Delaware
|
| |
6770
|
| |
86-2365445
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or
Organization)
|
| |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code
Number)
|
| |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
|
David C. Buck
|
| |
|
David Ni
|
| |
Jeffrey C. Selman, Esq.
|
Joshua DuClos
|
| |
Curtis L. Mo, Esq.
|
Sidley Austin LLP
|
| |
DLA Piper LLP (US)
|
1000 Louisiana, Suite 5900
|
| |
2000 University Avenue
|
Houston, TX 77002
|
| |
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
|
(713) 495-4500
|
| |
(650) 833-2000
|
Large accelerated filer
|
| |
☐
|
| |
Accelerated filer
|
| |
☐
|
Non-accelerated filer
|
| |
☒
|
| |
Smaller reporting company
|
| |
☒
|
|
| |
|
| |
Emerging growth company
|
| |
☒
|
Title of Each Class of Security Being Registered
|
| |
Amount Being
Registered
|
| |
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
per Security(1)
|
| |
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(1)
|
| |
Amount of
Registration Fee
|
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one-half of one redeemable warrant(2)
|
| |
20,125,000
|
| |
$10.00
|
| |
$201,250,000
|
| |
$21,956
|
Shares of Class A common stock included as part of the units(3)(4)
|
| |
20,125,000
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Redeemable warrants included as part of the units(3)
|
| |
10,062,500
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Total
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
$201,250,000
|
| |
$21,956
|
(1)
|
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
|
(2)
|
Includes 2,625,000 units, consisting of 2,625,000 shares of Class A common stock and 1,312,500 warrants, which may be issued upon exercise of a 45-day option granted to the underwriter to cover over-allotments, if any.
|
(3)
|
Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act, there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
|
(4)
|
Maximum number of shares of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants, as applicable, included in the units described above, including those that may be issued upon exercise of a 45-day option granted to the underwriter described above.
|
(5)
|
No fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act.
|
|
| |
Per Unit
|
| |
Total
|
Public offering price
|
| |
$10.00
|
| |
$175,000,000
|
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)
|
| |
$0.55
|
| |
$9,625,000
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to us
|
| |
$9.45
|
| |
$165,375,000
|
(1)
|
Includes $0.35 per unit, or $6,125,000 (or $7,043,750 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, payable to the underwriter for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred underwriting commissions will be released to the underwriter only upon completion of our initial business combination as described in this prospectus. Up to $0.10 per unit, or up to $1,750,000 (or $2,012,500) if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), of such amount may instead be paid, at our sole discretion, to third parties not participating in this offering (but are FINRA members) that assist us in consummating our initial business combination. Does not include certain fees and expenses payable to the underwriter in connection with this offering. See “Underwriting” for a description of items of compensation payable or granted to the underwriter.
|
|
| |
Page
|
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| |
•
|
“advisors” or “Advisory Board” are to the members of our Advisory Board, including the initial persons described in this prospectus.
|
•
|
“amended and restated certificate of incorporation” are to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be in effect upon completion of this offering;
|
•
|
“Board” are to our board of directors;
|
•
|
“common stock” are to our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock, collectively;
|
•
|
“directors” are to our current director and our director nominees named in this prospectus;
|
•
|
“equity-linked securities” are to any securities of our company which are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of Class A common stock of our company, issued in a financing transaction in connection with our initial business combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt;
|
•
|
“founder” is to our sponsor;
|
•
|
“founder shares” are to shares of our Class B common stock initially purchased by our founder in a private placement prior to this offering, and the shares of our Class A common stock issued upon the conversion thereof as provided herein;
|
•
|
“initial stockholders” are to our founder and any other holders of our founder shares prior to this offering;
|
•
|
“letter agreement” are to the letter agreement, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part;
|
•
|
“management” or our “management team” are to our officers and directors;
|
•
|
“private placement warrants” are to the warrants to be issued to our initial stockholders in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering;
|
•
|
“public shares” are to shares of our Class A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
|
•
|
“public stockholders” are to the holders of our public shares, including our initial stockholders and members of our management team to the extent any of them purchases public shares, provided that each such initial stockholder’s and individual’s status as a “public stockholder” shall only exist with respect to such public shares;
|
•
|
“public warrants” are to our redeemable warrants sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market) and to any private placement warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans that are sold to third parties that are not initial purchasers or officers or directors (or permitted transferees);
|
•
|
“specified future issuance” are to an issuance of a class of equity or equity-linked securities to specified purchasers that we may determine to make in connection with financing our initial business combination;
|
•
|
“sponsor” are to Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC, a Delaware limited liability company;
|
•
|
“trust account” are to the trust account in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, into which we will deposit certain proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants; and
|
•
|
“warrants” are to our warrants, which include the public warrants as well as the private placement warrants.
|
•
|
Extensive leadership experience: Our management team (including our directors) and Advisory Board members have held leadership positions and invested in a diverse array of software and digital commerce solutions in our core focus areas, across a long period of time.
|
•
|
Access to proprietary deal flow: As both lead investors and operators with deep relationships across the U.S., and particularly in underserved emerging technology and entrepreneurial hubs across America, we believe we have consistent access to unique opportunities before they become more widely available to others. In addition, we will leverage the networks of Mercury Fund and our Advisory Board to expand our sourcing capability. Mercury Fund’s venture capital strategy could be a further source of targets for our business combination to the extent that certain investment opportunities it reviews may not be appropriate for its existing funds and strategy, but may be more suitable for a combination with us.
|
•
|
Established company screening process. Mercury Fund estimates that its partners, management, staff, and advisors review over 10,000 software and tech-enabled investment opportunities a year. These deals are then screened, with approximately 300 per year taken forward for meetings and initial diligence, with the Fund ultimately making five investments, on average, per year. We believe our experience developing the proprietary methods for screening and analyzing investment opportunities at Mercury Fund position us well to execute on our proposed business strategy.
|
•
|
Extensive investing and M&A experience: Our management team has a long history of building businesses, having completed numerous investments and acquisition transactions with companies through their lifecycle, including: seed, venture and growth equity financing rounds.
|
•
|
Track record of value creation: We have a long history of generating substantial risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders across software and digital commerce private markets and through multiple business cycles over the last several decades. We intend to focus our efforts on opportunities where our management team’s strategic vision, operating expertise, deep relationships and capital markets experience can be catalysts to enhance the growth, competitive position and financial upside in an initial business combination. We intend to identify and execute an initial business combination within the ecommerce industry in the U.S., although we may pursue targets in any business, industry, sector or geographical location. Our management team has an established history in identifying and capitalizing on key trends that have shaped the ecommerce industry and has helped build leading platforms to scale within the marketplace. Over the past 15 years, Mr. Garrou and Mercury Fund have made numerous venture investments enabling retailers and brands to better understand their customer and more effectively sell their products. These investments span many online retail sectors, including enabling ecommerce technology (RetailTech), digital marketplace technologies (MarTech), warehousing and logistics technologies, and digital advertising technologies (AdTech).
|
•
|
Focus on aligning interests: We have a deep commitment to providing a win-win scenario for all stakeholders and will focus on generating attractive outcomes to our investors, as well as the target company’s shareholders, employees and customers.
|
•
|
a comprehensive view of investment opportunity, as enabled by a breadth of different and complementary perspectives;
|
•
|
unique approaches to value creation; and
|
•
|
access to more expansive talent networks.
|
•
|
one share of Class A common stock; and
|
•
|
one-half of one redeemable warrant.
|
(1)
|
The shares of common stock included in the units are Class A common stock. Founder shares are classified as shares of Class B common stock, which shares are convertible into shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described below adjacent to the caption “Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution.”
|
•
|
30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; and
|
•
|
12 months from the closing of this offering;
|
•
|
in whole and not in part;
|
•
|
at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
|
•
|
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”); and
|
•
|
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders (the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “Description of Securities—Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Anti-dilution Adjustments”).
|
•
|
in whole and not in part;
|
•
|
at a price equal to a number of shares of Class A common stock to be determined by reference to the table set forth under “Description of Securities—Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants” based on the redemption date and the “fair market
|
•
|
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption;
|
•
|
if, and only if, the Reference Value (as defined above under “—Redemption of warrants for cash”) equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “Description of Securities—Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Anti-dilution Adjustments”) on the trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders; and
|
•
|
if, and only if, the Reference Value (as defined above under “—Redemption of warrants for cash”) is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “Description of Securities—Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Anti-dilution Adjustments”), the private placement warrants must also concurrently be called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding public warrants, as described above.
|
•
|
the founder shares are shares of Class B common stock that automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described herein;
|
•
|
the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions contained in a letter agreement that our founder, officers and directors have entered into with us, as described in more detail below;
|
•
|
pursuant to such letter agreement, our founder, officers and directors have agreed to waive (i) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame; and
|
•
|
the founder shares are subject to registration rights.
|
•
|
the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not held in the trust account, which will be approximately $1,100,000 in working capital after the payment of approximately $1,500,000 in expenses relating to this offering; and
|
•
|
any loans or additional investments from our founder, members of our management team or their affiliates or other third parties, although they are under no obligation to advance funds or invest in us, and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account unless such proceeds are released to us upon completion of our initial business combination.
|
•
|
conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and
|
•
|
file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
|
•
|
conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and
|
•
|
file proxy materials with the SEC.
|
•
|
repayment of up to an aggregate of $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;
|
•
|
payment to our sponsor of $10,000 per month, for up to 24 months, for office space, secretarial and administrative support;
|
•
|
reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to our formation and initial public offering and to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination;
|
•
|
repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
|
•
|
We are a newly formed company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
|
•
|
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
|
•
|
Past performance by our management team or their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
|
•
|
Our stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though holders of a majority of our common stock do not support such a combination.
|
•
|
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash.
|
•
|
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
|
•
|
The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.
|
•
|
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
|
•
|
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may limit our ability to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
|
•
|
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and the status of debt and equity markets.
|
•
|
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our founder, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or public warrants from public stockholders or public warrant holders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A common stock.
|
•
|
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
|
•
|
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of the shares of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of the shares of our Class A common stock.
|
•
|
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
|
•
|
If our securities are approved for listing, Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
|
•
|
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
|
•
|
Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive approximately $10.00 per share on our redemption of our public shares, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
|
•
|
If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for the 24 months following the closing of this offering, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and our ability to complete our initial business combination, and we will depend on loans from our sponsor, its affiliates or members of our management team to fund our search and to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
|
•
|
We may attempt to simultaneously complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our initial business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.
|
•
|
We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
|
•
|
We may seek business combination opportunities with a high degree of complexity that require significant operational improvements, which could delay or prevent us from achieving our desired results.
|
•
|
The other risks and uncertainties discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.
|
|
| |
As of March 4, 2021
|
|||
|
| |
Actual
|
| |
Adjusted
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
| |
|
| |
|
Working capital (deficiency)(1)
|
| |
$(124,131)
|
| |
$169,999,000
|
Total assets(2)
|
| |
173,131
|
| |
176,124,000
|
Total liabilities(3)
|
| |
149,131
|
| |
6,125,000
|
Value of Class A common stock subject to possible redemption(4)
|
| |
—
|
| |
164,998,990
|
Stockholder’s equity(5)
|
| |
24,000
|
| |
5,000,010
|
(1)
|
The “as adjusted” calculation includes $175,000,000 cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, plus $1,100,000 in cash held outside the trust account, plus $24,000 of actual stockholder’s equity as of March 4, 2021, less $6,125,000 of deferred underwriting commissions.
|
(2)
|
The “as adjusted” calculation equals $175,000,000 cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, plus $1,100,000 in cash held outside the trust account, plus $24,000 of actual stockholder’s equity as of March 4, 2021.
|
(3)
|
The “as adjusted” calculation equals $6,125,000 of deferred underwriting commissions, assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised.
|
(4)
|
The “as adjusted” calculation equals the “as adjusted” total assets, less the “as adjusted” total liabilities, less the “as adjusted” stockholder’s equity, which is set to approximate the minimum net tangible assets threshold of at least $5,000,001 upon completion of our initial business combination.
|
(5)
|
Excludes 16,499,899 shares of Class A common stock purchased in the public market which are subject to redemption in connection with our initial business combination. The “as adjusted” calculation equals the “as adjusted” total assets, less the “as adjusted” total liabilities, less the value of Class A common stock that may be redeemed in connection with our initial business combination (approximately $10.00 per share).
|
•
|
a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
|
•
|
reduced liquidity for our securities;
|
•
|
a determination that our Class A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;
|
•
|
a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and
|
•
|
a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
|
•
|
we have a board that includes a majority of “independent directors,” as defined under Nasdaq rules;
|
•
|
we have a compensation committee of our board that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and
|
•
|
we have independent director oversight of our director nominations.
|
•
|
restrictions on the nature of our investments; and
|
•
|
restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
|
•
|
registration as an investment company;
|
•
|
adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and
|
•
|
reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.
|
•
|
competition;
|
•
|
significant federal, state and local regulation, taxation and regulatory approval processes as well as changes in applicable legislation, laws and regulations;
|
•
|
overall domestic and global economic conditions;
|
•
|
availability of, and potential disputes with, independent contractors;
|
•
|
value of U.S. dollar relative to the currencies of other countries; and
|
•
|
terrorist acts.
|
•
|
may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock;
|
•
|
may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
|
•
|
could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;
|
•
|
may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us;
|
•
|
may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants; and
|
•
|
may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.
|
•
|
default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
|
•
|
acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
|
•
|
our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;
|
•
|
our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding;
|
•
|
our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;
|
•
|
using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, our ability to pay expenses, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and fund other general corporate purposes;
|
•
|
limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
|
•
|
increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation;
|
•
|
limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, and execution of our strategy; and
|
•
|
other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
|
•
|
solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset; or
|
•
|
dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
|
•
|
the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies;
|
•
|
prior offerings of those companies;
|
•
|
our prospects for acquiring an operating business;
|
•
|
a review of debt to equity ratios in leveraged transactions;
|
•
|
our capital structure;
|
•
|
an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies;
|
•
|
general conditions of the securities markets at the time of this offering; and
|
•
|
other factors as were deemed relevant.
|
•
|
higher costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with different commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets;
|
•
|
rules and regulations regarding currency redemption;
|
•
|
complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals;
|
•
|
laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected;
|
•
|
tariffs and trade barriers;
|
•
|
regulations related to customs and import/export matters;
|
•
|
longer payment cycles and challenges in collecting accounts receivable;
|
•
|
changes in local regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 outbreak;
|
•
|
tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;
|
•
|
currency fluctuations and exchange controls;
|
•
|
rates of inflation, price instability and interest rate fluctuations;
|
•
|
cultural and language differences;
|
•
|
employment regulations;
|
•
|
crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and wars;
|
•
|
deterioration of political relations with the United States; and
|
•
|
government appropriations of assets.
|
•
|
our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses;
|
•
|
our ability to complete our initial business combination;
|
•
|
our ability to consummate an initial business combination due to the uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic;
|
•
|
our expectations around the performance of the prospective target business or businesses;
|
•
|
our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;
|
•
|
our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements;
|
•
|
our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination;
|
•
|
our pool of prospective target businesses;
|
•
|
the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential acquisition opportunities;
|
•
|
our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;
|
•
|
the lack of a market for our securities;
|
•
|
the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance;
|
•
|
the trust account not being subject to claims of third parties; or
|
•
|
our financial performance following this offering.
|
|
| |
Without Over-
Allotment Option
|
| |
Over-Allotment Option
Fully Exercised
|
Gross proceeds
|
| |
|
| |
|
Gross proceeds from units offered to public(1)
|
| |
$175,000,000
|
| |
$201,250,000
|
Gross proceeds from private placement warrants offered in the private placement
|
| |
6,100,000
|
| |
6,625,000
|
Total gross proceeds
|
| |
$181,100,000
|
| |
$207,875,000
|
Offering expenses(2)
|
| |
|
| |
|
Underwriting commissions(3)
|
| |
3,500,000
|
| |
4,025,000
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
| |
250,000
|
| |
250,000
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
40,000
|
SEC/FINRA Expenses
|
| |
52,644
|
| |
52,644
|
Nasdaq listing and filing fees
|
| |
75,000
|
| |
75,000
|
Director and Officer liability insurance premiums
|
| |
650,000
|
| |
650,000
|
Printing and engraving expenses
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
40,000
|
Miscellaneous expenses(6)
|
| |
392,356
|
| |
392,356
|
Total estimated offering expenses (excluding underwriting commissions)
|
| |
$1,500,000
|
| |
$1,500,000
|
Proceeds after estimated offering expenses
|
| |
$176,100,000
|
| |
$202,350,000
|
Held in trust account(3)
|
| |
$175,000,000
|
| |
$201,250,000
|
% of public offering size
|
| |
100%
|
| |
100%
|
Not held in trust account
|
| |
$1,100,000
|
| |
$1,100,000
|
|
| |
Amount
|
| |
% of Total
|
Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel and other expenses in connection with any business combination(5)
|
| |
$400,000
|
| |
36.4%
|
Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations
|
| |
100,000
|
| |
9.1%
|
Nasdaq and other regulatory fees
|
| |
75,000
|
| |
6.8%
|
Payment for office space, secretarial and administrative support
|
| |
240,000
|
| |
21.8%
|
Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses (including franchise taxes)
|
| |
285,000
|
| |
25.9%
|
Total
|
| |
$1,100,000
|
| |
100.0%
|
(1)
|
Includes amounts payable to public stockholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our initial business combination.
|
(2)
|
A portion of the offering expenses will be paid from the proceeds of loans from our founder of up to $300,000 as described in this prospectus. As of March 4, 2021, we had not borrowed any amount under the promissory note. These amounts will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) and not to be held in the trust account. In the event that offering expenses are less than as set forth in this table, any such amounts will be used for post-closing working capital expenses. In the event that the offering expenses are more than as set forth in this table, we may fund such excess with funds not held in the trust account.
|
(3)
|
On the completion of our initial business combination, all amounts held in the trust account will be disbursed directly by the trustee or released to us to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination, including deferred underwriting commissions of $6,125,000 (or $7,043,750 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full). The underwriter will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting commissions. Up to $0.10 per unit, or up to $1,750,000 (or $2,012,500 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), of such amount may instead be paid, at our sole discretion, to third parties not participating in this offering (but are FINRA members) that assist us in consummating our initial business combination.
|
(4)
|
These expenses are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth herein. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring our initial business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify a business combination target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal counsel. In addition, our staffing needs may vary and as a result, we may engage a number of consultants to assist with legal and financial due diligence. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would not be available for our expenses. In the event the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised, we anticipate that the additional net proceeds held outside the trust account will be allocated to fund working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses.
|
(5)
|
Includes estimated amounts that may also be used in connection with our initial business combination to fund a “no-shop” provision and commitment fees for financing.
|
(6)
|
Includes organizational and administrative expenses and may include amounts related to above-listed expenses in the event actual amounts exceed estimates.
|
|
| |
Without
Over-Allotment
|
| |
With
Over-Allotment
|
Public offering price
|
| |
$10.00
|
| |
$10.00
|
Net tangible book deficit before this offering
|
| |
(0.03)
|
| |
(0.02)
|
Increase attributable to public stockholders
|
| |
0.96
|
| |
0.84
|
Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants
|
| |
0.93
|
| |
0.82
|
Dilution to public stockholders
|
| |
$9.07
|
| |
$9.18
|
Percentage of dilution to public stockholders
|
| |
90.7%
|
| |
91.8%
|
|
| |
Shares Purchased
|
| |
Total Consideration
|
| |
Average Price
Per Share
|
||||||
|
| |
Number
|
| |
Percentage
|
| |
Amount
|
| |
Percentage
|
| ||
Initial Stockholders(1)
|
| |
4,375,000
|
| |
20.0%
|
| |
$25,000
|
| |
0.01%
|
| |
$0.006
|
Public Stockholders
|
| |
17,500,000
|
| |
80.0%
|
| |
175,000,000
|
| |
99.99%
|
| |
$10.00
|
|
| |
21,875,000
|
| |
100.0%
|
| |
$175,025,000
|
| |
100.0%
|
| |
|
(1)
|
Assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of an aggregate of 656,250 shares of Class B common stock held by our initial stockholders.
|
|
| |
Without
Over-Allotment
|
| |
With
Over-Allotment
|
Numerator:
|
| |
|
| |
|
Net tangible book deficit before this offering
|
| |
$(124,131)
|
| |
$(124,131)
|
Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private placement warrants(1)
|
| |
176,100,000
|
| |
202,350,000
|
Plus: Offering costs paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value before this offering
|
| |
148,131
|
| |
148,131
|
Less: Deferred underwriting commissions payable
|
| |
(6,125,000)
|
| |
(7,043,750)
|
Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption(2)
|
| |
(164,998,990)
|
| |
(190,330,240)
|
|
| |
$5,000,010
|
| |
$5,000,010
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Denominator:
|
| |
|
| |
|
Class B common stock outstanding prior to this offering
|
| |
5,031,250
|
| |
5,031,250
|
Class B common stock forfeited if underwriter’s over-allotment is not exercised
|
| |
(656,250)
|
| |
—
|
Class A common stock included in the units offered
|
| |
17,500,000
|
| |
20,125,000
|
Less: Shares subject to redemption
|
| |
(16,499,899)
|
| |
(19,033,024)
|
|
| |
5,375,101
|
| |
6,123,226
|
(1)
|
Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses of $1,500,000 and underwriting commissions of $3,500,000 (or $4,025,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) (excluding deferred underwriting fees). See “Use of Proceeds.”
|
(2)
|
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public warrants’ in privately-negotiated transactions or in the open market, either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. In the event of any such purchases of our shares prior to the completion of our initial business combination, the number of shares of Class A common stock subject to redemption will be reduced by the amount of any such purchases, increasing the pro forma net tangible book value per share. See “Proposed Business—Effecting Our Initial Business Combination” and “Proposed Business—Permitted Purchases of Our Securities.”
|
|
| |
March 4, 2021
|
|||
|
| |
Actual
|
| |
As Adjusted(1)
|
Note payable to related party(2)
|
| |
$—
|
| |
$—
|
Deferred underwriting commissions
|
| |
—
|
| |
6,125,000
|
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption; 0 and 16,499,899 shares, actual and adjusted, respectively(3)
|
| |
—
|
| |
164,998,990
|
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized; 0 and 1,000,101 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 0 and 16,499,899 shares subject to possible redemption), actual and as adjusted, respectively(3)
|
| |
—
|
| |
100
|
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 5,031,250(4) and 4,375,000(4) shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted, respectively
|
| |
503
|
| |
438
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
| |
24,497
|
| |
5,000,472
|
Accumulated deficit
|
| |
(1,000)
|
| |
(1,000)
|
Total stockholder’s equity
|
| |
$24,000
|
| |
$5,000,010
|
Total capitalization
|
| |
$24,000
|
| |
$176,124,000
|
(1)
|
Assumes the underwriter’s over-allotment option has not been exercised and the resulting forfeiture of 656,250 founder shares held by our initial stockholders has occurred.
|
(2)
|
Our founder has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of March 4, 2021, we had not borrowed any amount under the promissory note.
|
(3)
|
Upon the completion of our initial business combination, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the trust account, subject to the limitations described herein whereby our net tangible assets will be maintained at a minimum of $5,000,001 upon completion of our initial business combination and any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed business combination.
|
(4)
|
Actual share amount is prior to any forfeiture of founder shares by our initial stockholders and as adjusted amount assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option.
|
•
|
may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock;
|
•
|
may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
|
•
|
could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;
|
•
|
may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us;
|
•
|
may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants; and
|
•
|
may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.
|
•
|
default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
|
•
|
acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
|
•
|
our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;
|
•
|
our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding;
|
•
|
our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;
|
•
|
using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, our ability to pay expenses, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and fund other general corporate purposes;
|
•
|
limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
|
•
|
increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation;
|
•
|
limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, and execution of our strategy; and
|
•
|
other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
|
•
|
staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;
|
•
|
reconciliation of accounts;
|
•
|
proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;
|
•
|
evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;
|
•
|
documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and
|
•
|
documentation of accounting policies and procedures.
|
•
|
Extensive leadership experience: Our management team (including our directors) and Advisory Board members have held leadership positions and invested in a diverse array of software and digital commerce solutions in our core focus areas, across a long period of time.
|
•
|
Access to proprietary deal flow: As both lead investors and operators with deep relationships across the U.S., and particularly in underserved emerging technology and entrepreneurial hubs across America, we believe we have consistent access to unique opportunities before they become more widely available to others. In addition, we will leverage the networks of Mercury Fund and our Advisory Board to expand our sourcing capability. Mercury Fund’s venture capital strategy could be a further source of targets for our business combination to the extent that certain investment opportunities it reviews may not be appropriate for its existing funds and strategy, but may be more suitable for a combination with us.
|
•
|
Established company screening process. Mercury Fund estimates that its partners, management, staff, and advisors review over 10,000 software and tech-enabled investment opportunities a year. These deals are then screened, with approximately 300 per year taken forward for meetings and initial diligence, with the Fund ultimately making five investments, on average, per year. We believe our experience developing the proprietary methods for screening and analyzing investment opportunities at Mercury Fund position us well to execute on our proposed business strategy.
|
•
|
Extensive investing and M&A experience: Our management team has a long history of building businesses, having completed numerous investments and acquisition transactions with companies through their lifecycle, including: seed, venture and growth equity financing rounds.
|
•
|
Track record of value creation: We have a long history of generating substantial risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders across software and digital commerce private markets and through many business cycles over the last several decades. We intend to focus our efforts on opportunities where our management team’s strategic vision, operating expertise, deep relationships and capital markets experience can be catalysts to enhance the growth, competitive position and financial upside in an initial business combination. We intend to identify and execute an initial business combination within the ecommerce industry in the U.S., although we may pursue targets in any business, industry, sector or geographical location. Our management team has an established history in identifying and capitalizing on key trends that have shaped the ecommerce industry and has helped build leading platforms to scale within the marketplace. Over the past 15 years, Mr. Garrou and Mercury Fund have made numerous venture investments enabling retailers and brands to better understand their customer and more effectively sell their products. These investments span many online retail sectors, including enabling ecommerce technology (RetailTech), digital marketplace technologies (MarTech), warehousing and logistics technologies, and digital advertising technologies (AdTech).
|
•
|
Focus on aligning interests: We have a deep commitment to providing a win-win scenario for all stakeholders and will focus on generating attractive outcomes to our investors, as well as the target company’s shareholders, employees and customers.
|
•
|
a comprehensive view of investment opportunity, as enabled by a breadth of different and complementary perspectives;
|
•
|
unique approaches to value creation; and
|
•
|
access to more expansive talent networks.
|
•
|
subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination, and
|
•
|
cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services.
|
•
|
we issue shares of Class A common stock that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of shares of our Class A common stock then outstanding;
|
•
|
any of our directors, officers or substantial stockholders (as defined by Nasdaq rules) has a 5% or greater interest (or such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest), directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise and the present or potential issuance of common stock could result in an increase in outstanding common shares or voting power of 5% or more; or
|
•
|
the issuance or potential issuance of common stock will result in our undergoing a change of control.
|
•
|
the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine stockholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek stockholder approval or doing so would place the company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the company;
|
•
|
the expected cost of holding a stockholder vote;
|
•
|
the risk that the stockholders would fail to approve the proposed business combination;
|
•
|
other time and budget constraints of the company; and
|
•
|
additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to stockholders.
|
•
|
conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and
|
•
|
file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination that contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
|
•
|
conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and
|
•
|
file proxy materials with the SEC.
|
|
| |
Redemptions in Connection with
our Initial Business Combination
|
| |
Other Permitted Purchases of
Public Shares by us or our
Affiliates
|
| |
Redemptions if we fail to
Complete an Initial Business
Combination
|
Calculation of redemption price
|
| |
Redemptions at the time of our initial business combination may be made pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. The redemption price will be the same whether we conduct redemptions pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. In either case, our public stockholders may redeem their public shares for cash equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share), including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise
|
| |
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our founder, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market prior to or following completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit to the prices that our founder, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may pay in these transactions.
|
| |
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem all public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount, then on deposit in the trust account (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share), including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the trust account (less up to $100,000 of interest released to us to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares.
|
|
| |
Redemptions in Connection with
our Initial Business Combination
|
| |
Other Permitted Purchases of
Public Shares by us or our
Affiliates
|
| |
Redemptions if we fail to
Complete an Initial Business
Combination
|
|
| |
and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the trust account, divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to the limitation that no redemptions will take place, if all of the redemptions would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon completion of our initial business combination and any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) agreed to in connection with the negotiation of terms of a proposed business combination.
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Impact to remaining stockholders
|
| |
The redemptions in connection with our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for our remaining stockholders, who will bear the burden of the deferred underwriting commissions, franchise and income taxes payable as well as expenses relating to the administration of the trust account.
|
| |
If the permitted purchases described above are made there would be no impact to our remaining stockholders because the purchase price would not be paid by us.
|
| |
The redemption of our public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for the shares held by our initial stockholders, who will be our only remaining stockholders after such redemptions.
|
|
| |
Terms of Our Offering
|
| |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
|
Escrow of offering proceeds
|
| |
Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the private placement be deposited in a U.S.-based trust account. $175,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will be
|
| |
Approximately $148,837,500 of the offering proceeds would be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for
|
|
| |
Terms of Our Offering
|
| |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
|
|
| |
deposited into a U.S.-based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.
|
| |
persons having the beneficial interests in the account.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Investment of net proceeds
|
| |
$175,000,000 of the net offering proceeds and the sale of the private placement warrants held in trust will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.
|
| |
Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Receipt of interest on escrowed funds
|
| |
Interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to stockholders is reduced by (i) any income or franchise taxes paid or payable; (ii) expenses relating to the administration of the trust account and (iii) in the event of our liquidation for failure to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, up to $100,000 of net interest that may be released to us should we have no or insufficient working capital to fund the costs and expenses of our dissolution and liquidation.
|
| |
Interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our completion of a business combination.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business
|
| |
Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes and excluding the deferred underwriting commissions held in the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination.
|
| |
The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Terms of Our Offering
|
| |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
|
Trading of securities issued
|
| |
The units are expected to begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units are expected to begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus (or, if such date is not a business day, the following business day) unless Needham & Company, LLC inform us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days from the date of this prospectus. If the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, an additional Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option.
|
| |
No trading of the units or the underlying Class A common stock and warrants would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account.
|
|
| |
Additionally, the units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our initial business combination.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Exercise of the warrants
|
| |
The warrants cannot be exercised until the later of (i) 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) 12 months from the closing of this offering.
|
| |
The warrants could be exercised prior to the completion of a business combination, but securities received and cash paid in connection with the exercise would be deposited in the escrow or trust account.
|
Election to remain an investor
|
| |
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including
|
| |
A prospectus containing information pertaining to the business combination required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business
|
|
| |
Terms of Our Offering
|
| |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
|
|
| |
interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the trust account, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein. We may not be required by applicable law or stock exchange rule to hold a stockholder vote. If we are not required by applicable law or stock exchange rules and do not otherwise decide to hold a stockholder vote, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, we hold a stockholder vote, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the tender offer rules. Pursuant to the tender offer rules, the tender offer period will be not less than 20 business days and, in the case of a stockholder vote, a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least ten days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business
|
| |
days from the effective date of a post-effective amendment to the company’s registration statement, to decide if it elects to remain a stockholder of the company or require the return of its investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all funds on deposit in the escrow account must be returned to all of the investors and none of the securities are issued.
|
|
| |
Terms of Our Offering
|
| |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
|
|
| |
combination. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
Business combination deadline
|
| |
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the trust account (less up to $100,000 of interest released to us to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
|
| |
If an acquisition has not been completed within 18 months after the effective date of the company’s registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors.
|
|
| |
Terms of Our Offering
|
| |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
|
Release of funds
|
| |
Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our franchise and income tax obligations and expenses relating to the administration of the trust account, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) the redemption of 100% of our public shares if we are unable to complete a business combination within the required time frame (subject to the requirements of applicable law).
|
| |
The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time.
|
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position
|
M. Blair Garrou
|
| |
48
|
| |
Chairman
|
R. Andrew White
|
| |
48
|
| |
President and Chief Executive Officer, and Director
|
Winston Gilpin
|
| |
63
|
| |
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
|
Christy Cardenas
|
| |
34
|
| |
Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer
|
Jay Gardner
|
| |
65
|
| |
Director Nominee
|
David Magdol
|
| |
50
|
| |
Director Nominee
|
Mia Mends
|
| |
45
|
| |
Director Nominee
|
Carolyn Rodz
|
| |
41
|
| |
Director Nominee
|
•
|
the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent auditors and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;
|
•
|
pre-approving all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures;
|
•
|
reviewing and discussing with the independent auditors all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence;
|
•
|
setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent auditors;
|
•
|
setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
|
•
|
obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent auditors describing (i) the independent auditor’s internal quality-control procedures and (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues;
|
•
|
reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and
|
•
|
reviewing with management, the independent auditors, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
|
•
|
reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;
|
•
|
reviewing and approving on an annual basis the compensation of all of our other officers;
|
•
|
reviewing on an annual basis our executive compensation policies and plans;
|
•
|
implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
|
•
|
assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
|
•
|
approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees;
|
•
|
if required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and
|
•
|
reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
|
Individual
|
| |
Entity
|
| |
Entity’s Business
|
| |
Affiliation
|
M. Blair Garrou
|
| |
Mercury Fund and all Affiliates and Subsidiaries
|
| |
Venture Capital
|
| |
Managing Director
|
|
| |
TrackX Holdings, Inc.
|
| |
SaaS supply chain logistics platform
|
| |
Director
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
R. Andrew White
|
| |
Mercury Fund and all Affiliates and Subsidiaries
|
| |
Venture Capital
|
| |
Special Limited Partner
|
|
| |
Sweat Equity Partners, LP
|
| |
Private Equity
|
| |
Partner
|
|
| |
RAW Interests, L.L.C
|
| |
Private Equity GP
|
| |
President
|
|
| |
Path Environmental Technology, LLC and subsidiaries
|
| |
CleanTech Industrial Services
|
| |
Chairman
|
|
| |
HomeTool.com, Inc.
|
| |
PropTech Home Services
|
| |
Chairman
|
|
| |
Vartopia, LLC
|
| |
SaaS
|
| |
Director
|
|
| |
Spruce Services, Inc.
|
| |
PropTech Multi-Family Services
|
| |
Director
|
|
| |
Geovox Security, Inc.
|
| |
PropTech Security Provider
|
| |
Chairman
|
|
| |
SEP SPAC I, LP
|
| |
Technology Investment Holding Company
|
| |
President
|
|
| |
SEP SPAC I GP, LLC
|
| |
Technology Investment Holding Company
|
| |
President
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Winston Gilpin
|
| |
Mercury Fund and all Affiliates and Subsidiaries
|
| |
Venture Capital
|
| |
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
| |
GSqr Consulting, LLC
|
| |
Consulting
|
| |
Managing Partner
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Christy Cardenas
|
| |
Mercury Fund and all Affiliates and Subsidiaries
|
| |
Venture Capital
|
| |
Head of Research and Data
|
|
| |
Grit Ventures
|
| |
Technology Investment Fund
|
| |
Managing Partner
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Jay Gardner
|
| |
Texas Christian University Chancellor’s Advisory Council
|
| |
Education
|
| |
Member
|
|
| |
Neeley School of Business Neeley Board of Advisors
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
David Magdol
|
| |
Main Street Capital Corporation and all Affiliates and Subsidiaries
|
| |
Publicly Traded Private Equity and Debt Firm
|
| |
President and Chief Investment Officer
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Individual
|
| |
Entity
|
| |
Entity’s Business
|
| |
Affiliation
|
Mia Mends
|
| |
Sodexo North America
|
| |
Food Services and Facilities Management
|
| |
Chief Administrative Officer
|
|
| |
Limeade Inc.
|
| |
Software Company
|
| |
Director
|
|
| |
Catalyst Inc.
|
| |
Non-Profit
|
| |
Director
|
|
| |
EMERGE Fellowship
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Girls Inc.
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Greater Houston Partnership
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Women’s Business Collaborative
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Carolyn Rodz
|
| |
Hello Alice, Inc.
|
| |
Technology
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer
|
•
|
None of our officers or directors is required to commit his or her full time to our affairs in particular and, accordingly, each of them may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among various business activities.
|
•
|
In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our officers and directors may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
|
•
|
Our founder, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive (i) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination and (ii) their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. Additionally, pursuant to such letter agreement, our founder, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, the proceeds of the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, and the private placement warrants will expire worthless. With certain limited exceptions, pursuant to such letter agreement, our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earlier of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and other similar transactions) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property. With certain limited exceptions, pursuant to such letter agreement, our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their private placement warrants and the Class A common stock underlying such warrants until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Since our sponsor and officers and directors may directly or indirectly own common stock and warrants following this offering, our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to complete our initial business combination.
|
•
|
Our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
|
•
|
Our founder, officers or directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a business combination and financing arrangements as we may obtain loans from our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or any of our officers or directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
|
•
|
the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
|
•
|
the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and
|
•
|
it would not be fair to our company and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.
|
•
|
each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;
|
•
|
each of our officers and directors upon completion of this offering who beneficially owns shares of our common stock; and
|
•
|
all our officers and directors upon completion of this offering as a group.
|
|
| |
Before Offering
|
| |
After Offering
|
||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
|
| |
Number of Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)(3)
|
| |
Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
Common Stock
|
| |
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned(2)
|
| |
Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
Common Stock
|
Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC(3)
|
| |
4,836,250
|
| |
96.1%
|
| |
4,180,000
|
| |
19.1%
|
M. Blair Garrou(3)
|
| |
4,836,250
|
| |
96.1%
|
| |
4,180,000
|
| |
19.1%
|
R. Andrew White(3)
|
| |
4,836,250
|
| |
96.1%
|
| |
4,180,000
|
| |
19.1%
|
Winston Gilpin(4)
|
| |
10,000
|
| |
*
|
| |
10,000
|
| |
*
|
Christy Cardenas
|
| |
10,000
|
| |
*
|
| |
10,000
|
| |
*
|
Jay Gardner
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
*
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
*
|
David Magdol
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
*
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
*
|
Mia Mends
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
*
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
*
|
Carolyn Rodz
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
*
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
*
|
All officers, directors and director nominees as a group (8 individuals)
|
| |
4,996,250
|
| |
99.3%
|
| |
4,058,750
|
| |
19.8%
|
*
|
less than 1%.
|
(1)
|
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC, 3737 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 1750, Houston, Texas 77098.
|
(2)
|
Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, classified as shares of Class B common stock. Such shares are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment, as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities.”
|
(3)
|
Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC is the record holder of the shares reported herein. Each of M. Blair Garrou and R. Andrew White are the managers of Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC. Affiliates of M. Blair Garrou and R. Andrew White each own 50% of the economic interest of Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC. As such, each of M. Blair Garrou and R. Andrew White may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the Class B common stock held directly by Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC. Each of M. Blair Garrou and R. Andrew White disclaim beneficial ownership over any securities owned by our sponsor in which he does not have any pecuniary interest.
|
(4)
|
Gsqr Consulting, LLC is the record holder of the shares reported herein. Mr. Gilpin is the manager of Gsqr Consulting, LLC. As such, Mr. Gilpin may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the Class B common stock held directly by Gsqr Consulting, LLC to the extent of his pecuniary interest.
|
•
|
Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to our formation and initial public offering and to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination;
|
•
|
Repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender.
|
•
|
17,500,000 shares of our Class A common stock underlying the units being offered in this offering; and
|
•
|
4,375,000 shares of Class B common stock held by our initial stockholders.
|
•
|
in whole and not in part;
|
•
|
at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
|
•
|
upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each warrant holder; and
|
•
|
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders (the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments”).
|
•
|
in whole and not in part;
|
•
|
at a price equal to a number of shares of Class A common stock to be determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described below;
|
•
|
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption;
|
•
|
if, and only if, the Reference Value (as defined above under “—Redemption of warrants for cash”) equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “Description of Securities—Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Anti-dilution Adjustments”) on the trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders; and
|
•
|
if, and only if, the Reference Value (as defined above under “—Redemption of warrants for cash”) is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “Description of Securities—Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Anti-dilution Adjustments”), the private placement warrants must also concurrently be called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding public warrants, as described above.
|
•
|
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the trust account (less up to $100,000 of interest released to us to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law;
|
•
|
Prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination;
|
•
|
Although we do not intend to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or our officers, we are not prohibited from doing so. In the event we enter into such a transaction, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that such a business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view;
|
•
|
If a stockholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents
|
•
|
Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes and excluding the deferred underwriting commissions held in the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination;
|
•
|
If our stockholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes as well as expenses relating to the administration of the trust account, divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares; and
|
•
|
We will not complete our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
|
•
|
a stockholder who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock (otherwise known as an “interested stockholder”);
|
•
|
an affiliate of an interested stockholder; or
|
•
|
an associate of an interested stockholder, for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder.
|
•
|
our Board approves the transaction that made the stockholder an “interested stockholder,” prior to the date of the transaction;
|
•
|
after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, other than statutorily excluded shares of common stock; or
|
•
|
on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by our Board and authorized at a meeting of our stockholders, and not by written consent, by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.
|
•
|
1% of the total number of shares of common stock then outstanding, which will equal 218,750 shares immediately after this offering (or 251,563 if the underwriter exercises the over-allotment option in full); or
|
•
|
the average weekly reported trading volume of the common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.
|
•
|
the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;
|
•
|
the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
|
•
|
the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and materials required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Current Reports on Form 8-K; and
|
•
|
at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.
|
•
|
banks;
|
•
|
certain financial institutions;
|
•
|
regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts;
|
•
|
insurance companies;
|
•
|
brokers, dealers or traders in securities;
|
•
|
traders in securities that elect to mark to market;
|
•
|
tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;
|
•
|
U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;
|
•
|
persons holding our units, Class A common stock or warrants as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;
|
•
|
persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our voting stock by vote or value;
|
•
|
“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;
|
•
|
S corporations, partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);
|
•
|
persons deemed to sell our units, Class A common stock or warrants under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;
|
•
|
persons who hold or receive our units, Class A common stock or warrants pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;
|
•
|
tax-qualified retirement plans; and
|
•
|
“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds.
|
•
|
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
|
•
|
a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;
|
•
|
an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
|
•
|
a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
|
•
|
a non-resident alien individual;
|
•
|
a foreign corporation; or
|
•
|
a foreign estate or trust.
|
•
|
the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);
|
•
|
the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or
|
•
|
we are or have been a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. Holder held our Class A common stock or warrants, as applicable, and, in the case where shares of our Class A common stock and warrants are treated as regularly traded on an established securities market, the Non-U.S. Holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our Class A common stock or more than 5% of warrants, as applicable, at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares of our Class A common stock or warrants, as applicable. There can be no assurance that our Class A common stock or warrants will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose.
|
|
| |
Payable by us
|
|||
|
| |
No Exercise
|
| |
Full Exercise
|
Per Unit(1)
|
| |
$0.55
|
| |
$0.55
|
Total
|
| |
$9,625,000
|
| |
$11,068,750
|
(1)
|
$0.20 per unit, or $3,500,000 in the aggregate (or $4,025,000 in the aggregate if the option to purchase additional units is exercised in full), is payable upon the closing of this offering. $0.35 per unit, or $6,125,000 in the aggregate (or $7,043,750 in the aggregate if the option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) payable to the underwriter for deferred underwriting commissions will be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriter only on and concurrently with completion of an initial business combination. Up to $0.10 per unit, or up to $1,750,000 (or $2,012,500 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), of such amount may instead be paid, at our sole discretion, to third parties not participating in this offering (but are FINRA members) that assist us in consummating our initial business combination.
|
•
|
Short sales involve secondary market sales by the underwriter of a greater number of units than it is required to purchase in the offering.
|
•
|
“Covered” short sales are sales of units in an amount up to the number of units represented by the underwriter’s over-allotment option.
|
•
|
“Naked” short sales are sales of units in an amount in excess of the number of units represented by the underwriter’s over-allotment option.
|
•
|
Covering transactions involve purchases of units either pursuant to the underwriter’s over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions.
|
•
|
To close a naked short position, the underwriter must purchase units in the open market after the distribution has been completed. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriter is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.
|
•
|
To close a covered short position, the underwriter must purchase units in the open market after the distribution has been completed or must exercise the over-allotment option. In determining the source of units to close the covered short position, the underwriter will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which the underwriter may purchase units through the underwriter’s over-allotment option.
|
•
|
Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase units so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.
|
(a)
|
to legal entities which are qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation;
|
(b)
|
to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the manager for any such offer; or
|
(c)
|
in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation.
|
(a)
|
to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;
|
(b)
|
to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the UK Prospectus Regulation) in the United Kingdom subject to obtaining the prior consent of the manager for any such offer; or
|
(c)
|
at any time in any other circumstances falling within section 86 of the FSMA,
|
(a)
|
it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to the company; and
|
(b)
|
it has complied with, and will comply with all applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the units in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
|
•
|
the purchaser is entitled under applicable provincial securities laws to purchase the units without the benefit of a prospectus qualified under those securities laws as it is an “accredited investor” as defined under National Instrument 45-106—Prospectus Exemptions or
|
•
|
Section 73.3 of the Securities Act (Ontario), as applicable;
|
•
|
the purchaser is a “permitted client” as defined in National Instrument 31-103—Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations;
|
•
|
where required by law, the purchaser is purchasing as principal and not as agent; and
|
•
|
the purchaser has reviewed the text above under Resale Restrictions.
|
|
| |
|
ASSETS
|
| |
|
Current assets - cash
|
| |
$25,000
|
Deferred offering costs
|
| |
148,131
|
TOTAL ASSETS
|
| |
$173,131
|
|
| |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
|
| |
|
Current liabilities:
|
| |
|
Accrued expenses
|
| |
$1,000
|
Accrued offering costs
|
| |
148,131
|
Total Liabilities
|
| |
149,131
|
|
| |
|
Commitments (Note 6)
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Stockholder’s Equity
|
| |
|
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
|
| |
—
|
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
|
| |
—
|
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 5,031,250 issued and outstanding(1)
|
| |
503
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
| |
24,497
|
Accumulated deficit
|
| |
(1,000)
|
Total Stockholder’s Equity
|
| |
24,000
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
|
| |
$173,131
|
(1)
|
Includes up to 656,250 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriter (see Note 5).
|
|
| |
|
Formation costs
|
| |
$1,000
|
Net Loss
|
| |
$(1,000)
|
|
| |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted(1)
|
| |
4,375,000
|
Basic and diluted net loss per common share
|
| |
$(0.00)
|
(1)
|
Excludes up to 656,250 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriter (see Note 5).
|
|
| |
Class B Common
Stock
|
| |
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
|
| |
Accumulated
Deficit
|
| |
Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
|
|||
|
| |
Shares
|
| |
Amount
|
| ||||||||
Balance at March 1, 2021 (inception)
|
| |
—
|
| |
$—
|
| |
$—
|
| |
$—
|
| |
$—
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Issuance of Class B common stock to Sponsor(1)
|
| |
5,031,250
|
| |
503
|
| |
24,497
|
| |
—
|
| |
25,000
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Net loss
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
(1,000)
|
| |
(1,000)
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Balance at March 4, 2021
|
| |
5,031,250
|
| |
$503
|
| |
$24,497
|
| |
$(1,000)
|
| |
$24,000
|
(1)
|
Includes up to 656,250 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriter (see Note 5).
|
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
|
| |
|
Net loss
|
| |
$(1,000)
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
| |
|
Accrued expenses
|
| |
1,000
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
| |
—
|
|
| |
|
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
|
| |
|
Proceeds from sale of Class B common stock to Sponsor
|
| |
25,000
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
| |
25,000
|
|
| |
|
Net Change in Cash
|
| |
25,000
|
Cash - Beginning of period
|
| |
—
|
Cash - End of period
|
| |
$25,000
|
|
| |
|
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
|
| |
|
Deferred offering costs included in accrued offering costs
|
| |
$148,131
|
•
|
in whole and not in part;
|
•
|
at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
|
•
|
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, or the 30-day redemption period, to each warrant holder; and
|
•
|
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three trading days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders (the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like).
|
•
|
in whole and not in part;
|
•
|
at a price of $0.10 per warrant;
|
•
|
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares of Class A common stock determined based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of Class A common stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described below;
|
•
|
if, and only if, the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like); and
|
•
|
if, and only if, the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like), the Private Placement Warrants must also be concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding Public Warrants, as described above.
|
Item 13.
|
Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
| |
$250,000
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
| |
40,000
|
SEC filing fees and expenses
|
| |
21,956
|
FINRA filing fees and expenses
|
| |
30,688
|
Nasdaq listing and filing fees
|
| |
75,000
|
Directors and officers insurance(1)
|
| |
650,000
|
Printing and engraving expenses
|
| |
40,000
|
Miscellaneous expenses(2)
|
| |
392,356
|
Total offering expenses
|
| |
$1,500,000
|
(1)
|
This amount represents the approximate amount of annual director and officer liability insurance premiums the registrant anticipates paying following the completion of its initial public offering and until it completes a business combination.
|
(2)
|
This amount represents additional expenses that may be incurred by us in connection with the offering over and above those specifically listed above, including distribution and mailing costs.
|
Item 14.
|
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
|
i.
|
A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
|
ii.
|
A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation
|
iii.
|
To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
|
iv.
|
Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer of the corporation at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
|
v.
|
Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former officers and directors or other employees and agents of the corporation or by persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
|
vi.
|
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.
|
vii.
|
A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
|
viii.
|
For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request
|
ix.
|
For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
|
x.
|
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
|
xi.
|
The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).
|
Item 15.
|
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
|
Item 16.
|
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
|
Exhibit No.
|
| |
Description
|
1.1*
|
| |
Form of Underwriting Agreement.
|
| |
Certificate of Incorporation.
|
|
3.2*
|
| |
Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
|
| |
Bylaws.
|
|
4.1*
|
| |
Specimen Unit Certificate.
|
4.2*
|
| |
Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate.
|
4.3*
|
| |
Specimen Warrant Certificate.
|
4.4*
|
| |
Form of Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp.
|
5.1*
|
| |
Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP.
|
10.1*
|
| |
Form of Letter Agreement among Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp., initial stockholders and its officers and directors and Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC.
|
10.2*
|
| |
Form of Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp.
|
10.3*
|
| |
Form of Registration Rights Agreement among Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp. and certain security holders.
|
| |
Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2021, between Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp. and Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC.
|
|
10.5*
|
| |
Form of Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement between Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp. and Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC.
|
10.6*
|
| |
Form of Indemnity Agreement.
|
| |
Promissory Note issued in favor of Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC, dated March 4, 2021.
|
|
14.1*
|
| |
Code of Ethics.
|
| |
Consent of Marcum LLP.
|
|
23.2*
|
| |
Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
|
| |
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page herein).
|
|
99.1*
|
| |
Form of Audit Committee Charter.
|
99.2*
|
| |
Form of Compensation Committee Charter.
|
99.3*
|
| |
Form of Nominating and Governance Committee Charter.
|
| |
Consent of Jay Gardner.
|
|
| |
Consent of David Magdol.
|
|
| |
Consent of Mia Mends.
|
|
| |
Consent of Carolyn Rodz.
|
*
|
To be filed by amendment.
|
Item 17.
|
Undertakings.
|
|
| |
MERCURY ECOMMERCE ACQUISITION CORP.
|
|||
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
By:
|
| |
/s/ R. Andrew White
|
|
| |
|
| |
R. Andrew White
|
|
| |
|
| |
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Name
|
| |
Position
|
| |
Date
|
/s/ M. Blair Garrou
|
| |
Chairman
|
| |
March 25, 2021
|
M. Blair Garrou
|
| |||||
|
| |
|
| |
|
/s/ R. Andrew White
|
| |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
|
| |
March 25, 2021
|
R. Andrew White
|
| |||||
|
| |
|
| |
|
/s/ Winston Gilpin
|
| |
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
(Principal Finance and Accounting Officer)
|
| |
March 25, 2021
|
Winston Gilpin
|
|
|
• |
the numerator shall be equal to the sum of (A) 25% of all shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable (upon the conversion or exercise of any equity-linked
securities or otherwise) by the Corporation, related to or in connection with the consummation of the initial Business Combination (excluding any securities issued or issuable to any seller in the initial Business Combination) plus (B) the
number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination; and
|
|
• |
the denominator shall be the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination.
|
Name
|
Address
|
R. Andrew White
|
3737 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 1750
|
Houston, TX 77098
|
By:
|
/s/ R. Andrew White
|
|
Name:
|
R. Andrew White
|
|
Title:
|
Sole Incorporator
|
Exhibit 3.3
BYLAWS
OF
MERCURY ECOMMERCE ACQUISITION CORP.
(THE “CORPORATION”)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.1. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation within the State of Delaware shall be located at either (a) the principal place of business of the Corporation in the State of Delaware or (b) the office of the corporation or individual acting as the Corporation’s registered agent in Delaware.
Section 1.2. Additional Offices. The Corporation may, in addition to its registered office in the State of Delaware, have such other offices and places of business, both within and outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) may from time to time determine or as the business and affairs of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS
Section 2.1. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a). At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote on such matters shall elect those directors of the Corporation to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of such annual meeting and may transact any other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 2.2. Special Meetings. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of the preferred stock of the Corporation (“Preferred Stock”), and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and may not be called by any other person. Special meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the Corporation’s notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a).
Section 2.3. Notices. Written notice of each stockholders meeting stating the place, if any, date, and time of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is
different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, shall be given in the manner permitted by Section 9.3 to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, by the Corporation not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting unless otherwise required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). If said notice is for a stockholders meeting other than an annual meeting, it shall in addition state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, and the business transacted at such meeting shall be limited to the matters so stated in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto). Any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be postponed, and any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be cancelled, by the Board upon public announcement (as defined in Section 2.7(c)) given before the date previously scheduled for such meeting.
Section 2.4. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these bylaws of the Corporation (these “Bylaws”), the presence, in person or by proxy, at a stockholders meeting of the holders of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Corporation representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. If a quorum shall not be present or represented by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.6 until a quorum shall attend. The stockholders present at a duly convened meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any such other corporation to vote shares held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 2.5. Voting of Shares.
(a) Voting Lists. The Secretary of the Corporation (the “Secretary”) shall prepare, or shall cause the officer or agent who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders of record entitled to vote at such meeting; provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address and the number and class of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this Section 2.5(a) shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to
2 |
such list is provided with the notice of the meeting; or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If a meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of remote communication as permitted by Section 9.5(a), the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list required by this Section 2.5(a) or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
(b) Manner of Voting. At any stockholders meeting, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy. If authorized by the Board, the voting by stockholders or proxy holders at any meeting conducted by remote communication may be effected by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 9.3), provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which the Corporation can determine that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxy holder. The Board, in its discretion, or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders, in such person’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
(c) Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Proxies need not be filed with the Secretary until the meeting is called to order, but shall be filed with the Secretary before being voted. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, either of the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority. No stockholder shall have cumulative voting rights.
(i) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such person’s signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
(ii) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any
3 |
and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used; provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
(d) Required Vote. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, at all meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. All other matters presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, unless the matter is one upon which, by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable stock exchange rules, a different vote is required, in which case such provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter.
(e) Inspectors of Election. The Board may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, designate one or more persons as inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation or otherwise serve the Corporation in other capacities, to act at such meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Board may appoint one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspectors of election or alternates are appointed by the Board, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of outstanding shares and the voting power of each; determine the number of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots; count all votes and ballots and report the results; determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors.
Section 2.6. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned by the chairman of the meeting, from time to time, whether or not there is a quorum, to reconvene at the same or some other place. Notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time, and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the stockholders, or the holders of any class or series of stock entitled to vote separately as a class, as the case may be, may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with
4 |
Section 9.2, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
Section 2.7. Advance Notice for Business.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. No business may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than business that is either (i) specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record entitled to vote at such annual meeting on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.7(a) and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.7(a). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.7(a) to the contrary, only persons nominated for election as a director to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of the annual meeting pursuant to Section 3.2 will be considered for election at such meeting.
(i) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business (other than nominations) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary and such business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. Subject to Section 2.7(a)(iii), a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to such business, to be timely, must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made by the Corporation. The public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 2.7(a).
(ii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to any business (other than nominations) must set forth as to each such matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (B) the name and record address of such stockholder and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (D) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such
5 |
stockholder, (E) any material interest of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made in such business and (F) a representation that such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting.
(iii) The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder as to any proposal (other than nominations) if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of such stockholder’s intention to present such proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and such stockholder has complied with the requirements of such rule for inclusion of such proposal in a proxy statement prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. No business shall be conducted at the annual meeting of stockholders except business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.7(a), provided, however, that once business has been properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any such business. If the Board or the chairman of the annual meeting determines that any stockholder proposal was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.7(a) or that the information provided in a stockholder’s notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this Section 2.7(a), such proposal shall not be presented for action at the annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.7(a), if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the proposed business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such matter may have been received by the Corporation.
(iv) In addition to the provisions of this Section 2.7(a), a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein. Nothing in this Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made only at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting pursuant to Section 3.2.
(c) Public Announcement. For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed or furnished by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (or any successor thereto).
Section 2.8. Conduct of Meetings. The chairman of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Executive Officer or if the Chief Executive
6 |
Officer is not a director, the President (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, such other person as shall be appointed by the Board. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with these Bylaws or such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The secretary of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Secretary or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary so appointed to act by the chairman of the meeting. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.9. Consents in Lieu of Meeting. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, until the Corporation consummates an initial public offering, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
Section 2.10. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this section and the DGCL to the Corporation, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders entitled to vote to take action are delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
7 |
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 3.1. Powers; Number. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board.
Section 3.2. Advance Notice for Nomination of Directors.
(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided by the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock with respect to the rights of holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors as set forth in the Corporation’s notice of such special meeting, may be made (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record entitled to vote in the election of directors on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 3.2 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 3.2.
(b) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) in the case of an annual meeting, not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was first made by the Corporation; and (ii) in the case of a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 3.2.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (b) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board at an annual meeting is greater than the number of directors whose terms expire on the date of the annual meeting and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for the additional directors to be elected or specifying the size of the increased Board before the close of business on the 90th day
8 |
prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 3.2 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships created by such increase that are to be filled by election at such annual meeting, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such public announcement was first made by the Corporation.
(d) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially or of record by the person and (D) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice (A) the name and record address of such stockholder as they appear on the Corporation’s books and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (B) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (C) a description of all arrangements or understandings relating to the nomination to be made by such stockholder among such stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names), (D) a representation that such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice and (E) any other information relating to such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.
(e) If the Board or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders determines that any nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.2, or that the information provided in a stockholder’s notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this Section 3.2, then such nomination shall not be considered at the meeting in question. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.2, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been received by the Corporation.
(f) In addition to the provisions of this Section 3.2, a stockholder shall also comply with all of the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein. Nothing in this Section 3.2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation.
9 |
Section 3.3. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors, including for service on a committee of the Board, and may be paid either a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or other compensation as director. The directors may be reimbursed their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of committees of the Board may be allowed like compensation and reimbursement of expenses for service on the committee.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD MEETINGS
Section 4.1. Annual Meetings. The Board shall meet as soon as practicable after the adjournment of each annual stockholders meeting at the place of the annual stockholders meeting unless the Board shall fix another time and place and give notice thereof in the manner required herein for special meetings of the Board. No notice to the directors shall be necessary to legally convene this meeting, except as provided in this Section 4.1.
Section 4.2. Regular Meetings. Regularly scheduled, periodic meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such times, dates and places (within or without the State of Delaware) as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.
Section 4.3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board (a) may be called by the Chairman of the Board or President and (b) shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, President or Secretary on the written request of at least a majority of directors then in office, or the sole director, as the case may be, and shall be held at such time, date and place (within or without the State of Delaware) as may be determined by the person calling the meeting or, if called upon the request of directors or the sole director, as specified in such written request. Notice of each special meeting of the Board shall be given, as provided in Section 9.3, to each director (i) at least 24 hours before the meeting if such notice is oral notice given personally or by telephone or written notice given by hand delivery or by means of a form of electronic transmission and delivery; (ii) at least two days before the meeting if such notice is sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service; and (iii) at least five days before the meeting if such notice is sent through the United States mail. If the Secretary shall fail or refuse to give such notice, then the notice may be given by the officer who called the meeting or the directors who requested the meeting. Any and all business that may be transacted at a regular meeting of the Board may be transacted at a special meeting. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. A special meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 9.4.
Section 4.4. Quorum; Required Vote. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting, a majority of the directors present
10 |
may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.
Section 4.5. Consent In Lieu of Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions (or paper reproductions thereof) are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 4.6. Organization. The chairman of each meeting of the Board shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Executive Officer or if the Chief Executive Officer is not a director, the President (if he or she shall be a director) or in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, a chairman elected from the directors present. The Secretary shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of the Secretary at such meeting. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1. Establishment. The Board may by resolution of the Board designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required by the resolution designating such committee. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee.
Section 5.2. Available Powers. Any committee established pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, to the extent permitted by applicable law and by resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it.
Section 5.3. Alternate Members. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 5.4. Procedures. Unless the Board otherwise provides, the time, date, place, if any, and notice of meetings of a committee shall be determined by such committee. At meetings
11 |
of a committee, a majority of the number of members of the committee (but not including any alternate member, unless such alternate member has replaced any absent or disqualified member at the time of, or in connection with, such meeting) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee, except as otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the Board. If a quorum is not present at a meeting of a committee, the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. Unless the Board otherwise provides and except as provided in these Bylaws, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter, amend and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board is authorized to conduct its business pursuant to Article III and Article IV of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Section 6.1. Officers. The officers of the Corporation elected by the Board shall be Chief Executive Officer and such other officers (including without limitation, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary, a Chairman of the Board, a President, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and a Treasurer) as the Board from time to time may determine. Officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article VI. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board. The Chief Executive Officer or President may also appoint such other officers (including without limitation one or more Vice Presidents and Controllers) as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such other officers shall have such powers and duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as may be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board or, if such officer has been appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President, as may be prescribed by the appointing officer.
(a) Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall have general supervision and control of the acquisition activities of the Corporation subject to the ultimate authority of the Board, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board with respect to such matters. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board shall not include supervision or control of the preparation of the financial statements of the Corporation (other than through participation as a member of the Board). The position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer may be held by the same person and may be held by more than one person.
(b) Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation and general control of all of its business subject to the ultimate authority of the Board, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board with respect to such matters, except to the extent any such powers and duties have been prescribed to the Chairman of the Board pursuant
12 |
to Section 6.1(a) above. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The position of Chief Executive Officer and President may be held by the same person and may be held by more than one person.
(c) President. The President shall make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer on all operational matters that would normally be reserved for the final executive responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the President (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The President shall also perform such duties and have such powers as shall be designated by the Board. The position of President and Chief Executive Officer may be held by the same person.
(d) Vice Presidents. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President, the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated by the Board) shall perform the duties and have the powers of the President. Any one or more of the Vice Presidents may be given an additional designation of rank or function.
(e) Secretary.
(i) The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders, the Board and (as required) committees of the Board and shall record the proceedings of such meetings in books to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President. The Secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and the Secretary, or any Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing thereof by his or her signature.
(ii) The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, if one has been appointed, a stock ledger, or duplicate stock ledger, showing the names of the stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each and, with respect to certificated shares, the number and date of certificates issued for the same and the number and date of certificates cancelled.
(f) Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform all duties commonly incident to that office (including, without limitation, the care and custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, which from time to time may come into the Chief Financial Officer’s hands and the deposit of the funds of the Corporation in such banks or trust companies as the Board, Chief Executive Officer or the President may authorize).
(g) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Financial Officer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Financial Officer.
13 |
Section 6.2. Term of Office; Removal; Vacancies. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be appointed by the Board and shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified by the Board or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal from office. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the Board. Any officer appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President may also be removed, with or without cause, by the Chief Executive Officer or President, as the case may be, unless the Board otherwise provides. Any vacancy occurring in any elected office of the Corporation may be filled by the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President may be filled by the Chief Executive Officer, or President, as the case may be, unless the Board then determines that such office shall thereupon be elected by the Board, in which case the Board shall elect such officer.
Section 6.3. Other Officers. The Board may delegate the power to appoint such other officers and agents, and may also remove such officers and agents or delegate the power to remove same, as it shall from time to time deem necessary or desirable.
Section 6.4. Multiple Officeholders; Stockholder and Director Officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide. Officers need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE VII
SHARES
Section 7.1. Certificated and Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, subject to the sole discretion of the Board and the requirements of the DGCL.
Section 7.2. Multiple Classes of Stock. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the Corporation shall (a) cause the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights to be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of any certificate that the Corporation issues to represent shares of such class or series of stock or (b) in the case of uncertificated shares, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth on certificates as specified in clause (a) above; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of such certificate or, in the case of uncertificated shares, on such written notice a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences or rights.
Section 7.3. Signatures. Each certificate representing capital stock of the Corporation shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by (a) the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and (b) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Any or all the signatures on the
14 |
certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, such certificate may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar on the date of issue.
Section 7.4. Consideration and Payment for Shares.
(a) Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares of stock may be issued for such consideration, having in the case of shares with par value a value not less than the par value thereof, and to such persons, as determined from time to time by the Board. The consideration may consist of any tangible or intangible property or any benefit to the Corporation including cash, promissory notes, services performed, contracts for services to be performed or other securities, or any combination thereof.
(b) Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares may not be issued until the full amount of the consideration has been paid, unless upon the face or back of each certificate issued to represent any partly paid shares of capital stock or upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of partly paid uncertificated shares, there shall have been set forth the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon up to and including the time said certificate representing certificated shares or said uncertificated shares are issued.
Section 7.5. Lost, Destroyed or Wrongfully Taken Certificates.
(a) If an owner of a certificate representing shares claims that such certificate has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form if the owner: (i) requests such a new certificate before the Corporation has notice that the certificate representing such shares has been acquired by a protected purchaser; (ii) if requested by the Corporation, delivers to the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, wrongful taking or destruction of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares; and (iii) satisfies other reasonable requirements imposed by the Corporation.
(b) If a certificate representing shares has been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken, and the owner fails to notify the Corporation of that fact within a reasonable time after the owner has notice of such loss, apparent destruction or wrongful taking and the Corporation registers a transfer of such shares before receiving notification, the owner shall be precluded from asserting against the Corporation any claim for registering such transfer or a claim to a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form.
Section 7.6. Transfer of Stock.
(a) If a certificate representing shares of the Corporation is presented to the Corporation with an endorsement requesting the registration of transfer of such shares or an instruction is presented to the Corporation requesting the registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall register the transfer as requested if:
15 |
(i) in the case of certificated shares, the certificate representing such shares has been surrendered;
(ii) (A) with respect to certificated shares, the endorsement is made by the person specified by the certificate as entitled to such shares; (B) with respect to uncertificated shares, an instruction is made by the registered owner of such uncertificated shares; or (C) with respect to certificated shares or uncertificated shares, the endorsement or instruction is made by any other appropriate person or by an agent who has actual authority to act on behalf of the appropriate person;
(iii) the Corporation has received a guarantee of signature of the person signing such endorsement or instruction or such other reasonable assurance that the endorsement or instruction is genuine and authorized as the Corporation may request;
(iv) the transfer does not violate any restriction on transfer imposed by the Corporation that is enforceable in accordance with Section 7.8(a); and
(v) such other conditions for such transfer as shall be provided for under applicable law have been satisfied.
(b) Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security and not absolutely, the Corporation shall so record such fact in the entry of transfer if, when the certificate for such shares is presented to the Corporation for transfer or, if such shares are uncertificated, when the instruction for registration of transfer thereof is presented to the Corporation, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.
Section 7.7. Registered Stockholders. Before due presentment for registration of transfer of a certificate representing shares of the Corporation or of an instruction requesting registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to inspect for any proper purpose the stock ledger and the other books and records of the Corporation, vote such shares, receive dividends or notifications with respect to such shares and otherwise exercise all the rights and powers of the owner of such shares, except that a person who is the beneficial owner of such shares (if held in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person) may, upon providing documentary evidence of beneficial ownership of such shares and satisfying such other conditions as are provided under applicable law, may also so inspect the books and records of the Corporation.
Section 7.8. Effect of the Corporation’s Restriction on Transfer
(a) A written restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, if permitted by the DGCL and noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such shares or, in the case of uncertificated shares, contained in a notice, offering circular or prospectus sent by the Corporation to the registered owner of such shares within a reasonable time prior to or after the issuance or transfer of such shares, may be enforced against the holder of such shares or any successor or transferee of the holder including an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of the holder.
16 |
(b) A restriction imposed by the Corporation on the transfer or the registration of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, even if otherwise lawful, is ineffective against a person without actual knowledge of such restriction unless: (i) the shares are certificated and such restriction is noted conspicuously on the certificate; or (ii) the shares are uncertificated and such restriction was contained in a notice, offering circular or prospectus sent by the Corporation to the registered owner of such shares within a reasonable time prior to or after the issuance or transfer of such shares.
Section 7.9. Regulations. The Board shall have power and authority to make such additional rules and regulations, subject to any applicable requirement of law, as the Board may deem necessary and appropriate with respect to the issue, transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock or certificates representing shares. The Board may appoint one or more transfer agents or registrars and may require for the validity thereof that certificates representing shares bear the signature of any transfer agent or registrar so appointed.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1. Right to Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such proceeding; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 8.3 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
Section 8.2. Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 8.1, an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law the expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon the Corporation’s receipt of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall
17 |
ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or otherwise.
Section 8.3. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (a) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by an Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (b) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including a determination by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, shall be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
Section 8.4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights provided to any Indemnitee pursuant to this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right, which such Indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, an agreement, a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Section 8.5. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 8.6. Indemnification of Other Persons. This Article VIII shall not limit the right of the Corporation to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Indemnitees. Without limiting the foregoing, the Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the
18 |
Corporation and to any other person who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of Indemnitees under this Article VIII.
Section 8.7. Amendments. Any repeal or amendment of this Article VIII by the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provision of these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article VIII, will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights to Indemnitees on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision; provided, however, that amendments or repeals of this Article VIII shall require the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding at least 66.7% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 8.8. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VIII, (a) references to “other enterprise” shall include any employee benefit plan; (b) references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; (c) references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service that imposes duties on, or involves services by, a person with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and (d) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation” for purposes of Section 145 of the DGCL.
Section 8.9. Contract Rights. The rights provided to Indemnitees pursuant to this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, agent or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.
Section 8.10. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article VIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article VIII shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VIII (including, without limitation, each such portion of this Article VIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1. Place of Meetings. If the place of any meeting of stockholders, the Board or committee of the Board for which notice is required under these Bylaws is not designated in the notice of such meeting, such meeting shall be held at the principal business office of the
19 |
Corporation; provided, however, if the Board has, in its sole discretion, determined that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but instead shall be held by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5 hereof, then such meeting shall not be held at any place.
Section 9.2. Fixing Record Dates.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.2(a) at the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 9.3. Means of Giving Notice.
(a) Notice to Directors. Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any director, such notice shall be given either (i) in writing and sent by mail, or by a nationally recognized delivery service, (ii) by means of facsimile telecommunication or other form of electronic transmission, or (iii) by oral notice given personally or by telephone. A notice to a director will be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, orally, or by telephone, when actually received by the director, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iv) if sent by facsimile telecommunication, when sent to the facsimile transmission number for such director appearing
20 |
on the records of the Corporation, (v) if sent by electronic mail, when sent to the electronic mail address for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, or (vi) if sent by any other form of electronic transmission, when sent to the address, location or number (as applicable) for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation.
(b) Notice to Stockholders. Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any stockholder, such notice may be given (i) in writing and sent either by hand delivery, through the United States mail, or by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, or (ii) by means of a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder, to the extent permitted by, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 232 of the DGCL. A notice to a stockholder shall be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, when actually received by the stockholder, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, and (iv) if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given and otherwise meeting the requirements set forth above, (A) if by facsimile transmission, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (B) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (C) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specified posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of such separate notice, and (D) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent to receiving notice by means of electronic communication by giving written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or to the Corporation’s transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
(c) Electronic Transmission. “Electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process, including but not limited to transmission by telex, facsimile telecommunication, electronic mail, telegram and cablegram.
(d) Notice to Stockholders Sharing Same Address. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively by the Corporation to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent by delivering written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation
21 |
within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send such a single written notice shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.
(e) Exceptions to Notice Requirements. Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.
Whenever notice is required to be given by the Corporation, under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any stockholder to whom (1) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of stockholders and all notices of stockholder meetings or of the taking of action by written consent of stockholders without a meeting to such stockholder during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (2) all, and at least two payments (if sent by first-class mail) of dividends or interest on securities during a 12-month period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at such stockholder’s address as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth such stockholder’s then current address, the requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate need not state that notice was not given to persons to whom notice was not required to be given pursuant to Section 230(b) of the DGCL. The exception in subsection (1) of the first sentence of this paragraph to the requirement that notice be given shall not be applicable to any notice returned as undeliverable if the notice was given by electronic transmission.
Section 9.4. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, a written waiver of such notice, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to such required notice. All such waivers shall be kept with the books of the Corporation. Attendance at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a person attends for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.
Section 9.5. Meeting Attendance via Remote Communication Equipment.
(a) Stockholder Meetings. If authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders entitled to vote at such
22 |
meeting and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:
(i) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and
(ii) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (A) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder, (B) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and, if entitled to vote, to vote on matters submitted to the applicable stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (C) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such votes or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
(b) Board Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.
Section 9.6. Dividends. The Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends (payable in cash, property or shares of the Corporation’s capital stock) on the Corporation’s outstanding shares of capital stock, subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 9.7. Reserves. The Board may set apart out of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.
Section 9.8. Contracts and Negotiable Instruments. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument may be executed and delivered in the name and on behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers or other employee or employees of the Corporation as the Board may from time to time authorize. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board may determine. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may delegate powers to execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to other officers or employees of the Corporation under such person’s supervision and authority, it being understood, however, that
23 |
any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.
Section 9.9. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board.
Section 9.10. Seal. The Board may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in such form as the Board determines. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.
Section 9.11. Books and Records. The books and records of the Corporation may be kept within or outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.
Section 9.12. Resignation. Any director, committee member or officer may resign by giving notice thereof in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. The resignation shall take effect at the time it is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 9.13. Surety Bonds. Such officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (if any) as the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board may direct, from time to time, shall be bonded for the faithful performance of their duties and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in their possession or under their control belonging to the Corporation, in such amounts and by such surety companies as the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may determine. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Corporation and the bonds so furnished shall be in the custody of the Secretary.
Section 9.14. Securities of Other Corporations. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents in writing and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or any officers authorized by the Board. Any such officer, may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such corporation, and at any such meeting or with respect to any such consent shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed. The Board may from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 9.15. Amendments. The Board shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or
24 |
series of capital stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power (except as otherwise provided in Section 8.7) of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws.
25 |
Exhibit 10.4
Mercury Ecommerce Acqusition Corp.
3737 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 1750
Houston, Texas 770098
March 4, 2021
Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC
3737 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 1750
Houston, Texas 770098
RE: | Securities Subscription Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “us”), is pleased to accept the offer of Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Subscriber” or “you”), has made to subscribe for 5,031,250 shares of Class B common stock (the “Shares”), $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Class B Shares”), up to 656,250 of which are subject to forfeiture by you if the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering of its securities (“IPO”), if any, do not fully exercise their over-allotment option (the “Over-allotment Option”). For the purposes of this agreement (this “Agreement”), references to “Common Stock” are to, collectively, the Class B Shares and the Company’s shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class A Shares”). Upon certain terms and conditions, the Class B Shares will automatically convert into Class A Shares on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. Unless the context otherwise requires, as used herein “Shares” shall be deemed to include any Class A Shares issued upon conversion of the Class B Shares comprising the Shares. The terms on which the Company is willing to issue the Shares to the Subscriber, and the Company and the Subscriber’s agreements regarding such Shares, are as follows:
1. Subscription of Shares. For the sum of $25,000, which the Company acknowledges receiving in cash, the Company hereby issues the Shares to the Subscriber, and the Subscriber hereby subscribes for the Shares from the Company, subject to forfeiture, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. Concurrently with the Subscriber’s execution of this Agreement, the Company shall effect the delivery of the Shares in book-entry form.
2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements.
2.1 Subscriber’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements. To induce the Company to issue the Shares to the Subscriber, the Subscriber hereby represents and warrants to the Company and agrees with the Company as follows:
2.1.1 No Government Recommendation or Approval. The Subscriber understands that no federal or state agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the offering of the Shares.
2.1.2 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Subscriber of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the limited liability company agreement of the Subscriber, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Subscriber is a party, (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Subscriber is subject, or (iv) any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Subscriber is subject.
2.1.3 Organization and Authority. The Subscriber is a Delaware limited liability company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Upon execution and delivery by you, this Agreement is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Subscriber, enforceable against the Subscriber in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
2.1.4 Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability. The Subscriber is: (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Shares and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Shares for an indefinite period of time because the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and therefore cannot be sold unless such transaction is registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. The Subscriber is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. The Subscriber must bear the economic risk of this investment until the Shares are sold pursuant to: (x) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (y) an exemption from registration available with respect to such sale. The Subscriber is able to bear the economic risks of an investment in the Shares and can afford a complete loss of the Subscriber’s investment in the Shares.
2.1.5 Access to Information; Independent Investigation. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Subscriber has had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company, as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, the Subscriber has relied solely on the Subscriber’s own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon the Subscriber’s own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. The Subscriber understands that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2, and the Subscriber has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written or oral, relating to the Company, its operations and/or its prospects.
2.1.6 Private Placement. The Subscriber represents that it is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act, and acknowledges the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption applicable to “accredited investors” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or similar exemptions under state law.
2.1.7 Investment Purposes. The Subscriber is purchasing and subscribing for the Shares solely for investment purposes, for the Subscriber’s own account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof. The Subscriber did not enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
2.1.8 Restrictions on Transfer; Shell Company. The Subscriber understands the Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Subscriber understands the Shares will be “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, and the Subscriber understands that the book-entries representing the Shares will contain a legend or notation in respect of such restrictions. If in the future the Subscriber decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Shares, such Shares may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only pursuant to (i) registration under the Securities Act or (ii) an available exemption from registration. The Subscriber agrees that if any transfer of its Shares or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, the Subscriber may, at the Company’s option, be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company. Absent registration or an exemption, the Subscriber agrees not to resell the Shares. The Subscriber further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to the Subscriber for the resale of the Shares until at least one year following consummation of the initial business combination of the Company (which may not occur), despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.
2.1.9 No Governmental Consents. No governmental, administrative or other third party consents or approvals are required, necessary or appropriate on the part of the Subscriber in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.2 Company’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements. To induce the Subscriber to purchase the Shares, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Subscriber and agrees with the Subscriber as follows:
2.2.1 Incorporation and Corporate Power. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every
2 |
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.
2.2.2 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, as amended to the date hereof (collectively, the “Organizational Documents”), (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party, (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or (iv) any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject.
2.2.3 Title to Shares. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Organizational Documents, the Shares will be duly and validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Organizational Documents, the Subscriber will have or receive good title to the Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements to which the Shares may be subject, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Subscriber.
2.2.4 No Adverse Actions. There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings pending, threatened against or affecting the Company which: (i) seek to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) question the validity or legality of any transactions or seek to recover damages or to obtain other relief in connection with any transactions.
2.2.5 Authorization. The Class A Shares issuable upon conversion of the Class B Shares have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon such conversion.
3. Forfeiture of Shares.
3.1 Partial or No Exercise of the Over-allotment Option. In the event the Over-allotment Option granted to the underwriters of the IPO is not exercised in full, the Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that it (or, if applicable, it and any transferees of Shares, subject to the terms of the applicable transfer and assignment agreement) shall forfeit at the time such Over-allotment Option expires (or earlier if the underwriters of the IPO waive their ability to exercise such Over-allotment Option) any and all rights to such number of Shares (up to an aggregate of 656,250 Shares and pro rata based upon the percentage of the Over-allotment Option exercised) such that immediately following such forfeiture, the number of Shares will equal 20% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock immediately following the IPO (in each case, not including Class A Shares issuable upon exercise of any warrants).
3.2 Termination of Rights as Stockholder. If any of the Shares are forfeited in accordance with this Section 3, then after such time the Subscriber (or successor in interest), shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such forfeited Shares, and the Company shall take such action as is appropriate to cancel such forfeited Shares.
4. Waiver of Liquidation Distributions; Redemption Rights. In connection with the Shares purchased and subscribed for pursuant to this Agreement, the Subscriber hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distributions by the Company from the trust account which will be established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders and into which substantially all of the proceeds of the IPO will be deposited (the “Trust Account”), in the event of a liquidation of the Company upon the Company’s failure to timely complete an initial business combination. For purposes of clarity, in the event the Subscriber purchases securities in the IPO or in the aftermarket, any Class A Shares so purchased and subscribed for shall be eligible to receive any liquidating distributions by the Company. However, in no event will the Subscriber have the right to redeem any shares of Common Stock held by it into funds held in the Trust Account upon the successful completion of an initial business combination.
5. Restrictions on Transfer.
5.1 Securities Law Restrictions. In addition to any restrictions to be contained in that certain letter agreement (commonly known as an “Insider Letter”) dated on or prior to the closing of the IPO by and among the
3 |
Subscriber, the Company and the other parties thereto, the Subscriber agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Shares unless, prior thereto (i) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to the Shares proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (ii) the Company has received, if requested by the Company, an opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required because such transaction is exempt from registration under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and with all applicable state securities laws.
5.2 Lock-up. The Subscriber acknowledges that the Shares will be subject to lock-up provisions (the “Lock-up”) contained in the Insider Letter.
5.3 Restrictive Legends. The book-entries representing the Shares shall contain legends or notations thereon substantially to the effect as follows:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL (IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), IS AVAILABLE.”
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCK-UP.”
5.4 Additional Shares or Substituted Securities. In the event of the declaration of a stock dividend, the declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than Common Stock, a spin-off, a stock split, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding Common Stock without receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities or other property which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Shares subject to this Section 5 or into which such Shares thereby become convertible shall immediately be subject to this Section 5 and Section 3 hereof. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number and/or class of Common Stock subject to this Section 5 and Section 3 hereof.
5.5 Registration Rights. The Subscriber acknowledges that the Shares are being purchased and subscribed for pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or they are registered pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be entered into with the Company prior to the closing of the IPO (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).
6. Other Agreements.
6.1 Further Assurances. The Subscriber agrees to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.
6.2 Notices. All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered: (i) personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission to the address designated in writing, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party and (iii) by electronic mail, to the email address most recently provided to such party or such other email address as may be designated in writing by such party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.
4 |
6.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Insider Letter and the Registration Rights Agreement, each substantially in the form to be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 for the IPO, embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Subscriber and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. No statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of any kind not expressly set forth in this Agreement shall affect, or be used to interpret, change or restrict, the express terms and provisions of this Agreement.
6.4 Modifications and Amendments. The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended only by written agreement executed by all parties hereto.
6.5 Waivers and Consents. The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by a written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions. No such waiver or consent shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver or consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement, whether or not similar. Each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which it was given, and shall not constitute a continuing waiver or consent.
6.6 Assignment. The rights and obligations under this Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party.
6.7 Benefit. All statements, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and shall inure to the benefit of the respective successors and permitted assigns of each party hereto. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create any rights or obligations except among the parties hereto, and no person or entity shall be regarded as a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.
6.8 Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts wholly performed within the borders of such state.
6.9 Severability. In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any provision, or any portion thereof, contained in this Agreement shall be unreasonable or unenforceable in any respect, then such provision shall be deemed limited to the extent that such court deems it reasonable and enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that such court shall deem any such provision, or portion thereof, wholly unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.
6.10 No Waiver of Rights, Powers and Remedies. No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of such party. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any remedy by a party hereto shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a party not expressly required under this Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such notice or demand to any other or further action in any circumstances without such notice or demand.
6.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made by the parties hereto in this Agreement or in any other agreement, certificate or instrument provided for or contemplated hereby, shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and any investigations made by or on behalf of the parties.
6.12 No Broker or Finder. Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to the other that no broker, finder or other financial consultant has acted on its behalf in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in such a way as to create any liability on the other. Each of the parties hereto agrees to indemnify and save the other harmless from any claim or demand for commission or other compensation by any broker, finder, financial consultant or similar agent claiming to have been employed by or on behalf of such party and to bear the cost of legal expenses incurred in defending against any such claim.
5 |
6.13 Headings and Captions. The headings and captions of the various sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall in no way modify or affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions hereof.
6.14 Counterparts; Electronic Signature. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Agreement shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.
6.15 Construction. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
6.16 Mutual Drafting. This Agreement is the joint product of the Subscriber and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
7. Voting and Tender of Shares. The Subscriber agrees to vote the Shares in favor of an initial business combination that the Company negotiates and submits for approval to the Company’s stockholders and shall not seek redemption or repurchase with respect to any of the Shares in connection with an initial business combination or any amendment to the Organizational Documents, as amended, prior to an initial business combination. Additionally, the Subscriber agrees not to tender any Shares in connection with a tender offer presented to the Company’s stockholders in connection with an initial business combination negotiated by the Company.
8. Indemnification. Each party shall indemnify the other against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this Agreement.
(Signature Page Follows)
6 |
If the foregoing accurately sets forth our understanding and agreement, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement and return it to us.
Very truly yours, | ||||
Mercury Ecommerce acquisition corp. | ||||
By: | /s/ Winston Gilpin | |||
Winston Gilpin | ||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||
mercury sponsor group i LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ R. Andrew White | |||
R. Andrew White | ||||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page to Securities Subscription Agreement
Exhibit 10.7
THIS PROMISSORY NOTE (THIS “NOTE”) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”). THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF THE RESALE THEREOF UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY IN FORM, SCOPE AND SUBSTANCE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.
PROMISSORY NOTE
Principal Amount: Up to $300,000 | Dated as of March 4, 2021 |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Maker”), promises to pay to Mercury Sponsor Group I LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or its registered assigns or successors in interest (collectively, “Payee”), or order, the principal sum of up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) or such lesser amount as shall have been advanced by Payee to Maker and shall remain unpaid under this Note on the Maturity Date (as defined below) in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms and conditions described below. All payments on this Note shall be made by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds or as otherwise determined by Maker to such account as Payee may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this Note.
1. Principal. The entire unpaid principal balance of this Note shall be due and payable in full on the earlier of: (i) August 30, 2021; and (ii) the date on which Maker consummates an initial public offering of its securities (the “IPO”) (such earlier date of (i) and (ii), the “Maturity Date”), unless accelerated upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined below). The principal balance may be prepaid at any time by Maker, at its election and without penalty. Under no circumstances shall any individual, including but not limited to any officer, director, employee or shareholder of Maker, be obligated personally for any obligations or liabilities of Maker hereunder.
2. | Interest. No interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note. |
3. Drawdown Requests. Maker and Payee agree that Maker may request, from time to time, up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) in drawdowns under this Note to be used for costs and expenses related to Maker’s formation and proposed IPO. The principal of this Note may be drawn down from time to time prior to the Maturity Date upon written request from Maker to Payee (each, a “Drawdown Request”). Each Drawdown Request must state the amount to be drawn down, and must not be an amount less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) unless agreed upon by Maker and Payee. Payee shall fund each Drawdown Request no later than three (3) business days after receipt of a Drawdown Request; provided, however, that the maximum amount of drawdowns outstanding under this Note at any time may not exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000). No fees, payments or other amounts shall be due to Payee in connection with, or as a result of, any Drawdown Request by Maker.
4. Application of Payments. All payments shall be applied first to payment in full of any costs incurred in the collection of any sum due under this Note, including (without limitation) reasonable attorney’s fees, then to the payment in full of any late charges and finally to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of this Note.
5. Events of Default. The following shall constitute an event of default (“Event of Default”):
(a) Failure to Make Required Payments. Failure by Maker to pay the principal amount due pursuant to this Note on the Maturity Date.
(b) Voluntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The commencement by Maker of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation or other similar law, or the consent by it to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure of Maker generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action by Maker in furtherance of any of the foregoing.
(c) Involuntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of Maker in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency
or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days.
6. | Remedies. |
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 5(a) hereof, Payee may, by written notice to Maker, declare this Note to be due immediately and payable, whereupon the unpaid principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable thereunder, shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.
(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 5(b) or 5(c) hereof, the unpaid principal balance of this Note, and all other sums payable with regard to this Note, shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all cases without any action on the part of Payee.
7. Waivers. Maker and all endorsers and guarantors of, and sureties for, this Note waive presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and notice of protest with regard to the Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any proceedings instituted by Payee under the terms of this Note, and all benefits that might accrue to Maker by virtue of any present or future laws exempting any property, real or personal, or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of any such property, from attachment, levy or sale under execution, or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension of time for payment; and Maker agrees that any real estate that may be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof, on any writ of execution issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ in whole or in part in any order desired by Payee.
8. Unconditional Liability. Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default, or enforcement of the payment of this Note, and agrees that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other party, and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal, waiver or modification granted or consented to by Payee, and consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by Payee with respect to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agrees that additional makers, endorsers, guarantors, or sureties may become parties hereto without notice to Maker or affecting Maker’s liability hereunder.
9. Notices. All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Note shall be: (i) in writing and delivered personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission to the address designated in writing, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party or (iii) by electronic mail (including .pdf), to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.
10. Construction. THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
11. Severability. Any provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
12. Trust Waiver. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Payee hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in or to any distribution of or from the trust account to be established in which proceeds of the IPO (including the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions) and proceeds of the sale of the warrants issued in a private placement to occur in connection with the consummation of the IPO are to be deposited, as described in greater detail in the registration statement and prospectus to be filed with the Securities and
2 |
Exchange Commission in connection with the IPO, and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the trust account for any reason whatsoever.
13. Amendment; Waiver. Any amendment hereto or waiver of any provision hereof may be made with, and only with, the written consent of Maker and Payee.
14. Assignment. No assignment or transfer of this Note or any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by any party hereto (by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party hereto and any attempted assignment without the required consent shall be void.
(Signature page follows)
3 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Maker, intending to be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be duly executed by the undersigned as of the day and year first above written.
Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp. | ||||
a Delaware corporation | ||||
By: | /s/ Winston Gilpin | |||
Winston Gilpin | ||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Agreed and Acknowledged: | ||||
Mercury SPONSOR Group I LLC | ||||
a Delaware limited liability company | ||||
By: | /s/ R. Andrew White | |||
R. Andrew White | ||||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page to Promissory Note
Exhibit 99.4
CONSENT OF JAY GARDNER
Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp. intends to file a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto the “Registration Statement”), registering securities for issuance in its initial public offering. As required by Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned hereby consents to being named in the Registration Statement as a Director Nominee.
March 24, 2021 | /s/ Jay Gardner |
Jay Gardner |
Exhibit 99.5
CONSENT OF DAVID MAGDOL
Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp. intends to file a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto the “Registration Statement”), registering securities for issuance in its initial public offering. As required by Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned hereby consents to being named in the Registration Statement as a Director Nominee.
March 24, 2021 | /s/ David Magdol |
David Magdol |
Exhibit 99.6
CONSENT OF MIA MENDS
Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp. intends to file a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto the “Registration Statement”), registering securities for issuance in its initial public offering. As required by Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned hereby consents to being named in the Registration Statement as a Director Nominee.
March 24, 2021 | /s/ Mia Mends |
Mia Mends |
Exhibit 99.7
CONSENT OF Carolyn Rodz
Mercury Ecommerce Acquisition Corp. intends to file a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto the “Registration Statement”), registering securities for issuance in its initial public offering. As required by Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned hereby consents to being named in the Registration Statement as a Director Nominee.
March 24, 2021 | /s/ Carolyn Rodz |
Carolyn Rodz |