the Register of Members as the holder of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and

 

(b)that person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited or surrendered Shares.

 

7.16Despite the forfeiture or surrender of his Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all moneys which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with:

 

(a)all expenses; and

 

(b)interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment:

 

(i)at the rate of which interest was payable on those moneys before forfeiture; or

 

(ii)if no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate.

 

The directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.

 

Evidence of forfeiture or surrender

 

7.17A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a director or the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to forfeited Shares:

 

(a)that the person making the declaration is a director or Secretary of the Company, and

 

(b)that the particular Shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date.

 

Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the Shares.

 

Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares

 

7.18Any person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares.

 

8.Transfer of Shares

 

Form of transfer

 

8.1Subject to the following Articles about the transfer of Shares, and provided that such transfer complies with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, a Member may transfer Shares to another person by completing an instrument of transfer in a common form or in a form prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law or in any other form approved by the directors, executed:

 

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(a)where the Shares are Fully Paid, by or on behalf of that Member; and

 

(b)where the Shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that Member and the transferee.

 

8.2The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered into the Register of Members.

 

Power to refuse registration

 

8.3If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options or warrants issued pursuant to Article 3.4 on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such option or warrant.

 

Power to suspend registration

 

8.4The directors may suspend registration of the transfer of Shares at such times and for such periods, not exceeding 30 days in any calendar year, as they determine.

 

Company may retain instrument of transfer

 

8.5The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the directors refuse to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given.

 

9.Transmission of Shares

 

Persons entitled on death of a Member

 

9.1If a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Members’ interest are the following:

 

(a)where the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and

 

(b)where the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives.

 

9.2Nothing in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder.

 

Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy

 

9.3A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member may elect to do either of the following:

 

(a)to become the holder of the Share; or

 

(b)to transfer the Share to another person.

 

9.4That person must produce such evidence of his entitlement as the directors may properly require.

 

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9.5If the person elects to become the holder of the Share, he must give notice to the Company to that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it were an executed instrument of transfer.

 

9.6If the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then:

 

(a)if the Share is Fully Paid, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and

 

(b)if the Share is partly paid, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer.

 

9.7All these Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate, the instrument of transfer.

 

Indemnity

 

9.8A person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall indemnify the Company and the directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the directors as a result of that registration.

 

Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy

 

9.9A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were registered as the holder of the Share. However, until he is registered as Member in respect of the Share, he shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of that class of Shares in the Company.

 

10.Alteration of capital

 

Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital

 

10.1To the fullest extent permitted by the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose:

 

(a)increase its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution;

 

(b)consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares;

 

(c)convert all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares of any denomination;

 

(d)sub-divide its Shares or any of them into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and

 

(e)cancel Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of Shares into which its capital is divided.

 

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Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares

 

10.2Whenever, as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions of a Share the directors may on behalf of those Members:

 

(a)sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company); and

 

(b)distribute the net proceeds in due proportion among those Members.

 

For that purpose, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall the transferee’s title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in respect of the sale.

 

Reducing share capital

 

10.3Subject to the Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any way.

 

11.Redemption and purchase of own Shares

 

Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares

 

11.1Subject to the Act and Article 37, and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may by its directors:

 

(a)issue Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its directors determine before the issue of those Shares;

 

(b)with the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and

 

(c)purchase all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase.

 

The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner authorised by the Act, including out of any combination of the following: capital, its profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares.

 

11.2With respect to redeeming, repurchasing or surrendering of Shares:

 

(a)Members who hold Public Shares are entitled to request the redemption of such Shares in the circumstances described in Article 37.3;

 

(b)Shares held by the Sponsor shall be surrendered by the Sponsor for no consideration to the extent that the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised in full so that such shares will represent 20% of the Company’s issued Shares after the IPO (exclusive of any securities purchased in a private placement simultaneously with the IPO); and

 

(c)Public Shares shall be repurchased by way of Tender Offer in the circumstances set out in Article 37.2(b).

 

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Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie

 

11.3When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised by the terms of the allotment of those Shares, or by the terms applying to those Shares in accordance with Article 11.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares.

 

Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share

 

11.4Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share:

 

(a)the Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive:

 

(i)the price for the Share; and

 

(ii)any dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase;

 

(b)the Member’s name shall be removed from the Register of Members with respect to the Share; and

 

(c)the Share shall be cancelled or held as a Treasury Shares, as the directors may determine.

 

For the purpose of this Article, the date of redemption or purchase is the date when the redemption or purchase falls due.

 

11.5For the avoidance of doubt, redemptions and repurchases of Shares in the circumstances described in Articles 11.2(a), 11.2(b) and 11.2(c) above shall not require further approval of the Members.

 

12.Meetings of Members

 

Power to call meetings

 

12.1To the extent required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, an annual general meeting of the Company shall be held no later than one year after the first financial year end occurring after the IPO, and shall be held in each year thereafter at such time as determined by the directors and the Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Act or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law) be obliged to, in each year hold any other general meeting.

 

12.2The agenda of the annual general meeting shall be set by the directors and shall include the presentation of the Company’s annual accounts and the report of the directors (if any).

 

12.3Annual general meetings shall be held in New York, USA or in such other places as the directors may determine.

 

12.4All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings and the Company shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it.

 

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12.5The directors may call a general meeting at any time.

 

12.6If there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, the directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional directors.

 

12.7The directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles.

 

12.8The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold not less than 10% of the rights to vote at such general meeting.

 

12.9The requisition must also:

 

(a)specify the purpose of the meeting.

 

(b)be signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners.

 

(c)be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions.

 

12.10Should the directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days from the date of receipt of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three months after the end of that period.

 

12.11Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, any one or more Members who together hold at least 40% of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional directors.

 

12.12Members seeking to bring business before the annual general meeting or to nominate candidates for election as directors at the annual general meeting must deliver notice to the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the scheduled date of the annual general meeting.

 

Content of notice

 

12.13Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following:

 

(a)the place, the date and the hour of the meeting;

 

(b)if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting;

 

(c)subject to paragraph (d), the general nature of the business to be transacted; and

 

(d)if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution.

 

12.14In each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements:

 

(a)that a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that Member; and

 

(b)that a proxyholder need not be a Member.

 

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Period of notice

 

12.15At least ten days' notice of a general meeting must be given to Members, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of these Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed:

 

(a)in the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and

 

(b)in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, together holding not less than 95% in par value of the Shares giving that right.

 

Persons entitled to receive notice

 

12.16Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people:

 

(a)the Members;

 

(b)persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member; and

 

(c)the directors.

 

Publication of notice on a website

 

12.17Subject to the Act or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, a notice of a general meeting may be published on a website providing the recipient is given separate notice of:

 

(a)the publication of the notice on the website;

 

(b)the place on the website where the notice may be accessed;

 

(c)how it may be accessed; and

 

(d)the place, date and time of the general meeting.

 

12.18If a Member notifies the Company that he is unable for any reason to access the website, the Company must as soon as practicable give notice of the meeting to that Member by any other means permitted by these Articles. This will not affect when that Member is deemed to have received notice of the meeting.

 

Time a website notice is deemed to be given

 

12.19A website notice is deemed to be given when the Member is given notice of its publication.

 

Required duration of publication on a website

 

12.20Where the notice of meeting is published on a website, it shall continue to be published in the same place on that website from the date of the notification until at least the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates.

 

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Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice

 

12.21Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following:

 

(a)an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or

 

(b)non-receipt of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice.

 

12.22In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website, proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published:

 

(a)in a different place on the website; or

 

(b)for part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates.

 

13.Proceedings at meetings of Members

 

Quorum

 

13.1Save as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or by proxy. One or more Members who together hold not less than one-third of the Shares entitled to vote at such meeting being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy shall be a quorum; provided that a quorum in connection with any meeting that is convened to vote on a Business Combination or any meeting convened with regards to an amendment described in Article 37.9 shall be a majority of the Shares entitled to vote at such meeting being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy.

 

Lack of quorum

 

13.2If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply:

 

(a)If the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled.

 

(b)In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the meeting shall be dissolved.

 

Use of technology

 

13.3A person may participate in a general meeting through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. A person participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

 

Chairman

 

13.4The chairman of a general meeting shall be the chairman of the board or such other director as the directors have nominated to chair board meetings in the absence of the chairman of the board. Absent any such person being present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the directors present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting.

 

13.5If no director is present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no director is willing to act as chairman, the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting.

 

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Right of a director to attend and speak

 

13.6Even if a director is not a Member, he shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of Members holding a particular class of Shares in the Company.

 

Adjournment and Postponement

 

13.7The chairman may at any time adjourn a meeting. The chairman must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however, can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

13.8Should a meeting be adjourned for more than twenty Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment.

 

13.9If, prior to a Business Combination, a notice is issued in respect of a general meeting and the directors, in their absolute discretion, consider that it is impractical or undesirable for any reason to hold that general meeting at the place, the day and the hour specified in the notice calling such general meeting, the directors may postpone the general meeting to another place, day and/or hour provided that notice of the place, the day and the hour of the rearranged general meeting is promptly given to all Members. No business shall be transacted at any postponed meeting other than the business specified in the notice of the original meeting.

 

13.10When a general meeting is postponed for thirty days or more, notice of the postponed meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of a postponed meeting. All proxy forms submitted for the original general meeting shall remain valid for the postponed meeting. The directors may postpone a general meeting which has already been postponed.

 

Method of voting

 

13.11A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll.

 

Taking of a poll

 

13.12A poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately.

 

13.13A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chairman directs, not being more than 30 Clear Days after the poll was demanded.

 

13.14The demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded.

 

13.15A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers in more than place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur.

 

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Chairman’s casting vote

 

13.16If the votes on a resolution are equal, the chairman may if he wishes exercise a casting vote.

 

Amendments to resolutions

 

13.17An Ordinary Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution if:

 

(a)not less than 48 hours before the meeting is to take place (or such later time as the chairman of the meeting may determine), notice of the proposed amendment is given to the Company in writing by a Member entitled to vote at that meeting; and

 

(b)the proposed amendment does not, in the reasonable opinion of the chairman of the meeting, materially alter the scope of the resolution.

 

13.18A Special Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution, if:

 

(a)the chairman of the meeting proposes the amendment at the general meeting at which the resolution is to be proposed, and

 

(b)the amendment does not go beyond what the chairman considers is necessary to correct a grammatical or other non-substantive error in the resolution.

 

13.19If the chairman of the meeting, acting in good faith, wrongly decides that an amendment to a resolution is out of order, the chairman’s error does not invalidate the vote on that resolution.

 

Written resolutions

 

13.20Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met:

 

(a)all Members entitled so to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members;

 

(b)all Members entitled so to vote :

 

(i)sign a document; or

 

(ii)sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and

 

(c)the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose.

 

Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held.

 

13.21If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly.

 

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13.22The directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members. In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting to consider the resolution, how many votes he wishes to cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis as on a poll.

 

Sole-member company

 

13.23If the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing his decision on a question, that record shall constitute both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it.

 

14.Voting rights of Members

 

Right to vote

 

14.1Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Member’s Shares, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares.

 

14.2Members may vote in person or by proxy.

 

14.3Every Member shall have one vote for each Share he holds, unless any Share carries special voting rights.

 

14.4A fraction of a Share shall entitle its holder to an equivalent fraction of one vote.

 

14.5No Member is bound to vote on his Shares or any of them; nor is he bound to vote each of his Shares in the same way.

 

Rights of joint holders

 

14.6If Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the Register of Members shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder.

 

Representation of corporate Members

 

14.7Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative.

 

14.8A corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing.

 

14.9The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company not less than two hours before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used.

 

14.10The directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice.

 

14.11Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member.

 

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14.12A corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.

 

14.13If a clearing house (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the clearing house (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of such Shares held by the clearing house (or its nominee(s)).

 

Member with mental disorder

 

14.14A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in the Islands or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, by that Member’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court.

 

14.15For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable.

 

Objections to admissibility of votes

 

14.16An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

 

Form of proxy

 

14.17An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the directors.

 

14.18The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways:

 

(a)by the Member; or

 

(b)by the Member’s authorised attorney; or

 

(c)if the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised officer, secretary or attorney.

 

If the directors so resolve, the Company may accept an Electronic Record of that instrument delivered in the manner specified below and otherwise satisfying these Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.

 

14.19The directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy.

 

14.20A Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with the Article above about signing proxies; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the proxy before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.

 

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How and when proxy is to be delivered

 

14.21Subject to the following Articles, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in either of the following ways:

 

(a)In the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post:

 

(i)to the registered office of the Company; or

 

(ii)to such other place specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting.

 

(b)If, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified:

 

(i)in the notice convening the meeting; or

 

(ii)in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or

 

(iii)in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting.

 

14.22Where a poll is taken:

 

(a)if it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll;

 

(b)but if it to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be e delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than two hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll.

 

14.23If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid.

 

Voting by proxy

 

14.24A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any resolution a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid.

 

15.Number of directors

 

Unless otherwise determined by Ordinary Resolution, the minimum number of directors shall be one and the maximum shall be ten.

 

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16.Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors

 

No age limit

 

16.1There is no age limit for directors save that they must be aged at least 18 years.

 

Corporate directors

 

16.2Unless prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a director. If a body corporate is a director, these Articles about representation of corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to these Articles about directors’ meetings.

 

No shareholding qualification

 

16.3Unless a shareholding qualification for directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no director shall be required to own Shares as a condition of his appointment.

 

Appointment and removal of directors

 

16.4All directors shall hold office until the next annual general meeting. They shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. A director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.

 

16.5After the closing of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a director or may by Ordinary Resolution remove any director.

 

16.6Without prejudice to the Company’s power to appoint a person to be a director pursuant to these Articles, the directors shall have power at any time to appoint any person who is willing to act as a director, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional director. A director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.

 

16.7Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Articles, in any case where, as a result of death, the Company has no directors and no shareholders, the personal representatives of the last shareholder to have died have the power, by notice in writing to the Company, to appoint a person to be a director. For the purpose of this Article:

 

(a)where two or more shareholders die in circumstances rendering it uncertain who was the last to die, a younger shareholder is deemed to have survived an older shareholder;

 

(b)if the last shareholder died leaving a will which disposes of that shareholder’s shares in the Company (whether by way of specific gift, as part of the residuary estate, or otherwise):

 

(i)the expression personal representatives of the last shareholder means:

 

(A)until a grant of probate in respect of that will has been obtained from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, all of the executors named in that will who are living at the time the power of appointment under this Article is exercised; and

 

(B)after such grant of probate has been obtained, only such of those executors who have proved that will;

 

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(ii)without derogating from section 3(1) of the Succession Act (Revised), the executors named in that will may exercise the power of appointment under this Article without first obtaining a grant of probate.

 

16.8A remaining director may appoint a director even though there is not a quorum of directors.

 

16.9No appointment can cause the number of directors to exceed the maximum; and any such appointment shall be invalid.

 

16.10For so long as Shares are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, the directors shall include at least such number of Independent Directors as Applicable Law or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange require, subject to applicable phase-in rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.

 

Resignation of directors

 

16.11A director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions.

 

16.12Unless the notice specifies a different date, the director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to the Company.

 

Termination of the office of director

 

16.13A director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if:

 

(a)he is prohibited by the law of the Islands from acting as a director; or

 

(b)he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or

 

(c)in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director; or

 

(d)he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise;

 

(e)without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for a continuous period of six months; or

 

(f)all of the other directors (being not less than two in number) determine that he should be removed as a director, either by a resolution passed by all of the other directors at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held in accordance with these Articles or by a resolution in writing signed by all of the other directors.

 

17.Alternate directors

 

Appointment and removal

 

17.1Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to act in his place as an alternate director. No appointment shall take effect until the director has given notice of the appointment to the other directors. Such notice must be given to each other director by either of the following methods:

 

(a)by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions;

 

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(b)if the other director has an email address, by emailing to that address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the recipient in readable form. For the avoidance of doubt, the same email may be sent to the email address of more than one director (and to the email address of the Company pursuant to Article 17.4(c)).

 

17.2Without limitation to the preceding Article, a director may appoint an alternate for a particular meeting by sending an email to his fellow directors informing them that they are to take such email as notice of such appointment for such meeting. Such appointment shall be effective without the need for a signed notice of appointment or the giving of notice to the Company in accordance with Article 17.4.

 

17.3A director may revoke his appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the director has given notice of the revocation to the other directors. Such notice must be given by either of the methods specified in Article 17.1.

 

17.4A notice of appointment or removal of an alternate director must also be given to the Company by any of the following methods:

 

(a)by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions;

 

(b)if the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report from the sender’s fax machine;

 

(c)if the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or

 

(d)if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those provisions in writing.

 

Notices

 

17.5All notices of meetings of directors shall continue to be given to the appointing director and not to the alternate.

 

Rights of alternate director

 

17.6An alternate director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any board meeting or meeting of a committee of the directors at which the appointing director is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of the appointing director in his absence.

 

17.7For the avoidance of doubt:

 

(a)if another director has been appointed an alternate director for one or more directors, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in his own right as a director and in right of each other director for whom he has been appointed an alternate; and

 

(b)if a person other than a director has been appointed an alternate director for more than one director, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in right of each director for whom he has been appointed an alternate.

 

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17.8An alternate director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate director.

 

Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director

 

17.9An alternate director shall cease to be an alternate director if the director who appointed him ceases to be a director.

 

Status of alternate director

 

17.10An alternate director shall carry out all functions of the director who made the appointment.

 

17.11Save where otherwise expressed, an alternate director shall be treated as a director under these Articles.

 

17.12An alternate director is not the agent of the director appointing him.

 

17.13An alternate director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate director.

 

Status of the director making the appointment

 

17.14A director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which he owes the Company.

 

18.Powers of directors

 

Powers of directors

 

18.1Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Memorandum and these Articles, the business of the Company shall be managed by the directors who may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company.

 

18.2No prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the extent allowed by the Act, following the consummation of the IPO Members may by Special Resolution validate any prior or future act of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties.

 

Appointments to office

 

18.3The directors may appoint a director:

 

(a)as chairman of the board of directors;

 

(b)as vice-chairman of the board of directors;

 

(c)as managing director;

 

(d)to any other executive office

 

for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit.

 

18.4The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office.

 

18.5Where a chairman is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of directors.

 

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18.6If there is no chairman, or if the chairman is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chairman; or the directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chairman should he ever not be available.

 

18.7Subject to the provisions of the Act, the directors may also appoint any person, who need not be a director:

 

(a)as Secretary; and

 

(b)to any office that may be required (including, for the avoidance of doubt, one or more chief executive officers, presidents, a chief financial officer, a treasurer, vice-presidents, one or more assistant vice-presidents, one or more assistant treasurers and one or more assistant secretaries),

 

for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit. In the case of an Officer, that Officer may be given any title the directors decide.

 

18.8The Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office.

 

18.9A director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not hold the office, or perform the services, of Auditor.

 

Remuneration

 

18.10The remuneration to be paid to the directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the directors shall determine, provided that no cash remuneration shall be paid to any director prior to the consummation of a Business Combination. The directors shall also, whether prior to or after the consummation of a Business Combination, be entitled to be paid all out of pocket expenses properly incurred by them in connection with activities on behalf of the Company, including identifying and consummating a Business Combination.

 

18.11Remuneration may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or sickness benefits, whether to the director or to any other person connected to or related to him.

 

18.12Unless his fellow directors determine otherwise, a director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings.

 

Disclosure of information

 

18.13The directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs of the Company, including any information contained in the Register of Members relating to a Member, (and they may authorise any director, Officer or other authorised agent of the Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information in his possession) if:

 

(a)the Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the Company is subject; or

 

(b)such disclosure is in compliance with the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Company’s shares are listed; or

 

(c)such disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or

 

(d)the directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations.

 

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19.Delegation of powers

 

Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee

 

19.1The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be Members (including, without limitation, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee). Persons on the committee may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons are directors.

 

19.2The delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the directors’ own powers.

 

19.3The delegation may be on such terms as the directors think fit, including provision for the committee itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being revoked or altered by the directors at will.

 

19.4Unless otherwise permitted by the directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by directors.

 

19.5The directors may adopt formal written charters for committees and, if so adopted, shall review and assess the adequacy of such formal written charters on an annual basis. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in the Articles and shall have such powers as the directors may delegate pursuant to the Articles and as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee, if established, shall consist of such number of directors as the directors shall from time to time determine (or such minimum number as may be required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law). For so long as any class of Shares is listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law.

 

Power to appoint an agent of the Company

 

19.6The directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The directors may make that appointment:

 

(a)by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or

 

(b)in any other manner they determine.

 

Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company

 

19.7The directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be the attorney or the authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be:

 

(a)for any purpose;

 

(b)with the powers, authorities and discretions;

 

(c)for the period; and

 

(d)subject to such conditions

 

as they think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the directors under these Articles. The directors may do so by power of attorney or any other manner they think fit.

 

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19.8Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person.

 

Power to appoint a proxy

 

19.9Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to represent him at any meeting of the directors. If a director appoints a proxy, then for all purposes the presence or vote of the proxy shall be deemed to be that of the appointing director.

 

19.10Articles 17.1 to 17.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of alternate directors) apply, mutatis mutandis, to the appointment of proxies by directors.

 

19.11A proxy is an agent of the director appointing him and is not an Officer.

 

20.Meetings of directors

 

Regulation of directors’ meetings

 

20.1Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit.

 

Calling meetings

 

20.2Any director may call a meeting of directors at any time. The Secretary, if any, must call a meeting of the directors if requested to do so by a director.

 

Notice of meetings

 

20.3Every director shall be given notice of a meeting, although a director may waive retrospectively the requirement to be given notice. Notice may be oral. Attendance at a meeting without written objection shall be deemed to be a waiver of such notice requirement.

 

Period of notice

 

20.4At least five Clear Days’ notice of a meeting of directors must be given to directors. A meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of all directors.

 

Use of technology

 

20.5A director may participate in a meeting of directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting.

 

20.6A director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

 

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Place of meetings

 

20.7If all the directors participating in a meeting are not in the same place, they may decide that the meeting is to be treated as taking place wherever any of them is.

 

Quorum

 

20.8The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of directors shall be two unless the directors fix some other number or unless the Company has only one director.

 

Voting

 

20.9A question which arises at a board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chairman may, if he wishes, exercise a casting vote.

 

Validity

 

20.10Anything done at a meeting of directors is unaffected by the fact that it is later discovered that any person was not properly appointed, or had ceased to be a director, or was otherwise not entitled to vote.

 

Recording of dissent

 

20.11A director present at a meeting of directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action taken at that meeting unless:

 

(a)his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or

 

(b)he has filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or

 

(c)he has forwarded to the Company as soon as practical following the conclusion of that meeting signed dissent.

 

A director who votes in favour of an action is not entitled to record his dissent to it.

 

Written resolutions

 

20.12The directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all directors sign a document or sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those directors.

 

20.13Despite the foregoing, a resolution in writing signed by a validly appointed alternate director or by a validly appointed proxy need not also be signed by the appointing director. If a written resolution is signed personally by the appointing director, it need not also be signed by his alternate or proxy.

 

20.14Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last director signs.

 

Sole director’s minute

 

20.15Where a sole director signs a minute recording his decision on a question, that record shall constitute the passing of a resolution in those terms.

 

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21.Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure

 

Permissible interests subject to disclosure

 

21.1Save as expressly permitted by these Articles or as set out below, a director may not have a direct or indirect interest or duty which conflicts or may possibly conflict with the interests of the Company.

 

21.2If, notwithstanding the prohibition in the preceding Article, a director discloses to his fellow directors the nature and extent of any material interest or duty in accordance with the next Article, he may:

 

(a)be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is or may otherwise be interested; or

 

(b)be interested in another body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested. In particular, the director may be a director, secretary or officer of, or employed by, or be a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, that other body corporate.

 

21.3Such disclosure may be made at a meeting of the board or otherwise (and, if otherwise, it must be made in writing). The director must disclose the nature and extent of his direct or indirect interest in or duty in relation to a transaction or arrangement or series of transactions or arrangements with the Company or in which the Company has any material interest.

 

21.4If a director has made disclosure in accordance with the preceding Article, then he shall not, by reason only of his office, be accountable to the Company for any benefit that he derives from any such transaction or arrangement or from any such office or employment or from any interest in any such body corporate, and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit.

 

Notification of interests

 

21.5For the purposes of the preceding Articles:

 

(a)a general notice that a director gives to the other directors that he is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that he has an interest in or duty in relation to any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified; and

 

(b)an interest of which a director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of his.

 

Voting where a director is interested in a matter

 

21.6A director may vote at a meeting of directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which that director has an interest or duty, whether directly or indirectly, so long as that director discloses any material interest pursuant to these Articles. The director shall be counted towards a quorum of those present at the meeting. If the director votes on the resolution, his vote shall be counted.

 

21.7Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment of two or more directors to offices or employment with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, the proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each director separately and each of the directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution except that concerning his or her own appointment.

 

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22.Minutes

 

The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose in accordance with the Act.

 

23.Accounts and audit

 

Accounting and other records

 

23.1The directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

 

No automatic right of inspection

 

23.2Members are only entitled to inspect the Company’s records if they are expressly entitled to do so by law, or by resolution made by the directors or passed by Ordinary Resolution.

 

Sending of accounts and reports

 

23.3The Company’s accounts and associated directors’ report or auditor’s report that are required or permitted to be sent to any person pursuant to any law shall be treated as properly sent to that person if:

 

(a)they are sent to that person in accordance with the notice provisions: or

 

(b)they are published on a website providing that person is given separate notice of:

 

(i)the fact that publication of the documents has been published on the website;

 

(ii)the address of the website; and

 

(iii)the place on the website where the documents may be accessed; and

 

(iv)how they may be accessed.

 

23.4If, for any reason, a person notifies the Company that he is unable to access the website, the Company must, as soon as practicable, send the documents to that person by any other means permitted by these Articles. This, however, will not affect when that person is taken to have received the documents under the next Article.

 

Time of receipt if documents are published on a website

 

23.5Documents sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding two Articles are only treated as sent at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be laid if:

 

(a)the documents are published on the website throughout a period beginning at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting and ending with the conclusion of the meeting; and

 

(b)the person is given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the hearing.

 

Validity despite accidental error in publication on website

 

23.6If, for the purpose of a meeting, documents are sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding Articles, the proceedings at that meeting are not invalidated merely because:

 

(a)those documents are, by accident, published in a different place on the website to the place notified; or

 

(b)they are published for part only of the period from the date of notification until the conclusion of that meeting.

 

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Audit

 

23.7The directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the directors determine.

 

23.8Without prejudice to the freedom of the directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the Designated Stock Exchange, the directors shall establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy of the formal written charter on an annual basis. The composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Designated Stock Exchange. The Audit Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate.

 

23.9If the Shares are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit Committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest.

 

23.10The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists).

 

23.11If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his services are required, the directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor.

 

23.12Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor.

 

23.13Auditors shall, if so required by the directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the directors or any general meeting of the Members.

 

24.14Any payment made to members of the Audit Committee (if one exists) shall require the review and approval of the directors, with any director interested in such payment abstaining from such review and approval.

 

24.15The Audit Committee shall monitor compliance with the terms of the IPO and, if any non-compliance is identified, the Audit Committee shall be charged with the responsibility to take all action necessary to rectify such non-compliance or otherwise cause compliance with the terms of the IPO.

 

24.Financial year

 

Unless the directors otherwise specify, the financial year end of the Company shall be 30 September in each year.

 

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25.Record dates

 

Except to the extent of any conflicting rights attached to Shares, the directors may fix any time and date as the record date for:

 

(a)calling a general meeting;

 

(b)declaring or paying a dividend;

 

(c)making or issuing an allotment of Shares; or

 

(d)conducting any other business required pursuant to these Articles.

 

The record date may be before or after the date on which a dividend, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made.

 

26.Dividends

 

Declaration of dividends by Members

 

26.1Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors.

 

Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors

 

26.2The directors may pay interim dividends or declare final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid.

 

26.3Subject to the provisions of the Act, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies:

 

(a)Upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made.

 

(b)Upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately following the declaration, the due date to be the date the dividend is stated to be payable in the resolution.

 

If the resolution fails to specify whether a dividend is final or interim, it shall be assumed to be interim.

 

26.4In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies:

 

(a)If the share capital is divided into different classes, the directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non- preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears.

 

(b)The directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment.

 

(c)If the directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights.

 

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Apportionment of dividends

 

26.5Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount paid up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. If a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly.

 

Right of set off

 

26.6The directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share.

 

Power to pay other than in cash

 

26.7If the directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following:

 

(a)issue fractional Shares;

 

(b)fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Members; and

 

(c)vest some assets in trustees.

 

How payments may be made

 

26.8A dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways:

 

(a)if the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose - by wire transfer to that bank account; or

 

(b)by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share.

 

26.9For the purpose of paragraph (a) of the preceding Article, the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, subject to any Applicable Law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company.

 

26.10If two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows:

 

(a)to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the Register of Members or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or

 

(b)to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record.

 

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26.11Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share.

 

Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights

 

26.12Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest.

 

Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed

 

26.13If a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was declared or both, the directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member.

 

26.14A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company.

 

27.Capitalisation of profits

 

Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve

 

27.1The directors may resolve to capitalise:

 

(a)any part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or

 

(b)any sum standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any.

 

The amount resolved to be capitalised must be appropriated to the Members who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions. The benefit to each Member so entitled must be given in either or both of the following ways:

 

(a)by paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares;

 

(b)by issuing Fully Paid Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or as that Member directs. The directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in respect of partly paid Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain partly paid.

 

Applying an amount for the benefit of members

 

27.2The amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which the Members would have been entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend.

 

27.3Subject to the Act, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture, or other security is allocated to a Member, the directors may issue a fractional certificate to that Member or pay him the cash equivalent of the fraction.

 

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28.Share premium account

 

directors to maintain share premium account

 

28.1The directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Act. They shall carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Act.

 

Debits to share premium account

 

28.2The following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account:

 

(a)on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price; and

 

(b)any other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Act.

 

28.3Notwithstanding the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the directors may pay the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or, as permitted by the Act, out of capital.

 

29.Seal

 

Company seal

 

29.1The Company may have a seal if the directors so determine.

 

Duplicate seal

 

29.2Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may also have a duplicate seal or seals for use in any place or places outside the Islands. Each duplicate seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company. However, if the directors so determine, a duplicate seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used.

 

When and how seal is to be used

 

29.3A seal may only be used by the authority of the directors. Unless the directors otherwise determine, a document to which a seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways:

 

(a)by a director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or

 

(b)by a single director (or his alternate).

 

If no seal is adopted or used

 

29.4If the directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner:

 

(a)by a director (or his alternate) or any Officer to which authority has been delegated by resolution duly adopted by the directors; or

 

(b)by a single director (or his alternate); or

 

(c)in any other manner permitted by the Act.

 

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Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal

 

29.5The directors may determine that either or both of the following applies:

 

(a)that the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction;

 

(b)that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature.

 

Validity of execution

 

29.6If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company.

 

30.Indemnity

 

Indemnity

 

30.1To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former Secretary, director (including alternate director), and other Officer of the Company (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against:

 

(a)all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former Secretary, director or Officer in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former Secretary’s, director's or Officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and

 

(b)without limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former Secretary, director or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Islands or elsewhere.

 

Such indemnity only applies if the directors are of the view that, in the absence of fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect, such existing or former Secretary, director or Officer acted honestly and in good faith with a view to what the person believes is in the best interests of the Company and, in the case of criminal proceedings, such person had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful. No such existing or former Secretary, director or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own actual fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect.

 

30.2To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former Secretary, director or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter identified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of the preceding Article on condition that the Secretary, director or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Secretary, director or that Officer for those legal costs.

 

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Release

 

30.3To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or other Officer of the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities or discretions of his office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of or in connection with that person’s own actual fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect.

 

Insurance

 

30.4To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in respect of a contract insuring each of the following persons against risks determined by the directors, other than liability arising out of that person’s own dishonesty:

 

(a)an existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of:

 

(i)the Company;

 

(ii)a company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company;

 

(iii)a company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and

 

(b)a trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or was interested.

 

31.Notices

 

Form of notices

 

31.1Save where these Articles provide otherwise, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be:

 

(a)in writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or

 

(b)subject to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic Signature and authenticated in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or

 

(c)where these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website.

 

Electronic communications

 

31.2Without limitation to Articles 17.1 to 17.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment and removal by directors of alternate directors) and to Articles 19.8to 19.10 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of proxies), a notice may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if:

 

(a)the directors so resolve;

 

(b)the resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an email address for the Company; and

 

(c)the terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable, to those directors who were absent from the meeting at which the resolution was passed.

 

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If the resolution is revoked or varied, the revocation or variation shall only become effective when its terms have been similarly notified.

 

31.3A notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the recipient has notified the giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent.

 

Persons authorised to give notices

 

31.4A notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf of the Company or a Member by a director or company secretary of the Company or a Member.

 

Delivery of written notices

 

31.5Save where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the recipient, or left at (as appropriate) the Member’s or director’s registered address or the Company’s registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office.

 

Joint holders

 

31.6Where Members are joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to the Member whose name first appears in the Register of Members.

 

Signatures

 

31.7A written notice shall be signed when it is autographed by or on behalf of the giver, or is marked in such a way as to indicate its execution or adoption by the giver.

 

31.8An Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature.

 

Evidence of transmission

 

31.9A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver.

 

31.10A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient.

 

Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member

 

31.11A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled.

 

31.12Until such an address has been supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred.

 

Date of giving notices

 

31.13A notice is given on the date identified in the following table.

 

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Method for giving notices When taken to be given
Personally At the time and date of delivery
By leaving it at the member’s registered address At the time and date it was left
If the recipient has an address within the Islands, by posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal address of that recipient 48 hours after it was posted
If the recipient has an address outside the Islands, by posting it by prepaid airmail to the street or postal address of that recipient 3 Clear Days after posting
By Electronic Record (other than publication on a website), to recipient’s Electronic address Within 24 hours after it was sent
By publication on a website See these Articles about the time when notice of a meeting of Members or accounts and reports, as the case may be, are published on a website

 

Saving provision

 

31.14None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from these Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of directors and written resolutions of Members.

 

32.Authentication of Electronic Records

 

Application of Articles

 

32.1Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 32.2 or Article 32.4 applies.

 

Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means

 

32.2An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:

 

(a)the Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and

 

(b)the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Member to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and

 

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(c)Article 32.7 does not apply.

 

32.3For example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 32.7 applies.

 

Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means

 

32.4An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:

 

(a)the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; and

 

(b)the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and

 

(c)Article 32.7 does not apply.

 

This Article applies whether the document is sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or Officer in his own right or as a representative of the Company.

 

32.5For example, where a sole director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that director unless Article 32.7 applies.

 

Manner of signing

 

32.6For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles.

 

Saving provision

 

32.7A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably:

 

(a)believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; or

 

(b)believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or

 

(c)otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document

 

and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.

 

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33.Transfer by way of continuation

 

33.1The Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside:

 

(a)the Islands; or

 

(b)such other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing.

 

33.2To give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the directors may cause the following:

 

(a)an application be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Islands or in the other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and

 

(b)all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company.

 

34.Winding up

 

Distribution of assets in specie

 

34.1If the Company is wound up, the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Act, pass a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:

 

(a)to divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members;

 

(b)to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those liable to contribute to the winding up.

 

No obligation to accept liability

 

34.2No Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them.

 

The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition

 

34.3The directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting.

 

35.Amendment of Memorandum and Articles

 

Power to change name or amend Memorandum

 

35.1Subject to the Act, the Company may, by Special Resolution:

 

(a)change its name; or

 

(b)change the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter specified in the Memorandum.

 

Power to amend these Articles

 

35.2Subject to the Act and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend these Articles in whole or in part.

 

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36.Mergers and Consolidations

 

The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more constituent companies (as defined in the Act) upon such terms as the directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Act) with the approval of a Special Resolution.

 

37.Business Combination

 

37.1Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, this Article 37 shall apply during the period commencing upon the adoption of these Articles and terminating upon the first to occur of the consummation of any Business Combination and the distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to Article 37.10. In the event of a conflict between this Article 37 and any other Articles, the provisions of this Article 37 shall prevail and this Article may not be amended prior to the consummation of a Business Combination without a Special Resolution.

 

37.2Prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, the Company shall either:

 

(a)submit such Business Combination to its Members for approval; or

 

(b)provide Members with the opportunity to have their Shares repurchased by means of a tender offer (a Tender Offer) for a per-Share repurchase 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 such Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, if any, divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue, provided that the Company shall not repurchase Public Shares in an amount that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets (after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions) to be less than US$5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon the consummation of the Business Combination or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to the Business Combination.

 

37.3If the Company initiates any Tender Offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act in connection with a proposed Business Combination, it shall file Tender Offer documents with the SEC prior to completing such Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about such Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act.

 

37.4If, alternatively, the Company holds a general meeting to approve a proposed Business Combination, the Company will conduct any redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, and not pursuant to the Tender Offer rules, and file proxy materials with the SEC.

 

37.5At a general meeting called for the purposes of approving a Business Combination pursuant to this Article, in the event that such Business Combination is approved by Ordinary Resolution, the Company shall be authorised to consummate such Business Combination.

 

37.6Any Member holding Public Shares who is not a Founder, Officer or director may, contemporaneously with any vote on a Business Combination, elect to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash (the IPO Redemption), provided that no such Member acting together with any Affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a partnership, syndicate, or other group for the purposes of acquiring, holding, or disposing of Shares may exercise this redemption right with respect to more than 15% of the Public Shares without the Company’s prior consent, and provided further that any holder that holds Public Shares beneficially through a nominee must identify itself to the Company in connection with any redemption election in order to validly redeem such Public Shares. In connection with any vote held to approve a proposed Business Combination, holders of Public Shares seeking to exercise their redemption rights will be required to either tender their certificates (if any) to the Company’s transfer agent or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, in each case up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve a Business Combination. If so demanded, the Company shall pay any such redeeming Member, regardless of whether he is voting for or against such proposed Business Combination or abstains from voting, a per-Share redemption 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 a Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, if any, divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue (such redemption price being referred to herein as the Redemption Price), provided that the Company shall not repurchase Public Shares in an amount that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon the consummation of a Business Combination or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to a Business Combination.

 

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37.7The Redemption Price shall be paid promptly following the consummation of the relevant Business Combination. If the proposed Business Combination is not approved or completed for any reason then such redemptions shall be cancelled and share certificates (if any) returned to the relevant Members as appropriate.

 

37.8The Company has until 12 months from the closing of the IPO to consummate a Business Combination, provided however that if the Board of Directors anticipates that the Company may not be able to consummate a Business Combination within 12 months from the closing of the IPO, the Company may, by Resolution of Directors, at the request of the Sponsor, extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination up to two times, each by an additional three months (for a total of up to 18 months to complete a Business Combination), subject to the Sponsor depositing additional funds into the Trust Account upon five days advice notice prior to the applicable deadline in accordance with terms as set out in the Trust Agreement and referred to in the Registration Statement. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination by 12 months from the closing of the IPO (or 18 months from the closing of the IPO (subject in the latter case to valid three months extensions having been made in each case) or such later time as the Members of the Company may approve in accordance with these Articles, the Company shall:

 

(a)cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up;

 

(b)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 income taxes, if any (less up to US$50,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of the Public Shares then in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public Members’ rights as Members (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and

 

(c)as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining Members and the directors, liquidate and dissolve,

 

subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of Applicable Law. If the Company shall wind up for any other reason prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, follow the foregoing procedures set out in this Article 37.8 with respect to the liquidation of the Trust Account, subject to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of Applicable Law.

 

37.9In the event that any amendment is made to these Articles:

 

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(a)that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of Public Shares the right to:

 

(i)have their shares redeemed or repurchased in connection with a Business Combination pursuant to Articles 37.2(b) or 37.6; or

 

(ii)redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 12 months from the closing of the IPO (or 18 months from the closing of the IPO pursuant to Article 37.8 (subject in the latter case to valid three months extensions having been made in each case); or

 

(b)with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of Public Shares or pre-initial business combination activity,

 

each holder of Public Shares who is not a Founder, Officer or director shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval of any such amendment (an Amendment Redemption) 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 income taxes, if any, divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue.

 

37.10Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay income taxes, if any, none of the funds held in the Trust Account shall be released from the Trust Account:

 

(a)to the Company, until completion of any Business Combination; or

 

(b)to the Members holding Public Shares, until the earliest of:

 

(i)a repurchase of Shares by means of a Tender Offer pursuant to Article 37.2(b);

 

(ii)an IPO Redemption pursuant to Article 37.6;

 

(iii)a distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to Article 37.8; or

 

(iv)an Amendment Redemption pursuant to Article 37.9.

 

In no other circumstance shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account.

 

37.11After the issue of Public Shares (including pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option), and prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the directors shall not issue additional Shares or any other securities that would entitle the holders thereof to:

 

(a)receive funds from the Trust Account; or

 

(b)vote as a class with the Public Shares:

 

(i)on a Business Combination or on any other proposal presented to Members prior to or in connection with the completion of a Business Combination; or

 

(ii)to approve an amendment to these Articles to:

 

(A)extend the time the Company has to consummate a Business Combination beyond 12 months from the closing of the IPO or 18 months from the closing of the IPO pursuant to Article 37.8 (subject in the latter case to valid three months extensions having been made in each case); or

 

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(B)amend the foregoing provisions of these Articles.

 

37.12The Company must complete one or more Business Combinations, which must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account). An initial Business Combination must: (a) not be effectuated solely with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations; and (b) not be effectuated with a company that is headquartered in China, Hong Kong or Macau or conducts a majority of its operations in China, Hong Kong or Macau.

 

37.13The uninterested Independent Directors shall approve any transaction or transactions between the Company and any of the following parties:

 

(a)any Member owning an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives such Member a significant influence over the Company; and

 

(b)any director or Officer of the Company and any Affiliate or relative of such director or Officer.

 

37.14A director may vote in respect of any Business Combination in which such director has a conflict of interest with respect to the evaluation of such Business Combination. Such director must disclose such interest or conflict to the other directors.

 

37.15The Company may enter into a Business Combination with a target business that is Affiliated with the Sponsor, a Founder, the directors of the Company or Officers. In the event the Company seeks to complete the Business Combination with a target that is Affiliated with the Sponsor, a Founder, Officers or directors, the Company, or a committee of Independent Directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, which is a member of United States Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or another independent valuation accounting firm that such a Business Combination or transaction is fair to the Company from a financial point of view.

 

37.16Any Business Combination must be approved by a majority of the Independent Directors.

 

38.Certain Tax Filings

 

38.1Each Tax Filing Authorised Person and any such other person, acting alone, as any director shall designate from time to time, are authorised to file tax forms SS-4, W-8 BEN, W-8 IMY, W-9, 8832 and 2553 and such other similar tax forms as are customary to file with any US state or federal governmental authorities or foreign governmental authorities in connection with the formation, activities and/or elections of the Company and such other tax forms as may be approved from time to time by any director of the Company or an Officer. The Company further ratifies and approves any such filing made by any Tax Filing Authorised Person or such other person prior to the date of these Articles.

 

39.Business Opportunities

 

39.1In recognition and anticipation of the facts that: (a) directors, managers, officers, members, partners, managing members, employees and/or agents of one or more members of the Investor Group (each of the foregoing, an “Investor Group Related Person”) may serve as directors of the Company and/or Officers; and (b) the Investor Group engages, and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions under this heading “Business Opportunities” are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Company as they may involve the Members and the Investor Group Related Persons, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Company and its Officers, directors and Members in connection therewith.

 

  49BTLG2-5463573-5

 

 

39.2To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the directors and officers of the Company shall have no duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, and subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Applicable Law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity offered to any director and officer of the Company, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other, unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such director or officer of the Company solely in their capacity as an Officer or director of the Company and the opportunity is one the Company is permitted to complete on a reasonable basis.

 

39.3Except as provided elsewhere in these Articles, the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and the Investor Group, about which a director of the Company and/or Officer who is also an Investor Group Related Person acquires knowledge.

 

39.4To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past.

 

  50BTLG2-5463573-5

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of February 13, 2023 between Mars Acquisition Corporation., a Cayman Islands exempted company, with offices at Americas Tower, 1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100, New York, NY 10036 (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, with offices at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004 (the “Right Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company has received a firm commitment from Maxim Group LLC (“Representative”), as representative of the several underwriters, to purchase up to an aggregate of 6,000,000 units, each unit (“Unit”) comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $.000125 (the “Ordinary Shares”), and one right to receive two-tenth of one Ordinary Share (a “Public Right”) upon the happening of the triggering event described herein, and in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 1,380,000 Public Rights upon consummation of such public offering, 180,000 of which are attributable to the over-allotment option (“Public Offering”);

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering, the Company will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 355,000 rights underlying private units (or 391,000 rights if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “Private Rights” and, together with the Public Rights, the “Rights”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-265240 (“Registration Statement”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”) of, among other securities, the Public Rights and the Ordinary Shares issuable to the holders of the Public Rights;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2. Rights.

 

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

  

 

 

 

 

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

 

  2.3. Registration.

 

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

 

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

 

  2.4. Detachability of Rights. The securities comprising the Units, including the Rights, will not be separately transferable until the ninetieth (52nd ) day after the date hereof unless Representative informs the Company and the Right Agent of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, but in no event will separate trading of the securities comprising the Units begin until (i) the Company files a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date hereof, and (ii) the Company issues a press release and files a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin.

 

3. Terms and Exchange of Rights.

 

  3.1. Rights. Each Right shall entitle the holder thereof to receive two-tenth of one Ordinary Share upon the happening of the Exchange Event (described below). No additional consideration shall be paid by a holder of Rights in order to receive his, her or its Ordinary Shares upon the Exchange Event as the purchase price for such Ordinary Shares has been included in the purchase price for the Units. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights or issue fractional Ordinary Shares. The provisions of this Section 3.1 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of Representative.

 

  3.2. Exchange Event. The Exchange Event shall be the Company’s consummation of an initial Business Combination (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association).

 

  3.3. Exchange of Rights.

  

  3.3.1. Issuance of Certificates. As soon as practicable upon the occurrence of the Exchange Event, the Company shall direct holders of the Rights to return their Rights Certificates to the Right Agent. If the Company is not the surviving entity in a Business Combination, the holder of Rights must affirmatively elect to such conversion. Upon receipt of a valid Rights Certificate, the Right Agent shall issue to the registered holder of such Right(s) a certificate or certificates for the number of full Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights. The Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exchange of Rights. At the time of the Exchange Event, the Company will instruct the Right Agent to round up to the nearest whole Ordinary Share or otherwise inform it how fractional shares will be addressed in accordance with Cayman Islands law.

 

 

 

  

  3.3.2. Valid Issuance. All Ordinary Shares issued upon an Exchange Event in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

  3.3.3. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any such certificate for Ordinary Shares is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date of the Exchange Event, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate.

 

  3.3.4. Company Not Surviving Following Exchange Event. If the Exchange Event results in the Company not continuing as a publicly held reporting entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of Rights to receive the same per share consideration as the holders of the Ordinary Shares will receive in with the Exchange Event, for the number of shares such holder is entitled to pursuant to Section 3.1 above.

 

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

 

4. Transfer and Exchange of Rights.

 

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

 

  4.2. Procedure for Surrender of Rights. Rights may be surrendered to the Right Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Right Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Rights as requested by the registered holder of the Rights so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Rights; provided, however, that in the event that a Right surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Right Agent shall not cancel such Right and issue new Rights in exchange therefor until the Right Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Rights must also bear a restrictive legend.

 

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

 

  4.4. Service Charges. There shall be a reasonable service charge paid to the Right Agent for any exchange or registration of transfer of Rights.

  

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

  5.1. No Rights as Shareholder. Until exchange of a Right for Ordinary Shares as provided for herein, a Right does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder 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 shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter. 

 

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

 

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

 

6. Concerning the Right Agent and Other Matters.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

  

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

 

  6.3. Fees and Expenses of Right Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

  6.4. Liability of Right Agent.

 

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

 

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

  

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

7. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

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

 

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

 

Mars Acquisition Corporation

Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

Attn: Karl Brenza

 

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

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Attn: George Dalton

 

and

 

VCL Law LLP 

1945 Old Gallows Road, Suite 630

Vienna, VA 22182 

Attn:   Fang Liu, Esq.

 

and

 

Maxim Group LLC

405 Lexington Avenue 

New York, New York 10174 

Attn: Justin Rabinowitz  

 

and

 

Harter Secrest & Emery LLP

1600 Bausch & Lomb Place

Rochester, NY 14604 

Attn:   Christopher Murillo, Esq.

 

 

 

 

  7.3. Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Rights shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company 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 7.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim.

 

  7.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the registered holders of the Rights and, for the purposes of Sections 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof, Representative, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. Representative shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 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 Representative with respect to Sections 3.1, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof) and their successors and assigns and of the registered holders of the Rights.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

[Signature Page Follows]

  

 

 

 

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

 

   MARS ACQUISITION CORP.   
                       
   By:  /s/ Karl Brenza     
      Name: Karl Brenza 
      Title: Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer 
        
   CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY     
        
   By:   /s/ Leicia Savinetti
      Name: Leicia Savinetti
      Title: Vice President and Account Administrator

 

[Signature page to Rights Agreement between Mars Acquisition Corporation and

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company]

  

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

Form of Right

  

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

February 13, 2023

 

Mars Acquisition Corp.

Americas Tower, 1177 Avenue of The Americas

Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

(888) 622-1218

 

Re: Initial Public Offering

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into by and among Mars Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands company limited by shares (the “Company”), Maxim Group LLC, as representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters (each, an “Underwriter” and collectively, the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”) of 6,000,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 900,000 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Units”), each comprised of one of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $0.000125 per share (“Ordinary Shares”) and one right. Each right (each, a “Right”) entitles the holder thereof to receive two-tenths (2/10) of one ordinary share upon consummation of our initial business combination. 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”) and the Company shall apply to have the Units listed on The Nasdaq Global Market. 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, Mars Capital Holding Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company limited by shares (the “Sponsor”), and each of the undersigned individuals, each of whom is a member of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) and/or management team (each, an “Insider” and collectively, the “Insiders”), hereby agrees, jointly and severally, with the Company as follows:

 

1. The Sponsor and each Insider agrees with the Company that if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any shares of Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her in favor of the proposed Business Combination (including any proposals recommended by the Board in connection with such Business Combination) and (ii) not redeem any Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her in connection with such shareholder approval. If the Company engages in a tender offer in connection with any proposed Business Combination, the Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she will not seek to sell its, his or her shares of Ordinary Shares to the Company in connection with such tender offer. Any such payments would be made in the form of a non-interest bearing loan.

 

2. (a) In the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within fifteen (12) months, the Sponsor may extend the time period by which the Company must consummate a Business Combination by an additional three (3) months up to two times for a total of 18 months. If the Sponsor elects to extend, for each 3-month extension the Sponsor will deposit into the Trust Account an amount equal to 1% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, representing $0.10 for each share of Ordinary Shares sold in the Public Offering on or prior to the date of the deadline. Such payment would be in the form of a non-interest-bearing loan. Pursuant to this Letter Agreement, the Sponsor has agreed to waive its right to be repaid for such loan in the event that the Company fails to complete a Business Combination.

 

 

 

 

(b)  The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the timeframe set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as it may be amended from time to time (the “M&A”), and Section 2(a) herein, the Sponsor and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares 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 (as defined below), including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes (less up to $50,000 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), subject to applicable law; and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Company’s obligations under Cayman law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.

 

The Sponsor and each Insider agrees not to propose any amendment to the M&A to modify: (i) the substance or timing of the ability of holders of Offering Shares to seek redemption in connection with a Business Combination or amendments to the M&A prior thereto; or (ii) (A) the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within such time set forth in the M&A; or (B) any other provisions relating to stockholders' rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, unless the Company provides its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Ordinary 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 the Company to pay its taxes, 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, him or her. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby further waives, with respect to any shares of Ordinary Shares held by it, him or her, if any, whether acquired now or hereafter, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination or amendments to the M&A prior thereto, including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of a stockholder vote to approve such Business Combination or a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the M&A to modify: (i) (A) the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the M&A; or (B) any other provisions relating to stockholders' rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity; or (ii) in the context of a tender offer made by the Company to purchase shares of Ordinary Shares (although the Sponsor, the Insiders and their respective affiliates shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the M&A).

 

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, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Representative, Transfer any Ordinary Shares or any Units, Founder Shares, Rights or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Ordinary Shares or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction. 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 shall 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. Any such release or waiver granted shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (i) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer of securities without 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 upon the failure of the Company to consummate its Initial Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s M&A, the Sponsor (which for purposes of clarification shall not extend to any other shareholders, 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 accountants) 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 for a Business Combination (a “Target”); provided, however, with respect to claims described in (i) and (ii) above, 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 public accountants) or products sold to the Company or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.00 per Offering Share or (ii) such lesser amount per Offering Share held in 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 earned on the property in the Trust Account which may be withdrawn to pay taxes. Such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party (including a Target) who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. 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. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Company’s officers or directors will indemnify the Company for claims by third parties, including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective Targets.

 

5. To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 Units in full within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees to forfeit, at no cost, a number of Founder Shares in the aggregate equal to 225,000 multiplied by a fraction: (i) the numerator of which is 900,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option; and (ii) the denominator of which is 900,000. The Sponsor will be required to forfeit only that number of Founder Shares as is necessary so that the Founder Shares will equal 20.0% of the sum of the Founder Shares, plus the Offering Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, no other shares of Shares, including the Representative Shares, shall impact the calculation of the number of Founder Shares to be forfeited pursuant to this section.

 

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 an 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 injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.

 

7. (a) The Sponsor and each Insider agree that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Founder Shares until the earlier of (A) six months after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 60 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”).

 

(b) The Sponsor and each Insider agree that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Private Placement Units (or Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Units) until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination (the “Private Placement Units 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 Units and Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Units or the Founder Shares and that are held by the Sponsor, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 7(c)), are permitted (a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any members of the Sponsor, or any affiliates of the Sponsor; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family, to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, 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) to a nominee or custodian holding securities on behalf of a beneficial owner to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (a) through (e) above; (g) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of an initial Business Combination; or (h) by virtue of the laws of the British Virgin Islands or the Sponsor’s corporate agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) and (h), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the restrictions in this Agreement.

 

8. The Sponsor and each Insider represent and warrant that it, he or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to the Insider’s background. The Sponsor’s and each Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company, if any, is true and accurate in all respects. The Sponsor and each Insider represents and warrants that: it, he or she is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; it, he or she has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it, he or she is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.

 

9. Except as disclosed in or 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 a Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is).

 

10. The Sponsor and each Insider have 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, road show and any other materials as an officer and/or a director of the Company, as applicable.

 

11. As used herein, (i) “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Shares” shall mean, collectively, the Ordinary Shares and the Founder Shares; (iii) “Founder Shares” shall mean the 1,725,000 shares of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $0.000125 per share, (which shall be reduced to 1,500,000 shares if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the Underwriters) initially held by the Sponsor; (iv) “Initial Shareholders” shall mean the Sponsor and any other holder of Founder Shares immediately prior to the Public Offering; (v) “Private Placement Units” shall mean 355,000 Units (or 391,000 Units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) that the Sponsor has agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of $3,550,000 (or $3,900,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, or $10.00 per Unit, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering; (vi) “Public Shareholders” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (vii) “Representative Shares” shall mean the 240,000 shares of Ordinary Shares (or 276,000 shares of Ordinary Shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) that will be issued to the Representative or its designees as compensation in connection with the Public Offering ; (viii) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units shall be deposited; and (ix) “Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the 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).

 

 

 

 

12. This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the Company, the Sponsor and each Insider that is the subject of any such change, amendment, modification or waiver.

 

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

 

14. Except as provided for in paragraph 6, nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or entity other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof. Except as provided for in paragraph 6, 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 representative and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

15. 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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

19. 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 December 31, 2022; provided further that paragraph 4 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation.

 

21. The Company, the Sponsor, and each Insider hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters is a third-party beneficiary of this Letter Agreement.

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

  Sincerely,
   
  MARS CAPITAL HOLDING CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Shanchun Huang
  Name: Shanchun Huang
  Title: Director
     
  By: /s/ Karl Brenza
  Name: Karl Brenza
     
     
  By: /s/ Shanchun Huang
  Name: Shanchun Huang
     
  By: /s/ Xiaochen Zhao
  Name: Xiaochen Zhao
     
  By: /s/ Xin He
  Name:

Xin He

 

  By:  /s/ Yenyou Zheng
  Name:  Yenyou Zheng
 

 

 

 
  By: /s/ James Jenkins
  Name: James Jenkins
 

 

 

 
  By: /s/ Yang Liu
  Name: Yang Liu

  

Acknowledged and Agreed:

 

 

 

 

 
MARS ACQUISITION CORP.
   
By: /s/ Karl Brenza  
  Name: Karl Brenza
  Title: CEO and CFO

 

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of February 13, 2023 by and between Mars Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (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. 333-265240 (“Registration Statement”) and prospectus (“Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (“Units”), each of which consists of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.000125 per share (“Ordinary Share”), and one right to receive two-tenth of one Ordinary Share (each, a “Right”) (such initial public offering referred to as the “IPO”) has been declared effective as of the date hereof (“Effective Date”) by the Securities and Exchange Commission (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Registration Statement);

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (“Underwriting Agreement”) with Maxim Group LLC as the representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters (“Underwriters”) named therein;

 

WHEREAS, if a business combination (“Business Combination”) is not consummated within the initial 12 month period following the closing of the IPO, the Company’s insiders may extend such period two times by an additional three-months each time, up to a maximum of 18 months in the aggregate, by depositing $600,000 (or $690,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) into Trust Account (as defined below) on or prior to the applicable deadline. In exchange the sponsor or its affiliates or designees will receive non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory notes equal to the amount of any such deposit;

 

WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (“Articles of Association”), $60,000,000 ($69,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) of the proceeds from the IPO and a simultaneous private placement of Units 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 Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the IPO as hereinafter provided (the proceeds to be delivered to the Trustee and any interest subsequently earned thereon will be referred to herein as the “Property”; the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Shareholders,” and the Public Shareholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”);

 

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

 

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

 

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

 

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

 

(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, either (i) 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 (the “Investment Company Act”), having a maturity of 185 days or less, and/or in any open ended investment company registered under the Investment Company Act that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraph (d) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations or (ii)  place the Property in a cash demand deposit account; it being understood that unless the Company instructs the Trustee to do either of the foregoing, the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder and, while funds are invested or uninvested, the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration during such periods;

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company in connection with the Company’s preparation of its tax returns 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 after receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (“Termination Letter”), in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company and, in the case of a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, jointly acknowledged and agreed to by the Representative, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein; provided, however, that in the event that a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee within the period of time (the “Last Date”) provided in the Company’s Articles of Association, the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B hereto and distributed to the Public Shareholders as of the Last Date; and

 

(j) Upon receipt of a letter (an “Amendment Notification Letter”) in the form of Exhibit C, signed on behalf of the Company by an authorized officer, distribute to Public Shareholders who exercised their redemption rights in connection with an amendment to Article 44 of the Company’s Articles of Association (an “Amendment”) an amount equal to the pro rata share of the Property relating to the Ordinary Shares for which such Public Shareholders have exercised redemption rights in connection with such Amendment.

 

2. Limited Distributions of Income from Trust Account.

 

(a) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D, the Trustee shall distribute to the Company the amount of interest income earned on the Trust Account requested by the Company to cover any tax obligation owed by the Company or liquidation expenses not to exceed $50,000.

 

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

 

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

 

(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by any one of the Company’s authorized officers. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on such written instructions from the Company confirmed by telephone instruction from a person which the Trustee in good faith believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions;

 

 

 

 

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any claim, potential claim, action, suit, or other proceeding brought against the Trustee which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any income earned from investment of the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, 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 paragraph, 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 consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;

 

(c) Pay the Trustee an initial acceptance fee, an annual fee, and a transaction processing fee for each disbursement made pursuant to Section 2(a) as set forth on Schedule A hereto, which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees and further agreed that any fees owed to the Trustee shall be deducted by the Trustee pursuant to Section 1(i) solely in connection with the consummation of a business combination (a “Business Combination”). The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and first year’s fee at the consummation of the IPO and thereafter on the anniversary of the Effective Date;

 

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

 

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

 

(f) If the Company has an Amendment approved by its shareholders, provide the Trustee with an Amendment Notification Letter in the form of Exhibit C providing instructions for the distribution of funds to Public Shareholders who exercise their redemption rights in connection with such Amendment;

 

(g) Provide the Representative with a copy of any Termination Letter, Amendment Notification Letter, and/or any other correspondence that it issues to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after such issuance; and

 

(h) Expressly provide in any Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A) delivered in connection with a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A that the Business Combination Fee be paid directly to the account or accounts directed by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f) The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment (provided, that with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i)1(j), and 2(a) above, the Trustee shall take no action except as set forth in written instructions from the Company, confirmed by telephone, in accordance with Section 3(a)), except for its gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion, or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report, or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which is believed by the Trustee, in good faith, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons (provided, that with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i)1(j), and 2(a) above, the Trustee shall take no action except as set forth in written instructions from the Company, confirmed by telephone, in accordance with Section 3(a)). The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination, or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;

 

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

 

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

 

(i) Pay any taxes on behalf of the Trust Account (it being expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay any such taxes and that such taxes, if any, shall be paid by the Company from funds not held in the Trust Account or released to it under Section 2(a) hereof);

 

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

 

(k) Verify calculations, qualify, or otherwise approve Company requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i)1(j), and 2(a) above.

 

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

 

6. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:

 

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

 

 

 

 

(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account 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 3(b) and Section 5.

 

7. Miscellaneous.

 

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

 

(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. The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder. As to any claim, cross-claim, or counterclaim in any way relating to this Agreement, each party waives the right to trial by jury.

 

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

 

(d) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Sections 1(i) and 1(j) (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of a majority of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Shareholder who has otherwise indicated his, her or its election to redeem his, her or its Ordinary Shares in connection with a vote sought to amend this Agreement), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that no such change, amendment or modification may be made without the prior written consent of the Representative. The Trustee may require from Company counsel an opinion as to the propriety of any proposed amendment.

 

(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, by email or by facsimile transmission:

 

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

Email: cgonzalez@continentalstock.com

 

 

 

 

if to the Company, to:

 

Mars Acquisition Corp.

Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas

Suite 5100, New York, NY, 10036

Attn: Karl Brenza, Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: kbrenza@verizon.net

 

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

 

Maxim Group LLC

300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Justin Rabinowitz

Email: jrabinowitz@maximgrp.com

 

and

 

VCL Law LLP

1945 Old Gallows Road, Suite 630

Attn: Fang Liu, Esq.

E-mail: fliu@vcllegal.com

 

and

 

Harter Secrest & Emery LLP

1600 Bausch & Lomb Place

Rochester, NY 14604

Attn: Christopher Murillo, Esq.

Email: cmurillo@hselaw.com

 

(f) This Agreement may not be assigned by the Trustee without the prior consent of the Company.

 

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

 

(h) This Agreement is the joint product of the 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.

 

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

 

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

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

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

 

  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
       
  By:  /s/ Francis Wolf
    Name: Francis Wolf
    Title: Vice President
       
  MARS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
       
  By:  /s/ Karl Brenza
    Name: Karl Brenza
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

  

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Fee Item   Time and method of payment   Amount  
Initial acceptance fee   Initial closing of IPO by wire transfer   $    3,500.00  
Annual fee   First year, initial closing of IPO by wire transfer; thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the IPO by wire transfer or check   $   10,000.00  
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Section 2   Billed to Company following disbursement made to Company under Section 2   $   250.00  
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to section 1(i) and 1(j)   Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to section 1(i) and 1(j)      Prevailing rates  

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer

 

& Trust Company

 

1 State Street, 30th floor

 

New York, New York 10004

 

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Mars Acquisition Corporation (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of _______, 2022 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [__________________] to consummate a business combination (“Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least 48 hours in advance of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (“Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

  

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate the Trust Account investments and to transfer the proceeds to the 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 Company shall direct on the Consummation Date (including as directed to it by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters (with respect to the Business Combination Fee)). It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust account 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 and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) [an affidavit] [a certificate] by the Chief Executive Officer, which verifies the vote of the Company’s shareholders in connection with the Business Combination if a vote is held and (b) joint written instructions from the Company and the Representative with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of the Business Combination Fee from the Trust Account (“Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the counsel's letter and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms hereof, 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 you of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in the notice.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  MARS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
     
  By:  
    Name:  Karl Brenza
    Title:    Chief Executive Officer

 

AGREED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY

 

Maxim Group LLC  
     
By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  
     

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Mars Acquisition Corporation (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of _______, 2022 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a Business Combination with a Target Company within the time frame specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as described in the Company’s prospectus relating to its IPO. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate the Trust Account and to transfer the total proceeds of the Trust to the Trust Operating Account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A to await distribution to the Public Shareholders. The Company has selected [____________, 20__] as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. It is acknowledged that while the funds are on deposit in the Trust Operating Account awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, to distribute said funds directly to the Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  MARS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
     
  By:  
    Name:  Karl Brenza
    Title:    Chief Executive Officer

 

cc: Maxim Group LLC

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

 

1 State Street, 30th floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account Amendment Notification Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Reference is made to the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Mars Acquisition Corporation (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of ________, 2022 (“Trust Agreement”). Capitalized words used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust Agreement.

 

Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Trust Agreement, this is to advise you that the Company has sought an Amendment. Accordingly, in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate a sufficient portion of the Trust Account and to transfer $____ of the total proceeds of the Trust to the Trust Operating Account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A to await distribution to the Public Shareholders that have requested conversion of their shares in connection with such Amendment. The remaining funds shall be reinvested by you as previously instructed.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  MARS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
     
  By:  
    Name:   Karl Brenza
    Title:     Chief Executive Officer

 

cc: Maxim Group LLC

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

 

1 State Street, 30th floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Mars Acquisition Corporation (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of _________, 2022 (“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. The Company needs such funds to pay for its [income or other tax obligations][dissolution and liquidation expenses, which expenses will not exceed $50,000].

 

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]

 

  MARS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
     
  By:  
    Name:  Karl Brenza
    Title:    Chief Executive Officer

 

cc: Maxim Group LLC

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of February 13, 2023, by and among Mars Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and the undersigned parties listed under Investors on the signature page hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).

 

WHEREAS, the Investors and the Company desire to enter into this Agreement to provide the Investors with certain rights relating to the registration of the securities held by them as of the date hereof or that may be held by them upon consummation of a Business Combination (defined below);

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:

 

Agreement” means this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Business Combination” means the acquisition of direct or indirect ownership through a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar type of transaction, of one or more businesses or entities.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

Company” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Demand Registration” is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

Demanding Holder” is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

Form S-3” is defined in Section 2.3.

 

Founder Shares” means the 1,725,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.000125 per share, issued to the Company’s initial shareholders prior to the Company’s initial public offering, which include up to an aggregate of 225,000 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture by our initial shareholders to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full.

 

Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.3.

 

Indemnifying Party” is defined in Section 4.3.

 

Investor” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Investor Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.1.

 

Maximum Number of Shares” is defined in Section 2.1.4.

 

Notices” is defined in Section 6.3.

 

 

 

 

Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, par value $0.000125 per share, of the Company.

 

Piggy-Back Registration” is defined in Section 2.2.1.

 

Private Units” means the Units certain of the Investors are privately purchasing simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering.

 

Private Shares” means the Ordinary Shares included in the Private Units.

 

Private Rights” means the rights included in the Private Units.

 

Pro Rata” is defined in Section 2.1.4.

 

Register,” “Registered” and “Registration” 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.

 

Registrable Securities” means (i) the Founder Shares, (ii) the Private Shares, (iii) the Private Rights (and underlying securities), (iv) the Working Capital Units (and underlying securities), if any, (v) the Representative’s Shares, and (vi) any outstanding Ordinary Shares or any other equity security (including the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by an Investor as of the date of this Agreement. Registrable Securities include any warrants, rights, shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of such Founder Shares, Private Shares, Private Rights (and underlying securities), Representative’s Shares, and Working Capital Units (and underlying securities). 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 in accordance with such Registration Statement; (b) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company, and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (c) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, or (d) the Registrable Securities are freely saleable under Rule 144 under the Securities Act without volume limitations.

 

Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity).

 

Representative” means Maxim Group LLC.

 

Representative’s Shares” means 240,000 Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Representative pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

Underwriter” means 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.

 

Underwriting Agreement” means the underwriting agreement by and between the Company and the Representative dated February 13, 2023.

 

 

 

 

Units” means the units of the Company, each comprised of one Ordinary Share and one right to receive two-tenth of one Ordinary Share.

 

Working Capital Units” means any Units held by Investors, officers or directors of the Company or their affiliates which may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to the Company.

 

2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

 

2.1 Demand Registration.

 

2.1.1 Request for Registration. At any time and from time to time on or after the date that the Company consummates a Business Combination, the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Founder Shares, Private Shares, Private Rights (or underlying securities), Working Capital Units (or underlying securities), the Representative’s Shares, or other Registrable Securities, as the case may be, held by the Investors, officers or directors of the Company or their affiliates, or the transferees of the Investors may make a written demand for registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Founder Shares, Private Shares, Private Rights (or underlying securities), the Representative’s Shares, Working Capital Units (or underlying securities) or other Registrable Securities, as the case may be (a “Demand Registration”). Any demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Company will, within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify all holders of Registrable Securities of the demand, and each holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such holder including shares of Registrable Securities in such registration, a “Demanding Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within three (3) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice from the Company. Upon any such request, the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.1.4 and the provisos set forth in Section 3.1.1. The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of two (2) Demand Registrations under this Section 2.1.1 in respect of all Registrable Securities.

 

2.1.2 Effective Registration. A registration will not count as a Demand Registration until the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration will 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 thereafter elect to continue the offering; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to file a second Registration Statement until a Registration Statement that has been filed is counted as a Demand Registration or is terminated.

 

2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so elect and such holders so advise the Company as part of their written demand for a Demand Registration, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering. In such event, the right of any holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such underwriting by a majority-in-interest of the holders initiating the Demand Registration.

  

 

 

 

2.1.4 Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other Ordinary Shares or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by other stockholders of the Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that can be sold in such 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 shares, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Shares”), then the Company shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Registrable Securities as to which Demand Registration has been requested by the Demanding Holders (pro rata in accordance with the number of shares that each such Person has requested be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares held by each such Person (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Registrable Securities of holders exercising their piggy-back registration rights pursuant to Section 2.2; and (iv) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

2.1.5 Withdrawal. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their Registrable Securities in any offering, such majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such offering by giving written notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters of their request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed offering relating to a Demand Registration, then such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with a registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.15.

 

2.2  Piggy-Back Registration.

 

2.2.1 Piggy-Back Rights. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, by the Company for its own account or for shareholders of the Company for their account (or by the Company and by shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (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 (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall 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, of the offering, and (y) offer to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such holders may request in writing within three (3) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration”). The Company shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such 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 to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.

  

 

 

 

2.2.2 Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that the dollar amount or number of Ordinary Shares which the Company desires to sell, taken together with Ordinary Shares, 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, the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.2, and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then the Company shall include in any such registration:

 

(a) If the registration is undertaken for the Company’s account: (A) the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the applicable written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such security holders, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and

 

(b) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than either the holders of Registrable Securities, (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), collectively, the Ordinary Shares or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

2.2.3 Withdrawal. Any holder of Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The Company (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.3.

 

2.2.4 Unlimited Piggy-Back Registration Rights. For the avoidance of doubt, any registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.

 

2.3 Registrations on Form S-3. The holders of Registrable Securities may at any time and from time to time request in writing that the Company register the resale of any or all of such Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration which may be available at such time (“Form S-3”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect such request through an underwritten offering. Upon receipt of such written request, the Company will 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 notify the Company in writing within three (3) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice from the Company and, as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company shall effect the registration of all or such portion of such holder’s or holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities or other securities of the Company, if any, of any other holder or holders joining in such request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 2.3: (i) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) if the holders of the Registrable Securities, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $[5,000,000]. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

 

 

 

3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

 

3.1 Filings; Information. Whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection with any such request:

 

3.1.1 Filing Registration Statement. The Company shall use its best efforts to, as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and use its best efforts to keep it effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3; provided, however, that the Company shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for up to thirty (30) days, and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period as may be applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such Piggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if the Company shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by the President or Chairman of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time; provided further, however, that the Company shall not have the right to exercise the right set forth in the immediately preceding proviso more than once in any 365-day period in respect of a Demand Registration hereunder.

 

3.1.2 Copies. The Company shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to 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 holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration or legal counsel for any such holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders.

 

3.1.3 Amendments and Supplements. The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or such securities have been withdrawn.

  

3.1.4 Notification. After the filing of a Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no event more than two (2) business days after such filing, notify the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement of such filing, and shall further notify such holders promptly and confirm such advice in writing in all events within two (2) business days of the occurrence of any of the following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and the Company shall take all actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such prospectus will not contain an 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, and promptly make available to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment; except that before filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, the Company shall furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement and to the legal counsel for any such holders, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed sufficiently in advance of filing to provide such holders and legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such documents and comment thereon, and the Company shall not file any Registration Statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, to which such holders or their legal counsel shall object.

 

 

 

 

3.1.5 State Securities Laws Compliance. The Company shall 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.

 

3.1.6 Agreements for Disposition. The Company shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Company in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement. No holder of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement shall be required to make any representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement except, if applicable, with respect to such holder’s organization, good standing, authority, title to Registrable Securities, lack of conflict of such sale with such holder’s material agreements and organizational documents, and with respect to written information relating to such holder that such holder has furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement.

 

3.1.7 Cooperation. The principal executive officer of the Company, the principal financial officer of the Company, the principal accounting officer of the Company and all other officers and members of the management of the Company shall cooperate fully in any offering of Registrable Securities hereunder, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the Registration Statement with respect to such offering and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential investors.

 

3.1.8 Records. The Company shall make available for inspection by the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement or any Underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested by any of them in connection with such Registration Statement.

  

3.1.9 Opinions and Comfort Letters. The Company shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement a signed counterpart, addressed to such holder, of (i) any opinion of counsel to the Company delivered to any Underwriter and (ii) any comfort letter from the Company’s independent public accountants delivered to any Underwriter. In the event no legal opinion is delivered to any Underwriter, the Company shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, at any time that such holder elects to use a prospectus, an opinion of counsel to the Company to the effect that the Registration Statement containing such prospectus has been declared effective and that no stop order is in effect.

 

3.1.10 Earnings Statement. The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make available to its shareholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement covering a period of twelve (12) months, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

 

3.1.11 Listing. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities included in any registration to be listed on such exchanges or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or designated or, if no such similar securities are then listed or designated, in a manner satisfactory to the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration.

 

 

 

 

3.1.12 Road Show. If the registration involves the registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $12,500,000, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any underwritten offering.

 

3.2 Obligation to Suspend Distribution. Upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.1.4(iv), or, in the case of a resale registration on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, upon any suspension by the Company, pursuant to a written insider trading compliance program adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, of the ability of all “insiders” covered by such program to transact in the Company’s securities because of the existence of material non-public information, each holder of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall immediately discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such holder receives the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3.1.4(iv) or the restriction on the ability of “insiders” to transact in the Company’s securities is removed, as applicable, and, if so directed by the Company, each such holder will deliver to the Company all written copies, other than permanent file copies then in such holder’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

3.3 Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, any Piggy-Back Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, and any registration on Form S-3 effected pursuant to Section 2.3, and all expenses incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and fees of any securities exchange on which the Ordinary Shares are then listed; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities); (iii) printing expenses; (iv) the Company’s internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees); (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities as required by Section 3.1.11; (vi) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees; (vii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses or costs associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters requested pursuant to Section 3.1.9); (viii) the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration; and (ix) the fees and expenses of one legal counsel selected by the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. The Company shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable Securities being sold by the holders thereof, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such holders. Additionally, in an underwritten offering, all selling shareholders and the Company shall bear the expenses of the Underwriter pro rata in proportion to the respective amount of shares each is selling in such offering.

 

3.4 Information. The holders of Registrable Securities shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws.

 

4. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

 

4.1 Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities, and each of their respective officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners, members, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any, who controls an Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, an “Investor Indemnified Party”), from and against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration; and the Company shall promptly reimburse the Investor Indemnified Party for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred by such Investor Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and defending any such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage, liability or action whether or not any such person is a party to any such claim or action and including any and all legal and other expenses incurred in giving testimony or furnishing documents in response to a subpoena or otherwise; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or summary prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company, in writing, by such selling holder expressly for use therein. The Company also shall indemnify any Underwriter of the Registrable Securities, their officers, affiliates, directors, partners, members and agents and each person who controls such Underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification provided above in this Section 4.1.

 

 

 

 

4.2 Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4.4.3 hereof, each selling holder of Registrable Securities will, in the event that any registration is being effected under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement of any Registrable Securities held by such selling holder, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers and each Underwriter (if any), and each other selling holder and each other person, if any, who controls another selling holder or such Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as such losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling holder expressly for use therein, and shall reimburse the Company, its directors and officers, and each other selling holder or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. Each selling holder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling holder.

  

4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any person of any notice of any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing of the loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which the Indemnifying Party may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure. If the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party, then the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such claim or action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that in any action in which both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party are named as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (but no more than one such separate counsel) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based upon the written advice of counsel of such Indemnified Party, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of judgment or effect any settlement of any claim or pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such judgment or settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim or proceeding.

 

 

 

 

4.4 Contribution.

 

4.4.1 If the indemnification provided for in the foregoing Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 is unavailable to any Indemnified Party in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties 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 any Indemnified Party and any Indemnifying Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such Indemnified Party or such Indemnifying Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

4.4.2 The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 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 the immediately preceding Section 4.4.1.

 

4.4.3 The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4, no holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after payment of any underwriting fees, discounts, commissions or taxes) actually received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities which gave rise to such contribution obligation. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) with respect to any action shall be entitled to contribution in such action from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

5. UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION.

 

5.1 Rule 144. The Company covenants that it shall file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as the holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.

 

6. MISCELLANEOUS.

 

6.1 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than the holders of the Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any shares of the Company’s capital stock for sale or to include shares of the Company’s capital stock in any registration filed by the Company for the sale of shares of capital stock for its own account or for the account of any other person.

 

6.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries. 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, except in connection with a Business Combination and with the consent of each Investor party hereto. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder may be freely assigned or delegated by such holder of Registrable Securities in conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of Registrable Securities by any such holder. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties, to the permitted assigns of the Investors or holder of Registrable Securities or of any assignee of the Investors or holder of Registrable Securities. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4 and this Section 6.2.

 

 

 

 

6.3 Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “Notices”) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, telex or facsimile, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by telegram, telex or facsimile; provided, that if such service or transmission is not on a business day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next business day. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given on the next business day following timely delivery of such notice to a reputable air courier service with an order for next-day delivery.

 

To the Company:

 

Mars Acquisition Corporation

Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

Attn: Karl Brenza

 

with a copy to:

 

VCL Law LLP 

1945 Old Gallows Road, Suite 630

Vienna, VA 22182 

Attn:   Fang Liu, Esq.

 

To an Investor, to the address set forth below such Investor’s name on Exhibit A hereto.

 

6.4 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 that is valid and enforceable.

 

6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient.

 

6.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written.

 

6.7 Modifications and Amendments. No amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon any party unless executed in writing by such party.

 

6.8 Titles and Headings. Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.

 

6.9 Waivers and Extensions. Any party to this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement. Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred. Any waiver may be conditional. No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.

 

 

 

 

6.10 Remedies Cumulative. In the event that the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, the Investor or any other holder of Registrable Securities may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or action at law, whether for specific performance of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions, without being required to post a bond. None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy, whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

 

6.11 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed within the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. The Company 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 Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that they 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.

 

6.12 FINRA. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Representative’s Shares owned by Representatives or any permitted transferee under FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2) shall be subject to compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8). The Representatives may not exercise their demand or “piggyback” registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering and may not exercise their demand rights on more than one occasion.

 

6.13 Waiver of Trial by JuryEACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, OR THE ACTIONS OF THE INVESTOR IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
     
  MARS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Karl Brenza
  Name: Karl Brenza
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  INVESTORS:

 

  MARS CAPITAL HOLDING CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Shanchun Huang
  Name: Shanchun Huang
  Title: Director  
     
  By: /s/ Karl Brenza  
  Name: Karl Brenza  
     
  By: /s/ Xiaochen Zhao  
  Name: Xiaochen Zhao  
     
  By: /s/ Xin He
  Name: Xin He  
     
  By: /s/ Yenyou Zheng
  Name: Yenyou Zheng
     
  By: /s/ James Jenkins
  Name: James Jenkins
     
  By: /s/ Yang Liu
  Name: Yang Liu

 

  MAXIM PARTNERS LLC

 

  By: /s/ Clifford A. Teller
  Name: Clifford A. Teller
  Title: Co-President

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Name of Investor    Address of Investor
Mars Capital Holding Corp.  

c/o Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

Karl Brenza  

c/o Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

Xiaochen Zhao  

c/o Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

Xin He  

c/o Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

Yenyou Zheng  

c/o Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

James Jenkins  

c/o Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

Yang Liu  

c/o Americas Tower

1177 Avenue of The Americas, Suite 5100

New York, NY 10036

Maxim Partners LLC   c/o 300 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNITS PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNITS PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of February 13, 2023 (as it may from time to time be amended, this “Agreement”), is entered into by and between Mars Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Mars Capital Holding Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company limited by shares (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 ordinary share, of par value $0.000125 per share, of the Company (a “Share”), and one right to receive two-tenth of one ordinary share, as set forth in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 related to the Public Offering (the “Registration Statement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Purchaser has agreed to purchase from the Company an aggregate of 355,000 units (or up to 391,000 units depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised) (the “Private Placement Units”), at $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, with each Private Placement Unit consisting of one Share (355,000 Shares in the aggregate, or up to 391,000 Shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional units in full), and one right to receive two-tenth of a Share (355,000 rights exchangeable for 71,000 ordinary shares, or 391,000 rights exchangeable for 78,200 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional units in full) (the “Private Placement Rights”).

 

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 Units.

 

A. Authorization of the Private Placement Units. The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Units to the Purchaser.

 

B. Purchase and Sale of the Private Placement Units.

 

(i) As payment in full for 355,000 Private Placement Units being purchased under this Agreement, Purchaser shall pay $3,550,000 (the “Purchase Price”), by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions, at least one (1) business day prior to the initial closing of the Public Offering, or at such earlier date as the Company and the Purchaser may agree.

 

(ii) In the event that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full or in part, Purchaser shall purchase up to an additional 36,000 Private Placement Units (the “Additional Private Placement Units”), in the same proportion as the amount of the over-allotment option that is exercised, simultaneously with such purchase of Additional Private Placement Units. As payment in full for the Additional Private Placement Units then being purchased hereunder, at least one (1) business day prior to the applicable closing of all or any portion of the over-allotment option, or on such earlier date as the Company and the Purchaser may agree, the Purchaser shall pay $10.00 per Additional Private Placement Units, up to an aggregate amount of $360,000, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions.

 

(iii) The closing of the purchase and sale of the 355,000 Private Placement Units shall take place simultaneously with the initial closing of the Public Offering (the “Initial Closing Date”). The closing of the purchase and sale of the Additional Private Placement Units, if applicable, shall take place simultaneously with the applicable closing of all or any portion of the over-allotment option (such closing date, together with the Initial Closing Date, the “Closing Dates” and each, a “Closing Date”). The closing of the purchase and sale of each of the 355,000 Private Placement Units and the Additional Private Placement Units shall take place at the offices of VCL Law LLP, 1945 Old Gallows Road, Suite 630, Vienna, VA 22182, or such other place as may be agreed upon by the parties hereto.

 

 

 

 

C. Terms of the Private Placement Rights; Registration Rights.

 

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

 

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

 

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 Units, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Dates) that:

 

A. Organization and Corporate Power. The Company is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands 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 Rights Agreement.

 

B. Authorization; No Breach.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

E. No Disqualifying Event. Neither the Company nor, to its knowledge, any of its affiliates, officers, directors or beneficial stockholders of 20% or more of its outstanding securities has experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

B. Authorization; No Breach.

 

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

 

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

 

C. Investment Representations.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(vi) The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

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

 

 

 

 

(viii) The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and 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.

 

(ix) The Purchaser understands that the Private Placement Units shall bear the following legend and appropriate “stop transfer” instructions:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THIS CORPORATION, IS AVAILABLE.”

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO LOCKUP PURSUANT TO AN INSIDER LETTER BETWEEN, AMONG OTHERS, MARS ACQUISITION CORP., MARS CAPITAL HOLDING CORPORATION AND MAXIM GROUP LLC AND MAY ONLY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP PURSUANT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE INSIDER LETTER.”

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

D.  Rights Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Rights Agreement with a right agent 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 of the Closing Dates, of each of the following conditions:

 

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

 

 

 

 

B. Performance. The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before the applicable 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 Rights Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Units and Additional Private Placement Units.

 

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 and the Rights Agreement.

 

E.  Rights Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Rights 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 does not occur prior to such date.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 9. Miscellaneous.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

E. Governing Law. This Agreement 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 State of New York.

 

F. Jurisdiction: The parties hereto irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal court sitting in the Southern District of New York or any state court located in New York County, State of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement. To the fullest extent they may effectively do so under applicable law, the parties hereto irrevocably waive and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that they are not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

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

 

[Signature page follows]

 

 

 

 

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

 

  COMPANY:
   
  MARS ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By:  /s/ Karl Brenza
  Name: Karl Brenza 
  Title: CEO and CFO 
     
  MARS CAPITAL HOLDING CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Shanchun Huang
  Name: Shanchun Huang
  Title: Director

 

[Signature Page to Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Mars Acquisition Corp. Announces Pricing of $60 Million Initial Public Offering

 

New York, New York, February 13, 2023 (PRNEWSWIRE) – Mars Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), a newly incorporated blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 6,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, with each unit consisting of one ordinary share and one right. Each right entitles the holder thereof to receive two-tenths (2/10) of one ordinary share upon consummation of the Company’s initial business combination. The units are expected to trade on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the ticker symbol “MARXU” beginning on February 14, 2023. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the ordinary shares and rights will be traded on Nasdaq under the symbols “MARX” and “MARXR,” respectively.

 

Maxim Group LLC is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

 

The Company has granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to 900,000 additional units at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is expected to close on February 16, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-265240) (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the securities to be sold in the initial public offering was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 13, 2023. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from Maxim Group LLC, 300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by accessing the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.

 

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

 

About Mars Acquisition Corp.

 

Mars Acquisition Corp. is a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated as a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the Company’s initial public offering and search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Registration Statement and related preliminary prospectus filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based after the date of this release, except as required by law.

 

Contact Information:

Karl Brenza
Tel: 914-374-0060

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

Mars Acquisition Corp. Announces Closing of $69 Million Initial Public Offering, Including Full Exercise of Underwriter’s Over-Allotment Option

 

New York, New York, February 16, 2023 (PRNEWSWIRE) – Mars Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq:MARXU) (the “Company”), a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated as a blank check company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, today announced the closing of its previously announced initial public offering of 6,900,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, which includes 900,000 units issued pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $69,000,000.

 

Each unit consists of one ordinary share and one right. Each right entitles the holder thereof to receive two-tenths (2/10) of one ordinary share upon consummation of the Company’s initial business combination. The units began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the ticker symbol “MARXU” on February 14, 2023. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the ordinary shares and rights will be traded on Nasdaq under the symbols “MARX” and “MARXR,” respectively.

 

Maxim Group LLC acted as the sole book-running manager for the offering.

 

A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-265240) (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the securities sold in the initial public offering was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 13, 2023. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from Maxim Group LLC, 300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by accessing the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.

 

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

 

About Mars Acquisition Corp.

 

Mars Acquisition Corp. is a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated as a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the Company’s initial public offering and search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Registration Statement and related preliminary prospectus filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based after the date of this release, except as required by law.

 

Contact Information:

Karl Brenza
Tel: 914-374-0060