As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on January 26, 2018.
Registration No. 333-222562
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 1
to
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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6770
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82-2657796
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(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: (646) 747-9500
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Jason Mudrick
Chief Executive Officer
527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: (646) 747-9500
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
Copies to:
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Douglas S. Ellenoff, Esq.
Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10105
(212) 370-1300
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Joel L. Rubinstein, Esq.
Elliott M. Smith, Esq.
Winston & Strawn LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
(212) 294-6700
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer
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☐
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Accelerated filer
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☐
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Non-accelerated filer
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☒
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Smaller reporting company
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☐
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Emerging growth company
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☒
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of Security Being Registered
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Amount Being
Registered
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Proposed Maximum
Offering Price per
Security
(1)
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Proposed Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
(1)
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Amount of
Registration Fee
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Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one redeemable warrant
(2)
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23,000,000 Units
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$
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10.00
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$
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230,000,000
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$
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28,635.00
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Shares of Class A common stock included as part of the units
(3)
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23,000,000 Shares
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—
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—
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—
(4)
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Redeemable warrants included as part of the units
(3)
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23,000,000 Warrants
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—
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—
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—
(4)
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Total
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$
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230,000,000
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$
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28,635.00
(5)
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(1)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2)
Includes 3,000,000 units, consisting of 3,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and 3,000,000 redeemable warrants, which may be issued upon exercise of a 45-day option granted to the underwriters to cover over-allotments, if any.
(3)
Pursuant to Rule 416, there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(4)
No fee pursuant to Rule 457(g).
(5)
Previously paid.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 26, 2018
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
$200,000,000
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
20,000,000 Units
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation is a newly organized blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as our initial business combination. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any business or industry, we intend to focus our search on companies that have recently emerged from bankruptcy court protection.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one share of our Class A common stock and one redeemable warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. The underwriters have a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any. We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of our Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem 100% of the public shares for cash, subject to applicable law and certain conditions as further described herein.
Our sponsor, Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC, and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., which we refer to as Cantor, have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,500,000 warrants (or 8,400,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (6,500,000 warrants by our sponsor (or 7,250,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full)) and 1,000,000 warrants by Cantor (or 1,150,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000, or $8,400,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, each exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of units will be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination.
Our initial stockholders, which include our sponsor, own an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of our Class B common stock (up to 750,000 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), which will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, as described herein.
Currently, there is no public market for our units, Class A common stock or warrants. We have applied to list our units on the NASDAQ Capital Market, or NASDAQ, under the symbol “MUDS.U”. We expect that our units will be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on NASDAQ. We expect the Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52
nd
day following the date of this prospectus unless Cantor informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our satisfaction of certain conditions. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, we expect that the Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on NASDAQ under the symbols “MUDS” and “MUDS.W,” respectively.
We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page
31
for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Per Unit
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Total
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Public offering price
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$
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10.00
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$
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200,000,000
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Underwriting discounts and commissions
(1)
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$
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0.55
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$
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11,000,000
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Proceeds, before expenses, to Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
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$
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9.45
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$
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189,000,000
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(1)
Includes $0.35 per unit, or $7,000,000 (or up to $8,050,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriters only on completion of an initial business combination, as described in this prospectus. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Underwriting” beginning on page
148
for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters.
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants described in this prospectus, $202.0 million or $232.3 million if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.10 per unit in either case) will be deposited into a trust account in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and $1.5 million will be available to pay fees and expenses in connection with the closing of this offering and for working capital following the closing of this offering.
The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the units to the purchasers on or about , 2018.
Sole Book-Running Manager
Cantor
, 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1
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31
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62
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63
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68
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68
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71
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72
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78
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108
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120
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123
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126
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140
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148
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155
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155
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155
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F-1
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We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information, and we take no responsibility for any other information others may give to you. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.
SUMMARY
This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information under the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before investing.
Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus, or the context otherwise requires, references to:
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“Mudrick Capital” are to Mudrick Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and its affiliates, an affiliate of our sponsor;
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“Cantor” are to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., the representative of the underwriters in this offering;
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“common stock” are to our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock, collectively;
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“founder shares” are to shares of our Class B common stock initially purchased by our sponsor in a private placement prior to this offering, and the shares of our Class A common stock issued upon the conversion thereof as provided herein;
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“initial stockholders” are to our sponsor and any other holders of our founder shares prior to this offering (or their permitted transferees);
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“management” or our “management team” are to our officers and directors;
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“private placement warrants” are to the warrants issued to our sponsor and Cantor in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering;
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“public shares” are to shares of our Class A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
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“public stockholders” are to the holders of our public shares, including our initial stockholders and management team to the extent our initial stockholders and/or members of our management team purchase public shares, provided that each initial stockholder’s and member of our management team’s status as a “public stockholder” shall only exist with respect to such public shares;
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“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 executive officers or directors (or permitted transferees) following the consummation of our initial business combination;
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“specified future issuance” are to an issuance of a class of equity or equity-linked securities to specified purchasers, which may include affiliates of Mudrick Capital and/or one or more investors in funds managed by Mudrick Capital, that we may determine to make in connection with financing our initial business combination, to the extent permitted under applicable regulatory and contractual requirements related to those funds and accounts;
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“sponsor” are to Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company which is 100% owned by investment funds and separate accounts managed by Mudrick Capital;
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“warrants” are to our redeemable warrants, which includes the public warrants as well as the private placement warrants to the extent they are no longer held by the initial purchasers of the private placement warrants or their permitted transferees; and
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“we,” “us,” “company” or “our company” are to Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation.
Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option.
Our Company
We are a newly organized blank check company formed as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our
initial business combination. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any stage of its corporate evolution, we intend to focus our search on companies that have recently emerged from bankruptcy court protection, often referred to as post-bankruptcy or post-restructured companies. Our management team and Mudrick Capital, an affiliate of our sponsor, have extensive experience investing in post-restructured companies. We believe that this experience makes us very well situated to identify, source, negotiate and execute a business combination at a favorable valuation with an attractive post-restructured company.
Mudrick Capital was founded in 2009 to focus on investment opportunities in distressed credit and post-restructured equities. As of December 31, 2017, Mudrick Capital managed approximately $1.8 billion, primarily for institutional clients such as pension funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, family offices, funds of funds and high net worth individuals.
Our Chief Executive Officer and the President of Mudrick Capital, Jason Mudrick, has in excess of 16 years of experience investing in the public and private markets for distressed debt and post-restructured equities. Mr. Mudrick began his career working as an investment banker in the Mergers & Acquisitions Investment Banking Division of Merrill Lynch & Co in 2000. Towards the end of 2001 he joined Contrarian Capital Management, LP, and an investment firm specializing in distressed debt. Beginning in October 2002, Mr. Mudrick served as Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of the Contrarian Equity Fund, a fund specializing in post-restructured equities, which he managed until his departure at the end of 2008. As Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of the Contrarian Equity Fund, Mr. Mudrick specialized in investing in post-restructured equities, among other things. In 2009, Mr. Mudrick founded Mudrick Capital to continue his specialty of investing in distressed debt and post-restructured equities. Mr. Mudrick has served on numerous ad hoc creditors’ committees and seven post-restructured companies’ boards of directors, including Safety-Kleen Holdings, Integrated Alarm Services Group, Salton, Rotech Healthcare, NJOY Holdings, Corporate Risk Holdings and Dex Media Holdings, Inc., where he is currently the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Mudrick has a BA from the College of the University of Chicago and a JD from Harvard Law School.
Our Vice President and a Managing Director of Mudrick Capital, Victor Danh, has in excess of 14 years of experience investing in the public and private markets for distressed debt and post-restructured equities. Mr. Danh began his career working as an investment banker in the Merger and Acquisitions group in the Investment Banking Division of Merrill Lynch & Co. in 2000 and subsequently continued his investment banking career in the Technology group in the Investment Banking Division of UBS AG. In 2003, he joined Contrarian Capital Management, LP. Mr. Danh was promoted in 2006 to assistant portfolio manager of the Contrarian Equity Fund where he worked with Mr. Mudrick. Mr. Danh was the lead analyst on numerous post-restructured and special situation equity investments for the Contrarian Equity Fund. In 2009, Mr. Danh joined Mudrick Capital as Head of Research. In his tenure at Mudrick Capital, Mr. Danh has served on eight ad hoc creditors’ committees and the post-restructured board of directors of Seventy Seven Energy, which was sold to Patterson-UTI Energy for $1.5 billion in early 2017. Mr. Danh has an AB from Harvard College.
Our Vice President and a Managing Director of Mudrick Capital, David Kirsch, has in excess of 15 years of experience working with distressed companies and investing in debt and equity markets. Mr. Kirsch began his career in 2002 working as an investment banker in the Healthcare group of Banc of America Securities. In late 2003, he joined Alvarez & Marsal, a global consulting firm specializing in corporate turnarounds. At Alvarez & Marsal, Mr. Kirsch worked on dozens of corporate restructurings for both public and private companies. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Kirsch was a Managing Director and Analyst at Miura Global, a large global investment firm specializing in public equities. At the beginning of 2011, he joined Mudrick Capital to combine his turnaround and restructuring experience from Alvarez & Marsal with his investment experience from Miura Global. Since joining Mudrick Capital, he has served on eight ad hoc creditors’ committees, including Targus Corporation, Verso Corporation, Nebraska Book, Allied Nevada Gold and Catalyst Paper. He is currently serving on the board of directors of Hycroft Mining, NJOY Holdings and Nelson Education, where he is the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Kirsch has a BS from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Our Vice President and a Managing Director of Mudrick Capital, Bruce “Beau” Harbour, has in excess of 12 years of experience investing in the public and private markets for distressed debt and post-restructured equities. Mr. Harbour began his career in the Financial Sponsors Group of Credit Suisse First Boston in 2005 and subsequently joined Citadel Investment Group in 2006 to focus on distressed debt and special situations investing. He later joined Mount Kellett Capital Management LP, a large global special situations investment firm, at the firm’s inception in 2008. Most recently, he was a Managing Director and Co-Head of North American Corporate Investments at Mount Kellett before he joined Fortress Investment Group in July 2015 as part of its strategic transaction with Mount Kellett. In April 2016, Mr. Harbour joined Mudrick Capital and is responsible for analyzing distressed credit and post-restructured equity opportunities across a range of industries. Mr. Harbour has served on four ad hoc committees in restructurings as well as on the post-restructured board of directors of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P). During his A&P board tenure, he was responsible for directing all of the company’s mergers and acquisitions and restructuring activities on behalf of the board and oversaw several significant transactions. Mr. Harbour received his A.B.
magna cum laude
from Princeton University.
Our Chief Financial Officer is Glenn Springer, who has been the Chief Financial Officer of Mudrick Capital since 2009. He oversees the firm’s finance, accounting, tax and operations functions. Mr. Springer began his career in 1996 at public accounting firms Richard A. Eisner & Co. LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC, respectively. As a public accountant, Mr. Springer’s focus was on financial statement audits of a variety of alternative investment vehicles including hedge funds and private equity funds. In 2000, Mr. Springer joined alternative investment management firm Asset Alliance Corporation as their Director of Fund Accounting, and later served as Controller of their London affiliate (A.A.I.UK). In 2005, Mr. Springer joined high yield and distressed investing firm, SBZ Select Investments, LLC, where he served as their Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. In 2007, Mr. Springer joined Turtle Creek Investment Advisors, LLC to serve as the firm’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, where he developed from inception its operational and financial infrastructure. Mr. Springer received a B.A. from the State University at Albany and an M.B.A from Baruch College. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.
Competitive Strengths
Our management team and the investment professionals at Mudrick Capital have an extensive understanding of restructurings and post-restructuring company analysis. Investing in distressed companies, restructurings and post-restructured companies is the primary investment strategy of the various investment funds and separate accounts managed by Mudrick Capital. We believe that a key advantage in sourcing potential business combination targets is the network of contacts our management team and Mudrick Capital have, which includes other distressed credit focused investment firms, financial and legal restructuring advisors, post-restructuring specialized board of directors and turnaround focused executives. Specifically, because Mudrick Capital is the investment advisor for investment vehicles that specialize in distressed credit investing, executives at Mudrick Capital are made aware of potential opportunities with respect to many of the companies in North America that are going through a balance sheet restructuring process. We believe that this specialization and network is a competitive advantage in allowing us to identify, analyze and negotiate an initial business combination for the company with a post-restructured business.
With respect to the foregoing descriptions, past performance of Mudrick Capital and our management team is not a guarantee either (i) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate or (ii) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical performance record of Mudrick Capital or our management team as indicative of our future performance. Our officers and directors have not had experience with blank check companies or special purpose acquisition companies in the past. In addition, our executive officers may have conflicts of interest with other entities to which they owe fiduciary or contractual obligations with respect to initial business combination opportunities. For a list of our executive officers and entities for which a conflict of interest may or does exist between such officers and the company, as well as the priority and preference that such entity has with respect to performance of obligations and presentation of business opportunities to us, please refer to the table and subsequent explanatory paragraph under “Management — Conflicts of Interest”.
Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to identify, combine with and maximize the value of a company that has recently emerged from bankruptcy court protection. In particular, we believe that many post-restructured companies suffer from a valuation discount due to their opaqueness, complexity, non-long term ownership base and overall illiquidity. We believe that our in depth understanding of restructurings and post-restructuring company analysis, coupled with the more liquid publicly traded vehicle the company offers in an initial business combination, could result in significant value creation for our stockholders. Creating value for our stockholders is the ultimate goal of this business strategy.
Post-restructured companies can provide an attractive investment opportunity due to the unique set of circumstances surrounding balance sheet restructurings and post-restructured equities. First, balance sheets are typically restructured by swapping old debt for new equity. This often results in an equity ownership base comprised of former creditors that may not be long-term holders of the new company’s equity, resulting in a technical overhang. Second, post-restructured companies are often difficult to analyze, as the new company can have a different balance sheet, different cost structure, different asset base and sometimes a different management team relative to the pre-restructured company. This can result in historical financial reporting being less relevant than traditional, non-restructured companies. This difficulty can be exacerbated by a lack of institutional research coverage often found in post-restructured companies. Finally, in many instances, a number of the turnaround initiatives undertaken before and during the balance sheet restructuring have yet to manifest themselves in the operating results of the new company, resulting in a valuation that may not fully reflect the future positive operating results of the company.
Due to the large size of many distressed credit investment firms, we have observed that in recent years many post-restructured companies often have highly concentrated ownership structures upon emerging from bankruptcy. In many instances, this limits these companies’ abilities to emerge as public companies due their limited number of shareholders. This situation is often exacerbated for mid-cap and small-cap companies. In our experience, it is quite common for five or six former creditors to control significantly more than half of the new company’s equity. This can result in such private companies trading at material discounts to their publicly traded peers. In our opinion, this private market discount makes post-restructured equities particularly attractive candidates for a publicly traded blank check company such as ours.
Investments in post-restructured equities are subject to various risks. Investments in such companies are speculative, prices are volatile, and market movements are difficult to predict. Supply and demand for distressed securities change rapidly and are affected by a variety of market factors over which we have no control and which may reduce the pool of profitable investment opportunities. Moreover, our ability to identify undervalued investment opportunities that fit our business strategy involves a high degree of uncertainty, and no assurance can be given that we will be able to identify such opportunities. In addition, such investments may take a substantial period of time before realizing their anticipated value and returns generated from such investments may not adequately compensate for the business and financial risks assumed. There is no guarantee that we will be able to achieve our investment objectives or provide any return on invested capital.
Business Combination Criteria
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general criteria that we believe are important in evaluating candidates for our initial business combination. While we intend to utilize these criteria in evaluating business combination opportunities, we expect that no individual criterion will entirely determine a decision to pursue a particular opportunity. Further, any particular initial business combination opportunity that we ultimately determine to pursue may not meet one or more of these criteria.
1.
Post-Restructured Companies.
We intend to seek candidates that have recently restructured their balance sheet. We believe that post-restructured companies may be valued at a discount to their publicly traded peers due to the non-long term nature of their ownership base (former creditors are typically the new equity owners post-restructuring), the complexity in understanding their restructuring, the lack of clarity and information regarding their financial performance, the
concentrated nature of their ownership base and the lack of a publicly traded equity, among other reasons. We also believe that post-restructured companies are where we have the strongest network to identify opportunities and the greatest ability and experience to provide shareholder value.
2.
Middle-Market Companies.
We intend to seek candidates with an enterprise value of approximately $500 million to $1 billion, determined in the sole discretion of our officers and directors according to reasonably accepted valuation standards and methodologies. We believe that post-restructured middle-market companies suffer from a larger valuation discount to their publicly traded peers than larger companies. We also believe that post-restructured middle-market companies have a more difficult time accessing the public markets compared to their larger peers, and therefore could benefit more from an initial business combination with our company.
3.
Market Leaders with Stable Cash Flows.
We intend to target companies that restructured their balance sheets due to a bad balance sheet, and not a bad business. We intend to seek candidates that are market leaders in their industry, and have stable, defensible and predictable cash flows.
4.
Discount to Publicly Traded Peers.
We intend to seek candidates that are valued in the private market at a significant discount to their publicly traded peers. We believe that this discount will facilitate the initial business combination negotiation by allowing the opportunity for liquidity and multiple expansion for the targets’ current shareholders, while at the same time allowing meaningful upside for our stockholders post-business combination.
5.
Strong Management Teams.
We will target businesses that have strong, experienced management teams. We also may be able to assist with potential management additions from our network of experienced turnaround professionals. Additionally, we may seek to optimize the management team of a potential target business by introducing board members with relevant insight and experience.
6.
Benefit from Being a Public Company.
We intend to pursue a business combination with a company that will benefit from being publicly traded and can effectively utilize the broader access to capital and public profile that are associated with being a publicly traded company.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Initial Business Combination
NASDAQ rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects.
We may, at our option, pursue a business combination opportunity jointly with one or more entities affiliated with Mudrick Capital and/or one or more investors in funds or separate accounts managed by Mudrick Capital, which we refer to as an “Affiliated Joint Acquisition.” Any such parties would co-invest
only if (i) permitted by applicable regulatory and other legal limitations; (ii) we and Mudrick Capital considered a transaction to be mutually beneficial to us as well as the affiliated entity; and (iii) other business reasons exist to do so, such as the strategic merits of including such co-investors, the need for additional capital beyond the amount held in our trust account to fund the initial business combination and/or the desire to obtain committed capital for closing the initial business combination. An Affiliated Joint Acquisition may be effected through a co-investment with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by issuing to such parties a class of equity or equity-linked securities. We refer to this potential future issuance, or a similar issuance to other specified purchasers, as a “specified future issuance” throughout this prospectus. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract. The amount and other terms and conditions of any such specified future issuance would be determined at the time thereof. We are not obligated to make any specified future issuance and may determine not to do so. This is not an offer for any specified future issuance. Pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of our Class B common stock, any such specified future issuance would result in an adjustment to the conversion ratio such that our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees, if any, would retain their aggregate percentage ownership at 20% of the sum of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon completion of this offering plus all shares issued in the specified future issuance, unless the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Class B common stock agreed to waive such adjustment with respect to the specified future issuance at the time thereof. We cannot determine at this time whether a majority of the holders of our Class B common stock at the time of any such specified future issuance would agree to waive such adjustment to the conversion ratio. They may waive such adjustment due to (but not limited to) the following: (i) closing conditions which are part of the agreement for our initial business combination; (ii) negotiation with Class A stockholders on structuring an initial business combination; (iii) negotiation with parties providing financing which would trigger the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B common stock; or (iv) as part of the Affiliated Joint Acquisition. If such adjustment is not waived, the specified future issuance would not reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class B common stock, but would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class A common stock. If such adjustment is waived, the specified future issuance would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of both classes of our common stock. The issuance of the forward purchase securities will not result in such an adjustment to the conversion of our Class B common stock.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination either (i) in such a way so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses, or (ii) in such a way so that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders, or for other reasons, including an Affiliated Joint Acquisition as described above. However, we will only complete an initial business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the “Investment Company Act”. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of NASDAQ’s 80% of net assets test. If the initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the transactions and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
Our Business Combination Process
In evaluating prospective business combinations, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review process that will encompass, among other things, a review of historical and projected financial and operating data, meetings with management and their advisors (if applicable), on-site inspection of facilities and assets, discussion with customers and suppliers, legal reviews and other reviews as we deem appropriate. We will also utilize the expertise of our management team and other employees of Mudrick Capital in analyzing post-restructured companies and evaluating operating projections, financial projections and determining the appropriate return expectations given the risk profile of the target business.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with Mudrick Capital, investment funds or separate accounts advised by Mudrick Capital or our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with Mudrick Capital, investment funds or separate accounts advised by Mudrick Capital or our sponsor, officers or directors, 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 our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of units will be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination; any excess funds from this private placement will be used for working capital in the post-transaction company. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and provides us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.
Investment funds and separate accounts advised by Mudrick Capital will indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement warrants following this offering. Additionally, Mr. Mudrick and Mudrick Capital will be the beneficial owner of founder shares and/or private placement warrants following this offering by virtue of exercising investment power of such shares or warrants on behalf of such investment funds and separate accounts. Because of this ownership, Mudrick Capital, investment funds and separate accounts advised by Mudrick Capital and our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination, particularly because such funds and separate accounts managed by Mudrick Capital invest in distressed and post-restructured companies as part of their investment programs. Further, each of 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 were to be included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
All of our executive officers are employed by Mudrick Capital. Mudrick Capital is continuously made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for an initial business combination; we have not, however, selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
Mudrick Capital and each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations to present the opportunity to such entity, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. We believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of Mudrick Capital and our officers or directors will not materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. We may, at our option, pursue an Affiliated Joint Acquisition opportunity with an entity to which Mudrick Capital, investment funds advised by Mudrick Capital or an officer or director has a fiduciary or contractual obligation. Any such entity may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by
making a specified future issuance to any such entity. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Our sponsor, officers and directors and Mudrick Capital have agreed not to participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of, any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering.
Corporate Information
Our executive offices are located at 527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022, and our telephone number is (646) 747-9500.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to emerging growth company will have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
The Offering
In deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors.”
20,000,000 units, at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of:
•
one share of Class A common stock; and
•
one redeemable warrant.
Units: “MUDS.U”
Class A Common Stock: “MUDS”
Warrants: “MUDS.W”
Trading commencement and separation of Class A common stock and warrants
The units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We expect the Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52
nd
day following the date of this prospectus unless Cantor informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of Class A common stock and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of Class A common stock and warrants.
Separate trading of the Class A common stock and warrants is prohibited until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K
In no event will the Class A common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days from the date of this prospectus. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
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Units:
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Number outstanding before this offering
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0
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Number outstanding after this offering
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20,000,000
(1)
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Common stock:
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Number outstanding before this offering
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5,750,000 shares of Class B common stock
(2)
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Number outstanding after this offering
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25,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock
(1)(3)
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Redeemable Warrants:
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Number of private placement warrants to be sold in a private placement simultaneously with this offering
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7,500,000
(1)
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Number of warrants to be outstanding after this offering and the private placement
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27,500,000
(1)
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(1)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the forfeiture by our initial stockholders of 750,000 founder shares.
(2)
Includes up to 750,000 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our initial stockholders depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
(3)
Comprised of 20,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and 5,000,000 shares of Class B common stock (or founder shares). The Class B common stock is 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 rights.”
Each warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock.
$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein.
The warrants will become exercisable on the later of:
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30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, or
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12 months from the closing of this offering;
provided in each case that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or we permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement).
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants at this time. However, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, to cause such registration statement to become effective and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60
th
business day after the closing of our initial business combination, warrantholders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. On the exercise of any warrant, the warrant exercise price will be paid directly to us and not placed in the trust account.
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (except as described herein with respect to the private placement warrants):
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in whole and not in part;
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at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
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upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, which we refer to as the 30-day redemption period; and
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if, and only if, the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrantholders.
We will not redeem the warrants unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of
Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may not exercise our redemption right if the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or we are unable to effect such registration or qualification. We will use our best efforts to register or qualify such shares of common stock under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the warrants were offered by us in this offering.
If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of our warrants. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants.
Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants” for additional information.
None of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us so long as they are held by the sponsor or its permitted transferees.
Private placement at initial business combination
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of units will be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination; any excess funds from this private placement will be used for working capital in the post-transaction company. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and provides us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.
On September 25, 2017, our sponsor purchased 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by our sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The per share purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the aggregate number of founder shares issued. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering. As such, our initial stockholders will collectively own 20% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Neither our sponsor nor any of our officers or directors have expressed an intention to purchase any units in this offering. Up to 750,000 founder shares will be subject to forfeiture by our initial stockholders depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised so that our initial stockholders will maintain ownership of 20% of our common stock after this offering. We will effect a stock dividend or share contribution prior to this offering should the size of the offering change, in order to maintain such ownership percentage.
The founder shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that:
•
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, or at any time prior thereto at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described herein;
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the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below;
•
our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 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.
•
pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, 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 initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need only 7,500,001, or 37.5%, of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming all outstanding shares are voted) in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised); and
•
the founder shares are entitled to registration rights.
Transfer restrictions on founder shares
Our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange 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 (except as described herein under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal
Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”). Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the lock-up.
Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights
The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in this prospectus and related to the closing of the initial business combination, including pursuant to a specified future issuance, the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance, including a specified future issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon the completion of this offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial business combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination, any private placement-equivalent warrants issued to our sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to us or any securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract). Holders of founder shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B common stock into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided above, at any time. The term “equity-linked securities” refers to any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock issued in a financing transaction in connection with our initial business combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt. Securities could be “deemed issued” for purposes of the conversion rate adjustment if such shares are issuable upon the conversion or exercise of convertible securities, warrants or similar securities.
Holders of the Class A common stock and holders of the Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, with each share of common stock entitling the holder to one vote.
Private placement warrants
Our sponsor and Cantor have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,500,000 warrants (or 8,400,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (6,500,000 warrants by our sponsor (or 7,250,000 warrants if the
over-allotment option is exercised in full)) and 1,000,000 warrants by Cantor (or 1,150,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000, or $8,400,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. A portion of the purchase price of the private placement warrants will be added to the proceeds from this offering to be held in the trust account such that at the time of closing $202.0 million (or $232.3 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) will be held in the trust account. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds from the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the private placement warrants will expire worthless.
The private placement warrants will be non-redeemable and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the sponsor, Cantor or their permitted transferees. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than the sponsor, Cantor or their permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering. In addition, for as long as the private placement warrants are held by Cantor or its designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Transfer restrictions on private
placement warrants
The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except as described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”).
Cashless exercise of private
placement warrants
If holders of private placement warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of warrant exercise is sent to the warrant agent. The reason that we have agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the sponsor or its permitted transferees is because it is not known at this time whether they will be affiliated with us following an initial business combination. If they remain affiliated with us, their ability to sell our securities in the open market will be significantly
limited. We expect to have policies in place that prohibit insiders from selling our securities except during specific periods of time. Even during such periods of time when insiders will be permitted to sell our securities, an insider cannot trade in our securities if he or she is in possession of material non-public information. Accordingly, unlike public stockholders who could sell the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants freely in the open market, the insiders could be significantly restricted from doing so. As a result, we believe that allowing the holders to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis is appropriate.
Proceeds to be held in trust
account
NASDAQ rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, $202,000,000, or $10.10 per unit ($232,300,000, or $10.10 per unit, if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be placed into a trust account in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. These proceeds include $7,000,000 (or $8,050,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions.
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, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders.
Anticipated expenses and funding
sources
Except as described above with respect to the payment of taxes, unless and until we complete our initial business combination, no proceeds held in the trust account will be available for our use. The proceeds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government securities with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. We will disclose in each quarterly and annual report filed with the SEC prior to our initial business combination whether the proceeds deposited in the trust account are invested in U.S. government treasury obligations
or money market funds or a combination thereof. Based upon current interest rates, we expect the trust account to generate approximately $1,616,000 of interest annually assuming an interest rate of 0.80% per year; however, we can provide no assurances regarding this amount. Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from:
•
the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not held in the trust account, which will be approximately $850,000 in working capital after the payment of approximately $650,000 in expenses relating to this offering; and
•
any loans or additional investments from our sponsor, 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 an initial business combination.
Conditions to completing our
initial business combination
NASDAQ rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately, including pursuant to any specified future issuance, or through loans in connection with our initial business combination.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination either (i) in such a way so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses, or (ii) in such a way so that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders, or for other reasons, including an Affiliated Joint Acquisition as described above. However, we will only complete an initial business combination if the
post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of NASDAQ’s 80% of net assets test. If the initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the transactions and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
Permitted purchases of public
shares and public warrants by
our affiliates
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, 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. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and NASDAQ rules. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to
Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase shares or public warrants in such transactions prior to completion of our initial business combination. See “Proposed Business — Permitted purchases of our securities” for a description of how our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will select which stockholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction.
The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrantholders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of Class A common stock or warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Redemption rights for public
stockholders upon completion
of our initial business
combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.10 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares held by them and any public shares they may acquire during or after this offering in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or otherwise.
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements.
Manner of conducting
redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed initial business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirements. Under NASDAQ rules, asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would require stockholder approval. We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on NASDAQ, we will be required to comply with such rules.
If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
•
conduct the redemptions pursuant to 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.
Such provisions may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon.
Whether or not we maintain our registration under the Exchange Act or our listing on NASDAQ, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares by one of the two methods listed above. Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we or our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete the initial business combination.
If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will:
•
conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and
•
file proxy materials with the SEC.
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 initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders will count towards this quorum and, pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of
our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need only 7,500,001, or 37.5%, of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming all outstanding shares are voted) in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised). We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. We believe that this will allow our transfer agent to efficiently process any redemptions without the need for further communication or action from the redeeming public stockholders, which could delay redemptions and result in additional administrative cost. If the proposed initial business combination is not approved and we continue to search for a target company, we will promptly return any certificates delivered, or shares tendered electronically, by public stockholders who elected to redeem their shares.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed initial business combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed initial business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash
available to us, we will not complete the initial business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding 15% or more of the shares sold in this offering if we hold stockholder vote
Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, without our prior consent. We believe the restriction described above will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to redeem their shares as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against an initial business combination if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with an initial business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those stockholders that hold more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our initial business combination.
Redemption rights in connection with proposed amendments to our certificate of
incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any of its provisions related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the private placement of warrants into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if
approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, or applicable stock exchange rules. Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or on our initial business combination or that would entitle holders thereof to receive funds from the trust account. Our initial stockholders, who will collectively beneficially own 20% of our common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering), will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Our sponsor, executive officers, and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination
On the completion of our initial business combination, the funds held in the trust account will be used to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights as described above under “Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination.” We will use the remaining funds to pay the underwriters their deferred underwriting commissions, to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account, as well as the $25,000,000 private placement described elsewhere in this prospectus, for general corporate purposes, including for
maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such 24-month period, 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 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 (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our initial stockholders acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted 24-month time period.
The underwriters have agreed to waive its rights to their deferred underwriting commission held in the trust account in the event we do not complete our initial business combination and subsequently liquidate and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the trust account that will be available to fund the redemption of our public shares.
Limited payments to insiders
There will be no finder’s fees, reimbursement, consulting fee, non-cash payments, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation paid by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of
the type of transaction that it is). However, the following payments will be made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:
•
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, utilities and secretarial and administrative support;
•
Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and
•
Repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our 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.
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates.
We will establish and maintain an audit committee, which will be composed entirely of independent directors to, among other things, monitor compliance with the terms described above and the other terms relating to this offering. If any noncompliance is identified, then the audit committee will be charged with the responsibility to immediately take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of this offering. For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Management — Committees of the Board of Directors — Audit Committee.”
Mudrick Capital manages several investment vehicles. Funds and separate accounts managed by Mudrick Capital or its affiliates may compete with us for business combination opportunities. If these funds or separate accounts decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunities. In addition, investment ideas generated within Mudrick Capital may be suitable for both us and for a current or future Mudrick Capital fund or separate account and may be directed to such investment vehicle rather than to us. Neither Mudrick Capital nor members of our management team who are also employed by Mudrick Capital have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, unless presented to such member solely in his or her capacity as an officer of the company. Mudrick
Capital and/or our management, in their capacities as employees of Mudrick Capital or in their other endeavors, currently are required to present certain investment opportunities and potential business combinations to the various related entities described above, current Mudrick Capital investment vehicles, or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us. Mudrick Capital and our management may have similar obligations to future investment vehicles or third parties.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in addition to the forward purchase obligation described elsewhere in this prospectus, we may, at our option, pursue an Affiliated Joint Acquisition opportunity with any such fund or other investment vehicle. Any such parties would co-invest only if (i) permitted by applicable regulatory and other legal limitations; (ii) we and Mudrick Capital considered a transaction to be mutually beneficial to us as well as the affiliated entity; and (iii) other business reasons exist to do so, such as the strategic merits of including such co-investors, the need for additional capital beyond the amount held in our trust account to fund the initial business combination and/or the desire to obtain committed capital for closing the initial business combination. Such entity may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by making a specified future issuance to any such fund or vehicle. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract.
Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.10 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.10 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Risks
We are a newly formed company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company. This offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business — Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.” You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page
31
of this prospectus.
Summary Financial Data
The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data is presented.
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2017
Actual
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
Working capital (deficiency)
|
|
|
|
$
|
(144,284
)
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
|
$
|
191,445
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
|
$
|
169,229
|
|
|
|
Value of Class A common stock that may be redeemed in connection with our
initial business combination
($10.10 per share)
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
$
|
22,216
|
|
|
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
We are a 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.
We are a newly formed company with no operating results, and we will not commence operations until obtaining funding through this offering. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning an initial business combination and may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Our public 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 a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.
We may choose not to hold a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination unless the initial business combination would require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements or if we decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons. Except as required by law, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed initial business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Accordingly, we may complete our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our public shares do not approve of the initial business combination we complete. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business — Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination” for additional information.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
Pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares, as well as any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions), in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need only 7,500,001, or 37.5%, of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming all outstanding shares are voted) in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised). Our initial stockholders will own shares representing 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock immediately following the completion of this offering. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, the agreement by our initial stockholders to vote in favor of our initial business combination will increase the likelihood that we will receive the requisite stockholder approval for such initial business combination.
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek stockholder approval of the initial business combination.
At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of our initial business combination. Since our board of directors may complete an initial business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the initial business combination, unless we seek such stockholder vote.
Accordingly, if we do not seek stockholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.
The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into an initial business combination with a target.
We may seek to enter into an initial business combination agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. While we will have access to the proceeds from the $25,000,000 private placement from our sponsor, if too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with the initial business combination. Furthermore, in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions or such greater amount necessary to satisfy a closing condition as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination and may instead search for an alternate business combination. Prospective targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into an initial business combination with us.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
At the time we enter into an agreement for our initial business combination, we will not know how many stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, and therefore will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements, or arrange for third party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares are submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third party financing. Raising additional third party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. Furthermore, this dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provision of the Class B common stock result in the issuance of Class A shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock at the time of our business combination. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure. The amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriters will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with an initial business combination. The per-share amount we will distribute to stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commission and after such redemptions, the per-share value of shares held by non-redeeming stockholders will reflect our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting commissions.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your stock.
If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our initial business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your stock in
the open market; however, at such time our stock may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your stock in the open market.
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating an initial business combination and may decrease 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.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning an initial business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating an initial business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $10.10 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our initial business combination within such time period. If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period, 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 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 (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public stockholders may only receive $10.10 per share, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.10 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.10 per share” and other risk factors below.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or warrants from public stockholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed initial business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public warrants or a combination thereof in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination, although they are under no obligation to do so. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase shares or public warrants in such transactions.
Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of such purchases could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination, or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrantholders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A common stock or public warrants and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares. For example, we may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures, its shares may not be redeemed. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business — Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination — Tendering Stock Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights.”
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.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein, (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 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 our public shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
NASDAQ may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We have applied to have our units listed on NASDAQ. We expect that our units will be listed on NASDAQ on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. Following the date the shares of our Class A common stock and warrants are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that the shares of our Class A common stock and warrants will be separately listed on NASDAQ. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on NASDAQ. Although after giving effect to this offering we expect to meet, on a pro forma basis, the minimum initial listing standards set forth in the NASDAQ listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will be, or will continue to be, listed on NASDAQ in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on NASDAQ prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and stock price levels. Generally, we must maintain a minimum amount in stockholders’ equity (generally $2,500,000) and a minimum number of holders of our securities (generally 300 public holders). Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with NASDAQ’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on NASDAQ. For instance, our stock price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share, our stockholders’ equity would generally be required to be at least $5.0 million and we would be required to have a minimum of 300 round lot holders of our securities. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
If NASDAQ delists our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect our securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
•
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.
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because we expect that our units and eventually our Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on NASDAQ, our units, Class A common stock and warrants will be covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on NASDAQ, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities, including in connection with our initial business combination.
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business that has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, because we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the successful completion of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the
benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if this offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our completion of an initial business combination. For a more detailed comparison of our offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business — Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.”
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering without our prior consent, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. And as a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
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 receive only approximately $10.10 per share on our redemption of our public shares, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment partnerships), other blank check companies and other entities competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well-established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources or more industry knowledge than we do, and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there are numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, because we are obligated to pay cash for the shares of Class A common stock which our public stockholders redeem in connection with our initial business combination, target companies will be aware that this may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination. This may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.10 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.10 per share upon our liquidation. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.10 per share” and other risk factors below.
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 at least the next 24 months, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $10.10 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months, assuming that our initial business combination is not completed during that time. We believe that, upon the closing of this offering, the funds available to us outside of the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent or merger agreements designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed initial business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into a letter of intent or merger agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.10 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.10 per share upon our liquidation. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.10 per share” and other risk factors below.
If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we will depend on loans from our sponsor or management team to fund our search for an initial business combination, to pay our franchise and income taxes 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.
Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, only approximately $850,000 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $650,000, we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. The amount held in the trust account will not be impacted as a result of such increase or decrease. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $650,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our sponsor, management team or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. None of our sponsor, members of our management team nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private placement-equivalent warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. Consequently, our public stockholders may only receive approximately $10.10 per share on our redemption of our public shares, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.10 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.10 per share” and other risk factors below.
Subsequent to the completion of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our stock price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will surface all material issues that may be present inside a particular target business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining debt financing to partially finance the initial business combination. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, relating to the initial business combination constituted an actionable material misstatement or omission.
If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.10 per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. WithumSmith+Brown, PC, our independent registered public accounting firm, and the underwriters of the offering, will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account.
Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.10 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors. Pursuant to the letter agreement, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus
forms a part, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.10 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.10 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Our directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.10 per share and (ii) the actual amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account if less than $10.10 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations.
While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment and subject to their fiduciary duties may choose not to do so in any particular instance if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.10 per share.
We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of our directors and executive officers.
We have agreed to indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, our officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account and to not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, any indemnification provided will be able to be satisfied by us only if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination. Our obligation to indemnify our officers and directors may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and we and our board may be exposed to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either
a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:
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restrictions on the nature of our investments; and
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restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:
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registration as an investment company;
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adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and
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reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business will be to identify and complete an initial business combination and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. This offering is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The trust account is intended as a holding place for funds pending 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 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; or (iii) absent an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public stockholders as part of our redemption of the public shares. If we do not invest the proceeds as discussed above, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete an initial business combination or may result in our liquidation. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.10 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly.
Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination and results of operations.
Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. However, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the 24th month from the closing of this offering in the event we do not complete our initial business combination and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the foregoing procedures.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. If our plan of distribution complies with Section 281(b) of the DGCL, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any
claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend beyond the third anniversary of such date. Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution.
We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after the consummation of our initial business combination, which could delay the opportunity for our stockholders to elect directors.
In accordance with NASDAQ corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until no later than one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NASDAQ. Under Section 211(b) of the DGCL, we are, however, required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with our bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, and thus we may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time, and such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise its warrants except on a cashless basis. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of warrants is not registered, qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time. However, under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration under the Securities Act of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and thereafter will use our best efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days following our initial business combination and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so if, for example, any facts or events arise which represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement or prospectus, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current or correct or the SEC issues a stop order. If the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, we will be required to permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. However, no warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration is available. Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state
securities laws and there is no exemption available. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of Class A common stock included in the units. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may not exercise our redemption right if the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or we are unable to effect such registration or qualification. We will use our best efforts to register or qualify such shares of common stock under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the warrants were offered by us in this offering. However, there may be instances in which holders of our public warrants may be unable to exercise such public warrants but holders of our private warrants may be able to exercise such private warrants.
If you exercise your public warrants on a “cashless basis,” you will receive fewer shares of Class A common stock from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
There are circumstances in which the exercise of the public warrants may be required or permitted to be made on a cashless basis. First, if a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of our initial business combination, warrantholders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Second, if our Class A common stock is at any time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. Third, if we call the public warrants for redemption, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a cashless basis. In the event of an exercise on a cashless basis, a holder would pay the warrant exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (as defined in the next sentence) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” is the average reported last sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent or on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, as applicable. As a result, you would receive fewer shares of Class A common stock from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
The grant of registration rights to our initial stockholders may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the private placement warrants, the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the founder shares and the private placement warrants and the securities issuable pursuant to the forward purchase contract held, or to be held, by them and holders of warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register such warrants or the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants. We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Class A common stock that is expected when the securities owned by our initial stockholders or holders of working capital loans or their respective permitted transferees are registered.
Because we are neither limited to evaluating a target business in a particular industry sector nor have we selected any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations.
We will seek to complete an initial business combination with companies that have recently emerged from bankruptcy court protection but may also pursue other business combination opportunities, except that we will not, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet selected or approached any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
Past performance by Mudrick Capital, including our management team, may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in the Company.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, Mudrick Capital and its affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by Mudrick Capital, including our management team, is not a guarantee either (i) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate or (ii) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical record of Mudrick Capital’s or our management team’s performance as indicative of our future performance of an investment in the company or the returns the company will, or is likely to, generate going forward. Our officers and directors have not had experience with blank check companies or special purpose acquisition companies in the past.
We may seek business combination opportunities in industries or sectors which may or may not be outside of our management’s area of expertise.
Although we intend to focus on identifying post-bankruptcy companies, we will consider an initial business combination outside of our management’s area of expertise if an initial business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive business combination opportunity for our company or we are unable to identify a suitable candidate in this sector after having expanded a reasonable amount of time and effort in an attempt to do so. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in any particular business combination candidate, we cannot assure you that we will adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors in this offering than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in an initial business combination candidate. In the event we elect to pursue a business combination outside of the areas of our management’s expertise, our management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this prospectus regarding the areas of our management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to
adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.10 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.10 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.10 per share” and other risk factors below.
We may seek business combination opportunities with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue, cash flow or earnings, which could subject us to volatile revenues, cash flows or earnings or difficulty in retaining key personnel.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include volatile revenues or earnings and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm, and consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Unless we complete our initial business combination with an affiliated entity or our board cannot independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm that the price we are paying is fair to our company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
We may issue additional common stock or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Immediately after this offering, there will be 52,500,000 and 5,000,000 (assuming, in each case, that the underwriters have not exercised their over-allotment option) authorized but unissued shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively, available for issuance, which amount takes into account the shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants but not the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of Class B common stock. Immediately after the consummation of this offering, there will be no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. Shares of Class B common stock are convertible into shares of our Class A common stock initially at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as set forth herein, including in certain circumstances in which we issue Class A common stock or equity-linked securities related to our initial business combination. Shares of Class B common stock are also convertible at the option of the holder at any time. These amounts exclude the issuance of 2,500,000 units issuable pursuant to our sponsor’s forward purchase contract and an additional 625,000 shares of Class A common stock issuable to our sponsor at the time of the initial business combination.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination (including pursuant to a specified future issuance) or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination (although our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we may not issue securities that can vote with common stockholders on matters related to our pre-initial business combination activity). We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, may be amended with the approval of our stockholders. However, our executive officers, directors and director nominees have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to 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, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
The issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock:
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may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering;
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may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
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could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock are 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; and
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants.
Resources could be wasted in researching business combinations that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.10 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys, consultants and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.10 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.10 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.10 per share” and other risk factors below.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our initial business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we employ after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements. In addition, the officers and directors of an initial business combination candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of an initial business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an initial business combination candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an initial business combination candidate’s management team will remain associated with the initial business combination candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an initial business combination candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Mudrick Capital’s financial position could change, negatively impacting its role in helping us complete our initial business combination.
Mudrick Capital’s financial position could be negatively impacted due to a variety of factors, including lower management fees and/or performance fees and higher operating expenses. From time to time, Mudrick Capital may be a party to lawsuits, which if resolved in an unfavorable manner for Mudrick Capital, could have a material impact on Mudrick Capital’s financial position. To the extent Mudrick Capital’s financial position is less stable, it may have difficulty retaining certain key investment professionals, which could negatively impact Mudrick Capital’s ability to help us complete our initial business combination.
We are dependent upon our executive officers and directors and their departure could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our executive officers and directors. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our executive officers and directors, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or executive officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or executive officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Our key personnel may be able to remain with the company after the completion of our initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the initial business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the initial business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the initial business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. There is no certainty, however, that any of our key personnel will remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination. We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with us. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may effect our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company, which could, in turn, negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for an initial business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our officers is engaged in other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. In particular, all of our officers and directors are employed by Mudrick Capital, which is an investment manager to various public and private investment funds, which make investments in securities or other interests of or relating to companies in industries we may target for our initial business combination. Our independent directors may also serve as officers or board members for other entities. If our officers’ and directors’ other business
affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Management — Directors and Officers.”
Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Following the completion of this offering and until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our sponsor and officers and directors are, and may in the future become, affiliated with entities (such as operating companies or investment vehicles) that are engaged in a similar business, although they may not participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of, any other special purpose acquisition companies with a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering.
Our officers and directors also may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties.
Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please see the sections of this prospectus entitled “Management — Directors and Officers,” “Management — Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Our officers, directors, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into an initial business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or officers, although we do not intend to do so, or we may acquire a target business through an Affiliated Joint Acquisition with one or more affiliates of Mudrick Capital. We do not have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
In particular, Mudrick Capital and its affiliates also are focused on investments in the distressed debt and post-restructured company sector. As a result, there may be substantial overlap between companies that would be a suitable business combination for us and companies that would make an attractive target for such other affiliates.
We may engage in an initial business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our sponsor, officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. Our directors also serve as
officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.” Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our sponsor, officers and directors are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no preliminary discussions concerning an initial business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for an initial business combination as set forth in the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business — Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of our Initial Business Combination” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA, or from an independent accounting firm, regarding the fairness to our stockholders from a financial point of view of an initial business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our officers, directors or existing holders, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the initial business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest. In order to satisfy applicable regulatory or other legal requirements applicable to an Affiliated Joint Acquisition, our initial business combination may be effected on less favorable terms than otherwise would apply if the initial business combination were not an Affiliated Joint Acquisition.
We may acquire a target business through an Affiliated Joint Acquisition with one or more affiliates of Mudrick Capital. This may result in conflicts of interest as well as dilutive issuances of our securities.
We may, at our option, pursue an Affiliated Joint Acquisition opportunity with an entity affiliated with Mudrick Capital. Any such parties would co-invest only if (i) permitted by applicable regulatory and other legal limitations; (ii) we and Mudrick Capital considered a transaction to be mutually beneficial to us as well as the affiliated entity; and (iii) other business reasons exist to do so, such as the strategic merits of including such co-investors, the need for additional capital beyond the amount held in our trust account to fund the initial business combination and/or the desire to obtain committed capital for closing the initial business combination. An Affiliated Joint Acquisition may be effected through a co-investment with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by issuing to such parties a class of equity or equity-linked securities. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract.
In addition, any specified future issuance in connection with Affiliated Joint Acquisition would trigger the anti-dilution provisions of our Class B common stock, which, unless waived, would result in an adjustment to the conversion ratio of our Class B common stock such that our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees, if any, would retain their aggregate percentage ownership at 20% of the sum of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon completion of this offering plus all shares issued in the specified future issuance. If such adjustment is not waived as described elsewhere in this prospectus, the specified future issuance would not reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class B common stock, but would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class A common stock. The issuance of the forward purchase securities will not result in such an adjustment to the conversion of our Class B common stock.
Since our sponsor, officers and directors will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
On September 25, 2017, our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor and Cantor have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,500,000 warrants (or 8,400,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of
$1.00 per warrant (6,500,000 warrants by our sponsor (or 7,250,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full)) and 1,000,000 warrants by Cantor (or 1,150,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000, or $8,400,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, or $1.00 per warrant, that will also be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. Holders of founder shares have agreed (A) to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed initial business combination and (B) not to redeem any founder shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination. In addition, we may obtain loans from our sponsor, affiliates of our sponsor or an officer or director. The personal and financial interests of our officers and directors may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete an initial business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of this prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following this offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our initial business combination. We have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per-share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
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default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
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acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
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our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;
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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;
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our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;
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using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, our ability to pay expenses, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and fund other general corporate purposes;
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limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
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increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation;
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limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, and execution of our strategy; and
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other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering, the sale of the private placement warrants and the $25,000,000 forward purchase contract, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of services and limited operating activities. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operating results and profitability.
Of the net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, $202,000,000 (or $232,300,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be available to complete our initial business combination and pay related fees and expenses (which includes up to $7,000,000, or up to
$8,050,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, for the payment of deferred underwriting commissions). In addition, our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock.
We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able to effectuate our initial business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. In addition, we intend to focus our search for an initial business combination in a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
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solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset, or
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dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.
We may attempt to simultaneously complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our initial business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our initial business combination. We do not, however, intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in an initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
In pursuing our initial business combination strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information generally exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in an initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination.
We may structure an initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires
50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of Class A common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain our control of the target business. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete an initial business combination with which a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold, except that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (such that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. As a result, we may be able to complete our initial business combination even though a substantial majority of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the initial business combination or redeem any shares, all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and other governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or governing instruments in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination that our stockholders may not support.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds and extended the time to consummate an initial business combination and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. Amending our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require the approval of holders of 65% of our common stock, and amending our warrant agreement will require a vote of holders of at least 65% of the public warrants. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires us to provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash if we propose an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination
activity. To the extent any such amendments would be deemed to fundamentally change the nature of any securities offered through this registration statement, we would register, or seek an exemption from registration for, the affected securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our charter or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate our initial business combination.
The provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account), including an amendment to permit us to withdraw funds from the trust account such that the per share amount investors will receive upon any redemption or liquidation is substantially reduced or eliminated, may be amended with the approval of holders of 65% of our common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that any of its provisions related to pre-initial business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the private placement of warrants into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein and including to permit us to withdraw funds from the trust account such that the per share amount investors will receive upon any redemption or liquidation is substantially reduced or eliminated) may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules. We may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our initial stockholders, who will collectively beneficially own up to 20% of our common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering), will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which govern our pre-initial business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete an initial business combination with which you do not agree. Our stockholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. These agreements are contained in a letter agreement that we have entered into with our sponsor, officers and directors. Our stockholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, these agreements and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our sponsor, officers or directors for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in the event of a breach, our stockholders would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
We have not selected any specific business combination target, but intend to target businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, the sale of the private placement warrants as well as the $25,000,000 private placement to be made by our sponsor. As a result, we may be required to
seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. Further, the amount of additional financing we may be required to obtain could increase as a result of future growth capital needs for any particular transaction, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to repurchase for cash a significant number of shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination and/or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.10 per share plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing outside of the forward purchase contract could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive approximately $10.10 per share on the liquidation of our trust account, and our warrants will expire worthless. Furthermore, as described in the risk factor entitled “If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.10 per share,” under certain circumstances our public stockholders may receive less than $10.10 per share upon the liquidation of the trust account.
In evaluating a prospective target business for our initial business combination, our management will rely on the availability of all of the funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities to be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination. If the sale of some or all of the forward purchase securities fails to close, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.10 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of the forward purchase securities are expected to be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in our initial business combination, and may be used to pay expenses in connection with our initial business combination or for working capital in the post-transaction company. The obligations under the forward purchase contract do not depend on whether any public stockholders elect to redeem their shares in connection with our initial business combination and provide us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination. However, if the sale of the forward purchase securities does not close by reason of the failure of our sponsor to abide by its contractual obligation to fund the purchase price for the forward purchase securities, either because our sponsor lacks sufficient funds or because our sponsor determines that it is not in the best interest of our sponsor or its members to fund the purchase price for the forward purchase securities, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination, or we may need to seek alternative financing. In the event of any such failure to fund by our sponsor, we may not be able to obtain additional funds to account for such shortfall on terms favorable to us or at all. Any such shortfall may also reduce the amount of funds that we have available for working capital of the post-business combination company. We have not obligated the sponsor to reserve funds to satisfy its obligations under the forward purchase contract.
Our initial stockholders may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon the closing of this offering, our initial stockholders will own shares representing 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and excluding the securities issuable pursuant to the forward purchase contract). Accordingly, they may
exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of major corporate transactions. If our initial stockholders purchase any units in this offering or if our initial stockholders purchase any additional shares of common stock in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A common stock. In addition, our board of directors, whose members were elected by our initial stockholders, is and will be divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the initial business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our initial stockholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our initial stockholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our initial business combination.
Our sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per founder share, and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our Class B common stock.
The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the Class A common stock and none to the warrant included in the unit) and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our sponsor acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon the closing of this offering, and assuming no value is ascribed to the warrants included in the units, you and the other public stockholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 91.8% (or $9.18 per share, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option), the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $0.82 and the initial offering price of $10.00 per unit. In addition, because of the anti-dilution rights of the founder shares, any equity or equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination would be disproportionately dilutive to our Class A common stock.
We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.
Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or stock, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants worthless.
We have the ability to redeem outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the last reported sales price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period
ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we give proper notice of such redemption and provided certain other conditions are met. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may not exercise our redemption right if the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or we are unable to effect such registration or qualification. We will use our best efforts to register or qualify such shares of common stock under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the warrants were offered by us in this offering. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you (i) to exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) to sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants or (iii) to accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your warrants. None of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us so long as they are held by the sponsor or its permitted transferees.
Our warrants and founder shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We will be issuing warrants to purchase 20,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock (or up to 23,000,000 shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) as part of the units offered by this prospectus and, simultaneously with the closing of this offering, we will be issuing in a private placement warrants to purchase an aggregate of 7,500,000 (or up to 8,400,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share. Our initial stockholders currently own an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares. The founder shares are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as set forth herein. Furthermore, our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.10 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. In addition, if our sponsor makes any working capital loans, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into warrants, at the price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
To the extent we issue shares of Class A common stock to effectuate an initial business combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of these warrants and conversion rights could make us a less attractive business combination vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and reduce the value of the shares of Class A common stock issued to complete the initial business combination. Therefore, our warrants and founder shares may make it more difficult to effectuate an initial business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees, (i) they will not be redeemable by us, (ii) they (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and (iii) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis.
The determination of the offering price of our units and the size of this offering is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size of an offering of an operating company in a particular industry. You may have less assurance, therefore, that the offering price of our units properly reflects the value of such units than you would have in a typical offering of an operating company.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the warrants were negotiated between us and the underwriters. In determining the size of this offering, management held customary organizational meetings with representatives of the underwriters, both prior to our inception and thereafter, with respect to the state of
capital markets, generally, and the amount the underwriters believed they reasonably could raise on our behalf. Factors considered in determining the size of this offering, prices and terms of the units, including the Class A common stock and warrants underlying the units, include:
•
the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies;
•
prior offerings of those companies;
•
our prospects for acquiring an operating business;
•
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.
Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities of an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results.
There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
There is currently no market for our securities. Stockholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on an initial business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic
reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an initial business combination.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2019. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target company with which we seek to complete our initial business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such business combination.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A common stock and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered board of directors and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred shares, which may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
An investment in this offering may result in uncertain or adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
An investment in this offering may result in uncertain U.S. federal income tax consequences. For instance, because there are no authorities that directly address instruments similar to the units we are issuing in this offering, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of a unit between the share of common stock and the one warrant to purchase common stock included in each unit could be challenged by the IRS or the courts. Furthermore, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of a cashless exercise of warrants included in the units we are issuing in this offering is unclear under current law. It is also unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to our shares of common stock suspend the running of a U.S. holder’s holding period for purposes of determining whether any gain or loss realized by such holder on the sale or exchange of common stock is long-term capital gain or loss and for determining whether any dividend we pay would be considered “qualified dividends” for federal income tax purposes. See the section titled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our securities. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences when purchasing, holding or disposing of our securities.
U.S. federal income tax reform could adversely affect us and holders of our units.
On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law H.R. 1, originally known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” which significantly reformed the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The new legislation, among other things, changes the U.S. federal tax rates, imposes significant additional limitations on the deductibility of interest, allows the expensing of capital expenditures, and puts into effect the migration from a “worldwide” system of taxation to a territorial system. We continue to examine the impact this tax reform legislation may have on us. The impact of this tax reform, or of any future administrative guidance interpreting provisions thereof, on holders of our units is uncertain and could be adverse. This prospectus does not discuss any such tax legislation or the manner in which it might affect holders of our units. We urge prospective investors to consult with their legal and tax advisors with respect to any such legislation and the potential tax consequences of investing in our units.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing such suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. This provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.
If we effect our initial business combination with a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.
If we effect our initial business combination with a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:
•
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;
•
tax issues, including but not limited to tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;
•
currency fluctuations and exchange controls;
•
rates of inflation;
•
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.
We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer, which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Investments in post-restructured equities are subject to various risks.
Business combinations with post-restructured entities entail special considerations and risks. If we are successful in completing a business combination with such a target business, we may be subject to, and possibly adversely affected by, the following risks:
•
investments in such companies are speculative, prices are volatile, and market movements are difficult to predict;
•
supply and demand for distressed securities change rapidly and are affected by a variety of market factors over which we have no control and which may reduce the pool of profitable investment opportunities;
•
our ability to identify undervalued investment opportunities that fit our business strategy involves a high degree of uncertainty, and no assurance can be given that we will be able to identify such opportunities;
•
such investments may take a substantial period of time before realizing their anticipated value and returns generated from such investments may not adequately compensate for the business and financial risks assumed; and
•
there is no guarantee that we will be able to achieve our investment objectives or provide any return on invested capital.
Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our operations following a business combination. However, our efforts in identifying prospective target businesses will not be limited to post-restructured entities. Accordingly, if we acquire a target business that is not a post-restructured entity, it is possible that these specific risks would not affect us in the same manner, but we would be subject to other risks attendant with the specific industry in which we operate or target business which we acquire, none of which can be presently ascertained.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this prospectus may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the federal securities laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:
•
our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses;
•
our ability to complete our initial business combination;
•
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.
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We are offering 20,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit. We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering together with the funds we will receive from the sale of the private placement warrants will be used as set forth in the following table.
|
|
|
|
Without
Over-Allotment
Option
|
|
|
Over-Allotment
Option Fully
Exercised
|
|
|
Gross proceeds
|
|
|
|
|
Gross proceeds from units offered to public
(1)
|
|
|
|
$
|
200,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
230,000,000
|
|
|
|
Gross proceeds from private placement warrants offered in the private placement
|
|
|
|
|
7,500,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,400,000
|
|
|
|
Total gross proceeds
|
|
|
|
$
|
207,500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
238,400,000
|
|
|
|
Offering expenses
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
Underwriting commissions (2% of gross proceeds from units offered to
public, excluding deferred portion)
(3)
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,600,000
|
|
|
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
|
37,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,500
|
|
|
|
SEC/FINRA Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
61,660
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,660
|
|
|
|
Travel and road show
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
NASDAQ listing and filing fees
|
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
|
Director and Officer liability insurance premiums
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
Printing and engraving expenses
|
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
|
|
60,840
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,840
|
|
|
|
Total offering expenses (excluding underwriting commissions)
|
|
|
|
$
|
650,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
650,000
|
|
|
|
Proceeds after offering expenses
|
|
|
|
$
|
202,850,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
233,150,000
|
|
|
|
Held in trust account
(3)
|
|
|
|
$
|
202,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
232,300,000
|
|
|
|
% of public offering size
|
|
|
|
|
101
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
101
%
|
|
|
|
Not held in trust account
|
|
|
|
$
|
850,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
850,000
|
|
|
|
|
The following table shows the use of the approximately $850,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account.
(4)
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
% of Total
|
|
|
Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, and other expenses in connection with any business combination
(5)
|
|
|
|
$
|
410,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
48.2
%
|
|
|
|
Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.8
%
|
|
|
|
Payment for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support ($10,000 per month for up to 24 months)
|
|
|
|
|
240,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
28.2
%
|
|
|
|
Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses (including taxes net of
anticipated interest income)
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.8
%
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
$
|
850,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0
%
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Includes gross proceeds from this offering of $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full) as well as 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 sponsor of up to $300,000 as described in this prospectus. As of January 12, 2018, we had borrowed approximately $172,331 (of up to $300,000 available to us) under the promissory note with our sponsor to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These amounts will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $650,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions). In the event that offering expenses are more than as set forth in this table, they will be repaid using a portion of the $850,000 of offering proceeds not held in the trust account and set aside for post-closing working capital expenses. In the event that offering expenses are less than set forth in this table, any such amounts will be used for post-closing working capital expenses.
(3)
The underwriters have agreed to defer underwriting commissions equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering. Upon completion of our initial business combination, $7,000,000, which constitutes the underwriter’s deferred commissions (or $8,050,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be paid to the underwriters from the funds held in the trust account, and the remaining funds, less amounts released to the trustee to pay redeeming stockholders, will be released to us and can be used to pay all or a portion of the purchase price of the business or businesses with which our initial business combination occurs or for general corporate purposes, including payment of principal or interest on indebtedness incurred in connection with our initial business combination, to fund the purchases of other companies or for working capital. The underwriters will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions.
(4)
These expenses are estimates only and do not include interest which may be available to us from the trust account. 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 an initial 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.
(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.
Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, $202,000,000 (or $232,300,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), including $7,000,000 (or $8,050,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of deferred underwriting commissions, will be placed in a trust account in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. We estimate that the interest earned on the trust account will be approximately $1,616,000 per year, assuming an interest rate of 0.80% per year; however, we can provide no assurance regarding this amount. 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, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of: (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) 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 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 (c) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law.
The net proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we ultimately complete our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released from the trust account, as well as the $25,000,000 private placement described elsewhere in this prospectus, for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements we may enter into following consummation of this offering.
We believe that amounts not held in trust will be sufficient to pay the costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. This belief is based on the fact that while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective business combination, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of an initial business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. If we are required to seek additional capital, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or their affiliates, but such persons are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.
Commencing on the date of this prospectus, we have agreed to pay our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Prior to the closing of this offering, our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of January 12, 2018, we had borrowed approximately $172,331 under the promissory note with our sponsor to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of March 31, 2018 or the closing of this offering. The loan will be repaid upon the closing of this offering out of the $850,000 of offering proceeds not held in the trust account.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of units will be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination; any excess funds from this private placement will be used for working capital in the post-transaction company. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and provides us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.
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, 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. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and NASDAQ rules. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase shares or public warrants in such transactions prior to completion of our initial business combination. See “Proposed Business — Permitted purchases of our securities” for a description of how our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their affiliates will select which stockholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction.
The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrantholders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of Class A common stock or warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
We may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) and the agreement for our initial business combination may require as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement or any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares or the initial business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination.
A public stockholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) our completion of an 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 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 our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months following the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law and as further described herein and any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. In addition, our initial stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. However, if our sponsor or any of our officers, directors or affiliates acquires public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. If we increase or decrease the size of the offering we will effect a stock dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial stockholders at 20.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
DILUTION
The difference between the public offering price per share of Class A common stock, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus or the private placement warrants, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated with the sale and exercise of warrants, including the private placement warrants, which would cause the actual dilution to the public stockholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of Class A common stock which may be redeemed for cash), by the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock.
At December 31, 2017, our net tangible book deficit was ($144,284), or approximately ($0.03) per share of common stock. After giving effect to the sale of 20,000,000 shares of Class A common stock included in the units we are offering by this prospectus (or 23,000,000 shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), the sale of the private placement warrants and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value at December 31, 2017 would have been $5,000,002, or approximately $0.82 per share (or $0.72 per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value (as decreased by the value of the approximately 18,898,239 shares of Class A common stock that may be redeemed for cash, or 21,794,278 shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of $0.85 per share (or $0.75 per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to our initial stockholders as of the date of this prospectus and an immediate dilution of $10.00 per share or 100% to our public stockholders not exercising their redemption rights. Total dilution to public stockholders from this offering will be $9.18 per share (or $9.28 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full).
The following table illustrates the dilution to the public stockholders on a per-share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units or the private placement warrants:
|
|
|
|
No exercise of
over-allotment
option
|
|
|
Exercise of
over-allotment
option in full
|
|
|
Public offering price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
10.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
10.00
|
|
|
|
Net tangible book value before this offering
|
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
)
|
|
|
|
|
Increase attributable to public stockholders and sale of the private placement warrants
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.85
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.75
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.82
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.72
|
|
|
|
Dilution to public stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
9.18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
9.28
|
|
|
|
Percentage of dilution to public stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
91.8
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
92.8
%
|
|
|
For purposes of presentation, we have reduced our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) by $190,872,214 because holders of up to approximately 94.5% of our public shares may redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account at a per share redemption price equal to the amount in the trust account as set forth in our tender offer or proxy materials (initially anticipated to be the aggregate amount held in trust two days prior to the commencement of our tender offer or stockholders meeting, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes), divided by the number of shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders and the public stockholders:
|
|
|
|
Shares Purchased
|
|
|
Total Consideration
|
|
|
Average
Price Per
Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Initial Stockholders
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
5,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
20.0
%
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.012
%
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.005
|
|
|
|
Public Stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
20,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
80.0
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
200,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
99.988
%
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
10.000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0
%
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
200,025,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.000
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of an aggregate of 750,000 shares of Class B common stock held by our initial stockholders.
The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:
|
|
|
|
Without
Over-allotment
|
|
|
With
Over-allotment
|
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
Net tangible book deficit before this offering
|
|
|
|
$
|
(144,284
)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(144,284
)
|
|
|
|
Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private placement warrants, net of expenses
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
202,850,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
233,150,000
|
|
|
|
Plus: Offering costs paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value
|
|
|
|
|
166,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
166,500
|
|
|
|
Less: Deferred underwriting commissions
|
|
|
|
|
(7,000,000
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,050,000
)
|
|
|
|
Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption to maintain net tangible
assets of $5,000,001
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
(190,872,214
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(220,122,208
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,000,002
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,000,008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Without
Over-allotment
|
|
|
With
Over-allotment
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of Class B common stock outstanding prior to this offering
|
|
|
|
|
5,750,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,750,000
|
|
|
|
Shares of Class B common stock forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised
|
|
|
|
|
(750,000
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
Shares of Class A common stock included in the units offered
|
|
|
|
|
20,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
23,000,000
|
|
|
|
Less: Shares subject to redemption
|
|
|
|
|
(18,898,239
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(21,794,278
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,101,761
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,955,722
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses of $650,000 and underwriting commissions of $4,000,000 (or $4,600,000 if the underwriters’ 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 — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities.”
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization at December 31, 2017, and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our units in this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of its over-allotment option:
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
As Adjusted
|
|
|
Notes payable to related party
(1)
|
|
|
|
$
|
143,696
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
Deferred underwriting commissions
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,000,000
|
|
|
|
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; -0- and 18,898,239 shares are subject to possible redemption, respectively
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
190,872,214
|
|
|
|
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, 1,000,000 shares authorized;
-0- and 1,101,761 shares issued and outstanding (excluding -0- and
18,898,239 shares subject to possible redemption), actual and as
adjusted, respectively
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
110
|
|
|
|
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 5,750,000 and 5,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted, respectively
|
|
|
|
|
575
|
|
|
|
|
|
500
|
|
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
|
|
24,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,002,176
|
|
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
|
|
(2,784
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,784
)
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
$
|
22,216
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,000,002
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
|
|
$
|
165,912
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
202,872,216
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. The “as adjusted” information gives effect to the repayment of any loans made under this note out of the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants. As of January 12, 2018, we had borrowed approximately $172,331 under the promissory note with our sponsor to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering.
(2)
Upon the completion of our initial business combination, we will provide our stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account 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, subject to the limitations described herein whereby our net tangible assets will be maintained at a minimum of $5,000,001 and any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed initial business combination.
(3)
Actual share amount is prior to any forfeiture of founder shares by our sponsor and as adjusted amount assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private placement warrants, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing.
The issuance of additional shares in connection with an initial business combination to the owners of the target or other investors:
•
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 Class A shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock;
•
may subordinate the rights of holders of our common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
•
could cause a change in 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; and
•
may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A common stock and/or warrants.
Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant debt to bank or other lenders or the owners of a target, it could result in:
•
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.
As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at December 31, 2017, we had $24,945 in cash and deferred offering costs of $166,500. Further, we expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our initial business combination plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful.
Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as expenses as we conduct due diligence on prospective business combination candidates. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied prior to the completion of this offering through a capital contribution from our sponsor of $25,000 for the founder shares and up to $300,000 in loans available from our sponsor under an unsecured promissory note. We estimate that the net proceeds from (i) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $650,000, underwriting commissions of $4,000,000 ($4,600,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (excluding deferred underwriting commissions of $7,000,000 (or $8,050,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full)), and (ii) the sale of the private placement warrants for a purchase price of $7,500,000 (or $8,400,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be $202,850,000 (or $233,150,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). Of this amount, $202,000,000 (or $232,300,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be held in the trust account, which includes $7,000,000 (or $8,050,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of deferred underwriting commissions. The proceeds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. The remaining approximately $850,000 will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $650,000, we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $650,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (less deferred underwriting commissions) to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest to pay franchise and income taxes. We estimate our annual franchise tax obligations, based on the number of shares of our common stock authorized and outstanding after the completion of this offering, to be $200,000, which is the maximum amount of annual franchise taxes payable by us as a Delaware corporation per annum, which we may pay from funds from this offering held outside of the trust account or from interest earned on the funds held in our trust account and released to us for this purpose. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our income taxes. To the extent that our capital
stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we will have available to us the approximately $850,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account. We will use these funds to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. 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. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
We expect our primary liquidity requirements during that period to include approximately $410,000 for legal, accounting, due diligence, travel and other expenses associated with structuring, negotiating and documenting successful business combinations; $100,000 for legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting requirements; $240,000 for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support; and approximately $100,000 for working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses and reserves (including taxes net of anticipated interest income).
These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. In addition, we could use a portion of the funds not being placed in trust to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed initial business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business, the amount that would be used as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision would be determined based on the terms of the specific business combination and the amount of our available funds at the time. Our forfeiture of such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise) could result in our not having sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock.
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination, which may include a specified future issuance. In addition, we intend to target businesses larger than we could acquire with the
net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, and may as a result be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
Controls and Procedures
We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer would we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.
Prior to the closing of this offering, we have not completed an assessment, nor has our independent registered public accounting firm tested our systems, of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Many small and mid-sized target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:
•
staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;
•
reconciliation of accounts;
•
proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;
•
evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;
•
documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and
•
documentation of accounting policies and procedures.
Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expense in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively may also take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.
Once our management’s report on internal controls is complete, we will retain our independent registered public accounting firm to audit and render an opinion on such report when required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The independent registered public accounting firm may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal controls while performing their audit of internal control over financial reporting.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be invested in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 180 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. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
Related Party Transactions
On September 25, 2017, our sponsor purchased 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares upon completion of this offering. The per share purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the aggregate number of founder shares issued. If we increase or decrease the size of the offering we will effect a stock dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial stockholders at 20.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering.
Commencing on the date of this prospectus, we have agreed to pay our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Our sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
Prior to the consummation of this offering, our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of March 31, 2018 or the closing of this offering. The loan will be repaid upon the closing of this offering out of the $650,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated to the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions).
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. 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 terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of units will be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination; any excess funds from this private placement will be used for working capital in the post-transaction company. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and provides us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.
Our sponsor and Cantor have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,500,000 warrants (or 8,400,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (6,500,000 warrants by our sponsor (or 7,250,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full)) and 1,000,000 warrants by Cantor (or 1,150,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000, or $8,400,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, each exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, in a private placement
that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor and Cantor will be permitted to transfer the private placement warrants held by them to certain permitted transferees, including our and Cantor’s officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with or related to them, but the transferees receiving such securities will be subject to the same agreements with respect to such securities as the sponsor and Cantor. Otherwise, these warrants will not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. The private placement warrants will be non-redeemable so long as they are held by our sponsor, Cantor or their permitted transferees. The private placement warrants may also be exercised by the sponsor, Cantor and their permitted transferees for cash or on a cashless basis. In addition, for as long as the private placement warrants are held by Cantor or its designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Otherwise, the private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement we will enter into with our initial stockholders on or prior to the closing of this offering, we may be required to register certain securities for sale under the Securities Act (including securities issuable pursuant to the forward purchase contract). These holders, and holders of warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, are entitled under the registration rights agreement to make up to three demands that we register certain of our securities held by them for sale under the Securities Act and to have the securities covered thereby registered for resale pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In addition, these holders have the right to include their securities in other registration statements filed by us. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing any such registration statements. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results
As of December 31, 2017, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus, as we have conducted no operations to date.
JOBS Act
On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company”, we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the report of independent registered public accounting firm providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis), and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of this offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
PROPOSED BUSINESS
Overview
We are a newly organized blank check company formed as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any stage of its corporate evolution, we intend to focus our search on companies that have recently emerged from bankruptcy court protection, often referred to as post-bankruptcy or post-restructured companies. Our management team and Mudrick Capital, an affiliate of our sponsor, have extensive experience investing in post-restructured companies. We believe that this experience makes us very well situated to identify, source, negotiate and execute a business combination at a favorable valuation with an attractive post-restructured company.
Mudrick Capital was founded in 2009 to focus on investment opportunities in distressed credit and post-restructured equities. As of December 31, 2017, Mudrick Capital managed approximately $1.8 billion, primarily for institutional clients such as pension funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, family offices, funds of funds and high net worth individuals.
Our Chief Executive Officer and the President of Mudrick Capital, Jason Mudrick, has in excess of 16 years of experience investing in the public and private markets for distressed debt and post-restructured equities. Mr. Mudrick began his career working as an investment banker in the Mergers & Acquisitions Investment Banking Division of Merrill Lynch & Co in 2000. Towards the end of 2001 he joined Contrarian Capital Management, LP, and an investment firm specializing in distressed debt. Beginning in October 2002, Mr. Mudrick served as Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of the Contrarian Equity Fund, a fund specializing in post-restructured equities, which he managed until his departure at the end of 2008. As Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of the Contrarian Equity Fund, Mr. Mudrick specialized in investing in post-restructured equities, among other things. In 2009, Mr. Mudrick founded Mudrick Capital to continue his specialty of investing in distressed debt and post-restructured equities. Mr. Mudrick has served on numerous ad hoc creditors’ committees and seven post-restructured companies’ boards of directors, including Safety-Kleen Holdings, Integrated Alarm Services Group, Salton, Rotech Healthcare, NJOY Holdings, Corporate Risk Holdings and Dex Media Holdings, Inc., where he is currently the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Mudrick has a BA from the College of the University of Chicago and a JD from Harvard Law School.
Our Vice President and a Managing Director of Mudrick Capital, Victor Danh, has in excess of 14 years of experience investing in the public and private markets for distressed debt and post-restructured equities. Mr. Danh began his career working as an investment banker in the Merger and Acquisitions group in the Investment Banking Division of Merrill Lynch & Co. in 2000 and subsequently continued his investment banking career in the Technology group in the Investment Banking Division of UBS AG. In 2003, he joined Contrarian Capital Management, LP. Mr. Danh was promoted in 2006 to assistant portfolio manager of the Contrarian Equity Fund where he worked with Mr. Mudrick. Mr. Danh was the lead analyst on numerous post-restructured and special situation equity investments for the Contrarian Equity Fund. In 2009, Mr. Danh joined Mudrick Capital as Head of Research. In his tenure at Mudrick Capital, Mr. Danh has served on eight ad hoc creditors’ committees and the post-restructured board of directors of Seventy Seven Energy, which was sold to Patterson-UTI Energy for $1.5 billion in early 2017. Mr. Danh has an AB from Harvard College.
Our Vice President and a Managing Director of Mudrick Capital, David Kirsch, has in excess of 15 years of experience working with distressed companies and investing in debt and equity markets. Mr. Kirsch began his career in 2002 working as an investment banker in the Healthcare group of Banc of America Securities. In late 2003, he joined Alvarez & Marsal, a global consulting firm specializing in corporate turnarounds. At Alvarez & Marsal, Mr. Kirsch worked on dozens of corporate restructurings for both public and private companies. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Kirsch was a Managing Director and Analyst at Miura Global, a large global investment firm specializing in public equities. At the beginning of 2011, he
joined Mudrick Capital to combine his turnaround and restructuring experience from Alvarez & Marsal with his investment experience from Miura Global. Since joining Mudrick Capital, he has served on eight ad hoc creditors’ committees, including Targus Corporation, Verso Corporation, Nebraska Book, Allied Nevada Gold and Catalyst Paper. He is currently serving on the board of directors of Hycroft Mining, NJOY Holdings and Nelson Education, where he is the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Kirsch has a BS from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Our Vice President and a Managing Director of Mudrick Capital, Bruce “Beau” Harbour, has in excess of 12 years of experience investing in the public and private markets for distressed debt and post-restructured equities. Mr. Harbour began his career in the Financial Sponsors Group of Credit Suisse First Boston in 2005 and subsequently joined Citadel Investment Group in 2006 to focus on distressed debt and special situations investing. He later joined Mount Kellett Capital Management LP, a large global special situations investment firm, at the firm’s inception in 2008. Most recently, he was a Managing Director and Co-Head of North American Corporate Investments at Mount Kellett before he joined Fortress Investment Group in July 2015 as part of its strategic transaction with Mount Kellett. In April 2016, Mr. Harbour joined Mudrick Capital and is responsible for analyzing distressed credit and post-restructured equity opportunities across a range of industries. Mr. Harbour has served on four ad hoc committees in restructurings as well as on the post-restructured board of directors of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P). During his A&P board tenure, he was responsible for directing all of the company’s mergers and acquisitions and restructuring activities on behalf of the board and oversaw several significant transactions. Mr. Harbour received his A.B.
magna cum laude
from Princeton University.
Our Chief Financial Officer is Glenn Springer, who has been the Chief Financial Officer of Mudrick Capital since 2009. He oversees the firm’s finance, accounting, tax and operations functions. Mr. Springer began his career in 1996 at public accounting firms Richard A. Eisner & Co. LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC, respectively. As a public accountant, Mr. Springer’s focus was on financial statement audits of a variety of alternative investment vehicles including hedge funds and private equity funds. In 2000, Mr. Springer joined alternative investment management firm Asset Alliance Corporation as their Director of Fund Accounting, and later served as Controller of their London affiliate (A.A.I.UK). In 2005, Mr. Springer joined high yield and distressed investing firm, SBZ Select Investments, LLC, where he served as their Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. In 2007, Mr. Springer joined Turtle Creek Investment Advisors, LLC to serve as the firm’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, where he developed from inception its operational and financial infrastructure. Mr. Springer received a B.A. from the State University at Albany and an M.B.A from Baruch College. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.
Competitive Strengths
Our management team and the investment professionals at Mudrick Capital have an extensive understanding of restructurings and post-restructuring company analysis. Investing in distressed companies, restructurings and post-restructured companies is the primary investment strategy of the various investment funds and separate accounts managed by Mudrick Capital. We believe that a key advantage in sourcing potential business combination targets is the network of contacts our management team and Mudrick Capital have, which includes other distressed credit focused investment firms, financial and legal restructuring advisors, post-restructuring specialized board of directors and turnaround focused executives. Specifically, because Mudrick Capital is the investment advisor for investment vehicles that specialize in distressed credit investing, executives at Mudrick Capital are made aware of potential opportunities with respect to many of the companies in North America that are going through a balance sheet restructuring process. We believe that this specialization and network is a competitive advantage in allowing us to identify, analyze and negotiate an initial business combination for the company with a post-restructured business.
With respect to the foregoing descriptions, past performance of Mudrick Capital and our management team is not a guarantee either (i) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate or (ii) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical performance record of Mudrick Capital or our management team as indicative of our future performance. Our officers and directors have not had experience with blank check companies or
special purpose acquisition companies in the past. In addition, our executive officers may have conflicts of interest with other entities to which they owe fiduciary or contractual obligations with respect to initial business combination opportunities. For a list of our executive officers and entities for which a conflict of interest may or does exist between such officers and the company, as well as the priority and preference that such entity has with respect to performance of obligations and presentation of business opportunities to us, please refer to the table and subsequent explanatory paragraph under “Management — Conflicts of Interest”.
Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to identify, combine with and maximize the value of a company that has recently emerged from bankruptcy court protection. In particular, we believe that many post-restructured companies suffer from a valuation discount due to their opaqueness, complexity, non-long term ownership base and overall illiquidity. We believe that our in depth understanding of restructurings and post-restructuring company analysis, coupled with the more liquid publicly traded vehicle the company offers in an initial business combination, could result in significant value creation for our stockholders. Creating value for our stockholders is the ultimate goal of this business strategy.
Post-restructured companies can provide an attractive investment opportunity due to the unique set of circumstances surrounding balance sheet restructurings and post-restructured equities. First, balance sheets are typically restructured by swapping old debt for new equity. This often results in an equity ownership base comprised of former creditors that may not be long-term holders of the new company’s equity, resulting in a technical overhang. Second, post-restructured companies are often difficult to analyze, as the new company can have a different balance sheet, different cost structure, different asset base and sometimes a different management team relative to the pre-restructured company. This can result in historical financial reporting being less relevant than traditional, non-restructured companies. This difficulty can be exacerbated by a lack of institutional research coverage often found in post-restructured companies. Finally, in many instances, a number of the turnaround initiatives undertaken before and during the balance sheet restructuring have yet to manifest themselves in the operating results of the new company, resulting in a valuation that may not fully reflect the future positive operating results of the company.
Due to the large size of many distressed credit investment firms, we have observed that in recent years many post-restructured companies often have highly concentrated ownership structures upon emerging from bankruptcy. In many instances, this limits these companies’ abilities to emerge as public companies due their limited number of shareholders. This situation is often exacerbated for mid-cap and small-cap companies. In our experience, it is quite common for five or six former creditors to control significantly more than half of the new company’s equity. This can result in such private companies trading at material discounts to their publicly traded peers. In our opinion, this private market discount makes post-restructured equities particularly attractive candidates for a publicly traded blank check company such as ours.
Investments in post-restructured equities are subject to various risks. Investments in such companies are speculative, prices are volatile, and market movements are difficult to predict. Supply and demand for distressed securities change rapidly and are affected by a variety of market factors over which we have no control and which may reduce the pool of profitable investment opportunities. Moreover, our ability to identify undervalued investment opportunities that fit our business strategy involves a high degree of uncertainty, and no assurance can be given that we will be able to identify such opportunities. In addition, such investments may take a substantial period of time before realizing their anticipated value and returns generated from such investments may not adequately compensate for the business and financial risks assumed. There is no guarantee that we will be able to achieve our investment objectives or provide any return on invested capital.
Business Combination Criteria
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general criteria that we believe are important in evaluating candidates for our initial business combination. While we intend to utilize these criteria in evaluating business combination opportunities, we expect that no individual criterion will entirely determine a decision to pursue a particular opportunity. Further, any particular initial business combination opportunity that we ultimately determine to pursue may not meet one or more of these criteria.
1.
Post-Restructured Companies.
We intend to seek candidates that have recently restructured their balance sheet. We believe that post-restructured companies may be valued at a discount to their publicly traded peers due to the non-long term nature of their ownership base (former creditors are typically the new equity owners post-restructuring), the complexity in understanding their restructuring, the lack of clarity and information regarding their financial performance, the concentrated nature of their ownership base and the lack of a publicly traded equity, among other reasons. We also believe that post-restructured companies are where we have the strongest network to identify opportunities and the greatest ability and experience to provide shareholder value.
2.
Middle-Market Companies.
We intend to seek candidates with an enterprise value of approximately $500 million to $1 billion, determined in the sole discretion of our officers and directors according to reasonably accepted valuation standards and methodologies. We believe that post-restructured middle-market companies suffer from a larger valuation discount to their publicly traded peers than larger companies. We also believe that post-restructured middle-market companies have a more difficult time accessing the public markets compared to their larger peers, and therefore could benefit more from an initial business combination with our company.
3.
Market Leaders with Stable Cash Flows.
We intend to target companies that restructured their balance sheets due to a bad balance sheet, and not a bad business. We intend to seek candidates that are market leaders in their industry, and have stable, defensible and predictable cash flows.
4.
Discount to Publicly Traded Peers.
We intend to seek candidates that are valued in the private market at a significant discount to their publicly traded peers. We believe that this discount will facilitate the initial business combination negotiation by allowing the opportunity for liquidity and multiple expansion for the targets’ current shareholders, while at the same time allowing meaningful upside for our stockholders post-business combination.
5.
Strong Management Teams.
We will target businesses that have strong, experienced management teams. We also may be able to assist with potential management additions from our network of experienced turnaround professionals. Additionally, we may seek to optimize the management team of a potential target business by introducing board members with relevant insight and experience.
6.
Benefit from Being a Public Company.
We intend to pursue a business combination with a company that will benefit from being publicly traded and can effectively utilize the broader access to capital and public profile that are associated with being a publicly traded company.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Initial Business Combination
NASDAQ rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our
signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects.
We may, at our option, pursue a business combination opportunity jointly with one or more entities affiliated with Mudrick Capital and/or one or more investors in funds or separate accounts managed by Mudrick Capital, which we refer to as an “Affiliated Joint Acquisition.” Any such parties would co-invest only if (i) permitted by applicable regulatory and other legal limitations; (ii) we and Mudrick Capital considered a transaction to be mutually beneficial to us as well as the affiliated entity; and (iii) other business reasons exist to do so, such as the strategic merits of including such co-investors, the need for additional capital beyond the amount held in our trust account to fund the initial business combination and/or the desire to obtain committed capital for closing the initial business combination. An Affiliated Joint Acquisition may be effected through a co-investment with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by issuing to such parties a class of equity or equity-linked securities. We refer to this potential future issuance, or a similar issuance to other specified purchasers, as a “specified future issuance” throughout this prospectus. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract. The amount and other terms and conditions of any such specified future issuance would be determined at the time thereof. We are not obligated to make any specified future issuance and may determine not to do so. This is not an offer for any specified future issuance. Pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of our Class B common stock, any such specified future issuance would result in an adjustment to the conversion ratio such that our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees, if any, would retain their aggregate percentage ownership at 20% of the sum of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon completion of this offering plus all shares issued in the specified future issuance, unless the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Class B common stock agreed to waive such adjustment with respect to the specified future issuance at the time thereof. We cannot determine at this time whether a majority of the holders of our Class B common stock at the time of any such specified future issuance would agree to waive such adjustment to the conversion ratio. They may waive such adjustment due to (but not limited to) the following: (i) closing conditions which are part of the agreement for our initial business combination; (ii) negotiation with Class A stockholders on structuring an initial business combination; (iii) negotiation with parties providing financing which would trigger the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B common stock; or (iv) as part of the Affiliated Joint Acquisition. If such adjustment is not waived, the specified future issuance would not reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class B common stock, but would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class A common stock. If such adjustment is waived, the specified future issuance would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of both classes of our common stock. The issuance of the forward purchase securities will not result in such an adjustment to the conversion of our Class B common stock.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination either (i) in such a way so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses, or (ii) in such a way so that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders, or for other reasons, including an Affiliated Joint Acquisition as described above. However, we will only complete an initial business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the
post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of NASDAQ’s 80% of net assets test. If the initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the transactions and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
Our Business Combination Process
In evaluating prospective business combinations, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review process that will encompass, among other things, a review of historical and projected financial and operating data, meetings with management and their advisors (if applicable), on-site inspection of facilities and assets, discussion with customers and suppliers, legal reviews and other reviews as we deem appropriate. We will also utilize our expertise and Mudrick Capital’s expertise analyzing post-restructured companies and evaluating operating projections, financial projections and determining the appropriate return expectations given the risk profile of the target business.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with Mudrick Capital, investment funds or separate accounts advised by Mudrick Capital or our officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with Mudrick Capital, investment funds advised by Mudrick Capital or our sponsor, officers or directors, 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 our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of units will be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination; any excess funds from this private placement will be used for working capital in the post-transaction company. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and provides us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.
Investment funds or separate accounts advised by Mudrick Capital will indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement warrants following this offering. Additionally, Mr. Mudrick or Mudrick Capital will be the beneficial owner of founder shares and/or private placement warrants following this offering by virtue of exercising investment power of such shares or warrants on behalf of such investment funds or separate accounts. Because of this ownership, Mudrick Capital, investment funds or separate accounts advised by Mudrick Capital and our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of 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 were to be included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
All of the members of our management team are employed by Mudrick Capital. Mudrick Capital is continuously made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for an initial business combination; we have not, however, selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
Mudrick Capital and each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. We believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of Mudrick Capital and our officers or directors will not materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. In addition to the forward purchase obligation described elsewhere in this prospectus, we may, at our option, pursue an Affiliated Joint Acquisition opportunity with an entity to which Mudrick Capital, investment funds advised by Mudrick Capital or an officer or director has a fiduciary or contractual obligation. Any such entity may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by making a specified future issuance to any such entity. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Our sponsor, officers and directors and Mudrick Capital have agreed not to participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering.
Our Management Team
Members of our management team are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time that any member of our management team will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process.
We believe our management team’s operating and transaction experience and relationships with companies will provide us with a substantial number of potential business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, the members of our management team have developed a broad network of contacts and corporate relationships in various industries in connection with distressed credit and post-restructured equities investing. This network has grown through the activities of our management team sourcing, acquiring and financing businesses, our management team’s relationships with sellers, financing sources and target management teams and the experience of our management team in executing transactions under varying economic and financial market conditions. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Management” for a more complete description of our management team’s experience.
Initial Business Combination
NASDAQ rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely
that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects.
We may, at our option, pursue an Affiliated Joint Acquisition with one or more entities affiliated with Mudrick Capital. Any such parties would co-invest only if permitted by applicable regulatory and other legal limitations and to the extent considered appropriate. An Affiliated Joint Acquisition may be effected through a co-investment with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by issuing to such parties a class of equity or equity-linked securities. The amount and other terms and conditions of any such specified future issuance would be determined at the time thereof. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract. We are not obligated to make any specified future issuance and may determine not to do so. This is not an offer for any specified future issuance. Pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of our Class B common stock, any such specified future issuance would result in an adjustment to the conversion ratio such that our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees, if any, would retain their aggregate percentage ownership at 20% of the sum of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon completion of this offering plus all shares issued in the specified future issuance, unless the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Class B common stock agreed to waive such adjustment with respect to the specified future issuance at the time thereof. We cannot determine at this time whether a majority of the holders of our Class B common stock at the time of any such specified future issuance would agree to waive such adjustment to the conversion ratio. They may waive such adjustment due to (but not limited to) the following: (i) closing conditions which are part of the agreement for our initial business combination; (ii) negotiation with Class A stockholders on structuring an initial business combination; (iii) negotiation with parties providing financing which would trigger the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B common stock; or (iv) as part of the Affiliated Joint Acquisition. If such adjustment is not waived, the specified future issuance would not reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class B common stock, but would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class A common stock. If such adjustment is waived, the specified future issuance would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of both classes of our common stock. The issuance of the forward purchase securities will not result in such an adjustment to the conversion of our Class B common stock.
Status as a Public Company
We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As a public company, we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination with us. Following an initial business combination, we believe the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned with stockholders’ interests than it would as a private company. A target business can further benefit by augmenting its profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees. In a business combination transaction with us, the owners of the target business may, for example, exchange their shares of stock in the target business for our shares of Class A common stock (or shares of a new holding company) or for a combination of our shares of Class A common stock and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers.
Although there are various costs and obligations associated with being a public company, we believe target businesses will find this method a more expeditious and cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. The typical initial public offering process takes a significantly longer period of time than the typical business combination transaction process, and there are significant expenses in the initial public offering process, including underwriting discounts and commissions, marketing and road show efforts that may not be present to the same extent in connection with an initial business combination with us.
Furthermore, once a proposed initial business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay or prevent the offering from
occurring or could have negative valuation consequences. Following an initial business combination, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with stockholders’ interests and the ability to use its shares as currency for acquisitions. Being a public company can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
While we believe that our structure and our management team’s backgrounds will make us an attractive business partner, some potential target businesses may view our status as a blank check company, such as our lack of an operating history and our ability to seek stockholder approval of any proposed initial business combination, negatively.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30
th
, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
Financial Position
With funds available for an initial business combination initially in the amount of $220,000,000, after payment of $7,000,000 of deferred underwriting fees (or $249,250,000 after payment of up to $8,050,000 of deferred underwriting fees if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in each case before fees and expenses associated with our initial business combination, including the proceeds from the $25,000,000 forward purchase contract to purchase 2,500,000 units by our sponsor, we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt or leverage ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.
Effecting Our Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private placement warrants and from the $25,000,000 forward purchase contract to purchase 2,500,000 units by our sponsor, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering or
otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemptions of our Class A common stock, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account, as well as the $25,000,000 private placement described elsewhere in this prospectus, for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
In addition to the $25,000,000 private placement described elsewhere in this prospectus, we may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business combination (which may include a specified future issuance), and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the trust account. In addition, we intend to target businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, and may as a result be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our proxy materials or tender offer documents disclosing the initial business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately, including pursuant to any specified future issuance, or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
Sources of Target Businesses
We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers and investment professionals. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us by calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses in which they think we may be interested on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read this prospectus and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as our sponsor and their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. In addition, we expect to receive a number of proprietary deal flow opportunities that would not otherwise necessarily be available to us as a result of the business relationships of our officers and directors and our sponsor and their affiliates. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee, advisory fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. We will engage a finder only to the extent our management determines that the use of a finder may bring opportunities to us that may not otherwise be available to us or if finders approach us on an unsolicited basis with a potential transaction that our management determines is in our best interest to pursue. Payment of finder’s fees is customarily tied to completion of a transaction, in which case any such fee will be paid out of the funds held in the trust account. In no event, however, will our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or any entity with which our sponsor or officers are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation by the company prior to, or in connection with any services rendered for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). None of our sponsor, executive officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, will be allowed to receive any compensation, finder’s fees or consulting fees from a prospective
business combination target in connection with a contemplated initial business combination. We have agreed to pay our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support and to reimburse our sponsor for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. Some of our officers and directors may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the post-transaction company following our initial business combination. The presence or absence of any such fees or arrangements will not be used as a criterion in our selection process of an initial business combination candidate.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with an initial business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors or making the initial business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with an initial business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
As more fully discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Our officers and directors currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us. We may, at our option, pursue an Affiliated Joint Acquisition opportunity with an entity to which Mudrick Capital or an officer or director has a fiduciary or contractual obligation. Any such entity may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by making a specified future issuance to any such entity. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of our Initial Business Combination
NASDAQ rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. The fair market value of our initial business combination will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as discounted cash flow valuation, a valuation based on trading multiples of comparable public businesses or a valuation based on the financial metrics of M&A transactions of comparable businesses. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of a target’s assets or prospects. We do not intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. Subject to this requirement, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In any case, we will only complete an initial business combination in which we own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquire a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act. If we own or acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses, the portion of such business or businesses that are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company is what will be taken into account for purposes of NASDAQ’s 80% of net assets test. There is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our initial business combination.
To the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
In evaluating a prospective business target, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review, which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. In addition, we intend to focus our search for an initial business combination in a single industry. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
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subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination, and
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cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services.
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team
Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’ management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. The determination as to whether any of the members of our management team will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Following an initial business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination
We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required by law or applicable stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons. Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business combinations we may consider and whether stockholder approval is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.
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Type of Transaction
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Whether
Stockholder
Approval is
Required
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Purchase of assets
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No
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Purchase of stock of target not involving a merger with the company
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No
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Merger of target into a subsidiary of the company
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No
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Merger of the company with a target
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Yes
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Under NASDAQ’s listing rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
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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;
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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
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the issuance or potential issuance of common stock will result in our undergoing a change of control.
Permitted Purchases of our Securities
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, 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. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and NASDAQ rules. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase shares or public warrants in such transactions prior to completion of our initial business combination.
The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrantholders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of Class A common stock or warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such stockholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination. Our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates will only purchase shares if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Any purchases by our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act will only be made to the extent such purchases are able to be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates will not make purchases of common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchases are subject to such reporting requirements.
Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account 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, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.10 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed initial business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirement. Under
NASDAQ rules, asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would require stockholder approval. If we structure an initial business combination with a target company in a manner that requires stockholder approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed initial business combination. We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on NASDAQ, we will be required to comply with such rules.
If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and
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file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, we or our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market if we elect to redeem our public shares through a tender offer, to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares which are not purchased by our sponsor, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete the initial business combination.
If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and
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file proxy materials with the SEC.
In the event that we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders will count toward this quorum and pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market
and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need only 7,500,001, or 37.5%, of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming all outstanding shares are voted) in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised). We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed initial business combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed initial business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the initial business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
Limitation on Redemption upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination if we Seek Stockholder Approval
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” Such restriction shall also be applicable to our affiliates. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed initial business combination as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering without our prior consent, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with an initial business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
Tendering Stock Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to
two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two days prior to the vote on the initial business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.
The foregoing is different from the procedures used by many blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, many blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed initial business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the initial business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an “option window” after the completion of the initial business combination during which he or she could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he or she could sell his or her shares in the open market before actually delivering his or her shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become “option” rights surviving past the completion of the initial business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election to redeem is irrevocable once the initial business combination is approved.
Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the tender offer materials or the date of the stockholder meeting set forth in our proxy materials, as applicable. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.
If our initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.
If our initial proposed initial business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete an initial business combination with a different target until 24 months from the closing of this offering.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if no Initial Business Combination
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such 24-month period, 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 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 (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our sponsor, officers or directors acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted 24-month time period.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. However, we may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules). If this optional redemption right is exercised with respect to an excessive number of public shares such that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement (described above), we would not proceed with the amendment or the related redemption of our public shares at such time.
We expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the approximately $850,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. We will depend on sufficient interest being earned on the proceeds held in the trust account to pay any franchise and income tax obligations we may owe. However, if those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay franchise and income taxes on interest income earned on the trust account balance, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $10.10. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than $10.10. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.
Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of
any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. WithumSmith+Brown, PC, our independent registered public accounting firm, and Cantor, the underwriters of the offering, will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account.
In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.10 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.10 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below (i) $10.10 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations and we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less than $10.10 per public share.
We will seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to approximately $850,000 from the proceeds
of this offering with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $650,000, we may fund such excess with funds from the funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $650,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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 (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following our 24th month and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent 10 years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account. As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly
limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the trust account is remote. Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the trust account are not reduced below (i) $10.10 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest withdrawn to pay taxes and will not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims.
If we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.10 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of 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 all of our public shares if we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a stockholder’s voting in connection with the initial business combination alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights as described above. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, may be amended with a stockholder vote.
Comparison of Redemption or Purchase Prices in Connection with Our Initial Business Combination and if We Fail to Complete Our Initial Business Combination
The following table compares the redemptions and other permitted purchases of public shares that may take place in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.
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Redemptions in
Connection with our
Initial Business Combination
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Other Permitted
Purchases of Public Shares
by us or our Affiliates
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Redemptions
if we fail to Complete an
Initial Business Combination
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Calculation of redemption price
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Redemptions at the time of our initial business combination may be made pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. The
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately
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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,
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Redemptions in
Connection with our
Initial Business Combination
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Other Permitted
Purchases of Public Shares
by us or our Affiliates
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Redemptions
if we fail to Complete an
Initial Business Combination
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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 $10.10 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 divided by the number of then 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 consummation 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 initial business combination.
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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 sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may pay in these transactions.
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payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount, then on deposit in the trust account (which is initially anticipated to be $10.10 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 (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
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Impact to remaining stockholders
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The redemptions in connection with our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for our remaining
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If the permitted purchases described above are made there would be no impact to our remaining stockholders because the
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The redemption of our public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for the shares held
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Redemptions in
Connection with our
Initial Business Combination
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Other Permitted
Purchases of Public Shares
by us or our Affiliates
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Redemptions
if we fail to Complete an
Initial Business Combination
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stockholders, who will bear the burden of the deferred underwriting commissions and franchise and income taxes payable.
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purchase price would not be paid by us.
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by our initial stockholders, who will be our only remaining stockholders after such redemptions.
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Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419
The following table compares the terms of this offering to the terms of an offering by a blank check company subject to the provisions of Rule 419. This comparison assumes that the gross proceeds, underwriting commissions and underwriting expenses of our offering would be identical to those of an offering undertaken by a company subject to Rule 419, and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the provisions of Rule 419 apply to our offering.
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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Escrow of offering proceeds
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$202,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will be deposited into a trust account in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.
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Approximately $176,400,000 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 persons having the beneficial interests in the account.
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Investment of net proceeds
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$202,000,000 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 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.
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Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States.
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Receipt of interest on escrowed funds
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Interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to stockholders is reduced by (i) any income or franchise taxes paid or payable, and (ii) in the event of our liquidation for failure to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time, up to $100,000 of net interest that may be released to us should we have no or insufficient working capital to fund the costs and expenses of our dissolution and liquidation.
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Interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our completion of a business combination.
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Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business
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NASDAQ rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate
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The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds.
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination.
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Trading of securities issued
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We expect the units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52
nd
day following the date of this prospectus unless Cantor informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days from the date of this prospectus. If the 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 over-allotment option.
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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.
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Exercise of the warrants
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The warrants cannot be exercised until the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination or 12 months from the closing of this offering.
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The warrants could be exercised prior to the completion of a business combination, but securities received and cash paid in connection with the exercise would be deposited in the escrow or trust account.
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Election to remain an investor
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We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously
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A prospectus containing information pertaining to the business combination required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of a post-effective amendment to the company’s
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein. We may not be required by law to hold a stockholder vote. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. If we are not required by law 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. In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. If, however, we hold a stockholder vote, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules. 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 initial business 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
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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 45
th
business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all funds on deposit in the escrow account must be returned to all of the investors and none of the securities are issued.
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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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.
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Business combination deadline
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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 (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
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If a business combination has not been completed within 18 months after the effective date of the company’s registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors.
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Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a stockholder vote
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder (including our affiliates), together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other
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Many blank check companies provide no restrictions on the ability of stockholders to redeem shares based on the number of shares held by such stockholders in connection with an initial business combination.
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to Excess Shares (more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering). Our public stockholders’ inability to redeem Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and they could suffer a material loss on their investment in us if they sell any Excess Shares in open market transactions.
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Tendering stock certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights
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We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two days prior to the vote on the initial business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights.
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In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, holders could vote against a proposed initial business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holders were seeking to exercise their redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholders to arrange for them to deliver their certificate to verify ownership.
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Terms of Our Offering
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Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering
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Release of funds
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Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our franchise and income tax obligations, 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 redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity and (iii) the redemption of 100% of our public shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time frame (subject to the requirements of applicable law). On the completion of our initial business combination, all amounts held in the trust account will be released to us, less amounts released to a separate account controlled by the trustee for disbursal to redeeming stockholders. We will use these funds to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights as described above under “Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination,” to pay the underwriters their deferred underwriting commissions, to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination.
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The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time.
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Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic business combinations. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than we do. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the initial business combination of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
Facilities
Our executive offices are located at 527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022, and our telephone number is (646) 747-9500. Our executive offices are provided to us by our sponsor. Commencing on the date of this prospectus, we have agreed to pay our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We currently have five officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the stage of the initial business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We will register our units, Class A common stock and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, these financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with, or reconciled to, GAAP, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential targets we may conduct an initial business combination with because some targets may be unable to provide such statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential business combination candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
We will be required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer will we be required to have our internal control procedures audited. A target
company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such business combination. Prior to the date of this prospectus, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our shares of Class A common stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30
th
, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such.
MANAGEMENT
Officers, Directors and Director Nominees
Our officers, directors and director nominees are as follows:
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Name
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Age
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Position
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Jason Mudrick
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42
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Chief Executive Officer and Director
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Victor Danh
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40
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Vice President
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David Kirsch
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38
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Vice President and Director Nominee
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Beau Harbour
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35
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Vice President
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Glenn Springer
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45
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Chief Financial Officer
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Dennis Stogsdill
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47
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Director Nominee
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Timothy Daileader
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47
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Director Nominee
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Dr. Brian Kushner
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59
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Director Nominee
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Jason Mudrick
has been our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors since September 2017. Mr. Mudrick is the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Mudrick Capital, an investment firm that specializes in long and short investments in distressed credit. Mudrick Capital was founded in 2009 with $5 million under management. As of December 31, 2017, the firm had grown to approximately $1.8 billion under management, primarily for institutional clients. Mr. Mudrick began his Wall Street career in 2000 advising on mergers and acquisition transactions as an Associate in Merrill Lynch’s Mergers & Acquisitions Investment Banking Group. In 2001, he joined Contrarian Capital Management, where he began his focus on distressed investing. Beginning in October 2002, Mr. Mudrick served as Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of the Contrarian Equity Fund, a fund specializing in post-restructured equities, which he managed until his departure at the end of 2008. As Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of the Contrarian Equity Fund, Mr. Mudrick specialized in investing in post-restructured equities, among other things. In 2009, Mr. Mudrick founded Mudrick Capital to continue his specialty of investing in distressed debt and post-restructured equities. Mr. Mudrick has served on numerous ad hoc creditors’ committees and seven post-restructured companies’ boards of directors, including Safety-Kleen Holdings, Integrated Alarm Services Group, Salton, Rotech Healthcare, NJOY Holdings, Corporate Risk Holdings and Dex Media Holdings, Inc., where he is currently the Chairman of the Board. Jason also spent two years in graduate school teaching economics classes to Harvard University undergraduates. Mr. Mudrick has a B.A. in Political Science from the College of the University of Chicago and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Mr. Mudrick was previously admitted to the New York State Bar. Mr. Mudrick’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his extensive leadership and board experience, his track record as a founder and Chief Investment Officer of Mudrick Capital, his current board experience, including as Chairman of the Board of Dex Media Holdings, Inc., and his network of contacts in the distressed investing field.
Victor Danh
has been our Vice President since September 2017. Mr. Danh is a Managing Director, Head of Research, and Senior Analyst at Mudrick Capital, where he is responsible for analyzing distressed credit and equity opportunities across a diverse range of industries and overseeing and coordinating the research team. Prior to joining Mudrick Capital, Mr. Danh was a Vice President and Assistant Portfolio Manager at Contrarian Capital Management, LLC from 2003 to 2009 where he focused on deep value and distressed investments in a wide range of industries across the entire capital structure. Previously, Mr. Danh worked at Merrill Lynch in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group and at UBS in the Technology Investment Banking Group. Mr. Danh received a B.A. in Economics from Harvard College.
David Kirsch
has been our Vice President since September 2017 and will be one of our directors on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms part. Mr. Kirsch is a Managing Director and Senior Analyst at Mudrick Capital, where he is responsible for analyzing distressed credit and equity opportunities across a diverse range of industries. Prior to joining Mudrick Capital, from 2008 to 2010 Mr. Kirsch was a Senior Analyst and Managing Director at Miura Global Management, a large global long-short equity hedge fund, where he was responsible for coverage of the financial and consumer
industries across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Mr. Kirsch gained extensive restructuring experience as a Director at Alvarez & Marsal from 2003 – 2008. At Alvarez & Marsal, he held primary or lead management roles on an interim basis for distressed companies and advised creditors on balance sheet solutions to maximize the value of their investments. Selected assignments include representing Senior Secured Creditors in the Delphi and Oneida restructurings and overseeing the Tarragon (a public real estate development company) Finance Department during its restructuring. Mr. Kirsch began his Wall Street career as an Analyst in the Healthcare Industry Group in the Investment Banking Division of Banc of America Securities. He is currently serving on the board of directors of Hycroft Mining, NJOY Holdings and Nelson Education, where he is the Chairman of the Board. David received his B.S. Magna Cum Laude in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kirsch’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his extensive leadership and board experience, his track record as Managing Director and Senior Analyst of Mudrick Capital, his current board experience, including as Chairman of the Board of Nelson Education, and his network of contacts in the distressed investing field.
Bruce “Beau” Harbour
has been our Vice President since September 2017. Mr. Harbour is a Managing Director and Senior Analyst at Mudrick Capital, where he is responsible for analyzing distressed credit and equity opportunities across a diverse range of industries. Prior to joining Mudrick Capital, Mr. Harbour was a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group LLC from 2015, which he joined as part of a strategic transaction with Mount Kellett Capital Management LP, a large global special situations investment fund. Mr. Harbour joined Mount Kellett at its inception in 2008 and was most recently a Managing Director and Co-Head of North American Corporate Investments, focusing on deep value, special situations and distressed investments across the capital structure. He covered a range of industries in both the public and private markets. While at Mount Kellett, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc., where he was responsible for directing the company’s capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and restructuring activities on behalf of the board. Mr. Harbour started his career in investment banking as an analyst in the Financial Sponsors Group at Credit Suisse before joining Citadel Investment Group as an investment analyst. Mr. Harbour received his A.B. magna cum laude in Politics and a Certificate in Finance from Princeton University.
Glenn Springer
has been our Chief Financial Officer since September 2017. Mr. Springer is the Chief Financial Officer of Mudrick Capital, where he oversees the finance, accounting and operations functions. Prior to joining Mudrick Capital, Mr. Springer was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Turtle Creek Investment Advisors, LLC from 2007 to 2008 where he developed from inception, its operational and financial infrastructure. Prior to joining Turtle Creek, Mr. Springer served as Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer of SBZ Select Investments, LLC from 2005 to 2007 where he was responsible for the finance, accounting and compliance functions, including the registration of two investment advisors with the SEC. Previously, Mr. Springer served as Controller (A.A.I.UK), Director of Fund Accounting and a Risk Management Affiliated Fund Analyst at Asset Alliance Corporation from 2000 to 2004. Prior to Asset Alliance, Mr. Springer was a Senior Accountant in PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP’s Financial Services and Business Advisory Services Group from 1998 to 2000 where his focus was on audits of a variety of investment companies including hedge funds and private equity funds. Mr. Springer began his career at Richard A. Eisner & Co. LLP from 1996 to 1998 where he was a Senior Accountant in the Audit Department. Mr. Springer received a B.A. from the State University of Albany and an M.B.A. from Baruch College, CUNY. Mr. Springer is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.
Dennis Stogsdill
, who will be one of our directors on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has in excess of 20 years of experience in management consulting, advising troubled companies, lenders and equity sponsors in distressed and non-distressed situations. Mr. Stogsdill began his career in 1994 working as a management consultant at GB Consulting and later in 1996 joined the global restructuring group of Arthur Andersen. In 2001 he helped form the restructuring group of the investment bank Berenson Minella. In 2002, he joined Alvarez & Marsal, a global consulting firm specializing in corporate turnarounds and financial restructurings. Mr. Stogsdill is currently Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal and has been involved in all aspects of the reorganization process, including acting in executive-level roles such as Chief Restructuring Officer. Mr. Stogsdill periodically served as Chief Restructuring Officer (or in an analogous position) of companies which elected to utilize bankruptcy proceedings as a part of their financial restructuring process and, as such, he served as an executive officer of various companies which filed bankruptcy petitions under federal law, including, without limitation,
Fairway Group Holdings in 2015, Revel Casino in 2013, Fresh & Easy Markets in 2013 and M&G Chemicals SA in 2017. He is currently serving as Chief Restructuring Officer of M&G Chemicals SA, a global petrochemicals business. Mr. Stogsdill has a B.S. from Rutgers University. Mr. Stogsdill is well-qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his experience in finance, business, operations and in restructuring and turnaround situations.
Timothy Daileader
, who will be one of our directors on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has been a restructuring consultant since 2016 at Drivetrain, LLC, an independent fiduciary and advisory firm. In this capacity, Mr. Daileader leads several post-bankruptcy liquidation and litigation trusteeships, and from 2016 to 2017 was an independent director at Kawa Solar Holdings and several of its U.S. and Canadian affiliates. From 2011 to 2015, Mr. Daileader served as a senior investment analyst at Litespeed Partners, the N.Y.-based hedge fund. From 2007 to 2011, Mr. Daileader also served as the Director of Research for debt and equity research at Knight Capital Group and Libertas Partners (acquired by Knight Capital Group) where he also was part of the Senior Operating, New Business and Credit Policy committees. From 1997 to 2007, Mr. Daileader was a senior investment professional at Stanfield Capital Partners and Strategic Value Partners. Between 1994 and 1997, Mr. Daileader worked at GiroCredit AG and Banque Francais du Commerce Exterieur in their Corporate Finance/ Commercial Lending departments. From 1992 and 1994, Mr. Daileader completed formal credit training at National Westminster Bank USA and worked in its Credit Department. Mr. Daileader received a B.A. in Economics from Georgetown University where he was a George F. Baker Scholar, and is a CFA charter holder. Mr. Daileader is well-qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his experience in financial restructuring, corporate finance, leveraged finance, compliance and asset management.
Dr. Brian Kushner
, who will be one of our directors on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has since 2009 served as a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN), a global business advisory firm, where he serves as the leader of the Private Capital Advisory Services practice and as the co-leader of the Technology practice, the Aerospace, Defense and Government Contracting practice and the Activism and M&A Solutions practice. Prior to joining FTI, Dr. Kushner was the co-founder of CXO, L.L.C., a boutique interim and turnaround management consulting firm that was acquired by FTI at the end of 2008. Over the past two decades, he has served as Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Restructuring Officer or a Director of more than two dozen public and private technology, manufacturing, telecom and defense companies, and has led, or participated in the sale or acquisition of over 25 companies. Dr. Kushner periodically served as Chief Restructuring Officer (or in an analogous position) of companies which elected to utilize bankruptcy proceedings as a part of their financial restructuring process and, as such, he served as an executive officer of various companies which filed bankruptcy petitions under federal law, including, without limitation, Relativity Media LLC in 2015. Dr. Kushner began his career in 1982 at BDM International, a defense firm, and remained with them following their acquisition by Ford Motor Company, and stayed on to become Chief Scientist and General Manager as part of the management team that completed a leveraged buyout of BDM in 1990 with the Carlyle Group. Dr. Kushner serves as an independent director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Dex Media Holdings Inc, a digital and print marketing company since 2016; an independent director of DevelopOnBox Holding, LLC d/b/a Zodiac Interactive, a software development company for the cable and video processing industry, where he has served on the Audit and Governance Committees since 2016 ; and a non-executive independent director of the Luxfer Group, PLC (NYSE: LXFR), a specialty materials manufacturing company, where he serves as Chair of the Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee, since 2016. Dr. Kushner is also a member of the Advisory Council of the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, Chairman Emeritus of the Physics Advisory Council at the University of Texas at Austin, and is an Emeritus member of the Engineering College Council at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Previously, from 2015 to 2016 he served as an independent director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Everyware Global, Inc, the manufacturing company that is the parent of the Oneida and Anchor Hocking brands (since renamed the Oneida Group); from 2013 to 2015 the Lead Independent Director of Damovo, LLC, the ultrahigh reliability and data systems integration company; from 2010 to 2013 as Chair of Caribbean Asset Holdings, the voice, video and telephony company serving many Caribbean islands; from 2009 to 2013 as managing member and director of DLN Holdings, LLC, a mid-tier defense contractor; from 2007 to 2012 as director and acting Chair of Sage Telecom, Inc., a competitive local exchange carrier and a Silver Point Capital portfolio company; from 2006
to 2009 a director of Pacific Crossing Limited, a telecom carrier; and from 2003 to 2008 an independent director of Headway Resources, a staffing company. Dr. Kushner has a Ph.D. in Applied and Engineering Physics with a minor in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, as well as an M.S. and B.S. in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell. Dr. Kushner is well-qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his substantial executive-level operational experience in a broad spectrum of industries, his knowledge and expertise in M&A and in IT, his extensive experience over the last 20 years as an independent director, and his extensive network of contacts in both private equity, hedge funds and distressed investing.
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
We will have 5 directors upon completion of this offering. Our board of directors will be divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a three-year term. In accordance with NASDAQ corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NASDAQ. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Mr. Stogsdill, will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Messrs. Daileader and Kushner, will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Messrs. Mudrick and Kirsch, will expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders.
Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our officers may consist of a Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Managing Directors, Managing Directors, President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretaries and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Director Independence
NASDAQ listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Stogsdill, Daileader and Kushner are “independent directors” as defined in the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Officer and Director Compensation
None of our officers has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Commencing on the date of this prospectus, we have agreed to pay our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. No compensation of any kind, including any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee or monies in respect of any payment of a loan, will be paid by us to our sponsor, officers and directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers, prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial business combination will be made using funds held outside the trust account. Other than quarterly audit committee review of such payments, we do not expect to have any additional controls in place governing our reimbursement payments to our directors and executive officers for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with identifying and consummating an initial business combination.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed initial business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed initial business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after our initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors will have two standing committees: an audit committee and a compensation committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, NASDAQ rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and NASDAQ rules require that the compensation committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.
Audit Committee
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will establish an audit committee of the board of directors. Messrs. Stogsdill, Daileader and Kushner will serve as members of our audit committee, and Mr. Kushner will chair the audit committee. Under the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least three members of the audit committee, all of whom must be independent. Each of Messrs. Stogsdill, Daileader and Kushner meet the independent director standard under NASDAQ listing standards and under Rule 10-A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act.
Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Mr. Stogsdill qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.
We will adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the audit committee, including:
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the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;
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pre-approving all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures;
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setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm, including but not limited to, as required by applicable laws and regulations;
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setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
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obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent registered public accounting firm describing (i) the independent registered public accounting firm’s internal
quality-control procedures, (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 and (iii) all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and us to assess the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence;
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reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and
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reviewing with management, the independent registered public accounting firm, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
Compensation Committee
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors. Messrs. Stogsdill and Daileader will serve as members of our compensation committee. Under the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two members of the compensation committee, all of whom must be independent. Messrs. Stogsdill and Daileader are independent and Mr. Daileader will chair the compensation committee.
We will adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
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reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, if any is paid by us, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;
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reviewing and approving on an annual basis the compensation, if any is paid by us, of all of our other officers;
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reviewing on an annual basis our executive compensation policies and plans;
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implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
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assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
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approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees;
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if required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and
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reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, other than the payment to our sponsor of $10,000 per month, for up to 24 months, for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support and reimbursement of expenses, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate the consummation of an initial business combination. Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial business combination.
The charter will also provide that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by NASDAQ and the SEC.
Director Nominations
We do not have a standing nominating committee though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee as and when required to do so by law or NASDAQ rules. In accordance with Rule 5605 of the NASDAQ rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by the board of directors. The board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. The directors who will participate in the consideration and recommendation of director nominees are Messrs. Stogsdill, Daileader and Kushner. In accordance with Rule 5605 of the NASDAQ rules, all such directors are independent. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.
The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of stockholders). Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to our board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws.
We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more officers serving on our board of directors.
Code of Ethics
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We will file a copy of our Code of Ethics and our audit and compensation committee charters as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You will be able to review these documents by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s web site at
www.sec.gov
. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Conflicts of Interest
Mudrick Capital manages several investment vehicles. Funds and separate accounts managed by Mudrick Capital or its affiliates may compete with us for business combination opportunities. If these funds or separate accounts decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunities. In addition, investment ideas generated within Mudrick Capital may be suitable for both us and for a current or future Mudrick Capital fund or separate account and may be directed to such investment vehicle rather than to us. Neither Mudrick Capital nor members of our management team who are also employed by Mudrick Capital have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, unless presented to such member solely in his or her capacity as an officer of the company. Mudrick Capital and our management may have similar obligations to future investment vehicles or third parties.
We may, at our option, pursue an Affiliated Joint Acquisition opportunity with any such fund or other investment vehicle, but such parties would co-invest only if permitted by applicable regulatory and other legal limitations and to the extent considered appropriate. Such entity may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by making a specified future issuance to any such fund or vehicle. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract.
Mudrick Capital and each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. We believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of Mudrick Capital and our officers or directors will not materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. We may, at our option, pursue an Affiliated Joint Acquisition opportunity with an entity to which Mudrick Capital or an officer or director has a fiduciary or contractual obligation. Any such entity may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by making a specified future issuance to any such entity. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Our sponsor, officers and directors and Mudrick Capital have agreed not to participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act, until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering. Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
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None of our officers or directors is required to commit his or her full time to our affairs and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among various business activities.
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In the course of their other business activities, our 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 management may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
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Our initial stockholders have agreed to waive 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. Additionally, our initial stockholders 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, the founder shares will not be transferable, assignable by our sponsor 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 sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period
commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, 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, the private placement warrants and the Class A common stock underlying such warrants, will not be transferable, assignable or saleable by our sponsor or its permitted transferees 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 effectuate our initial business combination.
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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.
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Our sponsor, 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 $1.50 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 conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
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the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
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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.
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Furthermore, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers, directors and director nominees currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations:
|
Individual
|
|
|
Entity
|
|
|
Entity’s Business
|
|
|
Affiliation
|
|
|
Jason Mudrick
(1)
|
|
|
Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. (“MCM”)
|
|
|
Institutional Investor
|
|
|
President and Chief Investment Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private funds and separated accounts managed by MCM
(2)
|
|
|
Investment Vehicles
|
|
|
President and Chief Investment Officer of MCM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dex Media Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
Digital Marketing
|
|
|
Chairman
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate Risk Holdings, LLC
|
|
|
Employment Screening Services
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
NJOY Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
Electronic Cigarettes
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
Victor Danh
(3)
|
|
|
Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. (“MCM”)
|
|
|
Institutional Investor
|
|
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private funds and separated accounts managed by MCM
(2)
|
|
|
Investment Vehicles
|
|
|
Managing Director of MCM
|
|
|
David Kirsch
(4)
|
|
|
Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. (“MCM”)
|
|
|
Institutional Investor
|
|
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private funds and separated accounts managed by MCM
(2)
|
|
|
Investment Vehicles
|
|
|
Managing Director of MCM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nelson Education Ltd.
|
|
|
Educational Services
|
|
|
Chairman
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hycroft Mining Corporation
|
|
|
Mining
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
NJOY Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
Electronic Cigarettes
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
Beau Harbour
(5)
|
|
|
Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. (“MCM”)
|
|
|
Institutional Investor
|
|
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private funds and separated accounts managed by MCM
(2)
|
|
|
Investment Vehicles
|
|
|
Managing Director of MCM
|
|
|
Glenn Springer
(6)
|
|
|
Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. (“MCM”)
|
|
|
Institutional Investor
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private funds and separated accounts managed by MCM
(2)
|
|
|
Investment Vehicles
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer of MCM
|
|
|
Individual
|
|
|
Entity
|
|
|
Entity’s Business
|
|
|
Affiliation
|
|
|
Dennis Stogsdill
(7)
|
|
|
Alvarez & Marsal
|
|
|
Consulting
|
|
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
M&G Chemicals SA
|
|
|
Petrochemicals
|
|
|
Officer
|
|
|
Timothy Daileader
(8)
|
|
|
Post-bankruptcy liquidation and litigation trusteeships as consultant for Drivetrain LLC
|
|
|
Fiduciary
|
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
Dr. Brian Kushner
|
|
|
FTI Consulting
|
|
|
Consulting
|
|
|
Senior Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dex Media Holdings
|
|
|
Digital and Print
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
DevelopOnBox Holdings
|
|
|
Software Development
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luxfer Group
|
|
|
Specialty Materials
|
|
|
Director
|
|
(1)
Mr. Mudrick has a fiduciary duty with respect to each of the listed entities.
(2)
Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. acts as investment manager to certain private investment funds and separately managed accounts.
(3)
Mr. Danh has a fiduciary duty with respect to each of the listed entities.
(4)
Mr. Kirsch has a fiduciary duty with respect to each of the listed entities.
(5)
Mr. Harbour has a fiduciary duty with respect to each of the listed entities.
(6)
Mr. Springer has a fiduciary duty with respect to each of the listed entities.
(7)
Mr. Stogsdill has a fiduciary duty with respect to each of the listed entities.
(8)
Mr. Daileader has a fiduciary duty with respect to each of the listed entities.
(9)
Dr. Kushner has a fiduciary duty with respect to each of the listed entities.
Accordingly, if any of the above executive officers, directors or director nominees becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for any of the above entities to which he or she has current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with such a company, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA, or from an independent accounting firm, that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after the offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our
directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.
We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our bylaws also will permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We will purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our common stock included in the units offered by this prospectus, and assuming no purchase of units in this offering, by:
•
each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;
•
each of our executive officers, directors and director nominees that beneficially owns shares of our common stock; and
•
all our executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the private placement warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
On September 25, 2017, our sponsor purchased 5,750,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per share. The following table presents the number of shares and percentage of our common stock owned by our initial stockholders before and after this offering. The post-offering numbers and percentages presented assume that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that our initial stockholders forfeit 750,000 founder shares on a pro rata basis, and that there are 25,000,000 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding after this offering.
|
|
|
|
Before Offering
|
|
|
After Offering
|
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
(1)
|
|
|
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
(2)
|
|
|
Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
Common Stock
|
|
|
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
(2)
|
|
|
Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
Common Stock
|
|
|
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
5,750,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,750,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
20.0
%
|
|
|
|
Jason Mudrick
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
5,750,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,750,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
20.0
%
|
|
|
|
Victor Danh
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
David Kirsch
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
Beau Harbour
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
Glenn Springer
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
Dennis Stogsdill
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
Timothy Daileader
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
Dr. Brian Kushner
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
All executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group (8 individuals)
|
|
|
|
|
5,750,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,750,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
20.0
%
|
|
|
*
less than 1%
(1)
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, 527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022.
(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.” Excludes shares underlying the forward purchase contract, as such shares may not be voted or disposed of by our sponsor within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
(3)
Our sponsor is the record holder of such shares. Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. is the managing member of our sponsor and has voting and investment discretion with respect to the common stock held by our sponsor. Jason Mudrick is the sole member of Mudrick Capital Management, LLC, the general partner of Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. As such, Mudrick Capital Management, L.P.
and Jason Mudrick may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the common stock held directly by our sponsor. Each such entity or person disclaims any beneficial ownership of the reported shares other than to the extent of any pecuniary interest they may have therein, directly or indirectly. Our sponsor is 100% owned by investment funds and separate accounts managed by Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. Excludes shares underlying the forward purchase contract, as such shares may not be voted or disposed of by our sponsor within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
Immediately after this offering, our initial stockholders will beneficially own 20% of the then-issued and outstanding shares of our common stock (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Neither our sponsor nor any of our officers or directors have expressed an intention to purchase any units in this offering. If we increase or decrease the size of the offering, we will effect a stock dividend or a share contribution back to capital, or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial stockholders at 20.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Because of this ownership block, our initial stockholders may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors, amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions, including approval of our initial business combination.
The holders of the founder shares have agreed (A) to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed initial business combination and (B) not to redeem any shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of units will be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination; any excess funds from this private placement will be used for working capital in the post-transaction company. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and provides us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.
Our sponsor and our executive officers and directors are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.
Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants
The founder shares, private placement warrants and any shares of Class A common stock issued upon conversion or exercise thereof are each subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions in a letter agreement with us to be entered into by our sponsor, officers and directors. Those lock-up provisions provide that such securities are not transferable or salable (i) in the case of the 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 sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, 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, and (ii) in the case of the private placement warrants and the Class A common stock underlying such warrants, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, except in each case (a) to our officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of our officers or directors, any members of our sponsor, or any affiliates of our sponsor, (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of one of the members of the individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of one of the individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares or warrants were
originally purchased; (f) in the event of our liquidation prior to the completion of our initial business combination; (g) by virtue of the laws of Delaware or our sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of our sponsor; or (h) in the event of our liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (e) or (g) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreements and by the same agreements entered into by our sponsor with respect to such securities (including provisions relating to voting, the trust account and liquidation distributions described elsewhere in this prospectus).
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, private placement warrants, securities issuable pursuant to the forward purchase contract and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans will have registration rights to require us to register a sale of any of our securities held by them pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. These holders will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that we register such securities for sale under the Securities Act. In addition, these holders will have “piggy-back” registration rights to include their securities in other registration statements filed by us.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On September 25, 2017, we issued an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares to our sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 in cash, or approximately $0.004 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares upon completion of this offering. If we increase or decrease the size of the offering we will effect a stock dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial stockholders at 20.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Up to 750,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. The founder shares (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder.
Our sponsor and Cantor have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,500,000 warrants (or 8,400,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (6,500,000 warrants by our sponsor (or 7,250,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full)) and 1,000,000 warrants by Cantor (or 1,150,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000, or $8,400,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, each exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of units will be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination; any excess funds from this private placement will be used for working capital in the post-transaction company. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and provides us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.
As more fully discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such other entity. Our officers and directors currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us. We may, at our option, pursue an Affiliated Joint Acquisition opportunity with an entity to which Mudrick Capital or an officer or director has a fiduciary or contractual obligation. Any such entity may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the initial business combination by making a specified future issuance to any such entity. Any such Affiliated Joint Acquisition or specified future issuance would be in addition to, and would not include, the forward purchase securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract.
Commencing on the date of this prospectus, we have agreed to pay our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Other than the foregoing, no compensation of any kind, including any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee or monies in respect of any payment of a loan, will be paid by us to our sponsor, officers and directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers, prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of an initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly
basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
Prior to the closing of this offering, our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of March 31, 2018 or the closing of this offering. The loan will be repaid upon the closing of this offering out of the estimated $650,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated to the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions). The value of our sponsor’s interest in this transaction corresponds to the principal amount outstanding under any such loan.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. 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. The terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to our stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation.
We will enter into a registration rights agreement with respect to the private placement warrants, the warrants issuable upon conversion of working capital loans (if any) and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the foregoing and upon conversion of the founder shares, which is described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Registration Rights.”
Related Party Policy
We have not yet adopted a formal policy for the review, approval or ratification of related party transactions. Accordingly, the transactions discussed above were not reviewed, approved or ratified in accordance with any such policy.
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt a code of ethics requiring us to avoid, wherever possible, all conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by our board of directors (or the appropriate committee of our board) or as disclosed in our public filings with the SEC. Under our code of ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the company. A form of the code of ethics that we plan to adopt prior to the consummation of this offering is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to a written charter that we will adopt prior to the consummation of this offering, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be required in order to approve a related party transaction. A majority of the members of the entire audit committee will constitute a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the audit committee will be required to approve a related party transaction. A form of the audit committee charter that we plan
to adopt prior to the consummation of this offering is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We also require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our sponsor, officers or directors unless we, or a committee of independent directors, have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. Furthermore, no finder’s fees, reimbursements, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation will be paid by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers, for services rendered to us prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, the following payments will be made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:
•
Repayment of up to an aggregate of $172,331 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, utilities and secretarial and administrative support;
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Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and
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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.
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, and 1,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value. The following description summarizes the material terms of our capital stock. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.
Units
Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one whole share of Class A common stock and one redeemable warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrantholder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A common stock.
We expect the Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52
nd
day following the closing of this offering unless Cantor informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of Class A common stock and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of Class A common stock and warrants.
In no event will the Class A common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes this audited balance sheet upon the completion of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days after the date of this prospectus. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
Common Stock
Upon the closing of this offering, 25,000,000 shares of our common stock will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of 750,000 founder shares by our sponsor), consisting of:
•
20,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock underlying the units being offered in this offering; and
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5,000,000 shares of Class B common stock held by our initial stockholders.
If we increase or decrease the size of the offering we will effect a stock dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial stockholders at 20.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of units will be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the initial business combination; any excess funds from this private placement will be used for working capital in the post-transaction company. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their public shares and provides us with a minimum funding level for the initial business combination.
Common stockholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. Holders of the Class A common stock and holders of the Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, except as required by law. Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or as required by applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our shares of common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders. Our board of directors will be divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors. Our stockholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
Because our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, if we were to enter into an initial business combination, we may (depending on the terms of such an initial business combination) be required to increase the number of shares of Class A common stock which we are authorized to issue at the same time as our stockholders vote on the initial business combination to the extent we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination.
In accordance with NASDAQ corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until no later than one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NASDAQ. Under Section 211(b) of the DGCL, we are, however, required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with our bylaws, unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, and thus we may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.
We will provide our stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.10 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. Unlike many blank check companies that hold stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and provide for related redemptions of public shares for cash upon completion of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by law, if a stockholder vote is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, a stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders
present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting.
However, the participation of our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates in privately-negotiated transactions (as described in this prospectus), if any, could result in the approval of our initial business combination even if a majority of our public stockholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering, which we refer to as the Excess Shares. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Our stockholders’ inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination, and such stockholders could suffer a material loss in their investment if they sell such Excess Shares on the open market. Additionally, such stockholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete the initial business combination. And, as a result, such stockholders will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose such shares would be required to sell their stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
If we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, pursuant to the letter agreement our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need only 7,500,001, or 37.5%, of the 20,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming all outstanding shares are voted) in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised). Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction (subject to the limitation described in the preceding paragraph).
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination
within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our initial stockholders acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period.
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after an initial business combination, our stockholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of stock, if any, having preference over the common stock. Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock, except that we will provide our 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, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein.
Founder Shares
The founder shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, and holders of founder shares have the same stockholder rights as public stockholders, except that (i) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below, (ii) our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed (A) to waive 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, (B) to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (x) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (y) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (C) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 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 such time period, (iii) the founder shares are shares of our Class B common stock that will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or at any time prior thereto at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described herein, and (iv) are entitled to registration rights. If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed pursuant to the letter agreement to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination.
The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like), and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in this prospectus and related to the closing of the initial business combination, including pursuant to a specified future issuance, the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance, including a specified future issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon completion of this offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial business combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination, any private placement-equivalent warrants issued to our sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to us and any securities issued pursuant to the forward purchase contract). We cannot determine at this time whether a majority of the holders of our Class B common stock at the time
of any future issuance would agree to waive such adjustment to the conversion ratio. They may waive such adjustment due to (but not limited to) the following: (i) closing conditions which are part of the agreement for our initial business combination; (ii) negotiation with Class A stockholders on structuring an initial business combination; or (iii) negotiation with parties providing financing which would trigger the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B common stock. If such adjustment is not waived, the specified future issuance would not reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class B common stock, but would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class A common stock. If such adjustment is waived, the specified future issuance would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of both classes of our common stock. The issuance of the forward purchase securities will not result in such an adjustment to the conversion of our Class B common stock. Holders of founder shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B common stock into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided above, at any time. The term “equity-linked securities” refers to any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock issues in a financing transaction in connection with our initial business combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt. Securities could be “deemed issued” for purposes of the conversion rate adjustment if such shares are issuable upon the conversion or exercise of convertible securities, warrants or similar securities.
With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares are not transferable, assignable or salable (except to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor, each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions) until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, 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.
Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Our board of directors will be authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. Our board of directors will be able to, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the common stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management. We have no preferred stock outstanding at the date hereof. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future. No shares of preferred stock are being issued or registered in this offering.
Redeemable Warrants
Public Stockholders’ Warrants
Each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of this offering or 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. The warrants will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
We will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with
respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of a warrant unless Class A common stock issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the share of Class A common stock underlying such unit.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants at this time. However, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, to cause such registration statement to become effective and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60
th
business day after the closing of our initial business combination, warrantholders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may call the warrants for redemption:
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in whole and not in part;
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at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
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upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each warrantholder; and
•
if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrantholders.
If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may not exercise our redemption right if the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or we are unable to effect such registration or qualification. We will use our best efforts to register or qualify such shares of common stock under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the warrants were offered by us in this offering.
We have established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrantholder will be entitled to exercise its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Class A common stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise its warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among
other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of our warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, all holders of warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Class A common stock to be received upon exercise of the warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a warrant redemption. We believe this feature is an attractive option to us if we do not need the cash from the exercise of the warrants after our initial business combination. If we call our warrants for redemption and our management does not take advantage of this option, our sponsor and its permitted transferees would still be entitled to exercise their private placement warrants for cash or on a cashless basis using the same formula described above that other warrantholders would have been required to use had all warrantholders been required to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, as described in more detail below.
A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
If the number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Class A common stock, or by a split-up of shares of Class A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A common stock. A rights offering to holders of Class A common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A common stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Class A common stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A common stock) and (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A common stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A common stock, in determining the price payable for Class A common stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of Class A common stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Class A common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Class A common stock on account of such shares of Class A common stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends, (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A common stock in connection with a proposed initial business combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A common stock in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our Class A common stock if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or (e) in connection with the redemption of our public shares upon our failure to complete our initial business combination, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date
of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A common stock in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Class A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Class A common stock.
Whenever the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Class A common stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of our Class A common stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A common stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of Class A common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the warrants pursuant to which the holders of the warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the warrants in order to determine and realize the option value component of the warrant. This formula is to compensate the warrant holder for the loss of the option value portion of the warrant due to the requirement that the warrant holder exercise the warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.
The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants.
The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being
exercised. The warrantholders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of Class A common stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one (1) vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the warrantholder.
Private Placement Warrants
The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except, among other limited exceptions as described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants,” to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor or Cantor) and they will not be redeemable by us so long as they are held by our sponsor, Cantor or their permitted transferees. Our sponsor, Cantor or their permitted transferees, have the option to exercise the private placement warrants on a cashless basis. Except as described below, the private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than the sponsor, Cantor or their permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering. In addition, for as long as the private placement warrants are held by Cantor or its designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
If holders of the private placement warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of warrant exercise is sent to the warrant agent. The reason that we have agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the sponsor or its permitted transferees is because it is not known at this time whether they will be affiliated with us following an initial business combination. If they remain affiliated with us, their ability to sell our securities in the open market will be significantly limited. We expect to have policies in place that prohibit insiders from selling our securities except during specific periods of time. Even during such periods of time when insiders will be permitted to sell our securities, an insider cannot trade in our securities if he or she is in possession of material non-public information. Accordingly, unlike public stockholders who could sell the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants freely in the open market, the insiders could be significantly restricted from doing so. As a result, we believe that allowing the holders to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis is appropriate.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. 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.
Our sponsor and Cantor have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of any of these warrants) until the date that is 30 days after the date we complete our initial business combination, except that, among other limited exceptions as described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants” made to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of an initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial conditions subsequent to completion of an initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to an initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. If we increase or decrease the size of the offering we will effect a stock dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial stockholders at 20.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for our common stock and warrant agent for our warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent and warrant agent, its agents and each of its stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the indemnified person or entity.
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of the holders of 65% of our common stock. Our initial stockholders, who will collectively beneficially own 20% of our common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering), will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that:
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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 (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law;
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Prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination;
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Although we do not intend to enter into an initial 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 an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view;
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If a stockholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other 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 with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act; whether or not we maintain our registration under the our Exchange Act or our listing on NASDAQ, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares by one of the two methods listed above;
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So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on NASDAQ, NASDAQ rules require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination;
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If our stockholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-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, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares; and
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We will not effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that under no circumstances will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
We will be subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers upon completion of this offering. This statute prevents certain Delaware corporations, under certain circumstances, from engaging in a “business combination” with:
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a stockholder who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock (otherwise known as an “interested stockholder”);
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an affiliate of an interested stockholder; or
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an associate of an interested stockholder, for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder.
A “business combination” includes a merger or sale of more than 10% of our assets. However, the above provisions of Section 203 do not apply if:
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our board of directors approves the transaction that made the stockholder an “interested stockholder,” prior to the date of the transaction;
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after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, other than statutorily excluded shares of common stock; or
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on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the initial business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at a meeting of our stockholders, and not by written consent, by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our board of directors will be classified into three classes of directors. As a result, in most circumstances, a person can gain control of our board only by successfully engaging in a proxy contest at two or more annual meetings.
Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval (including a specified future issuance) and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Exclusive forum for certain lawsuits
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Special meeting of stockholders
Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our board of directors, by our Chief Executive Officer or by our Chairman.
Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations
Our bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders, must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice will need to be received by the company secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90
th
day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120
th
day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. Our bylaws also specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholders’ meeting. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders.
Action by written consent
Subsequent to the consummation of the offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by our common stockholders must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders other than with respect to our Class B common stock.
Classified Board of Directors
Our board of directors will initially be divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with members of each class serving staggered three-year terms. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Subject to the terms of any preferred stock, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office.
Class B Common Stock Consent Right
For so long as any shares of Class B common stock remain outstanding, we may not, without the prior vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class B common stock then outstanding, voting separately as a single class, amend, alter or repeal any provision our certificate of incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change the powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other or special rights of the Class B common stock. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders of Class B common stock may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of the outstanding Class B common stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of Class B common stock were present and voted.
Securities Eligible for Future Sale
Immediately after the consummation of this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) we will have 25,000,000 (or 28,750,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares of common stock outstanding. Of these shares, the 20,000,000 shares (or 23,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the remaining 5,000,000 (or 5,750,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares and all 7,500,000 (or 8,400,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement warrants are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering, and the shares of Class B common stock and private placement warrants are subject to transfer restrictions as set forth elsewhere in this prospectus. These restricted securities will be entitled to registration rights as more fully described below under “— Registration Rights.”
Rule 144
Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock or warrants for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.
Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock or warrants for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:
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1% of the total number of shares of Class A common stock then outstanding, which will equal 200,000 shares immediately after this offering (or 230,000 if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full); or
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the average weekly reported trading volume of the common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.
Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies
Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:
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the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;
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the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
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the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and 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
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at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.
As a result, our initial stockholders will be able to sell their founder shares and private placement warrants, as applicable, pursuant to Rule 144 without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination.
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, private placement warrants, securities issuable pursuant to the forward purchase contract and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering, requiring us to register such securities for resale (in the case of the founder shares, only after conversion to our Class A common stock). The holders of the majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cantor may not exercise its demand and “piggyback” registration rights after five (5) and seven (7) years after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Listing of Securities
We have applied to list our units, Class A common stock and warrants on NASDAQ under the symbols “MUDS.U,” “MUDS” and “MUDS.W,” respectively. We expect that our units will be listed on NASDAQ on or promptly after the effective date of the registration statement. Following the date the shares of our Class A common stock and warrants are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that the shares of our Class A common stock and warrants will be listed separately and as a unit on NASDAQ. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on NASDAQ.
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units, shares of Class A common stock and warrants, which we refer to collectively as our securities. Because the components of a unit are separable at the option of the holder, the holder of a unit generally should be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying Class A common stock and one redeemable warrant components of the unit, as the case may be. As a result, the discussion below with respect to actual holders of Class A common stock and warrants should also apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying Class A common stock and warrants that comprise the units). This discussion applies only to securities that are held as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is applicable only to holders who purchased units in this offering.
This discussion is a summary only and does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances, including but not limited to the alternative minimum tax, the Medicare tax on certain investment income and the different consequences that may apply if you are subject to special rules that apply to certain types of investors, including but not limited to:
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financial institutions or financial services entities;
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broker-dealers;
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governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;
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regulated investment companies;
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real estate investment trusts;
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expatriates or former long-term residents of the U.S.;
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persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more of our voting shares;
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insurance companies;
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dealers or traders subject to a mark-to-market method of accounting with respect to the securities;
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persons holding the securities as part of a “straddle,” hedge, integrated transaction or similar transaction;
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U.S. holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;
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partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes and any beneficial owners of such entities; and
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tax-exempt entities.
If you are a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of your partners will generally depend on the status of the partners and your activities.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations as of the date hereof, which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, and changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus may affect the tax consequences described herein. This discussion does not address any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. taxation, or any U.S. federal taxes other than income taxes (such as gift and estate taxes).
We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the IRS as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion. You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of U.S. federal tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction.
Personal Holding Company Status
We could be subject to a second level of U.S. federal income tax on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company, or PHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. corporation generally will be classified as a PHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (i) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (ii) at least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).
At least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income, depending on the date and size of our initial business combination. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our sponsor and certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts, more than 50% of our stock may be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not be a PHC following this offering or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently 20%, on our undistributed PHC income, which generally includes our taxable income, subject to certain adjustments.
Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit
No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of a unit or instruments similar to a unit for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one share of our Class A common stock and one warrant to acquire one share of our Class A common stock. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the one share of Class A common stock and the one warrant based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. Under U.S. federal income tax law, each investor must make his or her own determination of such value based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge each investor to consult his or her tax adviser regarding the determination of value for these purposes. The price allocated to each share of Class A common stock and the one warrant should be the stockholder’s tax basis in such share or one warrant, as the case may be. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a disposition of the share of Class A common stock and one warrant comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the Class A common stock and the one warrant based on their respective relative fair market values (as determined by each such unit holder on all the relevant facts and circumstances) at the time of disposition. The separation of shares of Class A common stock and warrants comprising units should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The foregoing treatment of the shares of Class A common stock and warrants and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or the courts. Because there are no authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult its own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit). The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “U.S. holder.” A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of our units, shares of Class A common stock or warrants who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation) organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or
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an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or
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a trust, if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons (as defined in the Code) have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
Taxation of Distributions.
If we pay distributions in cash or other property (other than certain distributions of our stock or rights to acquire our stock) to U.S. holders of shares of our Class A common stock, such distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in our Class A common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock and will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below.
Dividends we pay to a U.S. holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including, but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. holder may constitute “qualified dividends” that will be subject to tax at the maximum tax rate accorded to long-term capital gains. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the Class A common stock described in this prospectus may prevent a U.S. holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be. If the holding period requirements are not satisfied, then a corporation may not be able to qualify for the dividends received deduction and would have taxable income equal to the entire dividend amount, and non-corporate holders may be subject to tax on such dividend at regular ordinary income tax rates instead of the preferential rate that applies to qualified dividend income.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants.
Upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock or warrants which, in general, would include a redemption of Class A common stock or warrants that is treated as a sale of such securities as described below, and including as a result of a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time period, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Class A common stock or warrants. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock or warrants so disposed of exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether the redemption rights with respect to the Class A common stock described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. If the running of the holding period for the Class A common stock is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or taxable disposition of the shares or warrants would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Generally, the amount of gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder is an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the Class A common stock or warrants are held as part of units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the Class A common stock or the warrants based upon the then fair market values of the Class A common stock and the warrants included in the units) and (ii) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock or warrants so disposed of. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock or warrants generally will equal the U.S. holder’s acquisition cost (that is, as discussed above, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of Class A common stock or one warrant or, as discussed below, the U.S. holder’s initial basis for Class A common stock received upon exercise of warrants) less, in the case of a share of Class A common stock, any prior distributions treated as a return of capital.
Redemption of Class A Common Stock.
In the event that a U.S. holder’s Class A common stock is redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Common Stock” or if we purchase a U.S. holder’s Class A common stock in an open market transaction, the treatment of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of the Class A common stock under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of common stock, the U.S. holder will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of common stock, the U.S. holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences described above under “U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions”. Whether a redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of our stock treated as held by the U.S. holder (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. holder as a result of owning warrants) relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after the redemption. The redemption of Class A common stock generally will be treated as a sale of the Class A common stock (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the redemption (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. holder’s interest in us or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. holder takes into account not only stock actually owned by the U.S. holder, but also shares of our stock that are constructively owned by it. A U.S. holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. holder, as well as any stock the U.S. holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include Class A common stock which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the warrants. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder immediately following the redemption of Class A common stock must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder immediately before the redemption. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. holder’s interest if either (i) all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder are redeemed or (ii) all of the shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. holder are redeemed and the U.S. holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. holder does not constructively own any other shares of our stock. The redemption of the Class A common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if a U.S. holder’s conversion results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” A U.S. holder should consult with its own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption.
If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, then the redemption will be treated as a corporate distribution and the tax effects will be as described under “U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions,” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. holder in the redeemed Class A common stock will be added to the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining stock, or, if it has none, to the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrants or possibly in other stock constructively owned by it.
Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant.
Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a warrant, a U.S. holder generally will not recognize taxable gain or loss on the acquisition of common stock upon exercise of a warrant for cash. The U.S. holder’s tax basis in the share of our Class A common stock received upon exercise of the warrant generally will be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. holder’s initial investment in the warrant (i.e., the portion of the U.S. holder’s purchase price for units that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under “— General Treatment of Units”) and the exercise price. It is unclear whether the U.S. holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock received upon exercise of the warrants will begin on the date following the date of exercise or on the date of exercise of the warrants; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the warrants. If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in the warrant.
The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-free, either because the exercise is not a gain realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either tax-free situation, a U.S. holder’s basis in the Class A common stock received would equal the holder’s basis in the warrants exercised therefor. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a gain realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. holder’s holding period in the Class A common stock would be treated as commencing on the date following the date of exercise or on the date of exercise of the warrant; in either case, the holding period would not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the warrants. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the Class A common stock would include the holding period of the warrants exercised therefor.
It is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. holder could be deemed to have surrendered warrants equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock having a value equal to the exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. The U.S. holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the Class A common stock received in respect of the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the warrants deemed surrendered. In this case, a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Class A common stock received would equal the sum of the fair market value of the Class A common stock received in respect of the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the warrants exercised. It is unclear whether a U.S. holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock would commence on the date following the date of exercise or on the date of exercise of the warrant; in either case, the holding period would not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the warrant.
Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, including when a U.S. holder’s holding period would commence with respect to the Class A common stock received, there can be no assurance which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise.
Possible Constructive Distributions.
The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. The U.S. holders of the warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment to the number of such shares or to such exercise price increases the warrantholders’ proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of common stock that would be obtained upon
exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property, such as other securities, to the holders of shares of our common stock, or as a result of the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of shares of our common stock, in each case which is taxable to the U.S. holders of such shares as described under “U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions” above. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if the U.S. holders of the warrants received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.
In general, information reporting requirements may apply to dividends paid to a U.S. holder and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our units, shares of Class A common stock and warrants, unless the U.S. holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number, a certification of exempt status or has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “Non-U.S. holder.” As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our units, Class A common stock or warrants who or that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
•
a non-resident alien individual (other than certain former citizens and residents of the U.S. subject to U.S. tax as expatriates);
•
a foreign corporation or
•
an estate or trust that is not a U.S. holder;
but generally does not include an individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or sale or other disposition of our securities.
Taxation of Distributions.
In general, any distributions we make to a Non-U.S. holder of shares of our Class A common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such Non-U.S. holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E). Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our Class A common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock, which will be treated as described under “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below. In addition, if we determine that we are likely to be classified as a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (see “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
The withholding tax does not apply to dividends paid to a Non-U.S. holder who provides a Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the Non-U.S. holder were a U.S. resident, subject to an applicable income tax treaty providing otherwise. A Non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate).
Exercise of a Warrant.
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a Non-U.S. holder’s exercise of a warrant, or the lapse of a warrant held by a Non-U.S. holder, generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the exercise or lapse of a warrant by a U.S. holder, as described under “U.S. holders — Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant” above, although to the extent a cashless exercise results in a taxable exchange, the consequences would be similar to those described below in “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants.”
Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants.
A Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock, which would include a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or warrants (including an expiration or redemption of our warrants), in each case without regard to whether those securities were held as part of a unit, unless:
•
the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, under certain income tax treaties, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. holder); or
•
we are or have been a “U.S. real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. holder held our Class A common stock, and, in the case where shares of our Class A common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the Non-U.S. holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our Class A common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such Non-U.S. holder’s holding period for the shares of our Class A common stock. There can be no assurance that our Class A common stock will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose.
Unless an applicable treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. holder were a U.S. resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a Non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or lower treaty rate).
If the second bullet point above applies to a Non-U.S. holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Class A common stock or warrants will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, a buyer of our Class A common stock or warrants from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a U.S. real property holding corporation in the future until we complete an initial business combination. We will be classified as a U.S. real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our “U.S. real property interests” equals or exceeds 50 percent of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Redemption of Class A Common Stock.
The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a Non-U.S. holder’s Class A common stock pursuant to the redemption provisions described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Common Stock” generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a U.S. holder’s Class A common stock, as described under “U.S. Holders — Redemption of Class A Common Stock” above, and the consequences of the redemption to the Non-U.S. holder will be as described above under “Non-U.S. holders — Taxation of Distributions” and “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants,” as applicable.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.
Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our units, shares of Class A common stock and warrants. A Non-U.S. holder may have to comply with certification procedures to establish that it is not a United States person in order to avoid information reporting and backup withholding requirements. The certification procedures required to claim a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup
withholding as well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. holder will be allowed as a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
FATCA Withholding Taxes.
Provisions commonly referred to as “FATCA” impose withholding of 30% on payments of dividends (including constructive dividends) on our Class A common stock or warrants, and, beginning in 2019, sales or other disposition proceeds from our units, shares of Class A common stock and warrants to “foreign financial institutions” (which is broadly defined for this purpose and in general includes investment vehicles) and certain other Non-U.S. entities unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements (generally relating to ownership by U.S. persons of interests in or accounts with those entities) have been satisfied by, or an exemption applies to, the payee (typically certified as to by the delivery of a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN-E). Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances, a Non-U.S. holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such withholding taxes, and a Non-U.S. holder might be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return to claim such refunds or credits. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the effects of FATCA on their investment in our securities.
UNDERWRITING
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is acting as sole book-running manager of the offering and as representative of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, the underwriters named below have agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, the following respective number of units set forth opposite the underwriter’s name.
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Underwriters
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|
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Number of
Units
|
|
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Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
20,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the units included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all of the units (other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) if they purchase any of the units.
Units sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any units sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price not to exceed $ per unit. If all of the units are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The underwriters have advised us that they do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.
If the underwriters sell more units than the total number set forth in the table above, we have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional units at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, in connection with this offering. Any units issued or sold under the option will be issued and sold on the same terms and conditions as the other units that are the subject of this offering.
Cantor has committed to purchase 1,000,000 private placement warrants (or 1,150,000 private placement warrants in the event the underwriter’s overallotment option is exercised) for an aggregate purchase price of $1,000,000 (or $1,150,000 in the event the underwriter’s overallotment option is exercised) or $1.00 per unit, in the private placement that will occur simultaneously with the completion of this offering. The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering except that they will be non-redeemable and exercisable on a cashless basis for as long as the private placement warrants are held by Cantor or its permitted transferees. Additionally, for so long as the private placement warrants are held by Cantor or its designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The private placement warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of the FINRA Manual commencing on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1), these securities will not be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Additionally, the private placement warrants purchased by Cantor may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for 180 days following the effective date of this prospectus except to any selected dealer participating in the offering and the bona fide officers or partners of Cantor and any such participating selected dealer. The private placement warrants purchased by Cantor will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Common Stock and Warrants”).
We, our sponsor and our officers and directors have agreed that, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of the underwriters, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any units, warrants, shares of common stock or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of common stock,
subject to certain exceptions. The underwriters in their sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice, other than in the case of the officers and directors, which shall be with notice. Our sponsor, officers and directors are also subject to separate transfer restrictions on their founder shares and private placement warrants pursuant to the letter agreement as described herein.
Our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earlier to occur of (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, 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 (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”). The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”).
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, our management, our capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in the equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which the units, Class A common stock or warrants will sell in the public market after this offering will not be lower than the initial public offering price or that an active trading market in our units, Class A common stock or warrants will develop and continue after this offering.
We have applied to list our units on NASDAQ under the symbol “MUDS.U.” We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on NASDAQ. We expect that our units will be listed on NASDAQ on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We expect that our Class A common stock and warrants will be listed under the symbols “MUDS” and “MUDS.W,” respectively, once the Class A common stock and warrants begin separate trading.
The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
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|
|
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Payable by
Mudrick Capital Acquisition
Corporation
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|
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|
|
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No Exercise
|
|
|
Full Exercise
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|
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Per Unit
(1)
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.55
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.55
|
|
|
|
Total
(1)
|
|
|
|
$
|
11,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
12,650,000
|
|
|
(1)
Includes $0.35 per unit, or $7,000,000 (or $8,050,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriters only on completion of an initial business combination, in an amount equal to $0.35 multiplied by the number of shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering, as described in this prospectus.
If we do not complete our initial business combination and subsequently liquidate, the trustee and the underwriters have agreed that (i) they will forfeit any rights or claims to its deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, including any accrued interest thereon, then in the trust account upon liquidation, and (ii) that the deferred underwriters’ discounts and commissions will be distributed on a pro rata basis, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes to the public stockholders.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell units in the open market. Purchases and sales in the open market may include short sales, purchases to cover short positions, which may include purchases pursuant to the over-allotment option and stabilizing purchases, in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
•
Short sales involve secondary market sales by the underwriters 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 underwriters’ over-allotment option.
•
“Naked” short sales are sales of units in an amount in excess of the number of units represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
•
Covering transactions involve purchases of units either pursuant to the 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 underwriters 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 underwriters are 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 underwriters 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 underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option.
•
Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase units so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.
Purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own account, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the units. They may also cause the price of the units to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, it may discontinue them at any time.
We estimate that our portion of the total expenses of this offering payable by us will be $650,000, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for all expenses and fees related to the review by FINRA, which will not exceed $15,000, and the expenses of investigations and background checks of our principals not to exceed $2,000 per principal.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
We are not under any contractual obligation to engage the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. However, the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future. If the underwriters provide services to us after this offering, we may pay the underwriters fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with the underwriters and no fees for such services will be paid to the underwriters prior to the date that is 90 days from the date of this prospectus, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed
underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering and we may pay the underwriters of this offering or any entity with which it is affiliated a finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of an initial business combination.
The underwriters and their affiliates may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates, for which it may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for any such transactions.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “relevant member state”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the “relevant implementation date”), an offer of units described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units that has been approved by the competent authority in that relevant member state or, where appropriate, approved in another relevant member state and notified to the competent authority in that relevant member state, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that, with effect from and including the relevant implementation date, an offer of our units may be made to the public in that relevant member state at any time:
•
to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
•
to fewer than 100, or, if the relevant member state has implemented the relevant provisions of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Dealer or Dealers nominated by the issuer for any such offer; or natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined below) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or
•
in any other circumstances that do not require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
Each purchaser of units described in this prospectus located within a relevant member state will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purpose of this provision, the expression an “offer of units to the public” in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the units, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive to the extent implemented by the relevant member state) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state. The expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/EU.
We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of units through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the units as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the units, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the units on behalf of us or the underwriters.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (each such person being referred to as a “relevant person”). The units are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase or otherwise acquire such units will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
Notice to Prospective Investors in France
Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units described in this prospectus has been submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers or of the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The units have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units has been or will be:
•
released, issued, distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed to the public in France; or
•
used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of the units to the public in France.
Such offers, sales and distributions will be made in France only:
•
To qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or to a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs), in each case investing for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with, articles L.411-2, D.411-1, D.411-2, D.734-1, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Code monétaire et financier;
•
to investment services providers authorized to engage in portfolio management on behalf of third parties; or
•
in a transaction that, in accordance with article L.411-2-II-1° -or-2° -or 3° of the French Code monétaire et financier and article 211-2 of the General Regulations (Règlement Général) of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, does not constitute a public offer (appel public à l’épargne).
The units may be resold directly or indirectly, only in compliance with articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 of the French Code monétaire et financier.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong
The units may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the units may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to units which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan
The units offered in this prospectus have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan. The units have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the account of any resident of Japan (including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), except (i) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and (ii) in compliance with any other applicable requirements of Japanese law.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the units may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the units be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.
Where the units are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is
•
a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or
•
a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:
•
to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than $200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA;
•
where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or
•
where the transfer is by operation of law.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada
The units may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106
Prospectus Exemptions
or subsection 73.3(1) of the
Securities Act
(Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103
Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations
. Any resale of the units must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser
within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105
Underwriting Conflicts
(NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre
This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus. The securities to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia
No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act. Any offer in Australia of the securities may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the securities without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.
The securities applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring securities must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions. This prospectus contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland
The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the company, the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the
Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of securities has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of securities.
LEGAL MATTERS
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York, is acting as counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act, and as such, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus. Winston & Strawn LLP, New York, New York, advised the underwriters in connection with the offering of the securities.
EXPERTS
The balance sheet of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation as of December 31, 2017, and the related statements of operations, stockholder’s equity and cash flows for the period from August 28, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, have been audited by WithumSmith+Brown, PC, independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein. Such financial statements have been incorporated herein in reliance on the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.
Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov
. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference facility at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
You may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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Page
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F-2
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F-3
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F-4
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F-5
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F-6
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F-7
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholder and the Board of Directors of
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2017, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholder’s equity and cash flows, for the period from August 28, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from August 28, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
New York, New York
January 26, 2018
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEET
December 31, 2017
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ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets – cash
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|
|
|
$
|
24,945
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred offering costs
|
|
|
|
|
166,500
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
|
$
|
191,445
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued offering costs
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
|
|
533
|
|
|
|
|
Promissory note – related party
|
|
|
|
|
143,696
|
|
|
|
|
Total Current Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
169,229
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and Contingencies
|
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Stockholder’s Equity
|
|
|
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Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
—
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|
|
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Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 5,750,000 shares issued and outstanding
(1)
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|
|
|
|
575
|
|
|
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
|
|
24,425
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
|
|
(2,784
)
|
|
|
|
|
Total Stockholder’s Equity
|
|
|
|
|
22,216
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|
|
|
|
T
OTAL
L
IABILITIES AND
S
TOCKHOLDER’S
E
QUITY
|
|
|
|
$
|
191,445
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
This number includes up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the period from August 28, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017
|
|
Formation costs
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,784
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss
|
|
|
|
$
|
(2,784
)
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
5,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per share
|
|
|
|
$
|
(0.00
)
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
This number excludes an aggregate of up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
For the period from August 28, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017
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Common Stock
|
|
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|
|
|
|
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Class A
|
|
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Class B
|
|
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Additional
Paid-In
Capital
|
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
|
Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Balance – August 28, 2017
(inception)
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
Issuance of Class B common stock to Sponsor
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,750,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
575
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,784
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,784
)
|
|
|
|
Balance – December 31, 2017
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,750,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
575
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
24,425
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(2,784
)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
22,216
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
This number includes 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the period from August 28, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017
|
|
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
$
|
(2,784
)
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
Increase in Promissory Note – related party
|
|
|
|
|
2,196
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
|
|
533
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
(55
)
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of Class B common stock to Sponsor
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase in cash
|
|
|
|
|
24,945
|
|
|
|
|
Cash – beginning of the period
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
Cash – end of the period
|
|
|
|
$
|
24,945
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of noncash activities:
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred offering costs included in accrued offering costs
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
Payment of deferred offering costs and expenses by Sponsor
|
|
|
|
$
|
141,500
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Description of Organization and Business Operations
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on August 28, 2017. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”).
Although the Company is not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination, the Company intends to focus its search on companies that have recently emerged from bankruptcy court protection. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
As of December 31, 2017, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from August 28, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 relates to the Company’s formation and the proposed initial public offering (“Proposed Public Offering”) described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s sponsor is Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a Proposed Public Offering of 20,000,000 units (each, a “Unit” and collectively, the “Units”) at $10.00 per Unit (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), which is discussed in Note 3, and the sale of 7,500,000 warrants (or 8,400,000 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (each, a “Private Placement Warrant” and collectively, the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to the Sponsor and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor”) that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete one or more initial Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that an amount equal to at least $10.10 per Unit sold in the Proposed Public Offering, including the proceeds of the Private Placement Warrants, will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”), located in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and invested only in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 180 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below.
The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 (“Class A common stock”), sold in the Proposed Public Offering (the “public stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Share upon the completion of a Business
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The public stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares (as defined below in Note 3) for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.10 per Public Share). The per-share amount to be distributed to public stockholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters (as discussed in Note 5). These Public Shares will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” In such case, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a stockholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transactions is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or legal reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the initial stockholders (as defined below) have agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as defined below in Note 4) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination. In addition, the initial stockholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Class A common stock sold in the Proposed Public Offering, without the prior consent of the Company.
The Company’s Sponsor, officers and directors (the “initial stockholders”) have agreed not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (i) that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, unless the Company provides the public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock in conjunction with any such amendment.
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering (the “Combination Period”), the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The initial stockholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the initial stockholders acquire Public Shares in or after the Proposed Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 5) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within in the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.10 per share initially held in the Trust Account. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
The Company does not have sufficient liquidity to meet its anticipated obligations over the next year from the date of issuance of these financial statements. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the Company has access to funds from the Sponsor that are sufficient to fund the working capital needs of the Company until the earlier of the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering or one year from the date of issuance of these financial statements.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Deferred Offering Costs
Deferred offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering and that will be charged to stockholder’s equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.
Income Taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
FASB ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2017. The
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties for the period from August 28, 2017 (inception) to September 25, 2017. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
The provision for income taxes was deemed to be immaterial for the period from August 28, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017.
Net Loss Per Common Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share.” Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by the initial stockholders. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 750,000 shares of common stock that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Note 6). At December 31, 2017, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into shares of common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the period presented.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage of $250,000. At December 31, 2017, the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.
Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company’s management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Note 3 — Public Offering
Pursuant to the Proposed Public Offering, the Company intends to offer for sale 20,000,000 units at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock (such shares of Class A common stock included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”), and one redeemable warrant (each, a “Public Warrant”). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 6).
Note 4 — Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On September 25, 2017, the Sponsor purchased 5,750,000 shares (the “Founder Shares”) of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.001 (“Class B common stock”) for an aggregate price of $25,000. The Founder Shares will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of the Company’s initial Business Combination and are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 6. Holders of Founder Shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B common stock into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment, at any time. The initial stockholders have agreed to forfeit up to 750,000 Founder Shares to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters so that the Founder Shares will represent 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering. If the Company increases or decreases the size of the offering, the Company will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the Founder Share ownership of the Company’s stockholders prior to the Proposed Public Offering at 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock upon the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering.
The initial stockholders will agree, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of its Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Private Placement Warrants
The Sponsor and Cantor have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,500,000 Private Placement Warrants (or 8,400,000 Private Placement Warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant (6,500,000 Private Placement Warrants by the Sponsor (or 7,250,000 Private Placement Warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full)) and 1,000,000 Private Placement Warrants by Cantor (or 1,150,000 Private Placement Warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000, or $8,400,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for one whole share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants will be added to the proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering to be held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless. The Private Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the Sponsor, Cantor or their permitted transferees. The warrants will expire five years after the completion of the Company’s Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. In addition, for as long as the Private Placement Warrants are held by Cantor or its designees or affiliates, they may not be exercised after five years from the effective date of the registration statement for the Proposed Public Offering.
The Private Placement Warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of the FINRA Manual commencing on the effective date of the registration statement for the Proposed Public Offering. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1), these securities will not be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement for the Proposed Public Offering. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants purchased by Cantor may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for 180 days following the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering except to any selected dealer participating in the Proposed Public Offering and the bona fide officers or partners of the underwriter and any such participating selected dealer.
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Sponsor, Cantor and the Company’s officers and directors have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Private Placement Warrants until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination.
Related Party Loans
On September 25, 2017, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Proposed Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Note”). This loan is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of March 31, 2018 or the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $143,696 in borrowings outstanding under the Note.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.
Administrative Support Agreement
The Company has agreed, commencing on the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering through the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to pay the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support.
Note 5 — Commitments
Registration Rights
The holders of Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, securities issuable pursuant to the Forward Purchase Contract (see Note 7), and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans, if any, will be entitled to registration rights (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion of such shares to shares of Class A common stock) pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed on or before the date of the prospectus for the Proposed Public Offering. These holders will be entitled to certain demand and “piggyback” registration rights. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Proposed Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
The underwriters will be entitled to a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate (or $4,600,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. In addition, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred fee of $0.35 per Unit, or $7,000,000 in the aggregate (or $8,050,000 in the aggregate if the
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Note 6 — Stockholder’s Equity
Common Stock
Class A Common Stock
— The Company is authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of December 31, 2017, there were no shares of Class A common stock issued or outstanding.
Class B Common Stock
— The Company is authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of Class B common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. As of December 31, 2017, there were 5,750,000 shares of Class B common stock outstanding, of which an aggregate of up to 750,000 shares are subject to forfeiture to the Company by the Sponsor for no consideration to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the initial stockholders will collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock after the Proposed Public Offering.
Holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all other matters submitted to a vote of stockholders except as required by law.
The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of the initial Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in the Proposed Public Offering and related to the closing of the initial Business Combination, the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial Business Combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial Business Combination, any private placement-equivalent warrants issued to the Sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to the Company or any securities issued pursuant to the Forward Purchase Contract (see Note 7)). Holders of Founder Shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B common stock into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided above, at any time.
Preferred Stock
— The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of December 31, 2017, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Warrants
— Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination or (b) 12 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering; provided in each case that the Company has an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available. The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of a Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Public Warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not effective within a specified period following the consummation of Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. The Public Warrants will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The Private Placement Warrants will be identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units being sold in the Proposed Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis and be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. If the Private Placement Warrants are held by someone other than the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
The Company may redeem the Public Warrants (except with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):
•
in whole and not in part;
•
at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
•
at any time during the exercise period;
•
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption; and
•
if, and only if, the last sale price of the Company’s Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.
•
If, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying such warrants.
If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement.
The exercise price and number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuance of Class A common stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 7 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were available to be issued. Other than as described below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
On January 12, 2018, the Company borrowed an additional $28,635 under the Note with the Sponsor, bringing the total amount of borrowings outstanding under the Note to $172,331.
On January 24, 2018, the Company entered into a forward purchase contract (the “Forward Purchase Contract”) with the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor committed to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination, 2,500,000 Units (the “Forward Units”) on substantially the same terms as the sale of Units in Proposed Public Offering at $10.00 per Unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. The funds from the sale of Forward Units will be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in a Business Combination; any excess funds from this private placement will be used for working capital purposes in the post-transaction company. This commitment is independent of the percentage of stockholders electing to redeem their Public Shares and provides the Company with a minimum funding level for a Business Combination.
20,000,000 Units
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
, 2018
Sole Book-Running Manager
Cantor
Until , 2018 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our Class A common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to its unsold allotments or subscriptions.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.
No dealer, salesperson or any other person is authorized to give any information or make any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained in this prospectus and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities offered by this prospectus, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or is unlawful.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:
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SEC expenses
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$
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28,635
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FINRA expenses
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|
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35,000
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|
|
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Accounting fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
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37,500
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|
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Printing and engraving expenses
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|
|
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40,000
|
|
|
|
|
Travel and road show expenses
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|
|
|
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25,000
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|
|
|
|
Directors & officers liability insurance premiums
(1)
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|
|
|
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100,000
|
|
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Legal fees and expenses
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250,000
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NASDAQ listing and filing fees
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75,000
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|
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Miscellaneous
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60,840
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Total
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$
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650,000
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(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 an initial business combination.
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and officers.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that all of our directors, officers, employees and agents shall be entitled to be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law concerning indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.
Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.
(a) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
(b) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the
defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
(d) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
(e) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former officers and directors or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.
(g) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
(h) For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(i) For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
(j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(k) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any by law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, will provide that no director shall be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is to eliminate our rights and those of our stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except, as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care.
If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors on a retroactive basis.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that we will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify our current and former officers and directors, as well as those persons who, while directors or officers of our corporation, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will be indemnified by us in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by our board of directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification.
The right to indemnification which will be conferred by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by our officer or director (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of our corporation) will be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or otherwise.
The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may have or hereafter acquire under law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also permit us, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other that those specifically covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Our bylaws, which we intend to adopt immediately prior to the closing of this offering, include the provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those which will be set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In addition, our bylaws provide for a right of indemnity to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by us within a specified period of time. Our bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance, at our expense, to protect us and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of our corporation or another entity, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by our board of directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
We will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors a form of which is to be filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify us against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this offering, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
On September 25, 2017, Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC, our sponsor, purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 founder shares, for an aggregate offering price of $25,000 at an average purchase price of approximately $0.004 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock upon completion of this offering. Such securities were issued in connection with our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Our sponsor is an accredited investor for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D.
In addition, our sponsor and Cantor have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,500,000 warrants (or 8,400,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant (6,500,000 warrants by our sponsor (or 7,250,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full)) and 1,000,000 warrants by Cantor (or 1,150,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000, or $8,400,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). This purchase will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the completion of our initial public offering. This issuance will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a forward purchase contract with us, to purchase, in a private placement for gross proceeds of $25,000,000 to occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination, 2,500,000 of our units on substantially the same terms as the sale of units in this offering at $10.00 per unit, and 625,000 shares of Class A common stock. All such securities will be issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)
Exhibits.
The list of exhibits following the signature page of this registration statement is incorporated herein by reference.
(b)
Financial Statements.
See page F-1 for an index to the financial statements and schedules included in the registration statement.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(4) For the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on the 26th day of January, 2018.
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Jason Mudrick
Jason Mudrick
Chief Executive Officer
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Name
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Position
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Date
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/s/ Jason Mudrick
Jason Mudrick
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Chief Executive Officer and Director
(principal executive officer)
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January 26, 2018
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/s/ Glenn Springer
Glenn Springer
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Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting officer)
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January 26, 2018
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EXHIBIT INDEX
|
Exhibit
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Description
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1.1
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Form of Underwriting Agreement**
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3.1
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Certificate of Incorporation*
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3.2
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Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation**
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3.3
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By Laws*
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4.1
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Specimen Unit Certificate**
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4.2
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Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate**
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4.3
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Specimen Warrant Certificate**
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4.4
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Form of Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC and the Registrant**
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5.1
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|
Opinion of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP*
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10.1
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|
Form of Letter Agreement among the Registrant and our officers, directors and Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC**
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10.2
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Promissory Note, dated September 25 2017, issued to Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC*
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10.3
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Form of Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC and the Registrant**
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10.4
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Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and certain security holders**
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10.5
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|
Securities Subscription Agreement, dated September 25, 2017, between the Registrant and Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC*
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10.6
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Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated January 15, 2018, between the Registrant and Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC**
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10.6.1
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Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated January 16, 2018, between the Registrant and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.**
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10.7
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Form of Indemnity Agreement**
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10.8
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Form of Administrative Support Agreement by and between the Registrant and Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC**
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10.9
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Form of Independent Director Agreement**
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10.10
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Forward Purchase Contract by and among the Registrant and Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC**
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14
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Form of Code of Ethics**
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23.1
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Consent of WithumSmith+Brown, PC**
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23.2
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Consent of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)*
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24
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Power of Attorney*
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99.1
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|
Form of Audit Committee Charter**
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99.2
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|
Form of Compensation Committee Charter**
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99.3
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|
Consent of David Kirsch**
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99.4
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|
Consent of Dennis Stogsdill**
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99.5
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Consent of Timothy Daileader**
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99.6
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Consent of Brian Kushner**
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*
Previously filed
**
Filed herewith
Exhibit 1.1
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
between
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
and
CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
Dated: ____________, 2018
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
_________, 2018
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
499 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
As Representative of the several Underwriters
named on
Schedule A
hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Mudrick
Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “
Company
”), hereby confirms its agreement with
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“
Cantor
” or the “
Representative
”) and with the other underwriters
named on
Schedule A
hereto (if any), for which the Representative is acting as representative (the Representative
and such other underwriters being collectively referred to herein as the “
Underwriters
” or, each underwriter
individually, an “
Underwriter
”) as follows. To the extent there is only one Underwriter, the term Underwriters
shall mean the Underwriter.
1.
Purchase
and Sale of Securities
.
1.1
Firm
Securities.
1.1.1
Purchase
of Firm Units
. On the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, but subject to the terms and conditions
herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, severally and not jointly, an aggregate of
20,000,000 units (“
Firm Units
”) of the Company, at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions and excluding
the Deferred Underwriting Commission described in Section 1.3 below) of $9.80 per Firm Unit. The Underwriters, severally and not
jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Units set forth opposite their respective names on
Schedule
A
hereto at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions and excluding the Deferred Underwriting Commission) of $9.80
per Firm Unit. The Firm Units are to be offered initially to the public (“
Offering
”) at the offering price of
$10.00 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, of the Company (“
Common
Stock
”), and one redeemable warrant (the “
Warrants
”). The Common Stock and the Warrants included in
the Firm Units will trade separately on the fifty second (52
nd
) day following the date hereof unless the Representative
determines to allow earlier separate trading. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, in no event will the shares of
Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Firm Units trade separately prior to the Business Day (as defined
below) after (i) the Company
has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “
Commission
”) a Current Report on Form 8-K that includes
an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the proceeds of the Offering and the Warrant Private Placement
(as defined in Section 1.4.2) and updated financial information with respect to any proceeds the Company receives from the exercise
of the Over-allotment Option (defined below) if such option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (ii) the Company
has filed with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K and issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will
begin. Each Warrant entitles its holder to purchase one share of Common Stock for $11.50, subject to adjustment, commencing on
the later of one year from the Closing Date (defined below) or 30 days after the consummation by the Company of a merger, capital
stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the
“
Business Combination
”) and expiring on the five year anniversary of the consummation by the Company of its
initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption of the Common Stock or liquidation of the Company.
1.1.2
Payment
and Delivery
. Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second (2
nd
)
Business Day (as defined below) following the commencement of trading of the Units, or at such earlier time as shall be agreed
upon by the Representative and the Company, at the offices of Winston & Strawn LLP, counsel to the Underwriters (“
W&S
”),
or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment
for the Firm Units is called the “
Closing Date
.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date
by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: $196,000,000 of the proceeds received by the Company for the
Firm Units and $6,000,000 of the proceeds received by the Company from the Warrant Private Placement shall be deposited in the
trust account established by the Company for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below), as described in the Registration
Statement (“
Trust Account
”) pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “
Trust
Agreement
”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“
CST
”). The funds
deposited in the Trust Account shall include an aggregate of $7,000,000 ($0.35 per Firm Unit), payable to Cantor as Deferred Underwriting
Commission, in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof. The remaining proceeds (less commissions and actual expense payments or other
fees payable pursuant to this Agreement), if any, shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery to the Representative
of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities
of the Depository Trust Company (“
DTC
”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Units shall be registered
in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full Business
Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package the Firm Units for delivery,
at least one (1) full Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver any of the
Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units. As used herein, the term “
Public
Stockholders
” means the holders of shares of Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Offering or acquired in the
aftermarket, including the Sponsor (as defined below) to the extent it acquires such shares of Common Stock in the aftermarket
(and solely with respect to such shares of Common Stock). “
Business Day
” shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day
on which banking institutions
or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.
1.2
Over-Allotment
Option.
1.2.1
Option
Units
. The Representative is hereby granted an option (the “
Over-allotment Option
”) to purchase up to an
additional 3,000,000 units (the “
Option Units
”), the gross proceeds of which will be deposited in the Trust
Account, for the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units. Such
Option Units shall be identical in all respects to the Firm Units.
Such Option Units shall be purchased for each account
of the several Underwriters in the same proportion as the number of Firm Units, set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name
on
Schedule A
hereto, bears to the total number of Firm Units (subject to adjustment by the Representative to eliminate
fractions).
The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
“
Units
,” and the Units, the shares of Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Units and the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the “
Warrant Shares
”) are hereinafter referred to collectively
as the “
Public Securities
.” No Option Units shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Units previously have
been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Option Units, or any portion thereof, may be exercised
from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representative
to the Company. The purchase price to be paid for each Option Unit will be the same price per Firm Unit set forth in Section 1.1.1
hereof.
1.2.2
Exercise
of Option
. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to
all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within 45 days after the effective date (“
Effective
Date
”) of the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof). The Underwriters will not be under any obligation
to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be
exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company by the Representative, which must be confirmed in accordance with Section
10.1 herein setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the
Option Units (the “
Option Closing Date
”), which will not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the
date of the notice or such other time and in such other manner as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at
the offices of W&S or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed
upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Option Units does not occur on the Closing Date,
the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become
obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become
obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.
1.2.3
Payment
and Delivery
. Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day)
funds, payable as follows: $9.80 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery
to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory
to the Representative)
representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Representative. The amount to be deposited
in the Trust Account will include $0.35 per Option Unit (up to $1,050,000), payable to Cantor, as Deferred Underwriting Commission,
in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof. The certificates representing the Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations
and registered in such names as the Representative requests in writing not less than two full Business Days prior to the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and will be made available to the Representative for inspection, checking
and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one full Business Day
prior to such Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Units except upon tender of payment
by the Underwriters for applicable Option Units.
1.3
Deferred
Underwriting Commission
. The Representative agrees that 3.5% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units ($7,000,000)
and the sale of the Option Units (up to $1,050,000) (collectively, the “
Deferred Underwriting Commission
”) will
be deposited and held in the Trust Account and payable directly from the Trust Account, without accrued interest, to Cantor for
its own account upon consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination. In the event that the Company is unable
to consummate a Business Combination and CST, as the trustee of the Trust Account (in this context, the “
Trustee
”),
commences liquidation of the Trust Account as provided in the Trust Agreement, the Representative agrees that: (i) the Representative
shall forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Underwriting Commission; and (ii) the Deferred Underwriting Commission, together
with all other amounts on deposit in the Trust Account, shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis among the Public Stockholders.
1.4
Private
Placements.
1.4.1
In
September 2017, the Company issued to Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC (the “
Sponsor
”), for an aggregate
consideration of $25,000, 5,750,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 (the “
Founder
Shares
”) (up to 750,000 of which are subject to forfeiture to the extent the Over-allotment Option is not exercised in
full) in a private placement (the “
Insider Private Placement
”) exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2)
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
Act
”). No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees
have been or will be payable in connection with the Insider Private Placement. Except as described in the Registration Statement,
none of the Founder Shares may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Sponsor until the earlier of: (i) one year following the
consummation of the Business Combination; or (ii) subsequent to the consummation of a Business Combination, (x) when the closing
price of the Common Stock exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations
and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing 150 days after the consummation of the Business
Combination; or (y) the date on which the Company consummates a transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders
having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. The Sponsor shall have no right to any liquidation
distributions with respect to any portion of the Founder Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination.
The Sponsor shall not have redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares. In the event that the
Over-allotment Option is
not exercised in full, the Sponsor will be required to forfeit such number of Founder Shares such that the Founder Shares will
comprise 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company after giving effect to the Offering and exercise, if any, of the
Over-allotment Option.
1.4.2
Simultaneously
with the Closing Date, pursuant to the Warrants Purchase Agreements (as defined in Section 2.21.2 hereof), the Sponsor and Cantor
will purchase from the Company an aggregate of 7,500,000 warrants (or 8,400,000 warrants if the Over-allotment Option is exercised
in full) that are identical to the Warrants included in the Firm Units, subject to certain exceptions (the “
Placement
Warrants
”), at a purchase price of $1.00 per Placement Warrant (6,500,000 Placement Warrants by the Sponsor (or 7,250,000
Placement Warrants if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) and 1,000,000 Placement Warrants by Cantor (or 1,150,000
Placement Warrants if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full)) in a private placement intended to be exempt from registration
under the Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Act. The private placement of the Placement Warrants is referred to herein as
the “
Warrant Private Placement
.” The Placement Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of the Placement Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “
Placement Securities
.” No underwriting
discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Placement Warrants sold in the Warrant
Private Placement. The Placement Warrants are identical to the Warrants except that (i) the Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable
by the Company, (ii) the Placement Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the initial purchasers
or their permitted transferees and (ii) none of the Placement Securities may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Sponsor or
Cantor or their permitted transferees until thirty (30) days after consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
In addition, the Placement Warrants may not be exercised after five years from the effective date of the Registration Statement
if held by Cantor or its designees or affiliates. The Public Securities, the Placement Securities and the Founder Shares are hereinafter
referred to collectively as the “
Securities
.” The proceeds from the sale of the Placement Warrants shall be
deposited into the Trust Account.
1.5
Working
Capital; Interest on Trust.
1.5.1
Working
Capital
. Upon consummation of the Offering, initially $850,000 of the Offering proceeds will be released to the Company and
held outside of the Trust Account to fund the working capital requirements of the Company.
1.5.2
Interest
Income
. Prior to the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation, interest earned
on the Trust Account may be released to the Company from the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement
to pay any taxes incurred by the Company, all as more fully described in the Prospectus (as defined below).
2.
Representations
and Warranties of the Company
. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows:
2.1
Filing
of Registration Statement.
2.1.1
Pursuant
to the Act
. The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form
S-1 (File No. 333-222562), including any related preliminary prospectus (“
Preliminary Prospectus
”), including
any prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement),
for the registration of the Units under the Act, which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by
the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (the “
Regulations
”)
of the Commission under the Act. The conditions for use of Form S-1 to register the Offering under the Act, as set forth in the
General Instructions to such Form, have been satisfied. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement,
as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus, financial
statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed
to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “
Registration
Statement
,” and the form of the final prospectus dated the Effective Date included in the Registration Statement (or,
if applicable, the form of final prospectus containing information permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule
430A of the Regulations, filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Regulations), is hereinafter called
the “
Prospectus
.” For purposes of this Agreement, “
Time of Sale
,” as used in the Act, means
5:00 p.m. New York City time, on the date of this Agreement. Prior to the Time of Sale, the Company prepared a Preliminary Prospectus,
which was included in the Registration Statement filed on ________, 2018, for distribution by the Underwriters (such Preliminary
Prospectus used most recently prior to the Time of Sale, the “
Sale Preliminary Prospectus
”). If the Company
has filed, or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file, a Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act
registering additional securities of any type or an amendment to a Registration Statement (a “
Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement
”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “
Registration Statement
”
shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Other than a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which, if
filed, becomes effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with
the Commission. All of the Public Securities have been registered for public sale under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement
or, if any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is filed, will be duly registered for public sale under the Act with the filing of
such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.
If, subsequent to the date of this Agreement, the Company or the Representative has determined that at the Time of Sale, the Sale
Preliminary Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and the Company and the Representative
have agreed to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Units to terminate their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase
contracts, then the Sale Preliminary Prospectus will be deemed to include any additional information available to purchasers at
the time of entry into the first such new purchase contract.
2.1.2
Pursuant
to the Exchange Act
. The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File Number 001-_____)
providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “
Exchange Act
”), of
the Units, the shares of Common Stock and the Warrants. The registration of the Units, shares of Common Stock and Warrants under
the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof and the Units, the shares of Common Stock and
the Warrants have been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.
2.1.3
No
Stop Orders, Etc
. Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any federal, state
or other regulatory authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or any part thereof, or has instituted or,
to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an
order.
2.2
Disclosures
in Registration Statement.
2.2.1
10b-5
Representation
. At the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or at the time of any post-effective amendment
to the Registration Statement) and at all times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any,
the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus do and will contain all material statements that
are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, and did or will, in all material respects, conform
to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations. The Registration Statement, as of the effective date, did not, and the amendments
and supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading. The Prospectus, as
of its date and the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, did not, and the amendments and supplements thereto,
as of their respective dates, will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Sale
Preliminary Prospectus, as of the Time of Sale (or such subsequent Time of Sale pursuant to Section 2.1.1), did not include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. When any Preliminary Prospectus or the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus was first filed with the Commission (whether filed as part of the Registration Statement for the registration of the
Public Securities or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Regulations) and when any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto was first filed with the Commission, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and any amendments
thereof and supplements thereto complied or will have been corrected in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus to comply
in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty
made in this Section 2.2.1 does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to
the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information
provided by or on behalf of the Underwriters consists solely of the names of the Underwriters, the information with respect to
dealers’ concessions and reallowances contained in the third paragraph of the section entitled “Underwriting,”
the information with respect to short positions contained in the twelfth and thirteenth paragraphs of the section entitled “Underwriting”
and the identity of counsel to the Underwriters contained in the section entitled “Legal Matters” (such information,
collectively, the “
Underwriters’ Information
”).
2.2.2
Disclosure
of Agreements
. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required to be
described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as
exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized
or described) to which the Company is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that
is referred to in the Registration Statement, Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or attached as an exhibit thereto,
or (ii) that is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full
force and effect and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, the
other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution
provision may be limited under the foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance
and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and no such agreement or instrument has been assigned by the Company, and
neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any other party is in breach or default
thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time
or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable
inquiry, the performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation
of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign,
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental
laws and regulations.
2.2.3
Prior
Securities Transactions
. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit
of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s
formation, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.2.4
Regulations
.
The disclosures in the Registration Statement and the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus concerning the effects of federal,
foreign, state and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all
material respects and do
not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were
made, not misleading.
2.3
Changes
After Dates in Registration Statement.
2.3.1
No
Material Adverse Change
. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Sale
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein, (i) there has been no material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or business prospects of the Company, (ii) there have been no material transactions
entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) no member of the Company’s board
of directors (the “
Board of Directors
”) or management has resigned from any position with the Company and (iv)
no event or occurrence has taken place which materially impairs, or would likely materially impair, with the passage of time, the
ability of the members of the Board of Directors or management to act in their capacities with the Company as described in the
Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.3.2
Recent
Securities Transactions
. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement,
the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein,
the Company has not (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money;
or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its share capital.
2.4
Independent
Accountants
. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, WithumSmith+Brown, PC (“
Withum
”),
whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
and included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, are independent registered public
accountants as required by the Act, the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “
PCAOB
”),
including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry,
Withum is currently registered with the PCAOB. Withum has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included
in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services,
as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
2.5
Financial
Statements; Statistical Data.
2.5.1
Financial
Statements
. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules (if any) included in the Registration
Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present the financial position, the results of operations
and the cash flows of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; such financial statements have been prepared
in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“
GAAP
”), consistently applied throughout
the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and
the Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein in
conformity with the Regulations.
No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus disclose all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations),
and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future
effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures,
capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements
that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in accordance
with Regulation S-X or Form 10 that have not been included as required.
2.5.2
Statistical
Data
. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus and/or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are
reliable and accurate, and such data materially agree with the sources from which they are derived.
2.6
Authorized
Capital; Options
. The Company had at the date or dates indicated in each of the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration
Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement,
the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted stock capitalization
set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise
acquire any authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into shares of Common Stock, or any contracts
or commitments to issue or sell shares of Common Stock or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
2.7
Valid
Issuance of Securities.
2.7.1
Outstanding
Securities
. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission
with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities was
issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted
by the Company. The authorized and outstanding shares of Common Stock conform in all material respects to all statements relating
thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. All offers and sales and any
transfers of the outstanding securities of the Company were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable
state securities or Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such securities,
exempt from such registration requirements.
2.7.2
Securities
Sold Pursuant to this Agreement
. The Public Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued
and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are
not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Public Securities are not and will not be
subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company;
and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Public Securities has been duly and
validly taken. The form of certificates for the Public Securities conform to the corporate law of the jurisdiction of the Company’s
incorporation. The Public Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration
Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be. When paid for and issued, the Warrants included
in the Public Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities
of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such Warrants are enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision
may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive
and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought. The Warrant Shares underlying the Warrants included in the Public Securities have been reserved
for issuance and upon the exercise of such Warrants and upon payment of the consideration therefor, and when issued in accordance
with the terms thereof, such Warrant Shares will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable,
and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.
2.7.3
Placement
Warrants
. The Placement Warrants constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities
of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof, and such Placement Warrants are enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution
provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive
and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought.
The shares of Common Stock underlying the Placement Warrants have been reserved for
issuance and upon the exercise of such Placement Warrants and upon payment of the consideration therefor, and when issued in accordance
with the terms thereof, such shares of Common Stock will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable,
and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders
.
2.7.4
No
Integration
. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities
which are required to be or may be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
2.8
Registration
Rights of Third Parties
. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus,
no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the
Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such
securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.
2.9
Validity
and Binding Effect of Agreements
. This Agreement, the Warrant Agreement (as defined in Section 2.23), the Trust Agreement,
the Services Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.3), the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.4) and the
Warrants Purchase Agreements have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered, will constitute
the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except:
(i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal
and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief
may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
2.10
No
Conflicts, Etc
. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Services
Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Warrants Purchase Agreements, the consummation by the
Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof
do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a breach or violation of,
or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination
or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement,
obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company is a party or bound or to which its property is subject except
pursuant to the Trust Agreement; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws of the Company, each as may be amended (collectively, the “
Charter Documents
”); or (iii) violate
any existing applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic
or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, assets or business constituted as of the date hereof.
2.11
No
Defaults; Violations
. No default or violation exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition
of any license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument
evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the
Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of
any term or provision of its Charter Documents or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable
law, rule, regulation, judgment
or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties
or businesses.
2.12
Corporate
Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.12.1
Conduct
of Business
. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals,
orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the
date hereof to conduct its business for the purposes as described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning
the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on this Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently
contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since its formation,
the Company has conducted no business and has incurred no liabilities other than in connection with its formation and in furtherance
of this Offering.
2.12.2
Transactions
Contemplated Herein
. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry
out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith
have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body, foreign
or domestic, is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery, of the Securities and the consummation of the transactions
and agreements contemplated by this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Services Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Warrants Purchase Agreements and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable foreign, federal and state securities laws, the rules of the Nasdaq Stock
Market LLC (“
Nasdaq
”) and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(“
FINRA
”).
2.13
D&O
Questionnaires
. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, all information contained in the questionnaires
(“
Questionnaires
”) completed by each of the Company’s officers, directors and stockholders (“
Insiders
”)
and provided to the Representative and its counsel and the biographies of the Insiders contained in the Registration Statement,
Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (to the extent a biography is included) is true and correct and the Company has
not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by each Insider
to become inaccurate, incorrect or incomplete.
2.14
Litigation;
Governmental Proceedings
. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental
proceeding pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened against or involving the Company
or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider or any stockholder or member of an Insider that
has not been disclosed, or that is required to be
disclosed, in the Registration
Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Questionnaires.
2.15
Good
Standing
. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws
of the jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation
in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except
where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, assets,
prospects, business, operations or properties of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of
business (a “
Material Adverse Effect
”).
2.16
No
Contemplation of a Business Combination
. The Company has not identified any Business Combination target (each a “
Target
Business
”) and it has not, nor has anyone on its behalf, initiated any substantive discussions with respect to identifying
any Target Business.
2.17
Transactions
Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.
2.17.1
Finder’s
Fees
. There are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s,
consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements,
agreements or understandings of the Company or to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider that
may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.
2.17.2
Payments
Within 180 Days
. The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person,
as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing
to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that
has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing
of the Registration Statement, other than the prior payments to the Representative in connection with the Offering.
2.17.3
FINRA
Affiliation
. No officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) of any class of the
Company’s unregistered securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or
the source from which derived) has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance
with the rules and regulations of FINRA). The Company will advise the Representative and W&S if it learns that any officer
or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) is or becomes an affiliate or associated person
of a FINRA member participating in the Offering.
2.17.4
No
officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) is an owner of stock or other securities
of any member of FINRA (other than securities purchased on the open market).
2.17.5
No
officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) has made a subordinated loan to any member
of FINRA.
2.17.6
No
proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities (excluding underwriting compensation) or the Placement Warrants, will be paid to
any FINRA member, or any persons associated or affiliated with a member of FINRA, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.17.7
The
Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly to anyone who is a potential
underwriter in the Offering or a related person (as defined by FINRA rules) of such an underwriter within the 180-day period prior
to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement.
2.17.8
No
person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date
of the Registration Statement has any relationship or affiliation or association with any member of FINRA.
2.17.9
To
the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, no FINRA member intending to participate in the Offering has a conflict
of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “
conflict of interest
” exists when a member of FINRA and/or
its associated persons, parent or affiliates in the aggregate beneficially own 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding subordinated
debt or common equity, or 10% or more of the Company’s preferred equity. “
Members participating in the Offering
”
include managing agents, syndicate group members and all dealers which are members of FINRA.
2.17.10
Except
with respect to the Representative in connection with the Offering, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement
(including, without limitation, any consulting agreement or any other type of agreement) during the 180-day period prior to the
initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission, which arrangement or agreement provides for the receipt
of any item of value and/or the transfer or issuance of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Company to a FINRA
member, any person associated with a member (as defined by FINRA rules), any potential underwriters in the Offering and/or any
related persons.
2.18
Taxes.
2.18.1
There
are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state or any political subdivision
of the United States, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale
by the Company of the Public Securities.
2.18.2
The
Company has filed all U.S. federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date
hereof in a timely manner or
has duly obtained extensions
of time for the filing thereof. The Company has paid all taxes shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes
imposed on it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable.
The Company has made appropriate provisions in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 2.5.1 above in respect
of all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise taxes for all current or prior periods as to which the tax liability
of the Company has not been finally determined.
2.19
Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act; Anti-Money Laundering; Patriot Act
.
2.19.1
Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act
. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any of the Insiders
or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar
benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee
or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic
or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position
to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might
subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given
in the past, might have had a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets,
business or operations of the Company. The Company has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures
are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
2.19.2
Currency
and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act
. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance
with (i) applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of
1970, as amended, including the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended, the rules and regulations thereunder and any
related or similar money laundering statutes, rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Federal
governmental agency (collectively, the “
Money Laundering Laws
”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before
any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering
Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened, and (ii) the requirements of the
U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Asset Control.
2.19.3
Patriot
Act
. Neither the Company nor to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider has violated the Bank
Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended, or Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and
Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor
law.
2.20
Officers’
Certificate
. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer or officers of the Company in connection with the Offering
and delivered to the
Representative or to W&S
shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
2.21
Agreements
With Insiders.
2.21.1
Insider
Letter
. The Company has caused to be duly executed a legally binding and enforceable agreement (except (i) as such enforceability
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability
of any indemnification, contribution or non-compete provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws,
and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable
defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought), a form of which is annexed as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “
Insider Letter
”), pursuant to which each of the Insiders of the
Company agree to certain matters. The Insider Letter shall not be amended, modified or otherwise changed without the prior written
consent of the Representative.
2.21.2
Warrants
Purchase Agreements
. The Sponsor and Cantor have executed and delivered private placement warrants agreements, which are annexed
as exhibits to the Registration Statement (the “
Warrants Purchase Agreements
”), pursuant to which the Sponsor
and Cantor will, among other things, on the Closing Date, consummate the purchase of and deliver the purchase price for the Placement
Warrants purchased in the Warrant Private Placement. Pursuant to the Warrants Purchase Agreements, (i) the Sponsor and Cantor have
waived any and all rights and claims it may have to any proceeds, and any interest thereon, held in the Trust Account in respect
of the Placement Securities, and (ii) the proceeds from the sale of the Placement Warrants will be deposited by the Company in
the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement on the Closing Date.
2.21.3
Administrative
Services
. The Company has entered into an agreement (“
Services Agreement
”) with the Sponsor substantially
in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement pursuant to which the Sponsor will make available to the Company
general and administrative services including office space, utilities and secretarial support for the Company’s use for $10,000
per month payable until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust
Account, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Services Agreement.
2.21.4
Registration
Rights Agreement
. The Company, the Sponsor and Cantor have entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (“
Registration
Rights Agreement
”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby such parties
will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to the securities they hold or may hold, as set forth in such Registration
Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.21.5
Loans
.
The Sponsor has made loans to the Company in the aggregate amount of $300,000 (the “
Insider Loans
”) pursuant
to a promissory note substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The Insider Loans do not bear
any interest and are repayable
by the Company on the earlier of March 31, 2018 or the consummation of the Offering.
2.22
Investment
Management Trust Agreement
. The Company has entered into the Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering
and the Warrant Private Placement substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
2.23
Warrant
Agreement
. The Company has entered into a warrant agreement with respect to the Warrants underlying the Units and the Placement
Warrants with CST substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (“
Warrant Agreement
”).
2.24
No
Existing Non-Competition Agreements
. No Insider is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with
any employer or prior employer which could materially affect his ability to be an employee, officer and/or director of the Company,
except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.25
Investments
.
No more than 45% of the “value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“
Investment
Company Act
”)) of the Company’s total assets consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income
after taxes is derived from, securities other than “Government Securities” (as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment
Company Act) or money market funds meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act.
2.26
Investment
Company Act
. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application
of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus will not be required, to register
as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
2.27
Subsidiaries
.
The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other
business entity.
2.28
Related
Party Transactions
. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and any Insider,
on the other hand, which is required by the Act, the Exchange Act or the Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement,
the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus which is not so described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances
(except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company
to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed
in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The Company has not extended or maintained credit,
arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director
or officer of the Company.
2.29
No
Influence
. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Units to any person or entity with the intention
of unlawfully influencing: (a) a
customer or supplier of the
Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company
or such affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.
2.30
Sarbanes-Oxley
.
The Company is, or on the Closing Date will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (“
Sarbanes-Oxley
”) and related or similar rules
or regulations promulgated by any governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency, that are applicable to it as of the date hereof.
2.31
Distribution
of Offering Material by the Company
. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing
Date and the completion of the distribution of the Units, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the
Units other than the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, in each case as supplemented and amended.
2.32
Nasdaq
Capital Market
. The Public Securities have been authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence
of satisfactory distribution, on the Nasdaq Capital Market, and the Company knows of no reason or set of facts that is likely to
adversely affect such authorization.
2.33
Board
of Directors
. As of the Effective Date, the Board of Directors of the Company will be comprised of the persons set forth under
the heading of the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus captioned “Management.” As of the Effective Date,
the qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board will comply with Sarbanes-Oxley
Act and the rules of Nasdaq that are, in each case, applicable to the Company. As of the Effective Date, the Company will have
an Audit Committee that satisfies the applicable requirements under Sarbanes-Oxley and the rules of Nasdaq.
2.34
Emerging
Growth Company
. From its formation through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,”
as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “
Emerging Growth Company
”).
2.35
No
Disqualification Events
. Neither the Company, nor any of its predecessors or any affiliated issuer, nor any director, executive
officer, or other officer of the Company participating in the Offering, nor any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s
outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule
405 under the Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, a “
Company Covered Person”
and, together, “
Company Covered Persons”
) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications
described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Act (a “
Disqualification Event”
), except for a Disqualification
Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Company Covered Person
is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under
Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Representative a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.
2.36
Free-Writing
Prospectus and Testing-the-Waters
. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute
an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing
prospectus” as defined in Rule 405. The Company (a) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters
Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning
of Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act and (b) has
not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications other than its officers and the Representative and individuals
engaged by the Representative. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed
on
Schedule B
hereto. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with
potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.
3.
Covenants
of the Company
. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1
Amendments
to Registration Statement
. The Company will deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to
the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and the
Company shall not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.
3.2
Federal
Securities Laws.
3.2.1
Compliance
.
During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use its best efforts to comply with
all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act,
as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities in accordance
with the provisions hereof and the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to
the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company or counsel for the Representative, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend
or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with
the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Act.
3.2.2
Filing
of Final Prospectus
. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) with the
Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.
3.2.3
Exchange
Act Registration
. The Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Public Securities under the provisions
of the Exchange Act (except in connection with a going-private transaction) for a period of five years from the Effective Date,
or until the Company is required to be liquidated or is acquired, if earlier, or, in the case of the Warrants, until the Warrants
expire and are no longer exercisable or have been exercised or redeemed in full. The Company will not deregister the Public Securities
under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.
3.2.4
Exchange
Act Filings
. From the Effective Date until the earlier of the Company’s initial Business Combination, or its liquidation
and dissolution, the Company shall timely file with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System
(“
EDGAR
”) such statements and reports as are required to be filed by a company registered under Section 12(b)
of the Exchange Act.
3.2.5
Sarbanes-Oxley
Compliance
. As soon as it is legally required to do so, the Company shall take all actions necessary to obtain and thereafter
maintain material compliance with each applicable provision of Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related or similar rules and regulations
promulgated by any other governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency with jurisdiction over the Company.
3.3
Free-Writing
Prospectus
. The Company agrees that it will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer
free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus”
as defined in Rule 405, without the prior consent of the Representative.
3.4
Delivery
to Underwriters of Prospectuses
. The Company will deliver to the Underwriters, without charge and from time to time during
the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act, such number of copies of each Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus as the Underwriters may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment
or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to the Underwriters, upon their request, two manually executed Registration Statements,
including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein
by reference and all manually executed consents of certified experts.
3.5
Effectiveness
and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative
. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement
to remain effective and will notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or preventing or suspending the use of any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of
the issuance by any foreign or state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public
Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose;
(iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus; (v) of the receipt
of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the
period described in Section 3.5 hereof that, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact
made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, and in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
If the Commission or any foreign or state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time,
the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
3.6
Affiliated
Transactions.
3.6.1
Business
Combinations
.
The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity that is affiliated with any Insider
unless the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA, or from an independent
accounting firm, in each case that is reasonably acceptable to the Representative, that the Business Combination is fair to the
Company’s stockholders from a financial perspective.
No Insider or any affiliate of an Insider
shall receive any fees of any type (other than reimbursement of ordinary and customary expenses incurred on behalf of the Company
and repayment of loans) in connection with any Business Combination.
3.6.2
Compensation
to Insiders
. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company shall not pay any of the Insiders or any of their affiliates
any fees or compensation from the Company, for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the consummation
of a Business Combination.
3.7
Financial
Public Relations Firm
. Promptly after the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination, the Company shall
retain a financial public relations firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative for a term to be agreed on by the Company
and the Representative.
3.8
Reports
to the Representative.
For a period of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company
is required to be liquidated, the Company will furnish to the Representative and its counsel copies of such financial statements
and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities,
and promptly furnish to the Representative (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission,
(ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs that was released
by the Company, (iii) a copy of each current Report on Form 8-K or Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the
Company, (iv) two (2) copies of each registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission under the Act, and (v) such
additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the
Representative may from time to time reasonably request;
provided
that the Representative shall sign, if requested by the
Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and its counsel
in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents
filed with the Commission
pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section.
3.9
Transfer
Agent
. For a period of five years following the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required
to be liquidated, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and warrant agent acceptable to the Representative. CST is acceptable
to the Representative.
3.10
Payment
of Expenses
. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent
not paid at or prior to the Closing Date, all Company expenses incidental to the performance of the obligations of the Company
under this Agreement, including but not limited to (i) the Company’s legal and accounting fees and disbursements, (ii) the
preparation, printing, filing, mailing and delivery (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) of the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, including any pre or post effective amendments or supplements thereto,
and the printing and mailing of this Agreement and related documents, including the cost of all copies thereof and any amendments
thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the Underwriters in quantities as may be required by the Underwriters, (iii) fees incurred
in connection with conducting background checks of the Company’s management team, up to $2,000 per person, (iv) the preparation,
printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, the shares of Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Units, including
any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (v) filing fees incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA and the reasonable
fees of counsel of the Underwriters not to exceed $15,000 in connection therewith, (vi) fees, costs and expenses incurred in listing
the Securities on Nasdaq or such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Representative together determine, (vii) all fees
and disbursements of the transfer and warrant agent, (viii) all of the Company’s expenses associated with “due diligence”
and “road show” meetings arranged by the Representative and any presentations made available by way of a net roadshow,
including, without limitation, trips for the Company’s management to meet with prospective investors, all travel, food and
lodging expenses associated with such trips incurred by the Company or such management; (ix) the preparation, binding and delivery
of bound transaction “bibles,” in quantities and form and style reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and Lucite
cube mementos in such quantities as the Representative and the Company may mutually agree; and (x) all other costs and expenses
customarily borne by an issuer incidental to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically
provided for in this Section 3.10. If the Offering is consummated, the Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering
payable to the Company on the Closing Date the expenses set forth above (which shall be mutually agreed upon between the Company
and the Representative prior to Closing) to be paid by the Company to the Representative and others. If the Offering is not consummated
for any reason (other than a breach by the Representative of any of its obligations hereunder), then the Company shall reimburse
the Representative in full for its out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred through such date not to exceed $30,000,
including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Representative
3.11
Application
of Net Proceeds
. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering and Warrant Private Placement received by it in
a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
3.12
Delivery
of Earnings Statements to Security Holders
. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable,
but not later than the first day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which
need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations,
but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive
months beginning after the Effective Date.
3.13
Notice
to FINRA.
3.13.1
Notice
to FINRA
. For a period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA
affiliation or association) is engaged, in writing, to assist the Company in its search for a Target Business or to provide any
other services in connection therewith, the Company will provide the following to FINRA and the Representative prior to the consummation
of the Business Combination: (i) complete details of all services and copies of agreements governing such services; and (ii) justification
as to why the person or entity providing the merger and acquisition services should not be considered an “underwriter and
related person” with respect to the Offering, as such term is defined in Rule 5110 of the FINRA Manual. The Company also
agrees that, if required by law, proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the tender offer
documents or proxy statement which the Company will file with the Commission in connection with the Business Combination.
3.13.2
FINRA
.
The Company shall advise the Representative (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is aware that any 5% or greater
stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the distribution of the
Public Securities.
3.13.3
Broker/Dealer
.
In the event the Company intends to register as a broker/dealer, merge with or acquire a registered broker/dealer, or otherwise
become a member of FINRA, it shall promptly notify FINRA.
3.14
Stabilization
.
Neither the Company nor any of its employees, directors or stockholders has taken and the Company will not take, and has
directed its employees, directors or stockholders not to take, directly or indirectly, any action without the consent of the Representative
that is designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act,
or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Units
.
3.15
Existing
Lock-Up Agreement
. The Company will enforce all existing agreements between the Company and any of its security holders that
prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any of the Securities in connection with the Offering. In
addition, the Company will
direct the Company’s transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon any such Securities of the Company that are
bound by such existing “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated in such agreements.
3.16
Payment
of Deferred Underwriting Commission on Business Combination
. Upon the consummation of the Company’s initial Business
Combination, the Company agrees that it will cause the Trustee to pay the Deferred Underwriting Commission directly from the Trust
Account to the Representative, in accordance with Section 1.3.
3.17
Internal
Controls
. The Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that:
(i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded
as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for
assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv)
the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken
with respect to any differences.
3.18
Accountants
.
Until the earlier of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated,
the Company shall retain Withum or another independent registered public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative.
3.19
Form
8-K
. The Company shall, on or prior to the date hereof, retain its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the
balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing Date (“
Audited Financial Statements
”) reflecting the receipt
by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the Warrant Private Placement. Within four business days after the Closing Date,
the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited
Financial Statements. Promptly after the Option Closing Date, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised after the Closing Date,
the Company shall file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K or an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial
information to reflect the exercise of such option.
3.20
Corporate
Proceedings
. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been done to the reasonable satisfaction of W&S.
3.21
Investment
Company
. The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only as provided
for in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that
it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it
shall be engaged in a business other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.
3.22
Amendments
to Certificate of Incorporation.
The Company covenants and agrees, that prior to its initial Business Combination it will not
seek to amend or modify its Certificate of Incorporation, except as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
3.23
Press
Releases
. The Company agrees that it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s
prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), for a period of twenty-five (25) days after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be prohibited from issuing any press releases or engaging in any other publicity required
by law,
except that including the name of any Underwriter therein shall require the prior written consent of such Underwriter
.
3.24
Insurance
.
The Company will maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance (including, without limitation, insurance covering the
Company, its directors and officers for liabilities or losses arising in connection with this Offering, including, without limitation,
liabilities or losses arising under the Act, the Exchange Act, the Regulations and any applicable foreign securities laws).
3.25
Electronic
Prospectus
. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Underwriters, at the Company’s expense, promptly,
but in no event later than two (2) Business Days from the effective date of this Agreement, an Electronic Prospectus to be used
by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “
Electronic Prospectus
” means
a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded
in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the Underwriters to offerees
and purchasers of the Units for at least the period during which a prospectus relating to the Units is required to be delivered
under the Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR, except
to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material
shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such
material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to
the Representative, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future
time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line
time).
3.26
Warrant
Private Placement Proceeds
. On or prior to the Effective Date, the Company shall have deposited the proceeds from the Warrant
Private Placement in the Trust Account or to a separate escrow account maintained by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, counsel
to the Company (“
EGS
”), who will transfer such amount to the Trust Account on the Closing Date and shall provide
the Representative with evidence of the same. The Representative shall also deposit the proceeds for its portion of the Warrant
Private Placement in the Trust Account on or prior to the Closing Date. The Warrant Private Placement shall be consummated on the
Closing Date.
3.27
Future
Financings
. The Company agrees that neither it, nor any successor or subsidiary of the Company, will consummate any public
or private equity or debt financing
prior to the consummation
of a Business Combination, unless all investors in such financing expressly waive, in writing, any rights in or claims against
the Trust Account.
3.28
Amendments
to Agreements
. The Company shall not amend, modify or otherwise change the Warrant Agreement, Trust Agreement, Registration
Rights Agreement, Warrants Purchase Agreements, Services Agreement or Insider Letter without the prior written consent of the Representative,
which will not be unreasonably withheld.
3.29
Nasdaq
.
Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the listing of the Public Securities
on Nasdaq or a national securities exchange acceptable to the Representative.
3.30
Reservation
of Shares
. The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which
are issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and Placement Warrants outstanding from time to time.
3.31
Notice
of Disqualification Events
. The Company will notify the Representative in writing, prior to the Closing Date, of (i) any Disqualification
Event relating to any Company Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification
Event relating to any Company Covered Person.
3.32
Disqualification
of S-1
. Until the earlier of
seven years from the date hereof or until the Warrants have either expired and are
no longer exercisable or have all been exercised, the Company will not take any action or actions that prevent or disqualify the
Company’s use of Form S-1 (or other appropriate form) for the registration of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants under the Act.
4.
Conditions
of Underwriters’ Obligations
. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Units, as provided herein,
shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of
each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made
pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following conditions:
4.1
Regulatory
Matters.
4.1.1
Effectiveness
of Registration Statement
. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 4:00 p.m., New York time,
on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representative,
and,
at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
shall have been issued and no proceedings for the purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the
Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable
satisfaction of W&S
.
4.1.2
FINRA
Clearance
. By the Effective Date, the Underwriters shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation
allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.
4.1.3
No
Blue Sky Stop Orders
. No order suspending the sale of the Units in any jurisdiction designated by the Underwriters pursuant
to Section 3.5 hereof shall have been issued on either of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, shall be contemplated.
4.1.4
No Commission Stop Order
. At the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, the Commission has not issued any order or threatened
to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any part thereof, and has
not instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened to institute any proceedings with
respect to such an order.
4.1.5
Nasdaq
.
The Securities shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory
distribution, satisfactory evidence of which shall have been provided to the Representative.
4.2
Company
Counsel Matters.
4.2.1
Closing
Date and Option Closing Date Opinions of Counsel
. On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative
shall have received the favorable opinion and negative assurance statement of EGS, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representative and W&S.
4.2.2
Reliance
.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other
written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents
respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates
shall be delivered to the Representative’s counsel if requested. The opinion of counsel for the Company shall include a statement
to the effect that it may be relied upon by counsel for the Underwriters in its opinion delivered to the Underwriters.
4.3
Comfort
Letter
. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative
shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance
satisfactory in all respects (including the non-material nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii)
below) to the Representative from Withum dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and Option
Closing Date, if any:
|
|
(i)
|
Confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning
of the Act and the applicable Regulations and that they have not, during the periods covered by the financial
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statements included in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, Sale Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act;
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(ii)
|
Stating that in their opinion the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration
Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Act and the published Regulations thereunder;
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(iii)
|
Stating that, on the basis of their review, which included a reading of the latest available unaudited
interim financial statements of the Company (with an indication of the date of the latest available unaudited interim financial
statements), a reading of the latest available minutes of the stockholders and Board of Directors and the various committees of
the Board of Directors, consultations with officers and other employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting
matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that
(a) the unaudited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and
the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
Regulations or are not fairly presented in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited
financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus,
or (b) at a date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
there was any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, or any decrease in the stockholders’ equity of
the Company as compared with amounts shown in the December 31, 2017 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, the Sale
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus or, if there was any decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease, and (c) during the period
from December 31, 2017 to a specified date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, there was any decrease in revenues, net earnings or net earnings per share of Common Stock, in each case
as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year and as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding
quarter, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus,
or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease;
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(iv)
|
Setting forth, at a date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, the amount of liabilities
of the Company (including a break-down of commercial papers and notes payable to banks);
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(v)
|
Stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues
and earnings, statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, the
Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and
information may be derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions
requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries and
other appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards) set forth in the letter and found them to be in agreement;
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(vi)
|
Stating that they have not, since the Company’s incorporation, brought to the attention of
the Company’s management any reportable condition related to internal structure, design or operation as defined in the Statement
on Auditing Standards No. 60 “Communication of Internal Control Structure Related Matters Noted in an Audit,” in the
Company’s internal controls; and
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(vii)
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Statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative
or W&S may reasonably request, including:
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1.
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that Withum is registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
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2.
|
that Withum has sufficient assets and insurance to pay for any liability incurred by it relating
to providing the letter; and
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3.
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that Withum is not insolvent.
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4.4
Officers’
Certificates.
4.4.1
Officers’
Certificate
. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate
of the Company signed by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the
Company (in their capacities as such), dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, to
the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed
or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the
conditions set forth in Section 4 hereof have been satisfied as of
such date and that, as
of Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of
officers of the Company (in their capacities as such) as the Representative may reasonably request.
4.4.2
Secretary’s
Certificate
. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate
of the Company signed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the
case may be, respectively, certifying (i) that the Charter Documents are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full
force and effect, (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the public offering contemplated
by this Agreement are in full force and effect and have not been modified, (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence
between the Company or its counsel and the Commission, (iv) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the
Company or its counsel and Nasdaq and (v) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such
certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
4.5
No
Material Changes
. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, (i) there shall have been no
material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business
activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against
the Company or any Insider before or by any court or federal, foreign or state commission, board or other administrative agency
wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, or financial condition
or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) no stop order shall have
been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming
reasonable inquiry, threatened by the Commission, and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein
in accordance with the Act and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the
Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement
thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4.6
Delivery
of Agreements
. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Trust Agreement,
the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants Purchase Agreements, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Services Agreement and the Insider
Letter.
4.7
Private Placements
. On the Closing Date, the Insider Private Placement and Warrant Private Placement shall have been completed
in accordance with Section 1.4 and Section 3.26 of this Agreement.
5.
Indemnification
.
5.1
Indemnification
of the Underwriters.
5.1.1
General
.
Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and their
affiliates, and each dealer selected by the Underwriters that participates in the offer and sale of the Securities (each a “
Selected
Dealer
”) and each of their respective directors, officers, agents, partners, members and employees and each person, if
any, who controls within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act (“
Controlling Person
”)
any Underwriter, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever as incurred to which they or any of
them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of
foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
(i) the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (as from
time to time each may be amended and supplemented, including, but not limited to any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant
to Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C); (ii) any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the
Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including any “
road show
” or investor
presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically); (iii) any application or other document or
written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “
application
”) executed by the Company or based
upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Public Securities under the securities
laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any foreign or state securities commission or agency, the NYSE, the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq
Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Capital Market, any other securities exchange or the OTCBB or (iv) any
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or new Registration Statement or Prospectus filed by the
Company with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, OTCBB, Nasdaq or any other securities exchange, or the
omission or alleged omission from the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus or subsequent filing by the Company under clause (iv) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and to reimburse
each Underwriter, its affiliates, each Selected Dealer and each of their respective directors, officers, partners, agents, members
and employees and each Controlling Person, if any, for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen
by the Underwriters) as such expenses are incurred by each Underwriter, its affiliates, such Selected Dealer or each of their respective
directors, officers, partners, agents, members and employees or such Controlling Person in connection with investigating, defending,
settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action, whether or not any such person is
a party to any such claim or action and including any and all reasonable legal and other expenses incurred in giving testimony
or furnishing documents in response to a subpoena or otherwise; provided however, that the foregoing agreement shall not apply
to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon (x) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf
of such Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or in any application, as the case may be, or the jurisdictions
listed in the section entitled “Notices to Non-United States Investors” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, as the case may
be; (y) the use of the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus in violation of any stop order or other notice received by the
Underwriters indicating the then current Prospectus is not to be used in connection with the sale of any Securities or (z) the
Underwriters otherwise failing in their prospectus delivery obligations. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Representative
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or Controlling Persons
in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities or in connection with the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 5.1 shall be in addition to any liabilities that
the Company may otherwise have.
5.2
Indemnification
of the Company
. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors
and its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each Controlling Person of the Company, if any, against any and all
loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriters, as incurred,
but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement,
any Preliminary Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or
in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect
to, such Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in, the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus
including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any such application, and
to reimburse the Company or any such director, officer or Controlling Person, if any, for any and all expenses as such expenses
are reasonably incurred, in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the obligation of each Underwriter to indemnify the Company (including any
director, officer or Controlling Person thereof), shall be limited to the amount of the commissions actually received by such Underwriter
pursuant to this Agreement in connection with the Securities underwritten by it. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only
information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, shall consist solely
of the Underwriters’ Information. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 5.2 shall be in addition to any liabilities
that the Underwriters may otherwise have.
5.3
Notifications
and Other Indemnification Procedures
. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party
under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof, but
the failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph 5.1 or 5.2 above unless
and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party
of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any
indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph 5.1 or 5.2 above. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party,
the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying
parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice
from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however,
(a) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties
that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (b) the indemnifying party agrees to such
separate representation, then, in each case, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to
assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties.
Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to
assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to
such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the provision
to the preceding sentence reasonably approved by the indemnifying party (or by any Underwriter in the case of Section 5.2), representing
the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory
to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action,
or (iii) the indemnifying party is not defending such action in good faith, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel
(plus local counsel) shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.
5.4
Settlements
.
The indemnifying party under this Section 5 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, which shall not be withheld, delayed or conditioned unreasonably, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability
or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated
by Section 5.3 hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid
request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior
to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect
any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect
of which any
indemnified party is or could
have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise
or consent (x) includes an unconditional written release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject
matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (y) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a
failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
5.5
Contribution.
5.5.1
Contribution
Rights
. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled
to indemnification under this Section 5 makes a claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the
entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of
the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section
5 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may be required
on the part of any such person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5, then, and in each such
case, each Underwriter shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated
by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and each Underwriter, as incurred, in such proportion as is represented by
the percentage of the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus as compared to the offering price per
Unit and the Company shall be responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) with respect to any action or claim shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation with respect to such claim or action. If the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect the relative fault of the Company and the Underwriters in connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
Company and the Underwriters shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information furnished by the Company
or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.5.1,
no Underwriter shall be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount of the underwriting commissions actually received by such Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement
in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public. For purposes of this Section, each director,
officer, agent, partner, member, employee and Controlling Person of an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, shall have the
same rights to contribution as such Underwriter or the Company, as applicable
.
5.5.2
Contribution
Procedure
. Within fifteen days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement
of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another
party (“
Contributing Party
”), notify the Contributing Party of the commencement thereof, but the omission to
so notify the Contributing Party will not relieve it from any liability
which it may have to any
other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and
such party notifies a Contributing Party or its representative of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen days, the
Contributing Party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other Contributing Party similarly
notified. Any such Contributing Party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any
claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such Contributing Party.
The contribution provisions contained in this Section are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution
under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section
5.5 are several and not joint.
6.
Default
by an Underwriter
.
6.1
Default
Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Units
. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase
the Firm Units and if the number of the Firm Units with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate
10% of the number of Firm Units that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Units to which the default
relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.
6.2
Default
Exceeding 10% of Firm Units
. In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 above relates to more than 10% of
the Firm Units, the Representative may, in its discretion, arrange for it or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm
Units to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If within one (1) Business Day after such default relating
to more than 10% of the Firm Units the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units, then the Company shall
be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to the Representative
to purchase said Firm Units on such terms. In the event that neither the Representative nor the Company arrange for the purchase
of the Firm Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative
or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.10, 5 and 9.3 hereof) or the several
Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof);
provided
that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter
of its liability, if any, to the other several Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
6.3
Postponement
of Closing Date
. In the event that the Firm Units to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting
Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the
right to postpone the Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to
effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be,
or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to, or to supplement, the Registration
Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters may thereby
be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used
in this Agreement shall include
any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect
to such securities.
7.
Additional
Covenants
.
7.1
Additional
Shares or Options
. The Company hereby agrees that until the consummation of a Business Combination, it shall not issue any
shares of Common Stock or any options or other securities convertible into shares of Common Stock, or any preferred shares or other
securities of the Company which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote as a class with the shares of Common
Stock on a proposed Business Combination.
7.2
Trust
Account Waiver Acknowledgments
. The Company hereby agrees that it will use its reasonable best efforts prior to commencing
its due diligence investigation of any prospective Target Business or prior to obtaining the services of any vendor to have such
Target Business and/or vendor acknowledge in writing whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar
document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that (a) it has read
the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $202,000,000 (without
giving effect to any exercise of the Over-allotment Option) for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and that, except for a portion
of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only (i)
to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their IPO Shares (as defined below) in connection with the consummation
of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the
time period set forth in the Charter Documents, or (iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business
Combination and (b) for and in consideration of the Company (i) agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating
a Business Combination with it or (ii) agreeing to engage the services of the vendor, as the case may be, such Target Business
or vendor agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account
(“
Claim
”) and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations,
contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The foregoing
letters shall substantially be in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A
and
Exhibit B
, respectively.
The Company may forego obtaining such waivers only if the Company shall have received the approval of its Chief Executive Officer
and the approving vote or written consent of at least a majority of its Board of Directors. The term “
IPO Shares
”
means the shares of Common Stock contained in the Public Securities.
7.3
Insider
Letter
. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of the Insider Letter
and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, the Insider Letter without the prior written consent of the Representative,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
7.4
Charter
Documents
. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the Company to be in breach or
violation of any of its Charter Documents.
7.5
Acquisition/Liquidation
Procedure
. The Company agrees that it will comply with its Charter Documents in connection with the consummation of a Business
Combination or the failure to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the Closing Date. The Company agrees that
it will not propose any amendment to any of its Charter Documents that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s
obligations as described in its Charter Documents with respect to the redemption rights of Public Stockholders.
7.6
Rule
419
. The Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the
Act prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, including but not limited to using its best efforts to prevent any of
the Company’s outstanding securities from being deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a-51-1 under
the Exchange Act during such period.
7.7
Tender
Offer Documents, Proxy Materials and Other Information
. The Company shall provide to the Representative or its counsel (if
so instructed by the Representative) with 10 copies of all tender offer documents or proxy information and all related material
filed with the Commission in connection with a Business Combination concurrently with such filing with the Commission. Documents
filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been provided to the Representative pursuant to
this Section. In addition, the Company shall furnish any other state in which its initial public offering was registered, such
information as may be requested by such state.
7.8
Emerging
Growth Company
. The Company shall promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company
at any time prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Act.
7.9
Target
Net Assets
. The Company agrees that the Target Business that it acquires must have a fair market value equal to at least 80%
of the balance in the Trust Account at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the Business Combination with such Target
Business (excluding taxes payable and the Deferred Underwriting Commissions). The fair market value of such business must be determined
by the Board of Directors based upon standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as actual and potential sales,
earnings, cash flow and book value. If the Board of Directors is not able to independently determine that the Target Business meets
such fair market value requirement, the Company will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm
or independent accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. The
Company is not required to obtain an opinion from an investment banking firm as to the fair market value if the Board of Directors
independently determines that the Target Business does have sufficient fair market value, provided that the Target Business is
not affiliated with an Insider.
8.
Representations
and Agreements to Survive Delivery
. Except as the context otherwise requires, all representations, warranties and agreements
contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, if any, and such representations, warranties and agreements of the Underwriters and the Company, including the indemnity
agreements contained in Section 5
hereof, shall remain operative
and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, the Company or any Controlling
Person, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Public Securities to the Underwriters
until the earlier of the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations and the seventh (7th) anniversary of the later of
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, at which time the representations, warranties and agreements shall terminate
and be of no further force and effect.
9.
Effective
Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof
.
9.1
Effective
Date
. This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date at the time the Registration Statement is declared effective
by the Commission.
9.2
Termination
.
The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date, (i) if any domestic
or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the Representative’s opinion will in the immediate
future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the NYSE, the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq
Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, or the Nasdaq Capital Market or quoted on the OTCBB shall have been suspended,
or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed,
or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government
authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in existing
major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or Federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium
on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities market, or (vi) if
the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity
or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s sole opinion, make
it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Units, or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations,
warranties or covenants hereunder, or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material
adverse change in the conditions of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions, including without
limitation as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof, as in the Representative’s sole judgment would make
it impracticable to proceed with the Offering, sale and/or delivery of the Units or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters
for the sale of the Public Securities.
9.3
Expenses
.
In the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions
thereof pursuant to the terms herein, (i) the obligations of the Company to pay the out of pocket expenses related to the transactions
contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 3.10 hereof and (ii) the Company shall reimburse the Representative for any costs
and expenses incurred in connection with enforcing any provisions of this Agreement.
9.4
Indemnification
.
Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement,
and whether or not this
Agreement is otherwise carried
out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way affected by such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms
of this Agreement or any part hereof.
10.
Miscellaneous
.
10.1
Notices
.
All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed, delivered
by hand or reputable overnight courier or delivered by facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed
and shall be deemed given when so mailed, delivered or faxed or if mailed, two days after such mailing.
If to the Representative:
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
499 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (212) 829-4708
Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Winston & Strawn LLP
200 Park Ave
New York, New York 10166
Attn: Joel Rubinstein, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 294-4700
If to the Company:
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
527 Madison Avenue, 6
th
Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Jason Mudrick
Facsimile: (646) 747-9540
Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
Attn: Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 370-7889
10.2
Headings
.
The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the
meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
10.3
Amendment
.
This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
10.4
Entire
Agreement
. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with
this Agreement) constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
10.5
Binding
Effect
.
This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters,
the Selected Dealers, the Company and the Controlling Persons, directors, agents, partners, members, employees and officers referred
to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or be
construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions
herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities
from the Underwriters
.
10.6
Waiver
of Immunity
. To the extent that the Company may be entitled in any jurisdiction in which judicial proceedings may at any time
be commenced hereunder, to claim for itself or its revenues or assets any immunity, including sovereign immunity, from suit, jurisdiction,
attachment in aid of execution of a judgment or prior to a judgment, execution of a judgment or any other legal process with respect
to its obligations hereunder and to the extent that in any such jurisdiction there may be attributed to the Company such an immunity
(whether or not claimed), the Company hereby irrevocably agrees not to claim and irrevocably waives such immunity to the maximum
extent permitted by law.
10.7
Submission
to Jurisdiction
. Each of the Company and the Representative irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York
State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, over any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or
the offering of the Securities. Each of the Company and the Representative irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in
such a court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company or the Representative may be served by transmitting a copy thereof
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section
10.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding
or claim. Each of the Company and the Representative waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any other requirements of
or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any action
based on this Agreement may be instituted by the Underwriters in any competent court. The Company agrees that the Underwriters
shall be entitled to recover all of their reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to any action or proceeding and/or
incurred in connection with the preparation therefor if any of them are the prevailing party in such action or proceeding.
10.8
Governing
Law
. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction.
10.9
Execution
in Counterparts
. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered
to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission
shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
10.10
Waiver
.
The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or
construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof
or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach,
non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument
executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach,
non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance
or non-fulfillment.
10.11
No
Fiduciary Relationship
. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement
is an arm’s-length commercial transaction pursuant to a contractual relationship between the Company and the Underwriters,
(ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal
and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) the Underwriters have not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility
in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether
the Underwriters have advised or are currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except
the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible
as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that
the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of this offering of the Company’s securities, either before
or after the date hereof and (v) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.
The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding
and agreement to
that effect. The Company
agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe a fiduciary
or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto. The Company and the Underwriters
agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgment with respect to any such transactions, and that
any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any
opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations
to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may
have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.
[
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]
If the foregoing correctly
sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that
purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
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Very truly yours,
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Accepted on the date first above written.
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CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO., as
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Representative of the several Underwriters
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
MUDRICK
CAPITAL Acquisition CorpORATION
20,000,000 Units
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Underwriter
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Number of
Firm Units to
be Purchased
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Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
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[
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TOTAL
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20,000,000
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SCHEDULE B
WRITTEN TESTING-THE-WATERS COMMUNICATIONS
Investor Presentation dated January 2018.
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF TARGET BUSINESS LETTER
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the
Final Prospectus of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (the “
Company
”), dated ________________, 2018 (the
“
Prospectus
”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them
in Prospectus.
We have read the Prospectus
and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $202,000,000 for the benefit
of the Public Stockholders and the Representative of the Underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering and that,
except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the
Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their public shares in connection with the
consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination
within the required time period set forth in its Certificate of Incorporation as the same may be amended from time to time, or
(iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination.
For and in consideration
of the Company agreeing to evaluate the undersigned for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it, the undersigned
hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (each,
a “
Claim
”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations,
contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
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Print Name of Target Business
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Authorized Signature of Target Business
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EXHIBIT B
FORM OF VENDOR LETTER
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the
Final Prospectus of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (the “
Company
”), dated ____________________, 2018
(the “
Prospectus
”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
to them in Prospectus.
We have read the Prospectus
and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $202,000,000 for the benefit
of the Public Stockholders and the Representative of the Underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering and that,
except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the
Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their public shares in connection with the
consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination
within the required time period set forth in its Certificate of Incorporation as the same may be amended from time to time, or
(iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination.
For and in consideration
of the Company agreeing to engage the services of the undersigned, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right,
title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (each, a “
Claim
”) and hereby waives
any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse
against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
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Print Name of Vendor
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Authorized Signature of Vendor
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Exhibit 3.2
FORM OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
,
2018
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation,
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “
Corporation
”), DOES
HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
1. The name of the Corporation
is “
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
”. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation
was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 28, 2017 (the “
Original Certificate
”).
2. This Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation (the “
Amended and Restated Certificate
”), which both restates and amends
the provisions of the Original Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “
DGCL
”).
3. This Amended and Restated
Certificate shall become effective on the date of filing with Secretary of State of Delaware.
4. The text of the Original Certificate
is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Mudrick Capital
Acquisition Corporation (the “
Corporation
”).
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage
in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. In addition to the powers and privileges
conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers
and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation,
including, but not limited to, effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or
similar business combination, involving the Corporation and one or more businesses (a “
Business Combination
”).
ARTICLE III
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the Corporation’s registered
office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware,
19808, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1
Authorized Capital
Stock
. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the
Corporation is authorized to issue is 111,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 110,000,000 shares of common stock (the “
Common
Stock
”), including (i) 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “
Class A Common
Stock
”), and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (the “
Class B Common
Stock
”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “
Preferred
Stock
”).
Section 4.2
Preferred Stock
. Subject
to
Article IX
of this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “
Board
”)
is hereby expressly authorized to provide out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred
Stock and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights,
if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such
series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted
by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “
Preferred Stock
Designation
”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full
extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.
Section 4.3
Common Stock.
(a)
Voting.
(i) Except as otherwise required by law
or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively
possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by law
or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall
be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders on which the holders of the Common
Stock are entitled to vote.
(iii) Except as otherwise required by law
or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders
of the Corporation, holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of the Class B Common Stock, voting together as a
single class, shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted
to a vote of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated
Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), holders of shares of any series of Common Stock shall not be entitled
to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation)
that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock or other series of Common Stock if the holders
of such affected series of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as applicable, are entitled exclusively, either separately or together
with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including
any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.
(b)
Class B Common Stock.
(i) Shares of Class B Common Stock
shall be convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis (the “
Initial Conversion Ratio
”)
(A) at any time and from time to time at the option of the holder thereof and (B) automatically on the closing of the
Business Combination.
(ii) Notwithstanding the Initial Conversion
Ratio, in the case that additional shares of Class A Common Stock, or Equity-linked Securities (as defined below), are issued
or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in the Corporation’s initial public offering of securities (the “
Offering
”)
and related to the closing of the initial Business Combination, all issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock
shall automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock at the time of the closing of the initial Business Combination
at a ratio for which:
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the numerator shall be equal to the sum of (A) 25% of all shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable (upon the conversion or exercise of any Equity-linked Securities or otherwise) by the Corporation, related to or in connection with the consummation of the initial Business Combination (excluding any securities issued or issuable to any seller in the initial Business Combination, any private placement warrants issued to Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC (the “
Sponsor
”) or its affiliates upon conversion of loans to the Corporation and any securities issued pursuant to that certain forward purchase contract, dated January 24, 2018, by and between the Corporation and the Sponsor) plus (B) the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination; and
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the denominator shall be the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination.
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As used herein, the term “Equity-linked
Securities” means any securities of the Corporation which are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common
Stock
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, (i) the foregoing adjustment to the Initial Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance
or deemed issuance of additional shares of Class A Common Stock or Equity-linked Securities by the written consent or agreement
of holders of a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding consenting or agreeing separately as a single
class in the manner provided in
Section 4.3(b)(iii)
, and (ii) in no event shall the Class B Common Stock
convert into Class A Common Stock at a ratio that is less than one-for-one.
The foregoing conversion ratio shall also
be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by stock split, subdivision, exchange, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization
or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, exchange, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or similar reclassification
or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring
after the original filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination
or similar reclassification or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.
Each share of Class B Common Stock
shall convert into its
pro rata
number of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this
Section 4.3(b)
. The
pro
rata
share for each holder of Class B Common Stock will be determined as follows: Each share of Class B Common
Stock shall convert into such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as is equal to the product of one (1) multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which all of the issued
and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall be converted pursuant to this
Section 4.3(b)
and
the denominator of which shall be the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock at the time of
conversion.
(iii)
Voting.
Except as
otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), for so long as
any shares of Class B Common Stock shall remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the prior vote or written
consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding, voting separately as a single
class, amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise,
if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change the powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other
or special rights of the Class B Common Stock. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders
of Class B Common Stock may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents
in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of the outstanding Class B Common Stock having
not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares
of Class B Common Stock were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office
in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book
in which minutes of proceedings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall
be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Prompt written notice of the taking of corporate
action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent of the holders of Class B Common Stock shall, to the extent
required by law, be given to those holders of Class B Common Stock who have not consented in writing and who, if the action
had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had
been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders of Class B Common Stock to take the action were
delivered to the Corporation.
(c)
Dividends.
Subject
to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of
Article IX
hereof,
the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property
or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds
of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
(d)
Liquidation, Dissolution or
Winding Up of the Corporation.
Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series
of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of
Article IX
hereof, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities
of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation
available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (on
an as converted basis with respect to the Class B Common Stock) held by them.
Section 4.4
Rights and Options
. The
Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the
Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by
or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise
and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for
any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1
Board Powers
. The
business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers
and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Amended and Restated Certificate or the By-Laws of the Corporation
(“
By-Laws
”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things
as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated
Certificate, and any By-Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders
shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.
Section 5.2
Number, Election
and Term
.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation,
other than those who may be elected by the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock voting separately by class or series,
shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.
(b) Subject to
Section 5.5
hereof,
the Board shall be divided into two classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I and Class II. The
Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I or Class II. The term of the initial
Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness
of this Amended and Restated Certificate and the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual
meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate. At each
succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of
the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate, each of the successors elected to replace
the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a two-year term or until the election and
qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to
Section 5.5
hereof,
if the number of directors that constitutes the Board is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among
the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease
in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director. Subject to the rights of the holders
of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one
or more series of Preferred Stock, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders
present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The Board is hereby expressly authorized,
by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this
Amended and Restated Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.
(c) Subject to
Section 5.5
hereof,
a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor
has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification
or removal.
(d) Unless and except to the extent that
the By-Laws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.
Section 5.3
Newly Created Directorships
and Vacancies
. Subject to
Section 5.5
hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase
in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal
or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less
than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the
remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and
until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation,
retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 5.4
Removal
. Subject
to
Section 5.5
hereof, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause
and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 5.5
Preferred Stock
- Directors
. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article V
, and except as otherwise required
by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series,
to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such
directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate
(including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to
this
Article V
unless expressly provided by such terms.
ARTICLE VI
BYLAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of
the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal
the By-Laws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws. The
By-Laws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote
of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate
(including any Preferred Stock Designation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of
all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting
together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws; and provided further,
however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been
valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN
CONSENT
Section 7.1
Meetings
. Subject
to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law,
special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer of
the Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders
to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of
stockholders may not be called by another person or persons.
Section 7.2
Advance Notice
. Advance
notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting
of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the By-Laws.
Section 7.3
Action by Written
Consent
. Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including
any Preferred Stock Designation) relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, subsequent
to the consummation of the Offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be
effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders
other than with respect to our Class B Common Stock with respect to which action may be taken by written consent.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1
Limitation of Director
Liability
. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is
not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless they violated their duty of loyalty to the Corporation
or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends,
unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from their actions as directors. Any
amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of
the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
Section 8.2
Indemnification
and Advancement of Expenses
.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was
made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “
proceeding
”) by reason of
the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation,
is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “
indemnitee
”),
whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in
any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses
(including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement)
reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not
prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise
participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable
law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking,
by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is
not entitled to be indemnified under this
Section 8.2
or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement
of expenses conferred by this
Section 8.2
shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an
indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors
and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 8.2(a)
, except for proceedings
to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee
in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized
by the Board.
(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement
of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this
Section 8.2
shall not be exclusive of any other rights that
any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Amended and Restated Certificate, the By-Laws, an agreement, vote
of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this
Section 8.2
by
the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate
inconsistent with this
Section 8.2
, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the
extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis
than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time
of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding
is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal
or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
(d) This
Section 8.2
shall
not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance
expenses to persons other than indemnitees.
ARTICLE IX
BUSINESS COMBINATION REQUIREMENTS; EXISTENCE
Section 9.1
General
.
(a) The provisions of this
Article IX
shall
apply during the period commencing upon the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate and terminating upon the consummation
of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination and no amendment to this
Article IX
shall be effective
prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination unless approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
sixty-five percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock.
(b) Immediately after the Offering, a certain
amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of any exercise of the
underwriters’ over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration statement
on Form S-1, as initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on __________, 2018, as amended (the “
Registration
Statement
”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “
Trust Account
”), established for
the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except
for the withdrawal of interest to pay franchise and income taxes, none of the funds held in the Trust Account (including the interest
earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until the earliest to occur of (i) the
completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares (as defined below) if the
Corporation is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering and (iii) the
redemption of shares in connection with a vote seeking to amend any provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate relating
to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in
Section 9.7
). Holders
of shares of Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering (the “
Offering Shares
”)
(whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not
such holders are the Sponsor or officers or directors of the Corporation, or affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred
to herein as “
Public Stockholders.
”
Section 9.2
Redemption Rights
.
(a) Prior to the consummation of the initial
Business Combination, the Corporation shall provide all holders of Offering Shares with the opportunity to have their Offering
Shares redeemed upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of,
Sections
9.2(b)
and
9.2(c)
(such rights of such holders to have their Offering Shares redeemed pursuant to such
Sections, the “
Redemption Rights
”) hereof for cash equal to the applicable redemption price per share
determined in accordance with
Section 9.2(b)
hereof (the “
Redemption Price
”); provided,
however, that the Corporation shall not redeem Offering Shares to the extent that such redemption would result in the Corporation’s
failure to have net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “
Exchange Act
”) (or any successor rule)) in excess of $5 million or any greater
net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to the initial Business Combination upon
consummation of the initial Business Combination (such limitation hereinafter called the “
Redemption Limitation
”).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, there shall be no Redemption Rights
or liquidating distributions with respect to any warrant issued pursuant to the Offering.
(b) If the Corporation offers to redeem
the Offering Shares other than in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination with a proxy solicitation
pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (or any successor rules or regulations) and filing proxy materials with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “
SEC
”), the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares
upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the
provisions of
Section 9.2(a)
hereof pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation
14E of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “
Tender
Offer Rules
”) which it shall commence prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination and shall file
tender offer documents with the SEC prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination that contain substantially the
same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the Redemption Rights as is required under Regulation
14A of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “
Proxy
Solicitation Rules
”), even if such information is not required under the Tender Offer Rules; provided, however, that
if a stockholder vote is required by law to approve the proposed initial Business Combination, or the Corporation decides to submit
the proposed initial Business Combination to the stockholders for their approval for business or other legal reasons, the Corporation
shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 9.2(a)
hereof
in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the Proxy Solicitation Rules (and not the Tender Offer Rules) at a price
per share equal to the Redemption Price calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this
Section 9.2(b)
. In
the event that the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with the Tender Offer
Rules, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares tendering their Offering Shares
pursuant to such tender offer shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing: (i) the aggregate amount on deposit
in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest
not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, by (ii) the total number of then outstanding
Offering Shares. If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on the proposed
initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders
of the Offering Shares exercising their Redemption Rights shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the aggregate
amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including
interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, by (b) the total number of then
outstanding Offering Shares.
(c) If the Corporation offers to redeem
the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation,
a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting
in concert or as a “
group
” (as defined under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), shall be
restricted from seeking Redemption Rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Offering Shares without the prior
consent of the Corporation.
(d) In the event that the Corporation has
not consummated an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering, the Corporation shall (i) cease
all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business
days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares in consideration of a per-share
price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account,
including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of such
net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will
completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any),
subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval
of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to
the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.
(e) If the Corporation offers to redeem
the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall consummate
the proposed initial Business Combination only if (i) such initial Business Combination is approved by the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to consider such initial
Business Combination and (ii) the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.
(f) If the Corporation conducts a tender
offer pursuant to Section 9.2(b), the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if the Redemption
Limitation is not exceeded.
Section 9.3
Distributions from
the Trust Account
.
(a) A Public Stockholder shall be entitled
to receive funds from the Trust Account only as provided in
Sections 9.2(a)
,
9.2(b)
,
9.2(d)
or
9.7
hereof. In
no other circumstances shall a Public Stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in or to distributions from the Trust
Account, and no stockholder other than a Public Stockholder shall have any interest in or to the Trust Account.
(b) Each Public Stockholder that does not
exercise its Redemption Rights shall retain its interest in the Corporation and shall be deemed to have given its consent to the
release of the remaining funds in the Trust Account to the Corporation, and following payment to any Public Stockholders exercising
their Redemption Rights, the remaining funds in the Trust Account shall be released to the Corporation.
(c) The exercise by a Public Stockholder
of the Redemption Rights shall be conditioned on such Public Stockholder following the specific procedures for redemptions set
forth by the Corporation in any applicable tender offer or proxy materials sent to the Public Stockholders relating to the proposed
initial Business Combination. Payment of the amounts necessary to satisfy the Redemption Rights properly exercised shall be
made as promptly as practical after the consummation of the initial Business Combination.
Section 9.4
Share Issuances
. Prior
to the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall not issue any additional shares
of capital stock of the Corporation that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the Trust Account or vote on any
initial Business Combination, on any pre-Business Combination activity or on any amendment to this
Article IX
.
Section 9.5
Transactions with
Affiliates
. In the event the Corporation enters into an initial Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated
with the Sponsor, or the directors or officers of the Corporation, the Corporation, or a committee of the independent directors
of the Corporation, shall obtain an opinion from an independent accounting firm or an independent investment banking firm that
is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority that such Business Combination is fair to the Corporation from a financial
point of view.
Section 9.6
No Transactions
with Other Blank Check Companies
. The Corporation shall not enter into an initial Business Combination with another blank
check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
Section 9.7
Additional Redemption
Rights
. If, in accordance with
Section 9.1(a)
, any amendment is made to Section 9.2(d) to modify
the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation has not
consummated an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the date of the closing of the Offering, the Public Stockholders
shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share
price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released
to the Corporation to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares; provided, however, that any such
amendment will be voided, and this
Article IX
will remain unchanged, if any stockholders who wish to redeem are unable to
redeem due to the Redemption Limitation.
ARTICLE X
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY
To the extent allowed by law, the doctrine
of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers
or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict
with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Amended and Restated Certificate or in
the future, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that any of the directors or officers of the Corporation will offer
any such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to the Corporation, except, the doctrine of corporate opportunity
shall apply with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation with respect to a corporate opportunity that was
offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and (i) such opportunity is one
the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue
and (ii) the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to the Corporation without violating any legal obligation.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right at any
time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including
any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that
may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and,
except as set forth in
Article VIII
, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred
upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form
or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this
Article XI
provided
,
however
,
that
Article IX
of this Amended and Restated Certificate may be amended only as provided therein.
ARTICLE XII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS
Section 12.1
Forum.
Unless
the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall
be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding
brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director,
officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action
asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or
this Amended and Restated Certificate or the By-Laws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors,
officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim
as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court
of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days
following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery,
or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction.
Section 12.2
Consent to Jurisdiction
.
If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 12.1 immediately above is filed in a court other
than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “
Foreign Action
”) in the name of any stockholder,
such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located
within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 12.1 immediately above
(an “
FSC Enforcement Action
”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any
such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
Section 12.3
Severability
. If
any provision or provisions of this
Article XII
shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied
to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity,
legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this
Article
XII
(including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this
Article XII
containing any such
provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the
application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed
to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this
Article XII
.
[Remainder of page intentionally left
blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Mudrick Capital Acquisition
Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf
by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[
Signature Page to Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation
]
Exhibit 4.1
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CUSIP 624745 204
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE SHARE OF CLASS A
COMMON STOCK AND ONE WARRANT,
EACH WARRANT ENTITLING THE HOLDER TO PURCHASE
ONE SHARE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
THIS CERTIFIES THAT
is the owner of Units.
Each Unit (“
Unit
”)
consists of one (1) share of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“
Common Stock
”),
of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “
Company
”), and one warrant (the
“
Warrant
”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share (subject to adjustment)
of Common Stock for $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). Each Warrant will become exercisable on the later of (i) thirty
(30) days after the Company’s completion of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization
or other similar business combination with one or more businesses (each a “
Business Combination
”), or
(ii) twelve (12) months from the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, and will expire unless exercised
before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its
initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation (the “
Expiration Date
”). The
Common Stock and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable separately prior to , 2018,
unless Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. elects to allow separate trading earlier, subject to the Company’s filing of a Current
Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s
receipt of the gross proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering and issuing a press release announcing when separate
trading will begin. The terms of the Warrants are governed by a Warrant Agreement, dated as of , 2018, between the Company
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and are subject to the terms and provisions contained
therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the
Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at 1 State Street, 30
th
Floor, New York, New York 10004,
and are available to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned
by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company.
This certificate shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
Witness the facsimile signature of a duly authorized
signatory of the Company.
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Authorized Signatory
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Transfer Agent
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Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
The Company will furnish without charge to
each unitholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or
other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions
of such preferences and/or rights.
The following
abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out
in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
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TEN COM — as tenants in common
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UNIF GIFT MIN ACT
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—
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Custodian
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TEN ENT
— as tenants by the entireties
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(Cust)
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(Minor)
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JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
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under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
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(State)
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Additional abbreviations may also be used though
not in the above list.
For value received,
hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING
NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING
ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
Units represented by the within Certificate,
and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
Attorney to transfer the said Units on the books of the
within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated
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Notice:
The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.
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Signature(s) Guaranteed:
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THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE).
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In each case, as more fully described in
the Company’s final prospectus dated ,
2018, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain funds held in the trust
account established in
connection with its initial public offering
only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the shares of Class A common stock sold in the Company’s initial
public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial business combination by ,
2020, (ii) the Company redeems the shares of Class A common stock sold in its initial public offering in connection with
a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing
of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Class A common stock if it does not consummate an initial business
combination by , 2020,
or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective shares of Class A common stock
in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks stockholder approval of the proposed
initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall
the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.
Exhibit 4.2
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NUMBER
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NUMBER
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C-
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SHARES
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SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
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CUSIP 624745 105
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MUDRICK CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORPORATION
INCORPORATED UNDER
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
CLASS A COMMON STOCK
This Certifies that
is the owner of
FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF
THE PAR VALUE OF $0.0001 EACH OF THE CLASS A COMMON STOCK OF
MUDRICK CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORPORATION
(THE “COMPANY”)
transferable on the books of the Company
in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed.
The Company will be forced to redeem all
of its shares of Class A common stock if it is unable to complete a business combination by ,
2020, all as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated ,
2018.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned
by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.
Witness the seal of the Company and the
facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.
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Chief Executive Officer
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[Corporate Seal] Delaware
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Chief Financial Officer
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MUDRICK CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORPORATION
The Company 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 of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences
and/or rights. This certificate and the shares represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of
the Certificate of Incorporation and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issue of
securities (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company), to all of which the holder of this certificate
by acceptance hereof assents. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall
be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
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TEN COM
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—
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as tenants in common
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UNIF GIFT MIN ACT
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—
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Custodian
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TEN ENT
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—
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as tenants by the entireties
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(Cust)
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(Minor)
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JT TEN
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—
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as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
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under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
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(State)
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Additional abbreviations may also be used
though not in the above list.
For value received,
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL
SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER(S) OF ASSIGNEE(S))
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE
NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES), INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE(S))
shares of the capital stock represented
by the within Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints
Attorney to transfer the said stock on
the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT
MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT
OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.
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Signature(s) Guaranteed:
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By
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THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED
BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN
APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE).
In each case, as more fully described in
the Company’s final prospectus dated ,
2018, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain funds held in the trust
account established in connection with its initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the shares
of Class A common stock sold in the Company’s initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate
an initial business combination by ,
2020, (ii) the Company redeems the shares of Class A common stock sold in its initial public offering in connection with
a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing
of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Class A common stock if it does not consummate an initial business
combination by , 2020,
or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective shares of Class A common stock
in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks stockholder approval of the proposed
initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall
the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.
Exhibit 4.3
[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[FACE]
Number
Warrants
THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED
PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED
FOR
IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
Incorporated
Under
the
Laws
of
the
State
of
Delaware
CUSIP 624745 113
Warrant Certificate
This
Warrant
Certificate
certifies
that
,
or registered assigns, is the registered holder of warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the “
Warrants
” and
each, a “
Warrant
”) to purchase shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“
Common
Stock
”),
of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “
Company
”). Each Warrant
entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the
Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “
Exercise
Price
”)
as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “
cashless
exercise
”
as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment
of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein
and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Warrant Agreement.
Each Warrant is initially exercisable for one
fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If,
upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company
will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder.
The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain
events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
The initial Exercise Price per share of Common
Stock for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain
events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the conditions set forth in the
Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of
such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions
of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect
as though fully set forth at this place.
This Warrant
Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.
This Warrant Certificate shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles
thereof.
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
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[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[Reverse]
The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate
are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive shares of Common Stock and are issued
or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of ,
2018 (the “
Warrant
Agreement
”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “
Warrant
Agent
”),
which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for
a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company
and the holders (the words “
holders
” or “
holder
” meaning the Registered Holders
or Registered Holder) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request
to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them
in the Warrant Agreement.
Warrants may be exercised at any time during
the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise
them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of election to purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed,
together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as
provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon
any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced
hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number
of Warrants not exercised.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant
Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement
covering the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus
thereunder relating to the shares of Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in
the Warrant Agreement.
The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the
occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face
hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled
to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole
number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.
Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the
principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or
attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement,
but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in
the aggregate a like number of Warrants.
Upon due presentation for registration of transfer
of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor
and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant
Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental
charge imposed in connection therewith.
The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem
and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation
of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof,
and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither
the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a stockholder of the Company.
Election to Purchase
(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to
exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive
shares of Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Common Stock to the order of Mudrick Capital Acquisition
Corporation (the
“Company”
) in the amount of $ in accordance
with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name
of , whose address is
and that such shares of Common Stock be delivered to
whose address is . If
said number of shares of Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests
that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of ,
whose address is
and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to ,
whose address is .
In the event that the Warrant has been called
for redemption by the Company pursuant to
Section 6
of the Warrant Agreement and the Company has required
cashless exercise pursuant to
Section 6.3
of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock
that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with
subsection 3.3.1(b)
and
Section 6.3
of
the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant is a Private
Placement Warrant, Working Capital Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis
pursuant to
subsection 3.3.1(c)
of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this
Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with
subsection 3.3.1(c)
of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised
on a “cashless” basis pursuant to
Section 7.4
of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares
of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with
Section 7.4
of
the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant may be exercised,
to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that this
Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for
such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects
to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement,
to receive shares of Common Stock. If said number of shares is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder
(after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining
balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of ,
whose address is
and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to ,
whose address is .
[
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Signature Guaranteed:
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THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR
INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)).
Exhibit 4.4
FORM OF
WARRANT AGREEMENT
THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “
Agreement
”),
dated as of ______, 2018, is by and between Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “
Company
”),
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “
Warrant
Agent
”,
also referred to herein as the “
Transfer
Agent
”).
WHEREAS, on January 15, 2018, the Company entered
into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement with Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “
Sponsor
”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 6,500,000
warrants (or up to 7,250,000 warrants if the Over-allotment Option (as defined below) in connection with the Company’s Offering
(as defined below) is exercised in full) simultaneously with the closing of the Offering (and the closing of the Over-allotment
Option, if applicable) bearing the legend set forth in
Exhibit B
hereto (the “
Sponsor Private
Placement
Warrants
”)
at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant; and
WHEREAS, on January 16, 2018, the Company entered
into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“
CF & Co.
”),
pursuant to which CF & Co. agreed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (or up to 1,150,000 warrants if the Over-allotment
Option (as defined below) in connection with the Company’s Offering (as defined below) is exercised in full) simultaneously
with the closing of the Offering (and the closing of the Over-allotment Option, if applicable) bearing the legend set forth in
Exhibit B
hereto
(collectively with the Sponsor Private Placement Warrants, the “
Private Placement Warrants
”) at a purchase
price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant; and
WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s
transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination (as defined below), the Sponsor or an affiliate of
the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s executive officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan to the Company
funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 1,500,000
warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant (the “
Working Capital Warrants
”); and
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in an initial
public offering (the “
Offering
”) of units of the Company’s equity securities, each such unit comprised
of one share of Common Stock (as defined below) and one redeemable Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “
Units
”)
and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 10,000,000 warrants (or up to 11,500,000 warrants if the
Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) to public investors in the Offering (the “
Public
Warrants
”);
and
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into
that certain Forward Purchase Contract, dated as of January 24, 2018, with the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor has
agreed to purchase 2,500,000 Units, each such Unit comprised of one share of Class A Common Stock and one warrant (the
“
Forward Purchase Warrants
” and together with the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital
Warrants and the Public Warrants, the “
Warrants
”), and 625,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, such
purchase to occur simultaneously with the Company’s initial Business Combination (as defined below). Each Warrant
entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share
(“
Common Stock
”), for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “
Commission
”) a registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-222562
(the “
Registration
Statement
”) and prospectus (the “
Prospectus
”),
for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
Securities
Act
”),
of the Units, the Public Warrants and the Common Stock included in the Units; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent
to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer,
exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for
the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation
of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done
and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf
of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution
and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.
Appointment of Warrant Agent
.
The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts
such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2. Warrants.
2.1
Form of Warrant.
Each
Warrant shall be issued in registered form only, and, if a physical certificate is issued, shall be in substantially the form of
Exhibit
A
hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of,
the Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or other principal officer of
the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the
capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he
or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance. All of the Public Warrants shall initially be represented by one or more
book-entry certificates (each, a “
Book-Entry Warrant Certificate
”).
2.2
Effect of Countersignature
.
If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant
certificate shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.3
Registration
.
2.3.1
Warrant Register.
The
Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “
Warrant
Register
”) for the registration of
original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent
shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance
with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. All of the Public Warrants shall initially be represented by one
or more Book-Entry Warrant Certificates deposited with The Depository Trust Company (the “
Depositary
”)
and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of the Depositary. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Public Warrants
shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by (i) the Depositary or its
nominee for each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, or (ii) institutions that have accounts with the Depositary (each such institution,
with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “
Participant
”).
If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make
its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making
other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary
to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary
to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant
Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“
Definitive Warrant
Certificate
”). Such Definitive Warrant Certificate shall be in the form annexed hereto as
Exhibit A
,
with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as provided above.
2.3.2
Registered Holder
. Prior
to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person
in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “
Registered
Holder
”)
as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented
thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership
or other writing on a Definitive Warrant Certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose
of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice
to the contrary.
2.4
Detachability
of Warrants
. The Common Stock and Public Warrants comprising the Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following
the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks
in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “
Business
Day
”), then on
the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “
Detachment
Date
”)
with the consent of CF & Co., as representative of the several underwriters, but in no event shall the Common Stock and the
Public Warrants comprising the Units be separately traded until (A) the Company has filed a current report on Form 8-K
with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering,
including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase additional Units
in the Offering (the “
Over-allotment
Option
”), if the Over-allotment Option is exercised
prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (B) the Company issues a press release and files with the Commission a current
report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin.
2.5
Private
Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants
. The Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital
Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants shall be identical to the Public Warrants, except that so long as they are held by the
Sponsor, CF & Co. or any Permitted Transferees (as defined below), as applicable, the Private Placement Warrants, the Working
Capital Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants: (i) may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, pursuant to
subsection
3.3.1(c)
hereof, (ii) may not be transferred, assigned or sold until thirty (30) days after the completion by
the Company of an initial Business Combination (as defined below), and (iii) shall not be redeemable by the Company;
provided
,
however
,
that in the case of (ii), the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants and any
shares of Common Stock held by the Sponsor, CF & Co. or any Permitted Transferees, as applicable, and issued upon exercise
of the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants may be transferred by the holders
thereof:
(a) to the Company’s officers or directors,
any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate of the Sponsor or to any member(s)
of the Sponsor or any of their affiliates, or CF & Co.’s officers, directors and direct and indirect equityholders;
(b) in the case of an individual, by gift
to a member such individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such individual’s
immediate family, an affiliate of such individual or to a charitable organization;
(c) in the case of an individual, by virtue
of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person;
(d) in the case of an individual, pursuant
to a qualified domestic relations order;
(e) by private sales or transfers made in
connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of an initial Business
Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Warrants were originally purchased;
(f) in the event of the Company’s liquidation
prior to consummation of the Company’s Business Combination;
(g) by virtue of the laws of the state of
Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; or
(h) in the event that, subsequent to the consummation
of an initial Business Combination, the Company completes a liquidation, consummates a merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization
or other similar transaction that results in all of the holders of the Company’s equity securities issued in the Offering
having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property;
provided
,
however
, that, in the case of clauses
(a) through (e) or (g), these transferees (the “
Permitted
Transferees
”) enter
into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Agreement.
2.6
Working
Capital Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants
. Each of the Working Capital Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants shall be
identical to the Private Placement Warrants.
3.
Terms and Exercise of Warrants
.
3.1
Warrant
Price
. Each Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement,
to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to
the adjustments provided in
Section 4
hereof and in the last sentence of this
Section 3.1
.
The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share at which shares of Common Stock may
be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior
to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days, provided, that the Company
shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants and,
provided further that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants.
3.2
Duration of Warrants
. A Warrant
may be exercised only during the period (the “
Exercise
Period
”) commencing on the
later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes a merger, capital
stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one
or more businesses (a “
Business
Combination
”), or (ii) the date that is twelve
(12) months from the date of the closing of the Offering, and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier
to occur of: (x) the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination,
(y) the liquidation of the Company, or (z) other than with respect to the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital
Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants, the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in
Section 6.2
hereof
(the
Expiration
Date
”);
provided
,
however
, that the exercise of
any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in
subsection 3.3.2
below
with respect to an effective registration statement. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined
below) (other than with respect to a Private Placement Warrant, a Working Capital Warrant or a Forward Purchase Warrant) in the
event of a redemption (as set forth in
Section 6
hereof), each outstanding Warrant (other than a Private
Placement Warrant, a Working Capital Warrant or a Forward Purchase Warrant in the event of a redemption) not exercised on or before
the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease
at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the
Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date;
provided
, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior
written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall
be identical in duration among all the Warrants.
3.3
Exercise of Warrants
.
3.3.1
Payment
. Subject to the
provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the
Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised,
or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, the Warrants to be exercised (the “
Book-Entry Warrants
”)
on the records of the Depositary to an account of the Warrant Agent at the Depositary designated for such purposes in writing by
the Warrant Agent to the Depositary from time to time, (ii) an election to purchase (“
Election to Purchase
”)
shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse
of the Definitive Warrant Certificate or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, properly delivered by the Participant
in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures, and (iii) payment in full of the Warrant Price for each full share of Common
Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant,
the exchange of the Warrant for the shares of Common Stock and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock, as follows:
(a) in lawful money of the United States,
in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the Warrant Agent;
(b) in the event of a redemption pursuant
to
Section 6
hereof in which the Company’s board of directors (the “
Board
”)
has elected to require all holders of the Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering
the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number
of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the Warrant Price and the “Fair Market
Value”, as defined in this
subsection 3.3.1(b)
by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this
subsection
3.3.1(b)
and
Section 6.3
, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average last sale price
of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption
is sent to the holders of the Warrants, pursuant to
Section 6
hereof;
(c) with respect to any Private Placement
Warrant, Working Capital Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant, so long as such Private Placement Warrant, Working Capital Warrant
or Forward Purchase Warrant is held by the Sponsor, CF & Co. or a Permitted Transferee, as applicable, by surrendering the
Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number
of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the Warrant Price and the “Fair Market
Value”, as defined in this
subsection 3.3.1(c)
, by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this
subsection
3.3.1(c)
, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Common Stock for the ten
(10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to
the Warrant Agent; or
(d) as provided
in
Section 7.4
hereof.
3.3.2
Issuance of Shares of Common
Stock on Exercise
. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the
Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to
subsection 3.3.1(a))
, the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of
such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of full shares of Common Stock to which he, she
or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been
exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of shares of Common Stock
as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. If fewer than all the Warrants evidenced by a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate
are exercised, a notation shall be made to the records maintained by the Depositary, its nominee for each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate,
or a Participant, as appropriate, evidencing the balance of the Warrants remaining after such exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no
obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares
of Common Stock underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company’s
satisfying its obligations under
Section 7.4
. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated
to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Common Stock issuable upon such Warrant exercise has been
registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence
of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied
with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have
no value and expire worthless, in which case the purchaser of a Unit containing such Public Warrants shall have paid the full purchase
price for the Unit solely for the shares of Common Stock underlying such Unit. In no event will the Company be required to net
cash settle the Warrant exercise. The Company may require holders of Public Warrants to settle the Warrant on a “cashless
basis” pursuant to
Section 7.4
. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”,
the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share of
Common Stock, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such
holder.
3.3.3
Valid Issuance
. All shares
of Common Stock issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.
3.3.4
Date of Issuance
. Each person
in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for shares of Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes
be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position
representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such
certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share
transfer books of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become
the holder of such shares of Common Stock at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books
or book-entry system are open.
3.3.5
Maximum Percentage
. A holder
of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this
subsection
3.3.5
;
however
, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this
subsection 3.3.5
unless he,
she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holder’s
Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise,
such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own
in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (as specified by the holder)(the “
Maximum
Percentage
”) of
the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence,
the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being
made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion
of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted
portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation,
any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to
the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership
shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “
Exchange
Act
”).
For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder may rely on the number
of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K,
quarterly report on Form 10-Q, current report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may
be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent
setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder
of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of
shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after
giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date
as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant
may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in
such notice;
provided
,
however
, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st)
day after such notice is delivered to the Company.
4.
Adjustments
.
4.1
Stock Dividends
.
4.1.1
Split-Ups
. If after the
date hereof, and subject to the provisions of
Section 4.6
below, the number of outstanding shares of Common
Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of Common Stock or other similar
event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Common Stock. A rights
offering to holders of the Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Common Stock at a price less than the “Fair
Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product
of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities
sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Common Stock) and (ii) one (1) minus the
quotient of (x) the price per share of Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Fair Market Value.
For purposes of this
subsection 4.1.1
, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable
for Common Stock, in determining the price payable for Common Stock, there shall
be taken into account any consideration received
for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Fair Market Value”
means the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the
trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market,
regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
4.1.2
Extraordinary
Dividends
. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution
in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of the Common Stock on account of such shares of Common Stock (or other shares
of the Company’s capital stock into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in
subsection
4.1.1
above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders
of the Common Stock in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) as a result of the repurchase of shares of
Common Stock by the Company if a proposed Business Combination is presented to the stockholders of the Company for approval, (e) to
satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s
amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem
100% of the public shares of Common Stock if the Company does not complete the Business Combination within the period set forth
in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or (f) in connection with the redemption of public shares
of Common Stock upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution of
its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “
Extraordinary
Dividend
”),
then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the
amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Board, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid
on each share of Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this
subsection 4.1.2
, “
Ordinary
Cash
Dividends
”
means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other
cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such
dividend or distribution (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this
Section 4
and
excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of shares of
Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant) does not exceed $0.50 (being 5% of the offering price of the Units in the Offering).
4.2
Aggregation of Shares
. If
after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of
Section 4.6
hereof, the number of outstanding shares
of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Common Stock
or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or
similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such
decrease in outstanding shares of Common Stock.
4.3
Adjustments in Exercise Price
.
Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in
subsection
4.1.1
or
Section 4.2
above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying
such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares
of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator
of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
4.4
Replacement of Securities upon
Reorganization, etc
. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other
than a change under
subsections 4.1.1
or
4.1.2
or
Section 4.2
hereof or
that solely affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company
with or into another entity or conversion of the Company as another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another entity of the assets or other property of the Company as
an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall
thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants
and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise
of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property
(including cash) receivable upon such
reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the
holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such
event (the “
Alternative
Issuance
” );
provided,
however
, that
in connection with the closing of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, the successor or purchasing entity shall
execute an amendment hereto with the Warrant Agent providing for delivery of such Alternative Issuance;
provided
,
further
,
that (i) if the holders of the Common Stock were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities,
cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets
constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average
of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Common Stock in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively
make such election, and (ii) if a tender, exchange or redemption offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders
of the Common Stock (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights
held by stockholders of the Company as provided for in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or
as a result of the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented
to the stockholders of the Company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer,
the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act
(or any successor rule)) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the
meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) and any members of any such group of which any such
affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor
rule)) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative
Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a
stockholder if such Warrant holder had exercised the Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted
such offer and all of the Common Stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject
to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments
provided for in this
Section 4
;
provided
,
further
, that if less than 70% of the consideration
receivable by the holders of the Common Stock in the applicable event is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity
that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be
so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within
thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) (but in
no event less than zero) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the
Per Share Consideration (as defined below) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The “
Black-Scholes
Warrant
Value
”
means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model
for a Capped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (“
Bloomberg
”). For purposes of calculating
such amount, (1)
Section 6
of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (2) the price of each share
of Common Stock shall be the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day
period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (3) the assumed volatility shall be
the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day
of the announcement of the applicable event, and (4) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury
rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “
Per
Share
Consideration
”
means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Common Stock consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per
share of Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during
the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification
or reorganization also results in a change in shares of Common Stock covered by
subsection 4.1.1
, then such adjustment
shall be made pursuant to
subsection 4.1.1
or
Sections 4.2
,
4.3
and this
Section 4.4
.
The provisions of this
Section 4.4
shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations,
mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event will the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per
share issuable upon exercise of the Warrant.
4.5
Notices of Changes in Warrant
.
Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company
shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment
and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a
Warrant, setting forth in
reasonable detail the method of calculation
and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in
Sections 4.1
,
4.2
,
4.3
or
4.4
,
the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth
for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or
any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.
4.6
No Fractional Shares
. Notwithstanding
any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon the
exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this
Section 4
, the holder of any Warrant
would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such
exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.
4.7
Form of Warrant
. The
form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this
Section 4
, and Warrants issued
after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares of Common Stock as is stated in the Warrants
initially issued pursuant to this Agreement;
provided
,
however
, that the Company may at any time in its
sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance
thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or
otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.
4.8
Other
Events
. In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of preceding subsections of
this
Section 4
are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants
in order to (i) avoid an adverse impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this
Section 4
,
then, in each such case, the Company shall appoint a firm of independent public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal
firm of recognized national standing, which shall give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented
by the Warrants is necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of this
Section 4
and, if they determine
that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such adjustment. The Company shall adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that
is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion.
5.
Transfer and Exchange of Warrants
.
5.1
Registration of Transfer
.
The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender
of such Warrant for transfer, in the case of certificated Warrants, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied
by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants
shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated Warrants, the Warrants
so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.
5.2
Procedure for Surrender of Warrants
.
Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant
Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered,
representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants;
provided
,
however
, that except as otherwise provided
herein or in any Book-Entry Warrant Certificate or Definitive Warrant Certificate, each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate and Definitive
Warrant Certificate may be transferred only in whole and only to the Depositary, to another nominee of the Depositary, to a successor
depository, or to a nominee of a successor depository;
provided
further
,
however
, that in the
event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants, the
Working Capital Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants), the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants
in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be
made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.
5.3
Fractional Warrants
. The Warrant
Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant
certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a warrant.
5.4
Service Charges
. No service
charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.
5.5
Warrant Execution and Countersignature
.
The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants
required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 5
, and the Company, whenever required by the
Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.
5.6
Transfer of Warrants
. Prior
to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrant is
included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore, each
transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the provisions of this
Section 5.6
shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on and
after the Detachment Date.
6.
Redemption
.
6.1
Redemption
.
Subject to
Section 6.4
hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option
of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon
notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in
Section 6.2
below, at the price of $0.01
per Warrant (the
“
Redemption
Price
”
), provided that the last sales price
of the Common Stock reported has been at least $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with
Section 4
hereof),
on each of twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third Business Day prior
to the date on which notice of the redemption is given and provided that there is an effective registration statement covering
the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout
the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in
Section 6.2
below) or the Company has elected to require the
exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to
subsection 3.3.1
; provided, however, that if
and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may not exercise such redemption right if the issuance
of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable
state blue sky laws or the Company is unable to effect such registration or qualification.
6.2
Date Fixed for, and Notice of,
Redemption
. In the event that the Company elects to redeem all of the Warrants, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption
(the “
Redemption
Date
”). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date (the “
30-day
Redemption
Period
”)
to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books.
Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered
Holder received such notice.
6.3
Exercise After Notice of Redemption
.
The Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with
subsection 3.3.1(b)
of
this Agreement) at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to
Section 6.2
hereof
and prior to the Redemption Date. In the event that the Company determines to require all holders of Warrants to exercise their
Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to
subsection 3.3.1
, the notice of redemption shall contain the
information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the Warrants, including
the “Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in
subsection 3.3.1(b)
hereof) in such case. On and
after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of
the Warrants, the Redemption Price.
6.4
Exclusion of Private Placement
Warrants, Working Capital Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants
. The Company agrees that the redemption rights provided in
this
Section 6
shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants or the Forward
Purchase Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants or Forward Purchase
Warrants continue to be held by the Sponsor, CF & Co. or any Permitted Transferees, as applicable. However, once such
Private Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants are transferred (other than to Permitted Transferees
under
Section 2.5
), the Company may redeem the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants and the
Forward Purchase Warrants, provided that the criteria for redemption are met, including the opportunity of the holder of such Private
Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants or Forward Purchase
Warrants to exercise the Private Placement
Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants prior to redemption pursuant to
Section 6.3
.
Private Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants that are transferred to persons other than Permitted
Transferees shall upon such transfer cease to be Private Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants
and shall become Public Warrants under this Agreement.
7.
Other Provisions Relating to Rights
of Holders of Warrants
.
7.1
No Rights as Stockholder
.
A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without
limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to
receive notice as stockholders in respect of the meetings of stockholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other
matter.
7.2
Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed
Warrants
. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to
indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender
thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any
such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen,
mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
7.3
Reservation
of Common Stock
. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of
Common Stock that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.
7.4
Registration of Common Stock;
Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option
.
7.4.1
Registration of the Common Stock
.
The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the closing of
its initial Business Combination, it shall use its best efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration,
under the Securities Act, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its best
efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus
relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration
statement has not been declared effective by the 60th Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of
the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the 61st Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination
and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company
shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of
the Securities Act (or any successor rule) or another exemption) for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient
obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference
between the Warrant Price and the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely
for purposes of this
subsection 7.4.1
, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average price
of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date that notice
of exercise is received by the Warrant Agent from the holder of such Warrants or its securities broker or intermediary. The date
that notice of cashless exercise is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection
with the “cashless exercise” of a Public Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an
opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the
exercise of the Warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with this
subsection 7.4.1
is not required to be registered
under the Securities Act and (ii) the shares of Common Stock issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United
States federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities
Act (or any successor rule)) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided
in
subsection 7.4.2
, for the avoidance of any doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have
expired, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences
of this
subsection 7.4.1
.
7.4.2
Cashless Exercise at Company’s
Option
. If the Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that
it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act (or any
successor rule), the Company may, at its option, (i) require holders of Public Warrants who exercise Public Warrants to exercise
such Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any
successor rule) as described in
subsection 7.4.1
and (ii) in the event the Company so elects, the Company
shall not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of
the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary. If the Company
does not elect at the time of exercise to require a holder of Public Warrants who exercises Public Warrants to exercise such Public
Warrants on a “cashless basis,” it agrees to use its best efforts to register or qualify for sale the Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrant under the blue sky laws of the state of residence of the exercising Public Warrant
holder to the extent an exemption is not available.
8.
Concerning the Warrant Agent and
Other Matters
.
8.1
Payment of Taxes
. The Company
shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect
of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated
to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares of Common Stock.
8.2
Resignation, Consolidation, or
Merger of Warrant Agent
.
8.2.1
Appointment
of Successor Warrant Agent
. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged
from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If
the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing
a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of
thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder
of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may
apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent
at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough
of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision
or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority,
powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as
Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor
Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent
all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent
the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting
in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.
8.2.2
Notice of Successor Warrant
Agent
. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor
Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
8.2.3
Merger or Consolidation of Warrant
Agent
. Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting
from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement
without any further act.
8.3
Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent
.
8.3.1
Remuneration
. The Company
agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to
its obligations under this Agreement,
reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for
all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.
8.3.2
Further Assurances
. The
Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all
such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out
or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4
Liability of Warrant Agent
.
8.4.1
Reliance on Company Statement
.
Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any
fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by
a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Executive Vice President, Vice President,
Secretary or Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement
for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4.2
Indemnity
. The Warrant Agent
shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the
Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for
anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s
gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
8.4.3
Exclusions
.
The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or
execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible
to make any adjustments required under the provisions of
Section 4
hereof or responsible for the manner,
method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment;
nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any
shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock shall,
when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.
8.5
Acceptance of Agency
. The
Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions
herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently
account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Common Stock through
the exercise of the Warrants.
8.6
Waiver
. The Warrant Agent
has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“
Claim
”) in, or to
any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date
hereof, by and between the Company and the Warrant Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement,
payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any
and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.
9.
Miscellaneous Provisions
.
9.1
Successors
. All the covenants
and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit
of their respective successors and assigns.
9.2
Notices
. Any notice, statement
or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company
shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier
service within five (5) days after
deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed
(until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Jason Mudrick
Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so
delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after
deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company),
as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attention: Compliance Department
9.3
Applicable Law
. The validity,
interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State
of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws
of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in
any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The
Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
9.4
Persons
Having Rights under this Agreement
. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or
corporation other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason
of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations,
promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their
successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.
9.5
Examination of the Warrant Agreement
.
A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan,
City and State of New York, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder
to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.
9.6
Counterparts
. This Agreement
may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
9.7
Effect of Headings
. The section
headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
9.8
Amendments
. This Agreement
may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder (i) for the purpose of curing any ambiguity,
or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with
respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties
deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Registered Holders, and (ii) to provide for the delivery of Alternative
Issuance pursuant to Section 4.4. All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price
or shorten the Exercise Period and any amendment to the terms of only the Private Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants
or Forward Purchase Warrants, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then outstanding
Public Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the
Warrant Price or extend the duration of the
Exercise Period pursuant to
Sections 3.1
and
3.2
, respectively, without the consent of the Registered
Holders.
9.9
Severability
. This Agreement
shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity
or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable
term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms
to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
[
Signature Page Follows
]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have
caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name:
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Jason Mudrick
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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[
Signature Page to Warrant Agreement
]
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[FACE]
Number
Warrants
THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED
PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED
FOR
IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
Incorporated
Under
the
Laws
of
the
State
of
Delaware
CUSIP [
∙
]
Warrant Certificate
This
Warrant
Certificate
certifies
that
,
or registered assigns, is the registered holder of warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the “
Warrants
” and
each, a “
Warrant
”) to purchase shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“
Common
Stock
”),
of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “
Company
”). Each Warrant
entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the
Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “
Exercise
Price
”)
as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “
cashless
exercise
”
as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment
of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein
and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Warrant Agreement.
Each Warrant is initially exercisable for one
fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If,
upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company
will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder.
The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain
events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
The initial Exercise Price per share of Common
Stock for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain
events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the conditions set forth in the
Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of
such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions
of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect
as though fully set forth at this place.
This Warrant
Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.
This Warrant Certificate shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles
thereof.
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
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[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[Reverse]
The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate
are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive shares of Common Stock and are issued
or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of ,
2018 (the “
Warrant
Agreement
”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “
Warrant
Agent
”),
which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for
a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company
and the holders (the words “
holders
” or “
holder
” meaning the Registered Holders
or Registered Holder) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request
to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them
in the Warrant Agreement.
Warrants may be exercised at any time during
the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise
them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of election to purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed,
together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as
provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon
any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced
hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number
of Warrants not exercised.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant
Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement
covering the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus
thereunder relating to the shares of Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in
the Warrant Agreement.
The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the
occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face
hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled
to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole
number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.
Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the
principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or
attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement,
but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in
the aggregate a like number of Warrants.
Upon due presentation for registration of transfer
of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor
and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant
Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental
charge imposed in connection therewith.
The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem
and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation
of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof,
and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither
the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a stockholder of the Company.
Election to Purchase
(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to
exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive
shares of Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Common Stock to the order of Mudrick Capital Acquisition
Corporation (the
“Company”
) in the amount of $ in accordance
with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name
of , whose address is
and that such shares of Common Stock be delivered to
whose address is . If
said number of shares of Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests
that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of ,
whose address is
and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to ,
whose address is .
In the event that the Warrant has been called
for redemption by the Company pursuant to
Section 6
of the Warrant Agreement and the Company has required
cashless exercise pursuant to
Section 6.3
of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock
that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with
subsection 3.3.1(b)
and
Section 6.3
of
the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant is a Private
Placement Warrant, Working Capital Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis
pursuant to
subsection 3.3.1(c)
of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this
Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with
subsection 3.3.1(c)
of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised
on a “cashless” basis pursuant to
Section 7.4
of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares
of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with
Section 7.4
of
the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant may be exercised,
to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that this
Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for
such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects
to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement,
to receive shares of Common Stock. If said number of shares is less than all of the shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder
(after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining
balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of ,
whose address is
and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to ,
whose address is .
[
Signature Page Follows
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Date: ,
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(Signature)
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(Address)
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(Tax Identification Number)
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Signature Guaranteed:
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THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR
INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)).
EXHIBIT B
LEGEND
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED
OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS
OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE
LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION
HOLDINGS LLC AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED
PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION
(AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2
OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.
SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND SHARES OF CLASS A
COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.”
Exhibit 10.1
[____], 2018
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10022
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Re:
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Initial
Public Offering
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (this “
Letter
Agreement
”)
is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “
Underwriting
Agreement
”)
entered into by and among Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “
Company
”),
and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. as representative (the “
Representative
”) of the several underwriters
(each, an “
Underwriter
” and collectively, the “
Underwriters
”), relating to
an underwritten initial public offering (the “
Public
Offering
”), of 23,000,000 of
the Company’s units (including up to 3,000,000 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “
Units
”),
each comprised of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “
Common
Stock
”),
and one redeemable warrant. Each Warrant (each, a “
Warrant
”) entitles the holder thereof to purchase
one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units will be sold in the Public Offering
pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus (the “
Prospectus
”) filed by the Company
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “
Commission
”) and the Company has applied to have
the Units listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 12 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into
the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC (the “
Sponsor
”)
and the undersigned individuals, each of whom is a member of the Company’s board of directors and/or management team (each,
an “
Insider
” and collectively, the “
Insiders
”), hereby agrees with the Company
as follows:
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1.
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The
Sponsor and each Insider agrees that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection
with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any shares of Capital Stock owned by it, him or her in favor
of any proposed Business Combination and (ii) not redeem any shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her in connection with
such stockholder approval.
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2.
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The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, or such later period approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “
Charter
”), the Sponsor and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering (the “
Offering
Shares
”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (as defined below), including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. The Sponsor and each Insider agrees to not propose any amendment to the Charter to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, unless the Company provides its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Common Stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the
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aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.
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The Sponsor and each Insider acknowledges that it, he
or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the
Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares held by it, him or her. The Sponsor and
each Insider hereby further waives, with respect to any shares of Common Stock held by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights
it, he or she may have in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, including, without limitation, any such rights
available in the context of a stockholder vote to approve such Business Combination or a stockholder vote to approve an amendment
to the Charter to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the
Company has not consummated a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter or in the context of a tender
offer made by the Company to purchase shares of Common Stock (although the Sponsor, the Insiders and their respective affiliates
shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails
to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the date of the closing of the Public Offering).
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3.
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During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Sponsor and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Units, shares of Common Stock, Founder Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, shares of Common Stock, Founder Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii). Each of the Insiders and the Sponsor acknowledges and agrees that, prior to the effective date of any release or waiver, of the restrictions set forth in this paragraph 3 or paragraph 7 below, the Company shall announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
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4.
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In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account upon the failure of the Company to consummate its initial Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter, the Sponsor (the “
Indemnitor
”) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company or (ii) any prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or Business Combination agreement (a “
Target
”);
provided
,
however
, that such indemnification of the Company by the Indemnitor shall (x) apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.10 per Offering Share and (ii) the actual amount per Offering Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.10 per Offering Share is then held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less interest earned on the Trust Account which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, (y) shall not apply to any claims by a third party or a Target which executed a
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waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) and (z) shall not apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Indemnitor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Indemnitor, the Indemnitor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense.
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5.
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To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees to forfeit, at no cost, a number of Founder Shares in the aggregate equal to 750,000 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 3,000,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 3,000,000. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriters so that the Initial Stockholders will own an aggregate of 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock after the Public Offering. For purposes of clarification, nothing in this paragraph will impact the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchased by the Sponsor as part of the Forward Purchase Contract (defined below).
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6.
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(a) The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees not to participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of, any other any other blank check company such as the Company until the Company has entered into a definitive agreement regarding an initial Business Combination or unless the Company has failed to complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter.
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(b) The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees and acknowledges
that: (i) the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such Sponsor or an Insider
of its, his or her obligations under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6(a), 7(a), 7(b), and 9, as applicable, of this Letter Agreement
(ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive
relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.
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7.
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(a) The Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Founder Shares (or shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof) until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property (the “
Founder
Shares
Lock-up
Period
”).
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(b) The Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or
she shall not Transfer any Private Placement Warrants (or shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private
Placement Warrants), until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination (the “
Private
Placement
Warrants
Lock-up
Period
”,
together with the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the “
Lock-up
Periods
”).
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs
7(a) and (b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the
exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants or the Founder Shares and that are held by the Sponsor, any Insider or
any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 7(c)), are permitted (a) to the Company’s officers
or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors or any affiliate of the Sponsor
or to any member(s) of the Sponsor or any of their affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of such individual’s
immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such individual’s immediate family, an affiliate
of such individual or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution
upon death of such individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private
sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar
arrangement or in connection with the consummation of
an initial Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares or warrants were originally purchased;
(f) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of an initial Business Combination; (g) by virtue of
the laws of the State of Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; or
(h) in the event the Company consummates a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction
that results in all of its stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other
property subsequent to the Company’s completion of an initial Business Combination;
provided
,
however
, that
in the case of clauses (a) through (e) or (g), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company
agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions herein.
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8.
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The Sponsor and each Insider represents and warrants that it, he or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to the Insider’s background. Each Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. Each Insider represents and warrants that: it, he or she is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; it, he or she has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it, he or she is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.
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9.
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The Sponsor agrees to enter into a forward purchase contract (the
“
Forward Purchase Contract
”) to purchase at least 2,500,000 Units and 625,000 shares of Common Stock
at a price per Unit of $10.00 per Unit, in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (the “
Private
Placement
”). The Private Placement will be completed concurrently with the completion of the initial Business Combination.
Neither the Company nor the Sponsor may waive the obligation of the undersigned to complete the Private Placement in accordance
with this
Section 9
pursuant to the terms of the Forward Purchase Contract.
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10.
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Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any officer, nor any affiliate of the Sponsor or any officer, nor any director of the Company, shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is), other than the following, none of which will be made from the proceeds held in the Trust Account prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination: repayment of a loan and advances up to an aggregate of $300,000 made to the Company by the Sponsor; payment to an affiliate of the Sponsor for certain office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support as may be reasonably required by the Company for a total of $10,000 per month; reimbursement for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and consummating an initial Business Combination, and repayment of loans, if any, and on such terms as to be determined by the Company from time to time, made by the Sponsor or any of the Company’s officers or directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, provided, that, if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination, a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account may be used by the Company to repay such loaned amounts so long as no proceeds from the Trust Account are used for such repayment. 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.
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11.
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The Sponsor and each Insider has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and, as applicable, to serve as a director on the
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board of directors of the Company and hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as a director of the Company.
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12.
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As used herein, (i) “
Business
Combination
” shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “
Capital
Stock
” shall mean, collectively, the Common Stock and the Founder Shares; (iii) “
Founder
Shares
” shall mean (a) the 5,750,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, initially issued to the Sponsor (up to 750,000 Shares of which are subject to complete or partial forfeiture by the Sponsor if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the Underwriters) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or $0.004 per share, prior to the consummation of the Public Offering; (iv) “
Initial
Stockholders
” shall mean the Sponsor and any Insider that holds Founder Shares; (v) “
Private
Placement
Warrants
” shall mean the Warrants to purchase up to 7,500,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company (or 8,400,000 shares of Common Stock if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) that the Sponsor and the Representative have agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000 in the aggregate (or $8,400,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $1.00 per Warrant, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering; (vi) “
Public
Stockholders
” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (vii) “
Trust
Account
” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering shall be deposited; and (viii) “
Transfer
” shall mean the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).
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13.
|
The Company will maintain an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and each Director shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any of the Company’s directors or officers.
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14.
|
This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
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15.
|
No party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.
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16.
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Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.
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17.
|
This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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18.
|
This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
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19.
|
This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
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20.
|
Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile transmission.
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21.
|
This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods or (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by March 31, 2018; provided further that paragraph 4 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation.
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[
Signature Page Follows
]
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Sincerely,
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISTION HOLDINGS LLC
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By:
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Name: Jason Mudrick
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Title: Manager
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Acknowledged and Agreed:
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name: Jason Mudrick
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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[
Signature Page to Letter Agreement
]
Exhibit 10.3
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this
“
Agreement
”) is made effective as of [___], 2018, by and between Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation,
a Delaware corporation (the “
Company
”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New
York corporation (the “
Trustee
”).
WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement
on Form S-1, File No. 333-222562 (the “
Registration
Statement
”) and prospectus
(the “
Prospectus
”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “
Units
”),
each of which consists of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “
Common
Stock
”), and one redeemable warrant, each warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock
(such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “
Offering
”), has been declared effective
as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting
Agreement (the “
Underwriting
Agreement
”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. as representative
(the “
Representative
”) of the several underwriters (the “
Underwriters
”) named
therein; and
WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, $202,000,000
of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or
$232,300,000, if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited
and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “
Trust
Account
”)
for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Common Stock included in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter
provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the
“
Property,
” the stockholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to
as the “
Public
Stockholders,
” and the Public Stockholders and the Company will be
referred to together as the “
Beneficiaries
”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement,
a portion of the Property equal to $7,000,000, or $8,050,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full,
is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that will be payable by the Company to the Underwriters upon
and concurrently with the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below) (the “
Deferred
Discount
”);
and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire
to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
1.
Agreements and Covenants of Trustee
. The
Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee in the United States at J.P. Morgan
Chase Bank, N.A. and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company;
(b) Manage, supervise and administer the Trust
Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
(c) In a timely manner, upon the written instruction
of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property solely in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16)
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 180 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the
conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined
by the Company; it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the
Company’s instructions hereunder;
(d) Collect and receive, when due, all interest
or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “
Property,
” as such term is
used herein;
(e) Promptly notify the Company and the Representative
of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;
(f) Supply any necessary information or documents
as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of the tax returns
relating to assets held in the Trust Account;
(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding
for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;
(h) Render to the Company monthly written
statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;
(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account
only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (“
Termination
Letter
”)
in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either
Exhibit A
or
Exhibit B
,
as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Executive Vice
President, Vice President, Secretary or Chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the “
Board
”)
or other authorized officer of the Company, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the
Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000
of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the
other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is, the later of (1) 24 months after the closing of the Offering
and (2) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended
and restated certificate of incorporation if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which
case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as
Exhibit B
and
the Property in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes
(less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses) shall be distributed to the Public
Stockholders of record as of such date; and
provided
,
however
, that in the event the Trustee receives
a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to
Exhibit B
hereto, or if the Trustee begins to liquidate
the Property because it has received no such Termination Letter by the date specified in clause (y) of this Section 1(i),
the Trustee shall keep the Trust Account open until twelve (12) months following the date the Property has been distributed
to the Public Stockholders.
(j) Upon written request from the Company,
which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as
Exhibit C
, withdraw
from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to
cover any income or franchise tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or other income
earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of
prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority;
provided
,
however
,
that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such
assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution, so long as there is
no reduction in the principal amount initially deposited in the Trust Account;
provided
,
further
, that
if the tax to be paid is a franchise tax, the written request by the Company to make such distribution shall be accompanied by
a copy of the franchise tax bill from the State of Delaware for the Company and a written statement from the principal financial
officer of the Company setting forth the actual amount payable (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess
of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced
above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility
to look beyond said request;
(k) Upon written request from the Company,
which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as
Exhibit D
, the Trustee shall
distribute on behalf of the Company the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem shares of Common Stock from Public
Stockholders properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and
restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its
public shares of Common Stock if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described
in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The written request of the Company referenced above shall
constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to distribute said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility
to look beyond said request; and
(l) Not make any withdrawals or distributions
from the Trust Account other than pursuant to
Section 1(i)
,
(j)
or (k) above.
2.
Agreements and Covenants of the
Company
. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder
in writing, signed by the Company’s Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Executive
Vice President, Vice President or Secretary. In addition, except with respect to its duties under
Sections 1(i)
,
1(j)
and
1(k)
hereof,
the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction
which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written
instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;
(b) Subject to
Section 4
hereof,
hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and
disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any
action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which
in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned
on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct.
Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant
to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this
Section 2(b)
, it shall notify the Company in writing
of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “
Indemnified
Claim
”). The Trustee shall
have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim;
provided
that the Trustee shall
obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The
Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which such consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;
(c) Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on
Schedule A
hereto,
including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing fee which fees shall be subject to modification
by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until
it is distributed to the Company pursuant to
Sections 1(i)
through
1(j)
hereof. The Company
shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Offering. The
Trustee shall refund to the Company the annual administration fee (on a pro rata basis) with respect to any period after the liquidation
of the Trust Account. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in
this
Section 2(c)
,
Schedule A
and as may be provided in
Section 2(b)
hereof;
(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s
stockholders regarding a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business
combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (the “
Business
Combination
”),
provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the stockholder meeting verifying the vote
of such stockholders regarding such Business Combination;
(e) Provide the Representative with a copy
of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal
from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;
(f) Unless otherwise agreed between the Company
and the Representative, ensure that any Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A) delivered in connection with a Termination
Letter in the form of Exhibit A expressly provides that the Deferred Discount is paid directly to the account or accounts directed
by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters prior to any transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account to the Company
or any other person;
(g) Instruct the Trustee to make only those
distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any distributions that
are not permitted under this Agreement; and
(h) Within four (4) business days after
the Underwriters exercise the over-allotment option (or any unexercised portion thereof) or such over-allotment expires, provide
the Trustee with a notice in writing of the total amount of the Deferred Discount, which shall in no event be less than $7,000,000.
3.
Limitations of Liability
. The
Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:
(a) Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire
or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that which is expressly set
forth herein;
(b) Take any action with respect to the Property,
other than as directed in
Section 1
hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any third party except
for liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;
(c) Institute any proceeding for the collection
of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of
the Property unless and until it shall have received instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company
shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;
(d) Refund any depreciation in principal of
any Property;
(e) Assume that the authority of any person
designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation,
or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;
(f) The other parties hereto or to anyone
else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustee’s
best judgment, except for the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively
and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen
by the Trustee, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not
only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of
any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be
signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification,
termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the
Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its
prior written consent thereto;
(g) Verify the accuracy of the information
contained in the Registration Statement;
(h) Provide any assurance that any Business
Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;
(i) File information returns with respect
to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the Company documenting
the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;
(j) Prepare, execute and file tax reports,
income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account,
regardless of whether such tax is payable by
the Trust Account or the Company, including,
but not limited to, franchise and income tax obligations, except pursuant to
Section 1(j)
hereof; or
(k) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise
approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to
Sections 1(i)
,
1(j)
or
1(k)
hereof.
4.
Trust Account Waiver
. The
Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“
Claim
”) to, or to
any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may
have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without
limitation, under
Section 2(b)
or
Section 2(c)
hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such
Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust
Account.
5.
Termination
. This Agreement
shall terminate as follows:
(a) If the Trustee gives written notice to
the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor
trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies
the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee
shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies
of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate;
provided
,
however
,
that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation
notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New
York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be
immune from any liability whatsoever; or
(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed
the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1(i)
hereof
(which section may not be amended under any circumstances) and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the
Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to
Section 2(b)
.
6.
Miscellaneous
.
(a) The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge
that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account.
The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized
persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained
access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee
shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other identifying
information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the
Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense
resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles
that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. This Agreement may be executed in several
original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement
and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement or any provision hereof may only
be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
(d) This Agreement or any provision hereof
may only be changed, amended or modified pursuant to
Section 6(c)
hereof with the Consent of the Stockholders.
For purposes of this
Section 6(d)
, the “
Consent
of
the
Stockholders
”
means receipt by the Trustee of a certificate from the inspector of elections of the stockholder meeting certifying that the Company’s
stockholders of record as of a record date established in
accordance with Section 213(a) of
the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (“
DGCL
”) (or any successor rule), who hold sixty-five
percent (65%) or more of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock and Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share,
of the Company voting together as a single class, have voted in favor of such change, amendment or modification. No such amendment
will affect any Public Stockholder who has otherwise indicated his election to redeem his shares of Common Stock in connection
with a stockholder vote sought to amend this Agreement to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem
100% of the Common Stock if the Company does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time frame specified in the
Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s
gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee may rely conclusively on the certification from the inspector or elections
referenced above and shall be relieved of all liability to any party for executing the proposed amendment in reliance thereon.
(e) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction
and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving any disputes
hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL
BY JURY.
(f) Any notice, consent or request to be given
in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar
private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or by electronic mail:
if to the Trustee, to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attn: Steven G. Nelson
Sharmin Carter
if to the Company, to:
Mudrick Acquisition Corporation
527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Glenn Springer, Chief Financial Officer
in each case, with copies to:
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10105
Attn: Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.
Email: sneuhauser@egsllp.com
and
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
110 E 59th St #4
New York, NY 10022
Attn: General Counsel
Fax No.: (212) 829-4708
and
Winston & Strawn LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166
Attn: Joel L. Rubinstein, Esq.
Email: JRubinstein@winston.com
(g) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby
represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective
obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against
the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.
(h) This Agreement is the joint product of
the Trustee and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of
such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
(i) This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one
and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute
valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
(j) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby
acknowledges and agrees that Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. on behalf of the Underwriters is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
(k) Except as specified herein, no party to
this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.
[
Signature Page Follows
]
IN
WITNESS
WHEREOF
,
the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
, as Trustee
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By:
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Name: Francis E. Wolf, Jr.
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Title: Vice President
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name: Jason Mudrick
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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[
Signature Page to Investment Management
Trust Agreement
]
SCHEDULE A
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Fee Item
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Time and method of payment
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Amount
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Initial set-up fee.
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Initial closing of Offering by wire transfer.
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$
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2,000
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Trustee administration fee
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Payable annually. First year fee payable, at initial closing of Offering by wire transfer, thereafter by wire transfer or check.
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$
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10,000
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Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under
Sections 1(i)
and
(j)
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Deduction by Trustee from accumulated income following disbursement made to Company under
Section 1
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$
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250
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Paying Agent services as required pursuant to
Section 1(i)
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Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to
Section 1(i)
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Prevailing rates
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EXHIBIT A
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
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Re:
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Trust
Account No. Termination Letter
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment
Management Trust Agreement between Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (the “
Company
”) and Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “
Trustee
”), dated as of [____], 2018 (the “
Trust
Agreement
”),
this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with
(the “
Target Business
”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (the “
Business
Combination
”)
on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the actual date
of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “
Consummation
Date
”). Capitalized
terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement,
we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account on [insert date], and to transfer the proceeds
to a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds
held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on
the Consummation Date (including as directed to it by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters (with respect to the Deferred
Discount)). It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust checking account at J.P. Morgan
Chase Bank, N.A. awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends.
On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for
the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated
concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “
Notification
”)
and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer, which verifies that the Business
Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s stockholders, if a vote is held and (b) a joint written instruction
signed by the Company and the Representative with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment
of amounts owed to public stockholders who have properly exercised their redemption rights and payment of the Deferred Discount
to the Representative from the Trust Account (the “
Instruction
Letter
”). You
are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification
and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held
in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of
the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after
the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable
unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
In the event that the Business Combination
is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original
Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds
held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately
following the Consummation Date as set forth in such notice as soon thereafter as possible.
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Very truly yours,
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Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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cc:
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Cantor
Fitzgerald & Co.
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EXHIBIT B
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
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Re:
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Trust Account No. Termination Letter
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment
Management Trust Agreement between Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (the “
Company
”) and Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “
Trustee
”), dated as of [____], 2018 (the “
Trust
Agreement
”),
this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a business combination with a Target Business (the “
Business
Combination
”)
within the time frame specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as described in the Company’s
Prospectus relating to the Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the
Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement,
we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account on ,
20 and to transfer the total proceeds into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries
to await distribution to the Public Stockholders. The Company has selected
(1)
as
the record date for the purpose of determining the Public Stockholders entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. You
agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly
to the Company’s Public Stockholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed
expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the
extent otherwise provided in
Section 1(j)
of the Trust Agreement.
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(1)
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24
months from the closing of the Offering.
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Very truly yours,
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Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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cc:
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Cantor
Fitzgerald & Co.
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EXHIBIT C
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Re:
Trust Account No.
Withdrawal Instruction
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to
Section 1(j)
of
the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (the “
Company
”)
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “
Trustee
”), dated as of [______], 2018 (the
“
Trust
Agreement
”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $
of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay for the
tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement,
you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to
the Company’s operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
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Very truly yours,
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Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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cc:
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Cantor
Fitzgerald & Co.
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EXHIBIT D
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
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Re:
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Trust
Account No. Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction
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Gentlemen:
Pursuant to
Section 1(k)
of
the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (the “
Company
”)
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “
Trustee
”), dated as of [_____], 2018 (the
“
Trust
Agreement
”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the redeeming
Public Stockholders of the Company $ of the principal and interest income earned
on the Property as of the date hereof to a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries. Capitalized terms used
but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay its Public
Stockholders who have properly elected to have their shares of Common Stock redeemed by the Company in connection with a shareholder
vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or
timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of public shares of Common Stock if the Company has not consummated an
initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
As such, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter
to a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries.
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Very truly yours,
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Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Cc:
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Cantor
Fitzgerald & Co.
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Exhibit 10.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “
Agreement
”),
dated as of [____], 2018, is made and entered into by and between Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the “
Company
”), Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
“
Sponsor
”), and each of the undersigned individuals (together with the Sponsor and any person or entity
who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to
Section 5.2
of this Agreement, a “
Holder
”
and collectively the “
Holders
”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS
, the Company and the Sponsor
have entered into that certain Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2017, pursuant to which the Sponsor
purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares (the “
Initial Founder
Shares
”) of the Company’s
Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, up to 750,000 of which will be forfeited to the Company for no consideration
depending on the extent to which the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering exercise their over-allotment
option (the “
Class B
Common
Stock
”);
WHEREAS
, the Founder Shares are convertible
into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the
“
Common
Stock
”),
on the terms and conditions provided in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation;
WHEREAS
, on January 15, 2018, the Company
and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to
purchase 6,500,000 warrants (or up to 7,250,000 warrants if the over-allotment option in connection with the Company’s initial
public offering is exercised in full) (the “
Sponsor Private
Placement
Warrants
”),
in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering; and
WHEREAS
, on January 16, 2018, the Company
and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“
CF & Co.
”) entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants
Purchase Agreement (the “
CF & Co. Private
Placement
Warrant Purchase Agreement
”),
pursuant to which CF & Co. agreed to purchase 1,000,000 warrants (or up to 1,150,000 warrants if the over-allotment option
in connection with the Company’s initial public offering is exercised in full) (collectively with the Sponsor Private Placement
Warrants, the “
Private Placement Warrants
”), in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously
with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering; and
WHEREAS
, on January 24, 2018, the
Company entered into that certain Forward Purchase Contract, with the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to
purchase (i) 2,500,000 units (the “
Forward Purchase Units
”), each such unit comprised of one share
of Class A Common Stock and one warrant, and (ii) 625,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “
Forward Purchase
Founder Shares
” and together with the Initial Founder Shares, the “
Founder Shares
”);
and
WHEREAS
, the Company and the Holders
desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect
to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW
,
THEREFORE
, in consideration
of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1
Definitions
. The terms defined
in this
Article I
shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth
below:
“
Adverse
Disclosure
”
shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief
Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company,
after consultation with counsel to the Company,
(i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement
or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were
not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“
Agreement
” shall
have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“
Board
” shall mean
the Board of Directors of the Company.
“
Business
Combination
”
shall mean any merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination
with one or more businesses, involving the Company.
“
CF & Co.
” shall
have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“
CF & Co. Private Placement
Warrant Purchase Agreement
” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“
Commission
” shall
mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“
Common
Stock
”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“
Company
” shall have
the meaning given in the Preamble.
“
Demand
Registration
”
shall have the meaning given in
subsection 2.1.1
.
“
Demanding
Holder
”
shall have the meaning given in
subsection 2.1.1
.
“
Exchange
Act
”
shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
“
Form S-1
” shall
have the meaning given in
subsection 2.1.1
.
“
Form S-3
” shall
have the meaning given in
subsection 2.3
.
“
Forward Purchase Units
”
shall have the meaning given in the recitals hereto.
“
Forward Purchase Founder Shares
”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“
Founder
Shares
Lock-up
Period
”
shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period ending on the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the
Company’s initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price
of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations
and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial
Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization
or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares
of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property.
“
Holders
” shall have
the meaning given in the Preamble.
“
Initial Founder Shares
”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto and shall be deemed to include the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
thereof.
“
Insider
Letter
”
shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of [_____], 2018, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and each of the Company’s
officers, directors and director nominees.
“
Maximum
Number
of
Securities
”
shall have the meaning given in
subsection 2.1.4
.
“
Misstatement
” shall
mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement
or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made) not misleading.
“
Permitted
Transferees
”
shall mean any person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities
prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, under the
Insider Letter, the CF & Co. Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, this Agreement and any other applicable agreement
between such Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter.
“
Piggyback
Registration
”
shall have the meaning given in
subsection 2.2.1
.
“
Private
Placement
Lock-up
Period
”
shall mean, with respect to Private Placement Warrants that are held by the initial purchasers of such Private Placement Warrants
or their Permitted Transferees, and any of the Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement
Warrants and that are held by the initial purchasers of the Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the period
ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
“
Private
Placement
Warrants
”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“
Prospectus
” shall
mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended
by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“
Registrable
Security
”
shall mean (a) the Founder Shares and the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of any Initial Founder
Shares, (b) the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of the Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise
of any such Private Placement Warrants), (c) the Forward Purchase Units (including any shares of Common Stock included in such
Forward Purchase Units, any warrants included in such Forward Purchase Units and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable
upon the exercise of the warrants included in such Forward Purchase Units), (d) any outstanding share of the Common Stock
or any other equity security (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security)
of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement, (e) any equity securities (including the shares of the Common
Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such equity security) of the Company issuable upon conversion of any working
capital loans in an amount up to $1,500,000 made to the Company by a Holder, and (f) any other equity security of the Company
issued or issuable with respect to any such share of the Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection
with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization;
provided
,
however
,
that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration
Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities
shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities
shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall
have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the
Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration
pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)
(but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker,
dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.
“
Registration
” shall
mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements
of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming
effective.
“
Registration
Expenses
”
shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees (including
fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities
exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with
securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue
sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of
all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one
(1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered
for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.
“
Registration
Statement
”
shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including
the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“
Requesting
Holder
”
shall have the meaning given in
subsection 2.1.1
.
“
Securities
Act
”
shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“
Sponsor
” shall have
the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“
Underwriter
” shall
mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such
dealer’s market-making activities.
“
Underwritten
Registration
”
or “
Underwritten
Offering
” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company
are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS
2.1
Demand Registration
.
2.1.1
Request for Registration
.
Subject to the provisions of
subsection 2.1.4
and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on
or after the date the Company consummates the Business Combination, the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding
number of Registrable Securities (the “
Demanding
Holders
”) may make a written demand
for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities
to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “
Demand
Registration
”).
The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all
other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include
all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder
that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “
Requesting
Holder
”)
shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company.
Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall
be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included
in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration
and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after
the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding
Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect
more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this
subsection 2.1.1
with
respect to any or all Registrable Securities;
provided
,
however
, that a Registration shall not be counted
for such purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“
Form S-1
”)
has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the
Requesting Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with
Section 3.1
of this Agreement.
2.1.2
Effective Registration
.
Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsection 2.1.1
above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant
to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the
Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the
Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto;
provided
,
further
,
that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration
pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or
state court or any other governmental agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to
have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated,
and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect
to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days,
of such election;
provided
,
further
, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another
Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant
to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.
2.1.3
Underwritten Offering
. Subject
to the provisions of
subsection 2.1.4
and
Section 2.4
hereof, if a majority-in-interest
of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder
or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s
participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten
Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten
Offering under this
subsection 2.1.3
shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected
for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.
2.1.4
Reduction of Underwritten Offering
.
If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises
the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable
Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Common
Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has
been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire
to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering
without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of
such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “
Maximum
Number
of
Securities
”),
then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding
Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding
Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable
Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration (such
proportion is referred to herein as “
Pro
Rata
”)) that can be sold without exceeding
the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under
the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of Holders (Pro Rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities
that each Holder has so requested) exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to
subsection 2.2.1
hereof,
without exceeding the Maximum Number of
Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent
that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Common Stock or other
equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iv) fourth,
to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii),
the Common Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration
pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number
of Securities.
2.1.5
Demand Registration Withdrawal
.
A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders
(if any), pursuant to a Registration under
subsection 2.1.1
shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration
pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter
or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred
in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this
subsection 2.1.5
.
2.2
Piggyback Registration
.
2.2.1
Piggyback Rights
. If, at
any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement
under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable
for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company
and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to
Section 2.1
hereof), other
than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for
an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of
debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company
shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not
less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe
the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of
the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable
Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing
within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “
Piggyback
Registration
”).
The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use
its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable
Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this
subsection 2.2.1
to be included in a Piggyback Registration
on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale
or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All
such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this
subsection
2.2.1
shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten
Offering by the Company.
2.2.2
Reduction of Piggyback Registration
.
If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith,
advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar
amount or number of the Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the Common Stock, if any, as
to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than
the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested
pursuant to
Section 2.2
hereof, and (iii) the Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been
requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds
the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) If the Registration is undertaken for
the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity
securities that the Company desires to sell, which
can be sold without exceeding the Maximum
Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing
clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to
subsection
2.2.1
hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the
extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Common Stock,
if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders
of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(b) If the Registration is pursuant to a request
by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration
(A) first, the Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders
of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent
that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders
exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to
subsection 2.2.1
, pro rata based
on the number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate
number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Registration, which can be
sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has
not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires
to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum
Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Common Stock or other equity securities
for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual
arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.2.3
Piggyback Registration Withdrawal
.
Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever
upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw
from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect
to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal
by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission
in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection
with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this
subsection 2.2.3
.
2.2.4
Unlimited Piggyback Registration
Rights
. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to
Section 2.2
hereof shall not be
counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under
Section 2.1
hereof.
2.3
Registrations on Form S-3
.
The Holders of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale
of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement that may be available
at such time (“
Form S-3
”);
provided
,
however
, that the Company shall not
be obligated to effect such request through an Underwritten Offering. Within five (5) days of the Company’s receipt
of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall
promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration on Form S-3 to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and
each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities
in such Registration on Form S-3 shall so notify the Company, in writing, within ten (10) days after the receipt by the
Holder of the notice from the Company. As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than twelve (12) days after the Company’s
initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall register all or such portion of
such Holder’s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable
Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder
or Holders;
provided
,
however
, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration
pursuant to
Section 2.3
hereof if (i) a Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) the
Holders of Registrable Securities, together
with the Holders of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the
Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $10,000,000.
2.4
Restrictions on Registration Rights
.
If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the
date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated
Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration
pursuant to
subsection 2.1.1
and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause
the applicable Registration Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and
the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in
the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as
a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall
furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board
it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is
therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer
such filing for a period of not more than thirty (30) days;
provided
,
however
, that the Company shall
not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12-month period.
ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1
General Procedures
. If at any
time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company is required to effect the Registration of
Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable
Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously
as possible:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission
as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts
to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold;
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be
requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions
applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep
the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance
with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement
or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable
Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed
to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents
incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus),
and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal
counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable
Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement
under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities
included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action
necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such
other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other
acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement to consummate the disposition
of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions;
provided
,
however
, that the Company shall not be
required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any
action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise
so subject;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities
to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then
listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant
agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable
Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission
suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose
and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop
order should be issued;
3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to
the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus
or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof
to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel;
3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when
a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of
any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement,
and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in
Section 3.4
hereof;
3.1.10 permit a representative of the Holders
(such representative to be selected by a majority of the participating Holders), the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or
accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation
of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration;
provided
,
however
,
that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;
3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort”
letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, in customary
form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter
may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.12 on the date the Registrable Securities
are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for
the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters,
if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders,
placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative
assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering,
enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter
of such offering;
3.1.14 make available to its security holders,
as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with
the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies
the provisions of
Section 11(a)
of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated
thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.15 if the Registration involves the Registration
of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior
executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by
the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate
reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.
3.2
Registration Expenses
. The Registration
Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all
incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts,
brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,”
all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
3.3
Requirements for Participation in
Underwritten Offerings
. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant
to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities
on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may
be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
3.4
Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure
.
Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the
Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended
Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement
or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use
of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect
of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such
Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control,
the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of,
or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days,
determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the
preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of
the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall
immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this
Section 3.4
.
3.5
Reporting Obligations
. As long
as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange
Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports
required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to
Sections 13(a)
or
15(d)
of
the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants
that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable
such Holder to sell shares of the Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter
by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder
a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
3.6
Limitations
on Registration Rights
. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) CF & Co. may not exercise its rights under
Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereunder after five (5) and seven (7) years after the effective date of the registration statement relating
to the Company’s initial public offering, respectively, and (ii) CF & Co. may not exercise its rights under Section 2.1
more than one time.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1
Indemnification
.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to
the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such
Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’
fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or
preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained
in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the
Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities
Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.
4.1.2 In connection with any Registration
Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such
information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus
and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls
the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including
without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein;
provided
,
however
,
that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the
liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such
Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall
indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification
herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification
(provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the
extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s
reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim,
permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.
If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified
party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to,
or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for
all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified
party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to
such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying
party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving
by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under
this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party
or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company
and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested
by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification
is unavailable for any reason.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under
Section 4.1
hereof
from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party,
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by,
such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action;
provided
,
however
,
that the liability of any Holder under this
subsection 4.1.5
shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds
received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the
losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in
subsections
4.1.1
,
4.1.2
and
4.1.3
above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred
by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution pursuant to this
subsection 4.1.5
were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method
of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this
subsection 4.1.5
. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f)
of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this
subsection 4.1.5
from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1
Notices
. Any notice or communication
under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified,
postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing
evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile. Each notice
or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served,
sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the
case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile, at such time as
it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused
by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to:
527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022, and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address as set forth in the Company’s
books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other
parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided
in this
Section 5.1
.
5.2
Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries
.
5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties
and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.
5.2.2 Prior to the expiration of the Founder
Shares Lock-up Period or the Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s
rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities
by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions
set forth in this Agreement.
5.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof
shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the
Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.
5.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any
rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and
Section 5.2
hereof.
5.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of
such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the
Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in
Section 5.1
hereof
and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms
and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer
or assignment made other than as provided in this
Section 5.2
shall be null and void.
5.3
Counterparts
. This Agreement
may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original,
and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
5.4
Governing Law; Venue
. NOTWITHSTANDING
THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (I) THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS
ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THE AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
5.5
Amendments and Modifications
.
Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the
time in question (which majority interest must include CF & Co. if such amendment or modification affects in any way the rights
of CF & Co. hereunder), compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be
waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified;
provided
,
however
,
that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in its capacity
as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in
such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and
any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under
this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise
of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights
or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
5.6
Other Registration Rights
. The
Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company
to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the
Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents
and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions
and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
5.7
Term
. This Agreement shall terminate
upon the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (ii) the date as of which (A) all
of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period
referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated
thereafter by the Commission)) or (B) the Holders of all Registrable Securities are permitted to sell the Registrable Securities
under Rule 144 (or any similar provision) under the Securities Act without limitation on the amount of securities sold or
the manner of sale. The provisions of
Section 3.5
and
Article IV
shall survive any termination.
[
Signature Page Follows
]
IN
WITNESS
WHEREOF
,
the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
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COMPANY:
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation
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By:
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Name: Jason Mudrick
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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HOLDERS:
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISTION HOLDINGS LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
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By:
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Name: Jason Mudrick
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Title: Manager
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Name: Victor Danh
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Name: David Kirsch
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Name: Beau Harbour
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Name: Glenn Springer
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CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
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By:
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Name: [_____]
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Title: [_____]
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[
Signature Page to Registration Rights
Agreement
]
Exhibit 10.6
PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS PURCHASE
AGREEMENT, dated as of January 15, 2018 (as it may from time to time be amended and including all exhibits referenced herein, this
“
Agreement
”), is entered into by and between Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the “
Company
”), and Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “
Purchaser
”).
WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an
initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “
Public Offering
”), each unit consisting of one share
of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (each, a “
Share
”), and one redeemable
warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share. The Purchaser has agreed
to purchase an aggregate of 6,500,000 warrants (or up to 7,250,000 warrants if the over-allotment option in connection with the
Public Offering is exercised in full) (the “
Private Placement Warrants
”), each Private Placement Warrant entitling
the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
Section 1. Authorization, Purchase and
Sale; Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.
A.
Authorization of the Private Placement
Warrants
. The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants to the Purchaser.
B.
Purchase and Sale of the Private
Placement Warrants
.
On the date of the consummation of the Public
Offering, and concurrently with the consummation thereof, or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser
and the Company (the “
Initial Closing Date
”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser
shall purchase from the Company 6,500,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant for an aggregate purchase
price of $6,500,000 (the “
Purchase Price
”). The Purchase Price shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the Company in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions at least one business day prior to the
date of effectiveness of the registration statement to be filed in connection with the Public Offering. On the Initial Closing
Date, the Company, shall either, at its option, deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased by the
Purchaser on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
On the date of the consummation of the closing of the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering, and concurrently
with the consummation thereof, or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (each
such date, an “
Over-allotment Closing Date
,” and each Over-allotment Closing Date (if any) and the Initial Closing
Date being sometimes referred to herein as a “
Closing Date
”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser,
and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, up to an aggregate of 750,000 Private Placement Warrants, in the same proportion
as the amount of the over-allotment option that is exercised, at a price of $1.00 per warrant for an aggregate purchase price of
up to $750,000 (if the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full) (the “
Over-allotment
Purchase Price
”), which shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company in accordance with
the Company’s wiring instructions. On the Over-allotment Closing Date, upon the payment by the Purchaser of the Over-allotment
Purchase Price payable by it by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, the Company shall either, at its option,
deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased by the Purchaser on such date duly registered in the
Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
C.
Terms of the Private Placement Warrants
.
(i) The Private Placement Warrants shall have
their terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent, in connection with the Public
Offering (a “
Warrant Agreement
”).
(ii) At or prior to the time of the Initial
Closing Date, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the “
Registration Rights
Agreement
”) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to the Private
Placement Warrants and the Shares underlying the Private Placement Warrants.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties
of the Company.
As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Private Placement
Warrants, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and warranties shall survive each
Closing Date) that:
A.
Organization 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 jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate
power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.
B.
Authorization; No Breach
.
(i) The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants have been duly authorized and approved by the Company as of each Closing Date.
This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Upon issuance
in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants
will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.
(ii) The execution and delivery by the Company
of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance of
the Shares upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the fulfillment of, and compliance with, the respective terms hereof
and thereof by the Company, do not and will not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms,
conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest,
charge or encumbrance upon the Company’s capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require
any authorization, consent, approval, exemption, action, notice, declaration or filing, in each case, by or to any court or administrative
or governmental body or agency pursuant to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of the Company (in effect on the date
hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation
to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings
required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.
C.
Title to Securities
. Upon issuance
in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Placement Warrants will be duly and
validly issued and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable. On the date of issuance of the Placement Warrants, the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Placement Warrants
shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant
Agreement, the Purchaser will have good title to the Private Placement Warrants and the Shares issuable upon exercise of such Private
Placement Warrants, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions
hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities
laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Purchaser.
D.
Valid Issuance
. The total number
of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Company has authority to issue is 110,000,000 shares of common stock (which
consist of 100,000,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s Class B
common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”)) and 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s
preferred stock, par value $0.0001,
per share (the “Preferred Stock”).
As of the date hereof, the Company has issued and outstanding no shares of Class A Common Stock, 5,750,000 shares of Class B Common
Stock (of which up to 750,000 shares are subject to forfeiture as described in the Registration Statement) and no shares of Preferred
Stock. All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized, validly issued, and are fully paid and
non-assessable.
E. Governmental Consents
. No permit,
consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with
the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties
of the Purchaser.
As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private
Placement Warrants to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties
shall survive each Closing Date) that:
A.
Organization and Requisite Authority
.
The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
B.
Authorization; No Breach
.
(i) This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general
equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).
(ii) The execution and delivery by the Purchaser
of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall not as of each
Closing Date conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, instrument,
order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject that would materially impact its ability to perform its obligations
hereunder..
C.
Investment Representations
.
(i) The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Placement
Warrants and, upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, the Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “
Securities
”),
for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with,
any public sale or distribution thereof.
(ii) The Purchaser is an “accredited investor”
as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
Securities
Act
”).
(iii) The Purchaser understands that the Securities
are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States
federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance
with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions
and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities.
(iv) The Purchaser did not enter into this Agreement
as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.
(v) The Purchaser has been furnished with all
materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the
Securities which have been requested by the Purchaser. The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the
executive officers and directors of the Company. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high
degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment
decision with respect to the acquisition of the Securities.
(vi) The Purchaser understands that no United
States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement
of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such authorities
passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
(vii) The Purchaser understands that: (a) the
Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered
for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption
therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other
person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with
the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. While such Purchaser understands that Rule 144 under the Securities Act is
not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies)
or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company, such Purchaser understands that Rule 144 includes an exception
to this prohibition if the following conditions are met: (i) the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has
ceased to be a shell company; (ii) the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “
Exchange Act
”); (iii) the issuer of the securities
has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter
period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and (iv) at least one year
has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity
that is not a shell company.
(viii) The Purchaser has such knowledge and
experience in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities
of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the
Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an
indefinite period of time. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and
will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities.
The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investment in the Securities.
Section 4. Conditions of the Purchaser’s
Obligations.
The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Private Placement Warrants are subject to the
fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A.
Representations and Warranties
.
The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing
Date as though then made.
B.
Performance
. The Company shall
have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be
performed or complied with by it on or before such Closing Date.
C.
No Injunction
. No litigation,
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed
by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over
the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Warrant Agreement.
D.
Warrant Agreement and Registration
Rights Agreement
. The Company shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent and the Registration Rights
Agreement, each on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser.
E.
Corporate Consents
. The Company shall
have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder.
Section 5. Conditions of the Company’s
Obligations.
The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or
before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A.
Representations and Warranties
.
The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing
Date as though then made.
B.
Performance
. The Purchaser shall
have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be
performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date.
C.
Corporate Consents
. The Company
shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder.
D.
No Injunction
. No litigation,
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed
by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over
the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Warrant Agreement.
E.
Warrant Agreement
. The Company
shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent on terms satisfactory to the Company.
Section 6. Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time after June 30, 2018 upon the election by either the Company or the Purchaser upon written
notice to the other party if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date.
Section 7. Survival of Representations
and Warranties.
All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive each Closing Date.
Section 8. Definitions.
Terms
used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the registration statement on
Form S-1 the Company plans to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act.
Section 9. Miscellaneous.
A.
Successors and Assigns
. Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the
parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement without the prior written
consent of the other party hereto, other than assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof (including, without limitation,
one or more of its members).
B.
Severability
. Whenever possible,
each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if
any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective
only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.
C.
Counterparts
. This Agreement
may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but
all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered
by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “pdf” format data file, 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 facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.
D.
Descriptive Headings; Interpretation
.
The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement.
The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.
E.
Governing Law
. This Agreement
shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
F.
Amendments
. This Agreement may
not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
[
Signature Page Follows
]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the parties hereto
have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
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COMPANY:
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Jason Mudrick
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Name:
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Jason Mudrick
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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PURCHASER
:
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC
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By:
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/s/ Jason Mudrick
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Name:
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Jason Mudrick
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Title:
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Managing Member
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[
Signature Page to Private Placement Warrants
Purchase Agreement
]
Exhibit 10.6.1
PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS PURCHASE
AGREEMENT, dated as of January 16, 2018 (as it may from time to time be amended and including all exhibits referenced herein, this
“
Agreement
”), is entered into by and between Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the “
Company
”), and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., a New York general partnership (the “
Purchaser
”).
WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an
initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “
Public Offering
”), each unit consisting of one share
of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (each, a “
Share
”), and one redeemable
warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share. The Purchaser has agreed
to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 warrants (or up to 1,150,000 warrants if the over-allotment option in connection with the
Public Offering is exercised in full) (the “
Private Placement Warrants
”), each Private Placement Warrant entitling
the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
Section 1. Authorization, Purchase and
Sale; Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.
A.
Authorization of the Private Placement
Warrants
. The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants to the Purchaser.
B.
Purchase and Sale of the Private
Placement Warrants
.
On the date of the consummation of the Public
Offering, and concurrently with the consummation thereof, or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser
and the Company (the “
Initial Closing Date
”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser
shall purchase from the Company, 1,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant for an aggregate purchase
price of $1,000,000 (the “
Purchase Price
”). The Purchase Price shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the Company on the Initial Closing Date in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions provided
at least three business day prior to the Initial Closing Date. On the Initial Closing Date, the Company shall either, at its option,
deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased by the Purchaser on such date duly registered in the
Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form. On the date of the consummation of the closing
of the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering, and concurrently with the consummation thereof, or on such
earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (each such date, an “
Over-allotment Closing
Date
,” and each Over-allotment Closing Date (if any) and the Initial Closing Date being sometimes referred to herein
as a “
Closing Date
”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from
the Company, up to an aggregate of 150,000 Private Placement Warrants, in the same proportion as the amount of the over-allotment
option that is exercised, at a price of $1.00 per warrant for an aggregate purchase price of up to $150,000 (if the over-allotment
option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full) (the “
Over-allotment Purchase Price
”), which
shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company on each Over-allotment Closing Date (if any) in accordance
with the Company’s wiring instructions provided in connection with the purchase of the Private Placement Warrants on the
Initial Closing Date. On the Over-allotment Closing Date, upon the payment by the Purchaser of the Over-allotment Purchase Price
payable by it by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, the Company shall either, at its option, deliver
a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased by the Purchaser on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s
name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
C.
Terms of the Private Placement Warrants
.
(i) The Private Placement Warrants shall have
their terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent, in connection with the Public
Offering (a “
Warrant Agreement
”), except that so long as the Placement Warrants are held by the Purchaser or
its designees, the Purchaser or its designees will not be permitted to exercise such Placement Warrants after the five year anniversary
of the effective date of the registration statement on Form S-1 (the “
Registration Statement
”) the Company plans
to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “
SEC
”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “
Securities Act
”) in connection with the Public Offering.
(ii) At or prior to the time of the Initial
Closing Date, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the “
Registration Rights
Agreement
”) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to the Private
Placement Warrants and the Shares underlying the Private Placement Warrants; provided, however, that the Purchaser may not exercise
its demand and “piggy back” registration rights pursuant to such Registration Rights Agreement after five (5) and seven
(7) years after the effective date of the Registration Statement, respectively, and the Purchaser may not exercise its demand registration
rights thereunder more than one time.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties
of the Company.
As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Private Placement
Warrants, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and warranties shall survive each
Closing Date) that:
A.
Organization 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 jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate
power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.
B.
Authorization; No Breach
.
(i) The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants have been duly authorized and approved by the Company as of each Closing Date.
This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Upon issuance
in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants
will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.
(ii) The execution and delivery by the Company
of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance of
the Shares upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the fulfillment of, and compliance with, the respective terms hereof
and thereof by the Company, do not and will not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms,
conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest,
charge or encumbrance upon the Company’s capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require
any authorization, consent, approval, exemption, action, notice, declaration or filing, in each case, by or to any court or administrative
or governmental body or agency pursuant to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of the Company (in effect on the date
hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation
to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings
required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.
C.
Valid Issuance
. The total number
of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Company has authority to issue is 110,000,000 shares of common stock (which
consist of 100,000,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s Class B
common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”)) and 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s
preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). As of the date hereof, the Company has issued
and outstanding no shares of Class A Common Stock, 5,750,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (of which up to 750,000 shares are
subject to
forfeiture as described in the Registration
Statement) and no shares of Preferred Stock. All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized,
validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable.
E.
Title to Securities
. Upon issuance
in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Placement Warrants will be duly and
validly issued and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable. On the date of issuance of the Placement Warrants, the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Placement Warrants
shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant
Agreement, the Purchaser will have good title to the Private Placement Warrants and the Shares issuable upon exercise of such Private
Placement Warrants, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions
hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities
laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Purchaser.
F.
Governmental Consents
. No permit,
consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with
the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties
of the Purchaser.
As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private
Placement Warrants to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties
shall survive each Closing Date) that:
A.
Organization and Requisite Authority
.
The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
B.
Authorization; No Breach
.
(i) This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general
equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).
(ii) The execution and delivery by the Purchaser
of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall not as of each
Closing Date conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, instrument,
order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject that would materially impact its ability to perform its obligations
hereunder.
C.
Investment Representations
.
(i) The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Placement
Warrants and, upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, the Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “
Securities
”),
for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with,
any public sale or distribution thereof.
(ii) The Purchaser is an “accredited investor”
as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D of the Securities Act.
(iii) The Purchaser understands that the Securities
are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States
federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance
with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions
and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities.
(iv) The Purchaser did not enter into this Agreement
as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.
(v) The Purchaser has been furnished with all
materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the
Securities which have been requested by the Purchaser. The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the
executive officers and directors of the Company. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high
degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment
decision with respect to the acquisition of the Securities.
(vi) The Purchaser understands that no United
States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement
of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such authorities
passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
(vii) The Purchaser understands that: (a) the
Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered
for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption
therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other
person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with
the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. While such Purchaser understands that Rule 144 under the Securities
Act is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related
shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company, such Purchaser understands that Rule 144 includes
an exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met: (i) the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell
company has ceased to be a shell company; (ii) the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section
13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “
Exchange Act
”); (iii) the issuer of the
securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months
(or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and (iv)
at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its
status as an entity that is not a shell company.
(viii) The Purchaser has such knowledge and
experience in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities
of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the
Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an
indefinite period of time. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and
will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities.
The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investment in the Securities.
Section 4. Conditions of the Purchaser’s
Obligations.
The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Private Placement Warrants are subject to the
fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A.
Representations and Warranties
.
The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing
Date as though then made.
B.
Performance
. The Company shall
have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be
performed or complied with by it on or before such Closing Date.
C.
No Injunction
. No litigation,
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed
by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over
the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Warrant Agreement.
D.
Warrant Agreement and Registration
Rights Agreement
. The Company shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent and the Registration Rights
Agreement, each on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser.
E.
Corporate Consents
. The Company
shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder.
F.
Investment by Mudrick Sponsor
. The
Company shall have confirmed in writing that Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC has funded the purchase of 6,500,000 Private
Placement Warrants at $1.00 per warrant on the Closing Date.
Section 5. Conditions of the Company’s
Obligations.
The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or
before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A.
Representations and Warranties
.
The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing
Date as though then made.
B.
Performance
. The Purchaser shall
have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be
performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date.
C.
Corporate Consents
. The Company
shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder.
D.
No Injunction
. No litigation,
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed
by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over
the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Warrant Agreement.
E.
Warrant Agreement
. The Company
shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent on terms satisfactory to the Company.
Section 6. Lockup.
The Purchaser
acknowledges and agrees that the Securities shall not be transferable, saleable or assignable until 30 days after the consummation
of an initial business combination, except to permitted transferees. The Securities will be deemed compensation by the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (“
FINRA
”) and will therefore be subject to lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately
following the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement or commencement of sales of the Public Offering, subject to certain
limited exceptions, pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of the FINRA Manual. Accordingly, the Securities may not be sold, transferred,
assigned, pledged or hypothecated for 180 days immediately following the effective date of the Registration Statement except to
any underwriter or selected dealer participating in the Public Offering and the bona fide officers, partners or affiliates of the
Purchaser and any such participating underwriter or selected dealer nor may they be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative,
put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person during such 180-day period.
The term “permitted transferees” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Registration Statement.
Section 7. Termination.
This Agreement
may be terminated at any time after June 30, 2018 upon the election by either the Company or the Purchaser upon written notice
to the other party if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date.
Section 8. Survival of Representations
and Warranties.
All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive each Closing Date.
Section 9. Definitions.
Terms
used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement.
Section 10. Miscellaneous.
A.
Successors and Assigns
. Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the
parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement without the prior written
consent of the other party hereto, other than assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof (including, without limitation,
one or more of its members).
B.
Severability
. Whenever possible,
each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if
any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective
only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.
C.
Counterparts
. This Agreement
may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but
all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered
by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “pdf” format data file, 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 facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.
D.
Descriptive Headings; Interpretation
.
The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement.
The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.
E.
Governing Law
. This Agreement
shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
F.
Amendments
. This Agreement may
not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
[
Signature Page Follows
]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the parties hereto
have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
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COMPANY:
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Jason Mudrick
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Name:
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Jason Mudrick
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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PURCHASER
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CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
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By:
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/s/ Jim Bond
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Name:
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Jim Bond
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Title:
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Chief Operating Officer
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[
Signature Page to Private Placement Warrants
Purchase Agreement
]
Exhibit 10.7
INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
(this
“
Agreement
”) is made as of [ ], 2018,
by and between Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “
Company
”), and [
] (“
Indemnitee
”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS
, highly competent persons
have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided
with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them
arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of such corporations;
WHEREAS
, the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “
Board
”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals,
the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the
Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread
practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market
conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At
the same time, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly
subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been
brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the
“
Charter
”) and the Bylaws (the “
Bylaws
”) of the Company require indemnification
of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable provisions
of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“
DGCL
”). The Charter, Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide
that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered
into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration,
advancement and reimbursement rights;
WHEREAS
, the uncertainties relating
to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS
, the Board has determined
that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s
stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in
the future;
WHEREAS
, it is reasonable, prudent
and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance expenses on
behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company
free from undue concern that they will not be so protected against liabilities;
WHEREAS
, this Agreement is a supplement
to and in furtherance of the Charter and Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute
therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder;
WHEREAS
, Indemnitee may not
be willing to serve as an officer or director, advisor or in another capacity without adequate protection, and the Company desires
Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or
on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified; and
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration
of the premises and the covenants contained herein and subject to the provisions of the letter agreement dated as of [
], 2018, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1.
SERVICES TO THE COMPANY
Indemnitee
will serve or continue to serve as an officer, director, advisor, key employee or any other capacity of the Company, as applicable,
for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or retained or until Indemnitee tenders Indemnitee’s resignation or
until Indemnitee is removed. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect after Indemnitee
has ceased to serve as a director, officer, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as provided in Section 17.
This Agreement, however, shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to
the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.
2.
DEFINITIONS
. As used in this
Agreement:
(a) References to “
agent
”
shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person
authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee,
fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.
(b) The terms “
Beneficial
Owner
” and “
Beneficial Ownership
” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below) as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) A “
Change in Control
”
shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
(i)
Acquisition of Stock by Third
Party
. Other than an affiliate of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings, LLC (“
Mudrick Capital Holdings
”),
any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s
securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors (as
defined below) and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition;
(ii)
Change in Board of Directors
.
Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for
election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds of the directors then still in office
who were directors on the date hereof or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the
“
Continuing Directors
”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the
Board;
(iii)
Corporate Transactions
.
The effective date of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination,
involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “
Business Combination
”), in each case, unless, following
such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially
own, directly or indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation
which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly
or through one or more Subsidiaries (as defined below)) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior
to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) other than an
affiliate of Mudrick Capital Holdings, no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial
Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors of the surviving corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the
Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors,
providing for such Business Combination;
(iv)
Liquidation
. The approval
by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale
or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than factoring the Company’s
current receivables or escrows due (or, if such stockholder approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with
such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or
(v)
Other Events
. There occurs
any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A
(or any successor rule) (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act
(as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.
(d) “
Corporate Status
”
describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary,
employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise (as defined below) which such person is or was serving at the request
of the Company.
(e) “
Delaware Court
”
shall mean the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.
(f) “
Disinterested Director
”
shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification
is sought by Indemnitee.
(g) “
Enterprise
”
shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed
in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request
of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.
(h) “
Exchange Act
”
shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(i) “
Expenses
”
shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation,
all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel
expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges,
postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses
in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness
in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding (as defined below), including reasonable compensation
for time spent by Indemnitee for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. Expenses also
shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding (as defined below), including without
limitation the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond
or its equivalent. “Expenses,” however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of
judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
(j) References to “
fines
”
shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “
serving
at the request of the Company
” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the
Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to
an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably
believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be
deemed to have acted in a manner “
not opposed to the best interests of the Company
” as referred to in this Agreement.
(k) “
Independent Counsel
”
shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience in matters of corporation law and that neither presently
is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either
such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar
indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding (as defined below) giving rise to a claim for indemnification
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the
applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company
or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
(l) The term “
Person
”
shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof;
provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiaries (as defined below)
of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of
any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock of the Company; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan
of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders
of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
(m) The term “
Proceeding
”
shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the
right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative
or investigative or related nature, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of
the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by Indemnitee
or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason
of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing
member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time
any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under
this Agreement.
(n) The term “
Subsidiary
,”
with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity
of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by
that Person.
3.
INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS
.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as
a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment
in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified,
held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including
all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities,
fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually, and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf
in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he
or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
4.
INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR
IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY
. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless
and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be
made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to
procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee
shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s
behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner
Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification, hold harmless
or exoneration for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee
shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which
the Proceeding was brought or the Delaware Court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but
in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, to be held
harmless or to exoneration.
5.
INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES
OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL
. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement except for Section 27,
to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and
is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in
part, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against
all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in
such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in
such Proceeding, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee
against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully
resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes
of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with
or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
6.
INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES
OF A WITNESS
. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee
is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness or deponent in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee was or is not
a party or threatened to be made a party, Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified,
held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf
in connection therewith.
7.
ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION, HOLD
HARMLESS AND EXONERATION RIGHTS.
Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5 and except for Section 27, the
Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee
is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure
a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including
all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities,
fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.
No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights shall be available under this Section 7 on account of Indemnitee’s
conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders or is an act or omission
not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.
8.
CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF
JOINT LIABILITY
.
(a) To the fullest extent permissible
under applicable law, if the indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable
to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying, holding harmless or exonerating
Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines,
penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee
to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time
against Indemnitee.
(b) The Company shall not enter into
any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding)
unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully
indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors
or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.
9.
EXCLUSIONS
. Notwithstanding
any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification, advance expenses,
hold harmless or exoneration payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) for which payment has actually been
received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity or advancement provision, except with respect
to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity or advancement
provision or otherwise;
(b) for an accounting of profits made
from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of
the Exchange Act (or any successor rule) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or
(c) except as otherwise provided in
Sections 14(f)-(g) hereof, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding)
initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company
or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of
any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment,
in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law. Indemnitee shall seek payments or advances
from the Company only to the extent that such payments or advances are unavailable from any insurance policy of the Company covering
Indemnitee.
10.
ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE
OF CLAIM
.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, except for Section 27, and to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Company
shall pay the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months)
in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting
such advances from time to time, prior to the final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be made without regard to Indemnitee’s
ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to be indemnified, held harmless or
exonerated under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing
a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company
to support the advances claimed. To the fullest extent required by applicable law, such payments of Expenses in advance of the
final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon the Company’s receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of Indemnitee,
to repay the advanced amounts to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified,
held harmless or exonerated by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Charter, the Bylaws, applicable law or otherwise.
This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which an indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration
payment is excluded pursuant to Section 9.
(b) The Company will be entitled to
participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.
(c) The Company shall not settle any
action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation
on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.
11.
PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND
APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION
.
(a) Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly
the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document
relating to any Proceeding, claim, issue or matter therein which may be subject to indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration
rights, or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the
Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise.
(b) Indemnitee may deliver to the Company
a written application to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may
be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his or her sole discretion. Following
such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined
according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.
12.
PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR
INDEMNIFICATION
.
(a) A determination, if required by
applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of
the following methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors,
even though less than a quorum of the Board, (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors,
(iii) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if such directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion
to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (iv) by vote of the stockholders. The Company promptly
will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including
a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled
to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall
reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement
to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or
information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and
reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons
or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement
to indemnification) and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(b) In the event the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent
Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless
Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising
it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements
of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by
the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so
selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as
defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten
(10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the
case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that
the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2
of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and
timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated,
the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court
of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by
Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have
been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection
which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment
as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Delaware Court, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved
or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of
any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be
discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct
then prevailing).
(c) The Company agrees to pay the reasonable
fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all
Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
13.
PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN
PROCEEDINGS
.
(a) In making a determination with respect
to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee
is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with
Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection
with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the
Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement
of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable
standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel)
that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that
Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(b) If the person, persons or entity
empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall
not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination
of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall
be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material
fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification,
or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law;
provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days,
if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires
such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.
(c) The termination of any Proceeding
or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee
to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee
had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
(d) For purposes of any determination
of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records
or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors,
manager, or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, its
Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, or on information or records
given or reports made to the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager
or managing member, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise,
its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member. The provisions of
this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee
may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or
failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the
Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
14.
REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE
.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination
is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement,
(ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10
of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of
this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification
is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6, 7 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days
after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant
to Section 8 of this Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is
not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vii) payment
to Indemnitee pursuant to any hold harmless or exoneration rights under this Agreement or otherwise is not made in accordance with
this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court to such indemnification, hold harmless,
exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award
in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply
to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In the event that a determination
shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification,
any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo
trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.
(c) In any judicial proceeding or arbitration
commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless,
and exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee
is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, and exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and
the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement
adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee
shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final determination is made
with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).
(d) If a determination shall have been
made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be
bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a
misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement
not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification
under applicable law.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from
asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions
of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that
the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
(f) The Company shall indemnify and
hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within
ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt of such written request) pay to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought
by Indemnitee: (i) to enforce his or her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification,
hold harmless, exoneration, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Charter, or the Bylaws now or hereafter in
effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee,
regardless of the outcome and whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, hold harmless
or exoneration right, advancement, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be (unless such judicial proceeding or arbitration
was not brought by Indemnitee in good faith).
(g) Interest shall be paid by the Company
to Indemnitee at the legal rate under Delaware law for amounts which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless or exonerates, or
advances, or is obliged to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate or advance for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee
requests indemnification, to be held harmless, exonerated, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending
with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.
15.
SECURITY
. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, except for Section 27, to the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the
Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through
an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be
revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.
16.
NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF
RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION
.
(a) The rights of Indemnitee as provided
by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable
law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration
or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in
respect of any Proceeding (regardless of when such Proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) or claim, issue or matter
therein arising out of, or related to, any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior
to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision,
permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently
under the Charter, the Bylaws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement
the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right
or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder
or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or
otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) The DGCL, the Charter and the Bylaws
permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not
limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (“
Indemnification Arrangements
”)
on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against Indemnitee or incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee or in such
capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether
or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or
under the DGCL, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement
shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of Indemnitee under this Agreement except as
expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way
limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification
Arrangement.
(c) To the extent that the Company maintains
an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managers, managing members,
fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee
shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available
for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, managers, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or
policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant
(as a witness, deponent or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give
prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company
shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable
as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
(d) In the event of any payment under
this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of
the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights,
including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(e) The Company’s obligation to
indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company
as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall
be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payments or advancement
of expenses from such Enterprise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 27,
(i) Indemnitee shall have no obligation to reduce, offset, allocate, pursue or apportion any indemnification, hold harmless,
exoneration, advancement, contribution or insurance coverage among multiple parties possessing such duties to Indemnitee prior
to the Company’s satisfaction and performance of all its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the Company shall
perform fully its obligations under this Agreement without regard to whether Indemnitee holds, may pursue or has pursued any indemnification,
advancement, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or insurance coverage rights against any person or entity other than the
Company.
17.
DURATION OF AGREEMENT
. All
agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or
officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any
other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the
request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including
any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by
reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or not Indemnitee is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability
or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.
18.
SEVERABILITY
. If any provision
or provisions of this Agreement 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 Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section,
paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not
itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to
the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to
conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent
possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of
this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal
or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
19.
ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT
.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and
agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to
serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this
Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company.
(b) Without limiting any of the rights
of Indemnitee under the Charter or Bylaws as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral,
written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(c) The indemnification, hold harmless,
exoneration and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable
by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee
who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager,
managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise at the Company’s request, and shall inure to the benefit
of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.
(d) The Company shall require and cause
any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial
part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly
to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform
if no such succession had taken place.
(e) The Company and Indemnitee agree
herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult
of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that
Indemnitee may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, enforce this Agreement by seeking, among other things, injunctive relief
and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive
relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which
Indemnitee may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions
and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges
that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court of competent jurisdiction. The
Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking to the fullest extent permitted by law.
20.
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
.
No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee.
No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this
Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
21.
NOTICES
. All notices, requests,
demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if
delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed
by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address
indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.
(b) If to the Company, to:
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
527 Madison Avenue, 6
th
Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Jason Mudrick
With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
Attn: Stuart Neuhauser, Esq.
Fax No.: (212) 370-7889
or to any other address as may have been
furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.
22.
APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO
JURISDICTION
. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration
commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company
and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection
with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States
of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for
purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) waive any objection to the laying
of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court; and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim
that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject
(in whole or in part) to a jury trial. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the parties hereby agree that the mailing of process
and other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided by Section 21 or in such other manner
as may be permitted by law, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.
23.
IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS
.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but
all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability
is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
24.
MISCELLANEOUS
. Use of the
masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of
this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the
construction thereof.
25.
PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS
. No
legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s
spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such
cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the
timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise
applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.
26.
ADDITIONAL ACTS
. If for
the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required to the fullest
extent permitted by law, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected
or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
27.
WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO TRUST ACCOUNT
.
Indemnitee hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (each, a “
Claim
”)
in or to any monies in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering for the benefit
of the Company and holders of shares issued in such offering, and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result
of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason
whatsoever.
28.
MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE
.
The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect during the entire period for which the Company
is obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement, one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies
to provide the officers/directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Company’s
performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. The Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies
in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director or officer under such
policy or policies. In all such insurance policies, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide
the Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors
and officers.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the parties hereto
have caused this Indemnity Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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INDEMNITEE
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By:
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Name:
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Address:
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[Signature page to Indemnity Agreement]
Exhibit 10.8
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
527 Madison Avenue, 6
th
Floor
New York, NY 10022
[______], 2018
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC
527 Madison Avenue, 6
th
Floor
New York, NY 10022
Re:
Administrative Support Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter agreement by and between Mudrick
Capital Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) and Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC (“Sponsor”),
dated as of the date hereof, will confirm our agreement that, commencing on the date the securities of the Company are first listed
on the NASDAQ Capital Market (the “Listing Date”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 and prospectus
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Registration Statement”) and continuing until the earlier
of the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation (in each case as described
in the Registration Statement) (such earlier date hereinafter referred to as the “Termination Date”):
(i) Sponsor shall make available, or cause to
be made available, to the Company, at 527 Madison Avenue, 6
th
Floor, New York, NY 10022 (or any successor location
of Sponsor), certain office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support as may be reasonably required by the Company.
In exchange therefor, the Company shall pay Sponsor the sum of $10,000 per month on the Listing Date and continuing monthly thereafter
until the Termination Date; and
(ii) Sponsor hereby irrevocably waives
any and all right, title, interest, causes of action and claims of any kind as a result of, or arising out of, this letter agreement
(each, a “Claim”) in or to, and any and all right to seek payment of any amounts due to it out of, the trust account
established for the benefit of the public stockholders of the Company and into which substantially all of the proceeds of the Company’s
initial public offering will be deposited (the “Trust Account”) as a result of, or arising out of, this letter agreement,
and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim it may have in the future, which Claim would reduce, encumber or otherwise adversely affect
the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account, and further agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment
or satisfaction of any Claim against the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
This letter agreement constitutes the entire
agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements,
or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter
hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.
This letter agreement may not be amended, modified
or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.
No party hereto may assign either this letter
agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party. Any
purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any
interest or title to the purported assignee.
This letter agreement constitutes the entire
relationship of the parties hereto, and any litigation between the parties (whether grounded in contract, tort, statute, law or
equity) shall be governed by, construed in accordance with, and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without
giving effect to its choice of law principles.
[
Signature Page Follows
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Very truly yours,
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name: Glenn Springer
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Title: Chief Financial Officer
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AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY:
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Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC
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By: MUDRICK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.,
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its managing member
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By: MUDRICK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC,
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its general partner
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By:
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Name:
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Jason Mudrick
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Title:
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Sole Member
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[
Signature Page to Administrative Support
Agreement
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Exhibit 10.9
[______], 2018
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
527 Madison Avenue, 6
th
Floor
New York, NY 10022
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Re:
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Initial
Public Offering
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (this “
Letter
Agreement
”)
is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “
Underwriting
Agreement
”)
entered into by and among Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “
Company
”),
and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “
Representative
”) as representative of the several underwriters
(each, an “
Underwriter
” and collectively, the “
Underwriters
”), relating to
an underwritten initial public offering (the “
Public
Offering
”), of 23,000,000 of
the Company’s units (including up to 3,000,000 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “
Units
”),
each comprised of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “
Common
Stock
”),
and one redeemable warrant. Each Warrant (each, a “
Warrant
”) entitles the holder thereof to purchase
one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units will be sold in the Public Offering
pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus (the “
Prospectus
”) filed by the Company
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “
Commission
”) and the Company has applied to have
the Units listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 12 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into
the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of the undersigned individuals (each, a “
Director
”
and collectively, the “
Directors
”), each of whom is a member of the Company’s board of directors
(the “
Board
”), hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
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1.
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(a)
Each Director agrees to serve as a member of the Board until the earlier of (i) the annual meeting for the year in which his term
expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, (ii) his death, resignation, retirement, disqualification
or removal or (iii) the liquidation of the Company. Membership on the Board shall require adherence to the policies and procedures
adopted by the Board and enforceable upon all directors.
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(b) Each Director shall, for so long
as he remains a member of the Board, fulfill the duties of a director of a Delaware corporation and, as requested by the Chairman
of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, (i) meet with management and/or members of the Board, at dates and
times mutually agreeable to Director and the Company, to discuss any matter involving the Company, the Public Offering or a Business
Combination, and cooperate in the review of such matters, (ii) review and participate in the analysis of all materials regarding
a Business Combination that are provided to the Board by management, (iii) attend due diligence meetings relating to potential
Business Combinations, (iv) participate in road shows relating to the Business Combination, and/or (v) play an active role in the
negotiation, due diligence, structuring, closing and all other processes of any potential Business Combination (collectively, the
“
Director Responsibilities
”).
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2.
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(a) During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse each Director on a monthly basis for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Director in connection with fulfilling the Director Responsibilities;
provided
,
however
, that each Director complies with the applicable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and submits proper expense reports, receipts or similar documentation of such expenses as the Company may require.
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(b) Each Director’s status
during the term of this Agreement shall be that of an independent contractor and not, for any purpose, that of an employee. All
payments and other consideration made or provided to each Director shall be made or provided without withholding or deduction of
any kind, and each Director shall assume sole responsibility for discharging all tax or other obligations associated therewith.
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3.
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Each Director agrees that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, he shall (i) vote any shares of Capital Stock owned by him in favor of any proposed Business Combination and (ii) not redeem any shares of Common Stock owned by him in connection with such stockholder approval.
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4.
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Each Director hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, or such later period approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “
Charter
”), each Director shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering (the “
Offering
Shares
”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (as defined below), including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. Each Director agrees to not propose any amendment to the Charter to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, unless the Company provides its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Common Stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.
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Each Director acknowledges he has no right, title, interest
or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation
of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares, if any, held by him. Each Director hereby further waives, with respect to any
shares of Common Stock held by him, if any, any redemption rights he may have in connection with the consummation of a Business
Combination, including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of a stockholder vote to approve such Business
Combination or a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Charter to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s
obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination within the time period
set forth in the Charter or in the context of a tender offer made by the Company to purchase shares of Common Stock (although the
Directors and their respective affiliates shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares
they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the date of the closing of the Public
Offering).
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5.
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During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, each Director shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Units, shares of Common Stock, Founder Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by him, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, shares of Common Stock, Founder Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by him, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii). Each of the Directors acknowledges and
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agrees that, prior to the effective date of any release or waiver, of the restrictions set forth in this paragraph 5 or paragraph 8 below, the Company shall announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
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7.
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(a) Each Director hereby agrees not to participate in the formation of, or become an officer or director of, any other any other blank check company such as the Company until the Company has entered into a definitive agreement regarding an initial Business Combination or unless the Company has failed to complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter.
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(b) Each Director hereby agrees and acknowledges that:
(i) the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such Director of his obligations
under paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7(a), 8(a), 8(b) and 10, as applicable, of this Letter Agreement (ii) monetary damages may not be
an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any
other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.
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8.
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(a) Each Director agrees that he shall not Transfer any Founder Shares (or shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof) until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) if the last sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property (the “
Founder
Shares
Lock-up
Period
”).
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(b) Each Director agrees that he shall not Transfer any
Private Placement Warrants (or shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants),
until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination (the “
Private
Placement
Warrants
Lock-up
Period
”,
together with the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the “
Lock-up
Periods
”).
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs
8(a) and (b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the
exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants or the Founder Shares and that are held by any Director or any of their
permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 8(c)), are permitted (a) to the Company’s officers or directors,
any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors or any affiliate of Mudrick Capital Acquisition
Holdings LLC (the “
Sponsor
”) or to any member(s) of the Sponsor or any of their affiliates; (b) in the
case of an individual, as a gift to such individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member
of such individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such individual or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of
an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant
to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement
or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at
which the shares or warrants were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware or the Sponsor’s
limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; (g) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior
to the completion of a Business Combination; or (h) in the event that, subsequent to the consummation of a Business Combination,
the Company consummates a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s
stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property;
provided
,
however
,
that in
the case of clauses (a) through (f), these permitted transferees
must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions herein.
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9.
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Each Director represents and warrants that he has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. Each Director’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to the Director’s background. Each Director’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. Each Director represents and warrants that: he is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; he has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and he is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.
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10.
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Except
as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any officer, nor any affiliate of the Sponsor or any officer, nor any
director of the Company, shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in
respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to
effectuate, the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that
it is), other than the following, none of which will be made from the proceeds held in the Trust Account prior to the
completion of the initial Business Combination: repayment of a loan and advances up to an aggregate of $300,000 made to
the Company by the Sponsor; payment to an affiliate of the Sponsor for certain office space, utilities and secretarial and
administrative support as may be reasonably required by the Company for a total of $10,000 per month; reimbursements pursuant
to Section 2(a) of this Letter Agreement, including reimbursement for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to
identifying, investigating and consummating an initial Business Combination, and repayment of loans, if any, and on such
terms as to be determined by the Company from time to time, made by the Sponsor or any of the Company’s officers or
directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination,
provided
that,
if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination, a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust
Account may be used by the Company to repay such loaned amounts so long as no proceeds from the Trust Account are used for
such repayment. 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.
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11.
|
Each Director has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which he is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and to serve as a director on the Board and hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as a director of the Company.
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12.
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As used herein, (i) “
Business
Combination
” shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “
Capital
Stock
” shall mean, collectively, the Common Stock and the Founder Shares; (iii) “
Founder
Shares
” shall mean (a) the 5,750,000 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, initially issued to the Sponsor (up to 750,000 Shares of which are subject to complete or partial forfeiture by the Sponsor if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the Underwriters) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or $0.004 per share, prior to the consummation of the Public Offering; (iv) “
Initial
Stockholders
” shall mean the Sponsor and any Insider that holds Founder Shares; (v) “
Private
Placement
Warrants
” shall mean the Warrants to purchase up to 7,500,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company (or 8,400,000 shares of Common Stock if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) that the Sponsor and the Representative have agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000 in the aggregate (or $8,400,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $1.00 per Warrant, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering; (vi) “
Public
Stockholders
” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (vii) “
Trust
Account
” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering
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shall be deposited; and (viii) “
Transfer
” shall mean the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).
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13.
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The Company will maintain an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and each Director shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any of the Company’s directors or officers.
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14.
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This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
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15.
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No party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on each Director and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.
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16.
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Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.
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17.
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This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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18.
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This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
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19.
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This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
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20.
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Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile transmission.
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21.
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This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods or (ii) the liquidation of the Company;
provided
,
however
, that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by March 31, 2018.
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[
Signature Page Follows
]
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Sincerely,
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DIRECTORS:
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By:
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Name: Dennis Stogsdill
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By:
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Name: Timothy Daileader
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By:
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Name: Brian Kushner
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Name: Jason Mudrick
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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[
Signature Page to Letter Agreement
]
Exhibit 10.10
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10022
January 24, 2018
Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC
527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10022
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Re:
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Forward Purchase Contract
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are pleased to accept
the offer Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC (the “
Subscriber
” or “
you
”) has made to
purchase an aggregate of (i) 2,500,000 units (the “
Units
”) of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the “
Company
”), each Unit comprising one share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value
$0.0001 per share (“
Class A Common Stock
” or “
Share
”) and one warrant exercisable to purchase
one Share (“
Warrant
”) and (ii) 625,000 Shares (the “
Forward Purchase Shares
”), for an aggregate
purchase price of $25,000,000. The Units, the securities underlying the Units and the Forward Purchase Shares, collectively, are
hereinafter referred to as the “
Securities
”. Each Warrant is exercisable to purchase one Share at an exercise
price of $11.50 per Share during the period commencing on the later of (i) twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the
Company’s initial public offering of units, each comprising one share of Class A Common Stock and one Warrant (the “
IPO
”),
such IPO expected as of the date hereof to generate gross proceeds to the Company in the amount of $200,000,000 (exclusive of the
over-allotment option to be granted to the underwriters) and (ii) thirty (30) days following the consummation of the Company’s
initial business combination (the “
Business Combination
”) and expiring on the fifth anniversary of the consummation
of the Business Combination. No fractional shares of Class A Common Stock will be issued upon exercise of the Warrants. The terms
(this “
Agreement
”) on which the Company is willing to sell the Securities to the Subscriber, and the Company
and the Subscriber’s agreements regarding such Securities, are as follows:
1.
Purchase of the Securities
.
For the sum of $25,000,000 (the “
Purchase Price
”), the Company agrees to sell the Securities to the Subscriber,
and the Subscriber hereby agrees to purchase the Securities from the Company, subject to the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this Agreement.
2.
Representations,
Warranties and Agreements
.
2.1
Subscriber’s
Representations, Warranties and Agreements
. To induce the Company to issue the Securities 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 Securities.
2.1.2
No Conflicts
.
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Subscriber of the transactions contemplated
hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the formation and governing documents of the Subscriber,
(ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Subscriber is a party, (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which
the Subscriber is subject, or (iv) any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Subscriber is subject.
2.1.3
Organization and
Authority
. The Subscriber is a Delaware limited liability company, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
Delaware and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Upon execution and delivery by you, this Agreement is a legal, valid and binding agreement of Subscriber, enforceable against 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
. Subscriber is: (i) sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits
of the investment in the Securities and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Securities for an indefinite
period of time because the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act (as defined below) and therefore cannot
be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. Subscriber
is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests.
Subscriber must bear the economic risk of this investment until the Securities are sold pursuant to: (i) an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act or (ii) an exemption from registration available with respect to such sale. Subscriber is able
to bear the economic risks of an investment in the Securities and to afford a complete loss of Subscriber’s investment in
the Securities.
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, Subscriber has relied solely on Subscriber’s own knowledge and
understanding of the Company and its business based upon Subscriber’s own due diligence investigation and the information
furnished pursuant to this paragraph. 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 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
Regulation D Offering
.
Subscriber represents that it is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
Securities Act
”) and acknowledges the sale contemplated hereby
is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption to “accredited investors” within the meaning of Section
501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or similar exemptions under federal or state law.
2.1.7
Investment Purposes
.
The Subscriber is purchasing the Securities 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 decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of
Rule 502 under the Securities Act.
2.1.8
Restrictions on
Transfer; Shell Company
. Subscriber understands the Securities are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering
within the meaning of the Securities Act. Subscriber understands the Securities will be “restricted securities” within
the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act and Subscriber understands that any certificates representing the Securities
will contain a legend in respect of such restrictions. If in the future the Subscriber decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise
transfer the Securities, such Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only pursuant to: (i) registration
under the Securities Act, or (ii) an available exemption from registration. Subscriber agrees that if any transfer of its Securities
or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent to any such transfer, Subscriber may 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 Securities. 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 Securities until one (1) year following consummation of the Business Combination, 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 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 Securities, the Company hereby represents and warrants
to the Subscriber and agrees with the Subscriber as follows:
2.2.1
Organization and
Corporate Power
. The Company is a Delaware corporation and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure
to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets
of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
2.2.2
No Conflicts
.
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company,
(ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which
the Company is subject, or (iv) any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject.
2.2.3
Title to Securities
.
Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, the Securities will be duly and validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof the Subscriber will have or
receive good title to the Securities, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (a) transfer
restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (b) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Subscriber.
The Company will reserve sufficient Shares to permit full exercise of the Warrants.
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 seeks to recover damages or to obtain other relief in connection with any transactions.
2.2.5
Authorization
.
All corporate action on the part of the Company, its officers, directors and stockholders necessary for the authorization, execution
and delivery of this Agreement, the Securities, the performance of all obligations of the Company required pursuant thereto, and
the authorization, issuance (or reservation for issuance) of the Securities, has been taken. This Agreement constitutes and, when
issued, the Units and Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance
with their respective terms, subject to: (i) judicial principles limiting the availability of specific performance, injunctive
relief, and other equitable remedies and (ii) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter
in effect generally relating to or affecting creditors’ rights.
2.2.6
Capitalization
.
The authorized capital stock of the Company on the date hereof, consists of 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, no shares
of which are issued and outstanding, 10,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“
Class B
Common Stock
” and, collectively with the Class A Common Stock, the “
Common Stock
”), 5,750,000 shares
of which are issued and outstanding (including up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture in the event that the underwriters’
over-allotment option is not exercised in full), and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no shares of which are issued and outstanding.
All issued and outstanding shares of the Class B Common Stock (a) have been duly authorized and validly issued, and (b) are fully
paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the Common Stock are as stated in the Certificate
of Incorporation currently on file with the Delaware Secretary of State. There are no outstanding rights, options, warrants, preemptive
rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights for the purchase or acquisition from the Company of any securities of the Company.
2.2.7
No Governmental
Consents
. No governmental, administrative or other third party consents or approvals are required, necessary or appropriate
on the part of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than the filing of a Form D
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and such state Blue Sky, FINRA and NASDAQ consents and approvals as may be required.
3.
Settlement Date
and Delivery
.
3.1
Closing
. The settlement
of the forward purchase contract for the purchase and sale of the Securities hereunder (the “
Closing
”) shall
be held at the same date and time as the closing of the Business Combination (the date of the Closing being referred to as the
“
Closing Date
”). At the Closing, the Company will issue to the Subscriber the Units and the Forward Purchase
Shares, each registered in the name of the Subscriber, against delivery of the Purchase Price in cash via wire transfer to an account
specified in writing by the Company no later than five (5) business days prior to the Closing.
3.2
Conditions to Closing
of the Company
.
The Company’s obligations to sell and
issue the Securities at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions:
3.2.1
Representations
.
The representations made by the Subscriber in Section 2 of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects when
made, and shall be true and correct in all material respects on the applicable Closing Date.
3.2.2
Blue Sky
.
The Company shall have obtained all necessary Blue Sky law permits and qualifications, or secured an exemption therefrom, required
by any state for the offer and sale of the Securities.
3.3
Conditions to Closing
of the Subscriber
.
The Subscriber’s obligation to purchase
the Securities at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:
3.3.1
Representations
and Warranties Correct
. The representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 2 hereof shall be true and correct
in all material respects when made and shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date (unless
they specifically speak as of another date in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date)
with the same force and effect as if they had been made on and as of said date.
3.3.2
Covenants
.
All covenants, agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement to be performed by the Company on or prior to the Closing
Date shall have been performed or complied with in all material respects.
3.3.3
Blue Sky
.
The Company shall have obtained all necessary Blue Sky law permits and qualifications, or secured an exemption therefrom, required
by any state for the offer and sale of the Securities.
3.3.5
Registration Rights
Agreement
. The Company and Subscriber shall have entered into a registration rights agreement (the “
Registration Rights
Agreement
”), as referenced in Section 5.5, in a form customary for transactions of the type contemplated hereby.
3.3.6
IPO Closing
.
The Company shall have consummated an IPO raising at least $200,000,000 in gross proceeds.
3.3.7
Business Combination
.
The conditions to the closing of the Business Combination, including the approval of the Company’s stockholders, if applicable,
shall have been satisfied or met.
4.
Terms of the
Units and Warrants
.
4.1 The Warrants will be
substantially identical to the warrants to be included in the units offered in the IPO as set forth in the Warrant Agreement to
be entered into with Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company at or prior to the IPO (the “
Warrant Agreement
”),
except that the Warrants: (i) will be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the initial holder thereof (or any of its permitted
transferees), and (ii) are exercisable on a “cashless” basis if held by Subscriber or its permitted transferees.
4.2 The Units and their component
parts will be substantially identical to the units to be offered in the IPO except that the Units and component parts are being
offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable
only after they are registered in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement to be signed on or before the date of the Company’s
registration statement to be filed in connection with the IPO, as amended at the time it becomes effective (the “
Registration
Statement
”).
5.
Restrictions
on Transfer
.
5.1
Securities Law Restrictions
.
Subscriber hereby agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Securities unless,
prior thereto (a) a registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws
with respect to the Securities proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (b) the Company has received an opinion of
counsel for 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 under all applicable state securities laws.
5.2
Lock up
. Subscriber
hereby agrees not to sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Forward Purchase Shares
until the earlier to occur of (the “
Lock up
”): (a) one year after the completion of the Business Combination
or (b) the date following the completion of the Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock
exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their
shares of Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if the last sale price of
the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations
and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Business Combination,
the Forward Purchase Shares will be released from the Lock up.
5.3
Restrictive Legends
.
All certificates representing the Securities shall have endorsed thereon legends substantially as follows:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED
HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES
NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL
FOR THE COMPANY, IS AVAILABLE.”
All certificates representing the Forward Purchase Shares shall
have endorsed thereon legends substantially as follows:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED
BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCKUP AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE
TERM OF THE LOCKUP EXCEPT PURSUANT TO ITS TERMS.”
5.4
Additional Units or
Substituted Securities
. In the event of the declaration of a share dividend, the declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable
in a form other than Common Stock, a spin-off, a share split, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar
transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding Common Stock without receipt of consideration (other than those occurring
at the time of the IPO in connection with a change in the size of the offering), any new, substituted or additional securities
or other property which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Securities subject to this Section 5.4
or into which such Securities thereby become convertible shall immediately be subject to this Section 5.4 and Section 3. Appropriate
adjustments to reflect the distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number and/or class of Securities subject
to this Section 5.4 and Section 3. The Securities shall not be subject to forfeiture upon failure of the underwriters to exercise
their over-allotment option in the IPO.
5.5
Registration Rights
.
Subscriber acknowledges that the Securities are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after certain conditions are met or they are registered pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement.
6.
Other Agreements
.
6.1
Further Assurances
.
Each of the Company and 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: (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 and (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided
to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party. Any notice or other communication
so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following
receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight
courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.
6.3
Entire Agreement
.
This Agreement, together with that certain Insider Letter to be entered into between Subscriber and the Company, substantially
in the form to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the
Subscriber and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings
relating to the subject matter hereof. No statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of any kind not expressly
set forth in this Agreement shall affect, or be used to interpret, change or restrict, the express terms and provisions of this
Agreement.
6.4
Modifications and
Amendments
. The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended only by written agreement executed by all
parties hereto.
6.5
Waivers and Consents
.
The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by written document
executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions. No such waiver or consent shall be deemed to be or
shall constitute a waiver or consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement, whether or not similar. Each
such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which it was given, and shall not
constitute a continuing waiver or consent.
6.6
Assignment
. The
rights and obligations under this Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto without the prior written consent of the
other party, except to an affiliate of the Subscriber.
6.7
Benefit
. All statements,
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and shall inure
to the benefit of the respective successors and permitted assigns of each party hereto. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed
to create any rights or obligations except among the parties hereto, and no person or entity shall be regarded as a third-party
beneficiary of this Agreement.
6.8
Governing Law
.
This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the
laws of New York applicable to contracts wholly performed within the borders of such state, without giving effect to the conflict
of law principles thereof.
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.
6.13
Headings and Captions
.
The headings and captions of the various subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall in no way
modify or affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions hereof.
6.14
Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being
understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission
or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or
on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
6.15
Construction
.
The words “
include
,” “
includes
,” and “
including
” will be deemed to be
followed by “
without limitation
.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include
any other gender, and
words in the singular form
will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “
this Agreement
,”
“
herein
,” “
hereof
,” “
hereby
,” “
hereunder
,” and words
of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular 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.
Tender or Redemption
of Shares
. The Subscriber agrees not to tender any Shares in connection with a tender or redemption offer presented to the
Company’s stockholders in connection with the Business Combination.
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.
9.
Term
. The Subscriber’s
obligation to acquire the Securities hereunder, and the Company’s obligation to sell the Securities hereunder, shall be in
effect until the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Business Combination within the time frame permitted by the Company’s
amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “
Charter
”), which, as of the date hereof, is expected
to be 24 months from the consummation of the IPO, including any extensions beyond such term effected pursuant to the terms of the
Charter, and (ii) the liquidation of the Company in the event that the Company is unable to consummate the Business Combination
within the time frame permitted by the Charter (including any extensions).
10.
Disclosure
.
The Subscriber hereby acknowledges that (i) the terms of this Agreement will be disclosed in the Registration Statement, (ii) this
Agreement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and (iii) the Company
will disclose the terms of this Agreement to potential IPO investors and to potential Business Combination targets.
11.
Waiver of Claims
Against Trust
. The Subscriber hereby acknowledges that it is aware that the Company will establish a trust account (the “
Trust
Account
”) for the benefit of its public stockholders upon the closing of the IPO. The Subscriber, for itself and its
affiliates, hereby agrees that it has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account,
or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company, except for redemption and liquidation rights,
if any, the Subscriber may have in respect of any Shares issued as part of the units sold in the IPO (“
Public Shares
”)
held by the Subscriber. The Subscriber hereby agrees that it shall have no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim
of any kind (“
Claim
”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to,
or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future, except for redemption and liquidation rights, if
any, the Subscriber may have in respect of any Public Shares held by the Subscriber. In the event the Subscriber has any Claim
against the Company under this Agreement, the Subscriber shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside
the Trust Account and not against the property or any monies in the Trust Account, except for redemption and liquidation rights,
if any, the Subscriber may have in respect of any Public Shares held by the Subscriber.
[Signature Page Follows]
If the foregoing accurately sets forth our understanding
and agreement, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement and return it to us.
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Very truly yours,
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MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Jason Mudrick
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Name:
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Jason Mudrick
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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Accepted and agreed this 24
th
day of January, 2018.
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Mudrick Capital Acquisition Holdings LLC
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By:
MUDRICK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.,
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its managing member
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By:
MUDRICK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC,
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its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Jason Mudrick
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Name:
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Jason Mudrick
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Title:
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Sole Member
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Exhibit 14
CODE OF ETHICS
OF
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
The Board of Directors (the “
Board
”)
of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation has adopted this code of ethics (this “
Code
”), as amended
from time to time by the Board and which is applicable to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees to:
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promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
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promote the full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “
SEC
”), as well as in other public communications made by or on behalf of the Company;
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promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;
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require prompt internal reporting of breaches of, and accountability for adherence to, this Code.
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This Code may be amended and modified by
the Board. In this Code, references to the “
Company
” mean Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation
and, in appropriate context, the Company’s subsidiaries, if any.
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2.
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Honest, Ethical and Fair Conduct
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Each person owes a duty to the Company to
act with integrity. Integrity requires, among other things, being honest, fair and candid. Deceit, dishonesty and subordination
of principle are inconsistent with integrity. Service to the Company should never be subordinated to personal gain and advantage.
Each person must:
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Act with integrity, including being honest and candid while still maintaining the confidentiality of the Company’s information where required or when in the Company’s interests;
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Observe all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;
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Comply with the requirements of applicable accounting and auditing standards, as well as Company policies, in order to maintain a high standard of accuracy and completeness in the Company’s financial records and other business-related information and data;
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Adhere to a high standard of business ethics and not seek competitive advantage through unlawful or unethical business practices;
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Deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers, competitors and employees;
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Refrain from taking advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair-dealing practice;
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Protect the assets of the Company and ensure their proper use;
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Until the earliest of (i) the Company’s initial business combination (as such is defined in the Company’s initial registration statement filed with the SEC), (ii) liquidation, or (iii) such time as such person ceases to be an officer or director of the Company, to first present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any business opportunity suitable for the Company, subject to the Company’s certificate of incorporation in effect from time to time and to any other fiduciary or contractual obligations such officer may have; and
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Avoid conflicts of interest, wherever possible, except as may be allowed under guidelines or resolutions approved by the Board (or the appropriate committee of the Board) or as disclosed in the Company’s public filings with the SEC. Anything that would be a conflict for a person subject to this Code also will be a conflict for a member of his or her immediate family or any other close relative. Examples of conflict of interest situations include, but are not limited to, the following:
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any significant ownership interest in any supplier or customer;
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any consulting or employment relationship with any supplier or customer;
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the receipt of any money, non-nominal gifts or excessive entertainment from any entity with which the Company has current or prospective business dealings;
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selling anything to the Company or buying anything from the Company, except on the same terms and conditions as comparable officers or directors are permitted to so purchase or sell;
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any other financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the Company; and
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any other circumstance, event, relationship or situation in which the personal interest of a person subject to this Code interferes — or even appears to interfere — with the interests of the Company as a whole.
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Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit a director, officer, employee or contractor of the Company from reporting possible violations
of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity or making other disclosures that are protected pursuant to federal
law or regulation. Prior authorization from the Company is not required in order to make any such reports or disclosures and the
reporting individual is not required to notify the Company that such reports or disclosures have been made.
In addition, pursuant
to the Defend Trade Secrets Act, employees shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret
law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly
or indirectly, or to an attorney; and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or is
made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Should any provision
in this Code conflict with this provision, this provision shall control.
The Company strives to ensure that the contents
of and the disclosures in the reports and documents that the Company files with the SEC and other public communications shall be
full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable in accordance with applicable disclosure standards, including standards of materiality,
where appropriate. Each person must:
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not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s independent registered public accountants, governmental regulators, self-regulating organizations and other governmental officials, as appropriate; and
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in relation to his or her area of responsibility, properly review and critically analyze proposed disclosure for accuracy and completeness.
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In addition to the foregoing, the Chief
Executive Officer (“
CEO
”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“
CFO
”) of the Company
and each subsidiary of the Company (or persons performing similar functions), and each other person that typically is involved
in the financial reporting of the Company must familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements applicable to the
Company as well as the business and financial operations of the Company.
Each person must promptly bring to the attention
of the Chairman of the Board any information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation
of internal and/or disclosure controls that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and
report financial data or (b) any fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s
financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls.
It is the Company’s obligation and
policy to comply with all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. All directors, officers and employees
of the Company are expected to understand, respect and comply with all of the laws, regulations, policies and procedures that apply
to them in their positions with the Company. Employees are responsible for talking to their supervisors to determine which
laws, regulations and Company policies apply to their position and what training is necessary to understand and comply with them.
Directors, officers and employees are directed
to specific policies and procedures available to persons they supervise.
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5.
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Reporting and Accountability
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The Board is responsible for applying this
Code to specific situations in which questions are presented to it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular
situation. Any person who becomes aware of any existing or potential breach of this Code is required to notify the Chairman
of the Board promptly. Failure to do so is, in and of itself, a breach of this Code.
Specifically, each person must:
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notify the Chairman of the Board promptly of any existing or potential violation of this Code; and
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not retaliate against any other person for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith.
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The Company will follow the following procedures
in investigating and enforcing this Code and in reporting on this Code:
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The Board will take all appropriate action to investigate any breaches reported to it.
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Upon determination by the Board that a breach has occurred, the Board (by majority decision) will take or authorize such disciplinary or preventive action as it deems appropriate, after consultation with the Company’s internal or external legal counsel, up to and including dismissal or, in the event of criminal or other serious violations of law, notification of the SEC or other appropriate law enforcement authorities.
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No person following the above procedure
shall, as a result of following such procedure, be subject by the Company or any officer or employee thereof to discharge, demotion
suspension, threat, harassment or, in any manner, discrimination against such person in terms and conditions of employment.
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6.
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Waivers and Amendments
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Any waiver (defined below) or an implicit
waiver (defined below) from a provision of this Code for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal
accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions or any amendment (as defined below) to this Code is
required to be disclosed in a current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. In lieu of filing a current report on Form 8-K
to report any such waivers or amendments, the Company may provide such information on its website, in the event that it establishes
one in the future, if it keeps such information on the website for at least 12 months and discloses the website address as well
as any intention to provide such disclosures in this manner in its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.
A “waiver” means the approval
by the Board of a material departure from a provision of this Code. An “implicit waiver” means the Company’s
failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a provision of this Code that has
been made known to an executive officer of the Company. An “amendment” means any amendment to this Code other
than minor technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments hereto.
All persons should note that it is not the
Company’s intention to grant or to permit waivers from the requirements of this Code. The Company expects full compliance
with this Code.
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7.
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Insider Information and Securities Trading
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No person who is aware of material, non-public
information about the Company may, directly or indirectly, buy or sell the Company’s securities or engage in another action
to take advantage of such information. It is also against the law to trade or to “tip” others who might make
an investment decision based on material, non-public information about the Company. For example, using material, non-public
information to buy or sell the Company’s securities, options in the Company’s securities or the securities of any Company
supplier, customer or competitor is prohibited. The consequences of insider trading violations can be severe. These
rules also apply to the use of material, nonpublic information about other companies (including, for example, our customers,
competitors and potential business partners). In addition to directors, officers or employees, these rules apply to
such person’s spouse, children, parents and siblings, as well as any other family members living in such person’s home.
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8.
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Financial Statements and Other Records
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All of the Company’s
books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the Company’s
transactions and must both conform to applicable legal requirements and to the Company’s system of internal controls.
Unrecorded or “off the books” funds or assets should not be maintained unless permitted by applicable law or regulation.
Records should always
be retained or destroyed according to the Company’s record retention policies. In accordance with those policies, in
the event of litigation or governmental investigation, please consult the Board or the Company’s internal or external legal
counsel.
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9.
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Improper Influence on Conduct of Audits
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No director or officer, or any other person
acting under the direction thereof, shall directly or indirectly take any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead or fraudulently
influence any public or certified public accountant engaged in the performance of an audit or review of the financial statements
of the Company or take any action that such person knows or should know that if successful could result in rendering the Company’s
financial statements materially misleading. Any person who believes such improper influence is being exerted should report
such action to such person’s supervisor, or if that is impractical under the circumstances, to any of our directors.
Types of conduct that could constitute improper
influence include, but are not limited to, directly or indirectly:
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Offering or paying bribes or other financial incentives, including future employment or contracts for non-audit services;
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Providing an auditor with an inaccurate or misleading legal analysis;
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Threatening to cancel or canceling existing non-audit or audit engagements if the auditor objects to the Company’s accounting;
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Seeking to have a partner removed from the audit engagement because the partner objects to the Company’s accounting;
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Making physical threats.
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The Company complies with the anti-corruption
laws of the countries in which it does business, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. To the extent prohibited
by applicable law, directors, officers and employees will not directly or indirectly give anything of value to government officials,
including employees of state-owned enterprises or foreign political candidates. These requirements apply both to Company
employees and agents, such as third party sales representatives, no matter where they are doing business. If you are authorized
to engage agents, you are responsible for ensuring they are reputable and for obtaining a written agreement to uphold the Company’s
standards in this area.
Violation of this Code is grounds for disciplinary
action up to and including termination of employment. Such action is in addition to any civil or criminal liability which
might be imposed by any court or regulatory agency.
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12.
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Other Policies and Procedures
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Any other policy or procedure set out by
the Company in writing or made generally known to employees, officers or directors of the Company prior to the date hereof or hereafter
are separate requirements and remain in full force and effect.
All inquiries and questions in relation
to this Code or its applicability to particular people or situations should be addressed to the Company’s Secretary, or such
other compliance officer as shall be designated from time to time by the Company.
PROVISIONS FOR
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS
The CEO and all senior financial officers,
including the CFO and principal accounting officer, are bound by the provisions set forth herein relating to ethical conduct, conflicts
of interest, and compliance with law. In addition to this Code, the CEO and senior financial officers are subject to the
following additional specific policies:
1. Act with honesty and integrity, avoiding
actual or apparent conflicts between personal, private interests and the interests of the Company, including receiving improper
personal benefits as a result of his or her position.
2. Disclose to the CEO and the Board any
material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest.
3. Perform responsibilities with a view
to causing periodic reports and documents filed with or submitted to the SEC and all other public communications made by the Company
to contain information that is accurate, complete, fair, objective, relevant, timely and understandable, including full review
of all annual and quarterly reports.
4. Comply with laws, rules and regulations
of federal, state and local governments applicable to the Company and with the rules and regulations of private and public
regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over the Company.
5. Act in good faith, responsibly, with
due care, competence and diligence, without misrepresenting or omitting material facts or allowing independent judgment to be compromised
or subordinated.
6. Respect the confidentiality of information
acquired in the course of performance of his or her responsibilities except when authorized or otherwise legally obligated to disclose
any such information; not use confidential information acquired in the course of performing his or her responsibilities for personal
advantage.
7. Share knowledge and maintain skills important
and relevant to the needs of the Company, its stockholders and other constituencies and the general public.
8. Proactively promote ethical behavior
among subordinates and peers in his or her work environment and community.
9. Use and control all corporate assets
and resources employed by or entrusted to him or her in a responsible manner.
10. Not use corporate information, corporate
assets, corporate opportunities or his or her position with the Company for personal gain; not compete directly or indirectly with
the Company, subject to the Company’s certificate of incorporation in effect from time to time and to any other fiduciary
or contractual obligations such officer may have.
11. Comply in all respects with this Code.
12. Advance the Company’s legitimate
interests when the opportunity arises.
The Board will investigate any reported
violations and will oversee an appropriate response, including corrective action and preventative measures. Any officer who
violates this Code will face appropriate, case specific disciplinary action, which may include demotion or discharge.
Any request for a waiver of any provision
of this Code must be in writing and addressed to the Chairman of the Board. Any waiver of this Code will be disclosed as
provided in Section 6 of this Code.
It is the policy of the Company that each
officer covered by this Code shall acknowledge and certify to the foregoing annually and file a copy of such certification with
the Chairman of the Board.
OFFICER’S CERTIFICATION
I have read and understand the foregoing
Code. I hereby certify that I am in compliance with the foregoing Code and I will comply with the Code in the future. I
understand that any violation of the Code will subject me to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include demotion or discharge.
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the use in this Registration
Statement on Form S-1, Amendment No. 1, of our report dated January 26, 2018, relating to the balance sheet of Mudrick Capital
Acquisition Corporation as of December 31, 2017, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholder’s equity
and cash flows for the period from August 28, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017, and to the reference to our Firm under the
caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.
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/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
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New York, New York
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January 26, 2018
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Exhibit 99.1
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
1. STATUS
The Audit Committee (the “
Committee
”)
is a committee of the Board of Directors (the “
Board
”) of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (the “
Company
”).
2. PURPOSE
The Committee is appointed by the Board
for the primary purposes of:
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Performing the Board’s oversight responsibilities as they relate to the Company’s accounting policies and internal controls, financial reporting practices and legal and regulatory compliance, including, among other things:
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the quality and integrity of the Company’s financial statements;
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the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;
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review of the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence; and
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the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm;
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Maintaining, through regularly scheduled meetings, a line of communication between the Board and the Company’s financial management, internal auditors and independent registered public accounting firm, including providing such parties with appropriate opportunities to meet separately and privately with the Committee on a periodic basis, and
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Preparing the report to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement, as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“
SEC
”) rules.
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3. COMPOSITION AND QUALIFICATIONS
The Committee shall be appointed by the
Board and shall be comprised of three or more Directors (as determined from time to time by the Board), each of whom shall meet
the independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “
Act
”), the listing standards of any exchange
or national listing market system upon which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading (including, without
limitation, The NASDAQ Stock Market) (the “
Principal Market
”) and all other applicable laws.
The chairperson of the Committee shall
be designated by the Board,
provided
that if the Board does not so designate a chairperson, the members of the
Committee, by a majority vote, may designate a chairperson.
Any vacancy on the Committee shall be
filled by majority vote of the Board. No member of the Committee shall be removed except by majority vote of the Board.
Each member of the Committee shall be
financially literate and at least one member of the Committee shall have past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite
professional certification in accounting or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s
financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior officer
with financial oversight responsibilities, as each such qualification is interpreted by the Board in its business judgment. In
addition, at least one member of the Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined
by the SEC pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“
SOX
”).
4. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall meet as often as it
determines necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities, but no less frequently than once every fiscal quarter. The
Committee, in its discretion, may ask members of management or others to attend its meetings (or portions thereof) and to provide
pertinent information as necessary. A majority of the members of the Committee present in person or by means of a conference
telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other shall
constitute a quorum.
The Committee shall maintain minutes of
its meetings and records relating to those meetings.
5. RESPONSIBILITIES
In carrying out its duties and responsibilities,
the Committee’s policies and procedures should remain flexible, so that it may be in a position to best address, react or
respond to changing circumstances or conditions. The following duties and responsibilities are within the authority of the
Committee and the Committee shall, consistent with and subject to applicable law and rules and regulations promulgated by
the SEC, NASDAQ, or any other applicable regulatory authority.
The Committee will:
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A.
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Review and discuss with the independent registered public accounting firm their annual audit plan, including the timing and scope of audit activities, and monitor such plan’s progress and results during the year.
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B.
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Review and discuss the annual audited financial statements and the Company’s disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. In connection with such review, the Committee will:
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Discuss with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (as may be modified or supplemented) and the matters in the written disclosures required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence;
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Review significant changes in accounting or auditing policies;
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Review with the independent registered public accounting firm any problems or difficulties encountered in the course of their audit, including any change in the scope of the planned audit work and any restrictions placed on the scope of such work and management’s response to such problems or difficulties;
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Review with the independent registered public accounting firm, management and the senior internal auditing executive the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls, and any significant findings and recommendations with respect to such controls;
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Review reports required to be submitted by the independent registered public accounting firm concerning: (a) all critical accounting policies and practices used; (b) all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that have been discussed with management, the ramifications of such alternatives, and the accounting treatment preferred by the independent registered public accounting firm; (c) any other material written communications with management and (d) any material financial arrangements of the Company which do not appear on the financial statements of the Company;
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Review (a) major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; and (b) analyses prepared by management and/or the independent registered public accounting firm setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including analysis of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements and the effects of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company; and
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Discuss policies and procedures concerning earnings press releases and review the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases (paying particular attention to any use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information), as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.
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C.
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Review and discuss the quarterly financial statements and the Company’s disclosures provided in periodic quarterly reports including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with management, the senior internal auditing executive and the independent registered public accounting firm.
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D.
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Oversee the external audit coverage. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm are ultimately accountable to the Committee, which has the direct authority and responsibility to appoint, retain, compensate, terminate, select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the independent registered public accounting firm. In connection with its oversight of the external audit coverage, the Committee will have authority to:
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Appoint and replace (subject to stockholder approval, if deemed advisable by the Board) the independent registered public accounting firm;
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Approve the engagement letter and the fees to be paid to the independent registered public accounting firm;
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Pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm and the related fees for such services other than prohibited nonauditing services as promulgated under rules and regulations of the SEC (subject to the inadvertent
de minimus
exceptions set forth in the Act and the SEC rules);
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Monitor and obtain confirmation and assurance as to the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence, including ensuring that they submit on a periodic basis (not less than annually) to the Committee a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company. The Committee is responsible for actively engaging in a dialogue with the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm and for taking appropriate action in response to the independent registered public accounting firm’s report to satisfy itself of their independence;
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At least annually, obtain and review a report by the independent registered public accounting firm describing: the firm’s internal quality-control procedures; any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the 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 any such issues; and to assess the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence, all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company;
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Meet with the independent registered public accounting firm prior to the annual audit to discuss planning and staffing of the audit;
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Review and evaluate the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm, as the basis for a decision to reappoint or replace the independent registered public accounting firm;
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Set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm, including but not limited to, as required by all applicable laws and listing rules;
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Setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
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Assure regular rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit, as required by the Act, and consider whether rotation of the independent registered public accounting firm is required to ensure independence;
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Engage in a dialogue with the independent registered public accounting firm to confirm that audit partner compensation is consistent with applicable SEC rules;
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Review and discuss with the independent registered public accounting firm the results of the year-end audit of the Company, including any comments or recommendations of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and, based on such review and discussions and on such other considerations as it determines appropriate, recommend to the Board whether the Company’s financial statements should be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K;
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Take, or recommend that the Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm; and
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Monitor compliance by the Company of the employee conflict of interest requirements contained in the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
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E.
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Oversee internal audit coverage. In connection with its oversight responsibilities, the Committee will:
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Review the appointment or replacement of the senior internal auditing executive;
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Review, in consultation with management, the independent registered public accounting firm and the senior internal auditing executive, the plan and scope of internal audit activities, and, when deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee, assign additional internal audit projects to appropriate personnel;
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Review the Committee’s level of involvement and interaction with the Company’s internal audit function, including the Committee’s line of authority and role in appointing and compensating employees in the internal audit function;
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Review internal audit activities, budget, compensation and staffing; and
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Review significant reports to management prepared by the internal auditing department and management’s responses to such reports.
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F.
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Receive periodic reports from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, management and director of the Company’s internal auditing department to assess the impact on the Company of significant accounting or financial reporting developments that may have a bearing on the Company.
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G.
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Review with the independent registered public accounting firm and the senior internal auditing executive the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s accounting and internal controls policies and procedures and any significant findings and recommendations with respect to such controls.
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H.
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Review with the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and independent registered public accounting firm, periodically, the following:
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all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
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any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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I.
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Resolve any differences in financial reporting between management and the independent registered public accounting firm.
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J.
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Establish procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
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K.
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Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of reports of evidence of a material violation made by attorneys appearing and practicing before the SEC in the representation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or reports made by the Company’s chief executive officer in relation thereto.
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L.
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Discuss policies and guidelines to govern the process by which risk assessment and risk management is undertaken.
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M.
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Meet periodically and at least four times per year with management to review and assess the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the manner in which such risks are being monitored and controlled.
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N.
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Meet periodically (not less than annually) in separate executive session with each of the chief financial officer, the senior internal auditing executive, and the independent registered public accounting firm.
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O.
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Review and approve all “related party transactions” requiring disclosure under SEC Regulation S-K, Item 404, in accordance with the policy set forth in Section 7 below.
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P.
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Review the Company’s policies relating to the ethical handling of conflicts of interest and review past or proposed transactions between the Company and members of management as well as policies and procedures with respect to officers’ expense accounts and perquisites, including the use of corporate assets. The Committee shall consider the results of any review of these policies and procedures by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
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Q.
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Review and approve in advance any services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Company’s executive officers or members of their immediate family.
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R.
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Review the Company’s program to monitor compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct, and meet periodically with the Company’s Compliance Committee to discuss compliance with the Code of Conduct.
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S.
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Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of reports of evidence of a material violation made by attorneys appearing and practicing before the SEC in the representation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or reports made by the Company’s chief executive officer in relation thereto.
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T.
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Approve reimbursement of expenses incurred by management in connection with certain activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses.
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U.
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Review periodically with the Company’s outside legal counsel (i) legal and regulatory matters which may have a material effect on the financial statements, and (ii) corporate compliance policies or codes of conduct.
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V.
|
As it determines necessary to carry out its duties, engage and obtain advice and assistance from outside legal, accounting or other advisers, the cost of such independent expert advisors to be borne by the Company.
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W.
|
Report regularly to the Board with respect to Committee activities.
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X.
|
Prepare the report of the Committee required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the proxy statement for each annual meeting.
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Y.
|
Review and reassess annually the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board.
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Z.
|
Monitor compliance, on a regularly scheduled basis, with the terms of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Offering”) and, if any noncompliance is identified, promptly take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise cause the Company to come into compliance with the terms of the Offering.
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AA.
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review with management, the independent registered accounting firm, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
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BB.
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Determine the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work.
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CC.
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On a quarterly basis, review and approve all payments made to the Company’s existing holders, executive officers or directors and their respective affiliates.
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6. PROCEDURES
A majority of the members of the entire
Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall act on the affirmative vote a majority of members present at a meeting
at which a quorum is present. Without a meeting, the Committee may act by unanimous written consent of all members. However, the
Committee may delegate to one or more of its members the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and non-audit services,
provided the decision is reported to the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The Company shall provide for appropriate
funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of compensation: (a) to outside legal, accounting or other advisors employed
by the Committee; and (b) for ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying
out its duties.
While the Committee has the responsibilities
and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s
financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with GAAP. This is the responsibility of management and the
independent registered public accounting firm.
7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS POLICY.
A “Related Party Transaction”
is any transaction directly or indirectly involving any Related Party that would need to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Under
Item 404(a), the Company is required to disclose any transaction occurring since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal
year, or any currently proposed transaction, involving the Company where the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any
related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. “Related Party Transaction” also includes any
material amendment or modification to an existing Related Party Transaction.
“Related Party” means any
of the following:
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a director (which term when used herein includes any director nominee);
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a person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s common stock (a “5% stockholder”); or
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a person known by the Company to be an immediate family member of any of the foregoing.
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“Immediate family member”
means a child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of
such director, executive officer, nominee for director or beneficial owner, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing
the household of such director, executive officer, nominee for director or beneficial owner.
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B.
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Identification of Potential Related Party Transactions.
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Related Party Transactions will be brought
to management’s and the Board’s attention in a number of ways. Each of the Company’s directors and executive
officers shall inform the Chairman of the Committee of any potential Related Party Transactions. In addition, each such director
and executive officer shall complete a questionnaire on an annual basis designed to elicit information about any potential Related
Party Transactions.
Any potential Related Party Transactions
that are brought to the Committee’s attention shall be analyzed by the Committee, in consultation with outside counsel or
members of management, as appropriate, to determine whether the transaction or relationship does, in fact, constitute a Related
Party Transaction requiring compliance with this Policy.
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C.
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Review and Approval of Related Party Transactions.
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At each of its meetings, the Committee
shall be provided with the details of each new, existing or proposed Related Party Transaction, including the terms of the transaction,
any contractual restrictions that the Company has already committed to, the business purpose of the transaction, and the benefits
to the Company and to the relevant Related Party. In determining whether to approve a Related Party Transaction, the Committee
shall consider, among other factors, the following factors to the extent relevant to the Related Party Transaction:
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•
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whether the terms of the Related Party Transaction are fair to the Company and on the same basis as would apply if the transaction did not involve a Related Party;
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•
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whether there are business reasons for the Company to enter into the Related Party Transaction;
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•
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whether the Related Party Transaction would impair the independence of an outside director;
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•
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whether the Related Party Transaction would present an improper conflict of interest for any director or executive officer of the Company, taking into account the size of the transaction, the overall financial position of the director, executive officer or Related Party, the direct or indirect nature of the director’s, executive officer’s or Related Party’s interest in the transaction and the ongoing nature of any proposed relationship, and any other factors the Committee deems relevant; and
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•
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any pre-existing contractual obligations.
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Any member of the Committee who has an
interest in the transaction under discussion shall abstain from voting on the approval of the Related Party Transaction, but may,
if so requested by the Chairman of the Committee, participate in some or all of the Committee’s discussions of the Related
Party Transaction. Upon completion of its review of the transaction, the Committee may determine to permit or to prohibit the Related
Party Transaction.
A Related Party Transaction entered into
without pre-approval of the Committee shall not be deemed to violate this Policy, or be invalid or unenforceable, so
long as the transaction is brought to the Committee as promptly as reasonably practical after it is entered into or after it becomes
reasonably apparent that the transaction is covered by this Policy.
A Related Party Transaction entered
into prior to the effective date of this Charter shall not be required to be reapproved by the Committee.
8. INVESTIGATIONS AND STUDIES; OUTSIDE ADVISERS.
The Committee may conduct or authorize
investigations into or studies of matters within the Committee’s scope of responsibilities, and may retain, at the Company’s
expense, such independent counsel or other consultants or advisers as it deems necessary.
While the Committee has the duties and
responsibilities set forth in this charter, the Committee is not responsible for preparing or certifying the financial statements,
for planning or conducting the audit, or for determining whether the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate
and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
In fulfilling their responsibilities hereunder,
it is recognized that members of the Committee are not full-time employees of the Company, it is not the duty or responsibility
of the Committee or its members to conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures
or to set auditor independence standards, and each member of the Committee shall be entitled to rely on (i) the integrity
of those persons and organizations within and outside the Company from which it receives information and (ii) the accuracy
of the financial and other information provided to the Committee absent actual knowledge to the contrary.
Nothing contained in this Charter is intended
to create, or should be construed as creating, any responsibility or liability of the members of the Committee, except to the extent
otherwise provided under applicable federal or state law.
Exhibit 99.2
CHARTER OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
MUDRICK CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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I.
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PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE
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The purposes of the Compensation Committee
(the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation (the
“Company”) shall be to oversee the Company’s compensation and employee benefit plans and practices, including
its executive compensation plans, and its incentive-compensation and equity-based plans; to review and discuss with management
the Company’s compensation discussion and analysis (“CD&A”) to be included in the Company’s annual
proxy statement or annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”);
to prepare the Compensation Committee Report as required by the rules of the SEC; and to perform such further functions as
may be consistent with this Charter or assigned by applicable law, the Company’s charter or bylaws or the Board.
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II.
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COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE
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The Committee shall consist of two or more
directors as determined from time to time by the Board. Each member of the Committee shall be qualified to serve on the Committee
pursuant to the requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market (the “NASDAQ”), and any additional requirements that the Board
deems appropriate. Members of the Committee shall also qualify as “non-employee directors” within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),
and “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The
chairperson of the Committee shall be designated by the Board,
provided
that if the Board does not so designate
a chairperson, the members of the Committee, by majority vote, may designate a chairperson. Each Committee member shall have one
vote. Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled by majority vote of the Board. No member of the Committee shall be removed except
by majority vote of the Board.
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III.
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MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES OF THE COMMITTEE
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The Committee shall meet as often as it
determines necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities, but no less than twice annually. The Committee, in its
discretion, may ask members of management or others to attend its meetings (or portions thereof) and to provide pertinent information
as necessary, provided, that the Chief Executive Officer of the Company may not be present during any portion of a Committee meeting
in which deliberation or any vote regarding his or her compensation occurs.
A majority of the members of the Committee
present in person or by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating
in the meeting can hear each other shall constitute a quorum.
The Committee shall maintain minutes of
its meetings and records relating to those meetings and shall report regularly to the Board on its activities, as appropriate.
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IV.
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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE
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A.
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Executive
Compensation
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The Committee shall have the following duties
and responsibilities with respect to the Company’s executive compensation plans:
a) To review at least annually the goals
and objectives of the Company’s executive compensation plans, and amend, or recommend that the Board amend, these goals and
objectives if the Committee deems it appropriate.
b) To review at least annually the Company’s
executive compensation plans in light of the Company’s goals and objectives with respect to such plans, and, if the Committee
deems it appropriate, adopt, or recommend to the Board the adoption of, new, or the amendment of existing, executive compensation
plans.
c) To evaluate annually the performance
of the Chief Executive Officer in light of the goals and objectives of the Company’s executive compensation plans, and, either
as a Committee or together with the other independent directors (as directed by the Board), determine and approve the Chief Executive
Officer’s compensation level based on this evaluation. In determining the long-term incentive component of the Chief
Executive Officer’s compensation, the Committee shall consider factors as it determines relevant, which may include, for
example, the Company’s performance and relative stockholder return, the value of similar awards to chief executive officers
of comparable companies, and the awards given to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company in past years. The Committee may
discuss the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation with the Board if it chooses to do so.
d) To evaluate annually the performance
of the other executive officers of the Company in light of the goals and objectives of the Company’s executive compensation
plans, and either as a Committee or together with the other independent directors (as directed by the Board), determine and approve
the compensation of such other executive officers. To the extent that long-term incentive compensation is a component of such
executive officer’s compensation, the Committee shall consider all relevant factors in determining the appropriate level
of such compensation, including the factors applicable with respect to the Chief Executive Officer.
e) To evaluate annually the appropriate
level of compensation for Board and Committee service by non-employee directors.
f) Review and recommend to the Board the
adoption of or changes to the compensation of the Company’s independent directors.
g) To review and approve any severance
or termination arrangements to be made with any executive officer of the Company.
h) To perform such duties and responsibilities
as may be assigned to the Board or the Committee under the terms of any executive compensation plan.
i) To review perquisites or other personal
benefits to the Company’s executive officers and directors and recommend any changes to the Board.
j) To consider the results of the most
recent stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation as required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, and, to the extent
the Committee determines it appropriate to do so, take such results into consideration in connection with the review and approval
of executive officer compensation.
k) To review and discuss with management
the Company’s CD&A, and based on that review and discussion, to recommend to the Board that the CD&A be included
in the Company’s annual proxy statement or annual report on Form 10-K.
l) To review compensation arrangements
for the Company’s employees to evaluate whether incentive and other forms of pay encourage unnecessary or excessive risk
taking, and review and discuss, at least annually, the relationship between risk management policies and practices, corporate strategy
and the Company’s compensation arrangements.
m) To the extent it deems necessary, review
and approve the terms of any compensation “clawback” or similar policy or agreement between the Company and the Company’s
executive officers or other employees subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
n) Review, recommend to the Board, and
administer all plans that require “disinterested administration” under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
o) To prepare the Compensation Committee
Report in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC for inclusion in the Company’s annual proxy statement
or annual report on Form 10-K.
p) Retain (at the Company’s expense)
outside consultants and obtain assistance from members of management as the Committee deems appropriate in the exercise of its
authority.
q) To perform such other functions as assigned
by law, the Company’s charter or bylaws or the Board.
r) Make reports and recommendations to
the Board within the scope of its functions and advise the officers of the Company regarding various personnel matters as may be
raised with the Committee.
s) Approve all special perquisites, special
cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for the Company’s executive officers.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in the foregoing, the Committee shall have sole discretion and authority with respect to any action regarding compensation payable
to the Chief Executive Officer or other executive officers of the Company that the Committee intends to constitute “qualified
performance-based compensation” for purposes of section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and
the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
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B.
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General
Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans
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The Committee shall have the following duties
and responsibilities with respect to the Company’s general compensation and employee benefit plans, including incentive-compensation
and equity-based plans:
(a) To review at least annually the goals
and objectives of the Company’s general compensation plans and other employee benefit plans, including incentive-compensation
and equity-based plans, and amend, or recommend that the Board amend, these goals and objectives if the Committee deems it appropriate.
(b) To review at least annually the Company’s
general compensation plans and other employee benefit plans, including incentive-compensation and equity-based plans, in light
of the goals and objectives of these plans, and recommend that the Board amend these plans if the Committee deems it appropriate.
(c) To review all equity-compensation plans
to be submitted for stockholder approval under the NASDAQ listing standards, and to review and, in the Committee’s sole discretion,
approve all equity-compensation plans that are exempt from such stockholder approval requirement.
(d) Approve all special perquisites, special
cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for the Company’s employees.
(e) To perform such duties and responsibilities
as may be assigned to the Board or the Committee under the terms of any compensation or other employee benefit plan, including
any incentive-compensation or equity-based plan.
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V.
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ROLE OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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The Chief Executive Officer may make, and
the Committee may consider, recommendations to the Committee regarding the Company’s compensation and employee benefit plans
and practices, including its executive compensation plans, its incentive-compensation and equity-based plans with respect to executive
officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer) and the Company’s director compensation arrangements.
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VI.
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DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
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The Committee may form subcommittees for
any purpose that the Committee deems appropriate and may delegate to such subcommittees such power and authority as the Committee
deems appropriate;
provided, however,
that no subcommittee shall consist of fewer than two members; and
provided
further
that the Committee shall not delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by any law, regulation
or listing standard to be exercised by the Committee as a whole.
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VII.
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EVALUATION OF THE COMMITTEE
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The Committee shall, no less frequently
than annually, evaluate its performance. In conducting this review, the Committee shall evaluate whether this Charter appropriately
addresses the matters that are or should be within its scope and shall recommend such changes as it deems necessary or appropriate. The
Committee shall address all matters that the Committee considers relevant to its performance, including at least the following: the
adequacy, appropriateness and quality of the information and recommendations presented by the Committee to the Board, the manner
in which they were discussed or debated, and whether the number and length of meetings of the Committee were adequate for the Committee
to complete its work in a thorough and thoughtful manner.
The Committee shall deliver to the Board
a report, which may be oral, setting forth the results of its evaluation, including any recommended amendments to this Charter
and any recommended changes to the Company’s or the Board’s policies or procedures.
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VIII.
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INVESTIGATIONS AND STUDIES; OUTSIDE ADVISERS
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The Committee may conduct or authorize investigations
into or studies of matters within the Committee’s scope of responsibilities, and may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain
the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser. The Committee shall be directly responsible for the
appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser retained by
the Committee, the expense of which shall be borne by the Company. The Committee may select a compensation consultant, legal
counsel or other adviser to the Committee only after taking into consideration the following:
(a) The provision of other services to the
Company by the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser;
(b) The amount of fees received from the
Company by the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser, as a percentage of the total revenue
of the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser;
(c) The policies and procedures of the person
that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest:
(d) Any business or personal relationship
of the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser with a member of the Committee;
(e) Any stock of the Company owned by the
compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser; and
(f) Any business or personal relationship
of the compensation consultant, legal counsel, other adviser or the person employing the adviser with an executive officer of the
Company.
The Committee shall conduct the independence
assessment with respect to any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser that provides advice to the Committee, other than: (i) in-house legal
counsel; and (ii) any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser whose role is limited to the following activities
for which no disclosure would be required under Item 407(e)(3)(iii) of Regulation S-K: consulting on any broad-based
plan that does not discriminate in scope, terms, or operation, in favor of executive officers or directors of the Company, and
that is available generally to all salaried employees; or providing information that either is not customized for the Company or
that is customized based on parameters that are not developed by the compensation consultant, and about which the compensation
consultant does not provide advice.
Nothing herein requires a compensation consultant,
legal counsel or other compensation adviser to be independent, only that the Committee consider the enumerated independence factors
before selecting or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other compensation adviser. The Committee
may select or receive advice from any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other compensation adviser it prefers, including
ones that are not independent, after considering the six independence factors outlined above.
Nothing herein shall be construed: (1) to
require the Committee to implement or act consistently with the advice or recommendations of the compensation consultant, legal
counsel or other adviser to the Committee; or (2) to affect the ability or obligation of the Committee to exercise its own
judgment in fulfillment of its duties.
Any amendment or other modification of this
Charter shall be made and approved by the full Board.
If required by the rules of the SEC or NASDAQ,
this Charter, as amended from time to time, shall be made available to the public on the Company’s website.
* * *
While the members of the Committee have
the duties and responsibilities set forth in this Charter, nothing contained in this Charter is intended to create, or should be
construed as creating, any responsibility or liability of members of the Committee, except to the extent otherwise provided under
applicable federal or state law.
Exhibit 99.3
Consent to be
Named as a Director Nominee
In connection with the filing by Mudrick
Capital Acquisition Corporation of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of
the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation in the Registration
Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
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Dated: January 26, 2018
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/s/ David Kirsch
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David Kirsch
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Exhibit 99.4
Consent to be
Named as a Director Nominee
In connection with the filing by Mudrick
Capital Acquisition Corporation of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of
the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation in the Registration
Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
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Dated: January 26, 2018
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/s/ Dennis Stogsdill
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Dennis Stogsdill
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Exhibit 99.5
Consent to be
Named as a Director Nominee
In connection with the filing by Mudrick
Capital Acquisition Corporation of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of
the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation in the Registration
Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
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Dated: January 26, 2018
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/s/ Timothy Daileader
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Timothy Daileader
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Exhibit 99.6
Consent to be
Named as a Director Nominee
In connection with the filing by Mudrick
Capital Acquisition Corporation of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of
the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corporation in the Registration
Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
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Dated: January 26, 2018
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/s/ Brian Kushner
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Brian Kushner
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