As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 2020.
Registration No. 333-239342
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 3
to
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 6770 | 85-0930174 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
787 Eleventh Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, New York 10019
(212) 813-3700
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrants Principal Executive Offices)
Steve Milankov, Esq.
787 Eleventh Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, New York 10019
(212) 813-3700
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Stephen Fraidin, Esq.
Gregory P. Patti, Jr., Esq.
|
Paul D. Tropp, Esq.
Christopher Capuzzi, Esq. Ropes & Gray LLP 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 (212) 596-9000 |
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, as amended (the Securities Act), 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
||||||||
Title of Each Class of
Security Being Registered |
Amount
Registered |
Proposed
Maximum Offering Price per Security(1) |
Proposed
Aggregate Offering Price(1) |
Amount of
Registration Fee |
||||
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one-ninth of one redeemable warrant |
200,000,000 Units | $20.00 | $4,000,000,000 | $519,200.00 | ||||
Shares of Class A common stock included as part of the units |
200,000,000 Shares | | | (2) | ||||
Redeemable warrants included as part of the units |
22,222,222 Warrants | | | (2) | ||||
Redeemable warrants to be distributed on a pro-rata basis to the holders of record of Class A common stock issued in this offering that are outstanding immediately after any redemptions of Class A common stock in connection with the initial business combination(3) |
44,444,444 Warrants | | | (2) | ||||
Contingent rights(4) |
200,000,000 Rights | | | (2) | ||||
Total |
$4,000,000,000 | $519,200.00(5) | ||||||
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(1) |
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. |
(2) |
No fee pursuant to Rule 457(g). |
(3) |
Such warrants will be distributed on a pro-rata basis to the holders of the remaining shares of Class A common stock that were issued in this offering that remain outstanding immediately after we redeem the shares of Class A common stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with the initial business combination. Such distribution will occur immediately following the time of such redemptions, and immediately prior to the closing of the initial business combination. |
(4) |
The contingent rights refer to the right attached to each share of Class A common stock issued in this offering to receive a distribution, on a pro-rata basis, of 44,444,444 redeemable warrants, contingent upon such share of Class A common stock not being redeemed in connection with our initial business combination, and with the number of redeemable warrants to be distributed in respect of each unredeemed share of Class A common stock being contingent upon the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock that are redeemed. Such rights will remain attached to our Class A common stock and are not separately transferable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any form of certificate or instrument. |
(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 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 jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 16, 2020
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
$4,000,000,000
Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd.
200,000,000 Units
Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd., a Delaware 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 throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. Our sponsor, Pershing Square TH Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Sponsor), is an affiliate of Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. (PSCM), a registered investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, with approximately $10.3 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2020. Our Sponsor is wholly owned by Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd., a Guernsey company, Pershing Square, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Pershing Square International, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company, each of which is an investment fund managed by PSCM (the Pershing Square Funds).
This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of $20.00 and consists of one share of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (our Class A Common Stock), and one-ninth of one redeemable warrant (or 22,222,222 redeemable warrants in the aggregate, which we refer to as the Distributable Redeemable Warrants). We expect the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units to begin separate trading on the NYSE on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus, subject to the conditions described below. At such time, our public stockholders will hold Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants separately and will no longer hold units, and the units will no longer trade or be listed on the NYSE. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that an aggregate of 44,444,444 redeemable warrants will be distributed on a pro-rata basis only to holders of record of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering (whether acquired in this offering or afterward) that are outstanding after the time at which we redeem any shares of Class A Common Stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination (which redemption time we refer to as the Initial Business Combination Redemption Time). We refer to such warrants as the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants and, collectively with the Distributable Redeemable Warrants, as the Redeemable Warrants. The Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed at the Tontine Distribution Time, which will be immediately after the Initial Business Combination Redemption Time and immediately before the closing of our initial business combination.
The right of any public stockholder to receive Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants with respect to each share of Class A Common Stock they hold is contingent upon such share of Class A Common Stock not being redeemed in connection with our initial business combination. The number of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants to be distributed in respect of each share of unredeemed Class A Common Stock is contingent upon the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are redeemed in connection with our initial business combination. The right to receive Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will remain attached to our Class A Common Stock and will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable. Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering (whether acquired by the holder thereof during or after this offering) will be entitled to receive the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants only in respect of shares of Class A Common Stock that they have not redeemed.
Each whole redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A Common Stock at a price of $23.00 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus, and only whole Redeemable Warrants are exercisable. The Redeemable Warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination or 12 months from the closing of this offering, and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation, as described in this prospectus. No fractional Redeemable Warrants will be issued upon the separation or distribution of the Redeemable Warrants, as applicable, no cash will be paid in lieu of issuing fractional Redeemable Warrants and only whole Redeemable Warrants will trade.
Prior to this offering, we entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement with each of the Pershing Square Funds (which, in such capacity, we refer to collectively as the Forward Purchasers). Pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of units (which we refer to as the Committed Forward Purchase Units), which will have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. The purchase of the 50,000,000 Committed Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, with the full amount to have been purchased no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers obligation to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units may not be transferred to any other parties.
The Forward Purchase Agreement also provides that the Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase up to an additional aggregate of $2,000,000,000 of units (which we refer to as the Additional Forward Purchase Units), which will also have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. Any elections to purchase the up to 100,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units will also take place in one or more private placements, in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. We and the Forward Purchasers may determine, by mutual agreement, to increase the number of Additional Forward Purchase Units at any time prior to our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers right to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units may be transferred, in whole or in part, to any entity that is managed by PSCM, but not to third parties. The Forward Purchasers obligation or right, as applicable, to purchase the Forward Purchase Units will be allocated among the Forward Purchasers from time to time as described herein. In addition, certain of our independent directors have committed to purchase an aggregate of $6,000,000 of such units, as further described herein, which, collectively with the Committed Forward Purchase Units and Additional Forward Purchase Units, we refer to as the Forward Purchase Units. The proceeds of all purchases of Forward Purchase Units will be deposited into our operating account.
We refer to the shares of Class A Common Stock and warrants constituting the Forward Purchase Units as the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, respectively, and collectively with the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Forward Purchase Warrants, the Forward Purchase Securities. The Forward Purchase Shares will have no right to receive any Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, no redemption rights in connection with our initial business combination or in connection with certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have no rights to liquidating distributions from our trust account in the event that we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. The Forward Purchase Warrants will have no right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement prior to our initial business combination, except with respect to certain provisions relating solely to the transfer of the Forward Purchase Securities. The Forward Purchase Securities, as long as they are held by the Forward Purchasers or their permitted transferees, will have certain transfer restrictions and registration rights. In all other respects, the terms of the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, respectively, will be identical to the terms of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the Redeemable Warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.
Concurrently with this offering, our Sponsor will purchase warrants (which we refer to as the Sponsor Warrants) for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of this offering was determined by us to be $65,000,000 in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. The valuation firm reviewed and discussed with us our methodology, procedures and assumptions for valuing the Sponsor Warrants (see Description of SecuritiesValuation of Sponsor Warrants.) Taking into account such consultation, we concluded that our methodology, procedures and assumptions are reasonable. The Sponsor Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination, and will only then be exercisable for that number of shares constituting
5.95% of the common shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis (including all common stock issuable upon the conversion or exercise of outstanding securities, whether or not convertible or exercisable at such time) at the time immediately following our initial business combination, at an exercise price equal to $24.00 per common share of the post-combination business. The Sponsor Warrants will have a term of 10 years from the consummation of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will not be redeemable by us and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash). The Sponsor Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and, along with the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Sponsor Warrants, will have certain registration rights described herein.
Each of our directors, other than William A. Ackman, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has been given the opportunity to purchase, in a private placement concurrently with this offering, a warrant (each of which we refer to as a Director Warrant) for a purchase price of up to $812,500. Our directors have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $2,837,500 of Director Warrants. Each Director Warrant will be exercisable for a percentage of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis) calculated as the purchase price of such Director Warrant divided by the purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants, multiplied by 5.95%, reflecting fair market value as determined with respect to the Sponsor Warrants. The Director Warrants will have terms identical to those of the Sponsor Warrants (other than with respect to certain permitted transfers), and have an exercise price per common share of $24.00. The Sponsor Warrants and the Director Warrants that our directors have agreed to purchase will be exercisable, in the aggregate, for that number of shares constituting approximately 6.21% of the common shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis. The Director Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and, along with the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Director Warrants, will have certain registration rights described herein.
Of the proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, approximately $35,000,000 will be deposited in the trust account described below, and the remainder will be held by us outside of the trust account (in our operating account) and used to pay expenses in connection with this offering and operating expenses, including search costs for identifying a potential initial business combination and other expenses related to executing a potential initial business combination.
Unlike other blank check companies, our Sponsor is not being afforded the opportunity to purchase 20% of our stock at a nominal price; our Sponsor will, instead, purchase the Sponsor Warrants at its fair market value as described above, with an exercise price of $24.00 per share, as will our independent directors for their Director Warrants. Our Sponsor and our independent directors will only participate in the value of our company if our stock price is at least 20% higher than the initial offering price in this offering (if such warrants are then-exercisable). Our Sponsor and directors are paying fair market value (at the date of this offering) for the opportunity to realize any such gain.
As a result of this offering and the committed forward purchase, we expect to have a minimum of approximately $5,000,000,000 in equity capital (subject to redemptions in the case of the Class A Common Stock offered hereby) for use in our initial business combination (assuming that the additional forward purchase is not consummated and assuming no redemptions of the Class A Common Stock), and as much as $7,000,000,000 (assuming the additional forward purchase is consummated in full and assuming no redemptions of the Class A Common Stock), in each case before expenses and not including the $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units certain of our directors have agreed to purchase. We believe that this large amount of potential equity capital distinguishes us from other blank check companies and will be attractive to potential large acquisition candidates in our initial business combination.
We will provide the holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering (whom we refer to as our public stockholders) with the opportunity to have all or a portion of such shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account described below as of five business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock that were sold as part of the units in this offering, subject to the limitations described herein. If we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24-month period), we will redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the then-outstanding number of such shares, subject to applicable law and as further described herein.
Per Unit | Total | |||||||
Public offering price |
$ | 20.00 |
$
|
4,000,000,000
|
|
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Up-front underwriting discount(1) |
$ | 0.18 | $ | 35,000,000 | ||||
Deferred underwriting commissions(2) |
$ | 0.28 | $ | 56,250,000 | ||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us |
$ | 19.54 | $ | 3,908,750,000 |
(1) |
Includes an underwriting discount of (i) $0.40 per unit for gross offering proceeds up to $1,000,000,000, (ii) $0.30 per unit for gross offering proceeds from $1,000,000,000 up to $1,500,000,000, (iii) $0.20 per unit for gross offering proceeds from $1,500,000,000 up to $1,750,000,000 and (iv) $0.00 per unit for gross offering proceeds in excess of $1,750,000,000, with aggregate underwriting discounts (other than retail selling concessions) in excess of $30,000,000 ($0.20 per unit for gross offering proceeds from $1,750,000,000 up to $2,000,000,000 and $0.10 for gross offering proceeds of $2,000,000,000 and above) being deferred. Includes the entire additional aggregate amount of the up to $5,000,000 for selling concessions of $0.20 per unit for units sold to retail investors. We have not granted the underwriters any over-allotment option. |
(2) |
Includes $0.28 per unit, or $56,250,000 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 aggregate deferred underwriting commissions includes (i) the deferral of any underwriting discounts and commissions, other than the retail selling concessions, in excess of $30,000,000 (a deferral of $12,500,000), plus (ii) a 2.0% rate applied to the gross offering proceeds, subject to a $56,250,000 cap on the amount of such aggregate deferred underwriting commissions. If the amount of proceeds from the trust account paid in connection with the redemption rights of public stockholders, together with the amount of capital raised in private placements in connection with the initial business combination from investors other than our Sponsor or its affiliates (the Net Redemptions), results in us having less than $2,000,000,000 of cash available upon consummation of our initial business combination, only 25% of the aggregate deferred underwriting commissions will be payable. If such amount of cash available is $2,000,000,000 or greater, 50% of the aggregate deferred underwriting commissions will be payable, and the remaining 50% of the aggregate deferred underwriting commissions will be subject to a pro-rata reduction based on the amount of Net Redemptions as a percentage of the total public proceeds of this offering. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriters only upon completion of our initial business combination, as described in this prospectus. See the section of this prospectus entitled Underwriting for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters. |
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 the section of this prospectus entitled Risk Factors beginning on page 46 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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 , 2020.
Joint Book-Running Managers
Citigroup | Jefferies | UBS Investment Bank |
Co-lead Managers
CastleOak Securities, L.P. | Loop Capital Markets | Ramirez & Co., Inc. | Siebert Williams Shank |
Co-Managers
Academy Securities | C.L. King & Associates | Roberts and Ryan |
, 2020
Our Sponsor owns 100 shares of our Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (Class B Common Stock) each of which carries that number of votes such that, in the aggregate, the holders of Class B Common Stock will have 20.0% of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock immediately following this offering. Because the voting power held by each share of Class B Common Stock will not be adjusted following this offering, upon the issuance of any Forward Purchase Units, the Class B Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, less than 20.0% of the voting power of the then-issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. The shares of Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock at a one-to-one ratio at the time of our initial business combination.
Currently, there is no public market for our units, Class A Common Stock or Redeemable Warrants. We have applied to list our units on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol PSTH.U. We expect that our units will be listed on the NYSE on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on the NYSE. The Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC and UBS Securities LLC inform us of their decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. At the time that the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units begin separate trading, holders will hold the separate securities and no longer hold units (without any action needing to be taken by the holders), and the units will no longer trade or be listed on the NYSE. We expect that the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants will be listed on the NYSE under the symbols PSTH and PSTH.WS, respectively. The Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will trade on the first trading day following their issuance at the Tontine Distribution Time, will be fully fungible with the Distributable Redeemable Warrants, and will also trade under the symbol PSTH.WS.
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants as described in this prospectus, $4,000,000,000 ($20.00 per unit) will be deposited into a J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. trust account located in the United States, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and approximately $26,337,800 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. Except with respect to any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, funds deposited in the trust account 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 the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are 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 allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (ii) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable) or (iii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of the shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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.
We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters 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.
1 | ||||
46 | ||||
85 | ||||
86 | ||||
91 | ||||
92 | ||||
94 | ||||
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
95 | |||
103 | ||||
138 | ||||
147 | ||||
152 | ||||
158 | ||||
182 | ||||
192 | ||||
199 | ||||
199 | ||||
199 | ||||
F-1 |
i
This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. As this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making an investment decision. 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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Additional Forward Purchase Units are to the up to 100,000,000 units (or such greater amount as determined by mutual agreement of the company and the Forward Purchasers), each consisting of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant, that the Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement; |
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amended and restated certificate of incorporation are to our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation; |
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Affiliate Transferees are to any entity that is managed by PSCM; |
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we, us, company or our company are to Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd.; |
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common stock are to our Class A Common Stock and our Class B Common Stock, collectively; |
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common shares are to the common stock, membership interests, units or other equity security of the continuing publicly traded corporation following our initial business combination, if such post-combination business is not the company, and to our Class A Common Stock if we are the continuing publicly traded corporation following our initial business combination; |
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Committed Forward Purchase Units are to the 50,000,000 units, each consisting of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant, that the Forward Purchasers have committed to purchase pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement; |
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Director Forward Purchase Agreement are to an agreement providing for the sale of an aggregate amount of $6,000,000 of our Forward Purchase Units to certain of our independent directors, in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the forward purchase directors determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination; |
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Director Forward Purchase Units are to the Forward Purchase Units to be purchased by certain of our independent directors pursuant to the Director Forward Purchase Agreement; |
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Director Forward Purchasers are to those of our independent directors who are party to the Director Forward Purchase Agreement and have agreed to purchase our Forward Purchase Units pursuant thereto; |
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Director Warrants are to the warrants to be purchased by our directors, other than Mr. Ackman, in private placements simultaneously with the closing of this offering, at a purchase price of up to $812,500 per director, which will be exercisable, in whole or in part, for a percentage of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis) proportionate to the purchase price of such warrant relative to the purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants, and which will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights, and otherwise have terms identical to those of the Sponsor Warrants; |
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Forward Purchase Agreement are to an agreement providing for the sale of our Forward Purchase Units to the Pershing Square Funds (in their capacity as the Forward Purchasers) or, in the case of the |
1
Additional Forward Purchase Units, to the Affiliate Transferees, in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination; |
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Forward Purchase Securities are to the Forward Purchase Shares, Forward Purchase Warrants, and shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Forward Purchase Warrants; |
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Forward Purchase Shares are to the shares of our Class A Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement and to certain directors purchasing Forward Purchase Units, which will generally have identical terms to those of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, except as described herein; |
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Forward Purchase Warrants are to the warrants to be issued pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement and to certain directors purchasing Forward Purchase Units, which will generally have identical terms to those of the Redeemable Warrants issued in this offering, except as described herein; |
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Forward Purchase Units are to the Committed Forward Purchase Units and the Additional Forward Purchase Units issuable pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement, and the Forward Purchase Units issuable to the forward purchase directors; |
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Forward Purchasers are to the Pershing Square Funds and, for the avoidance of doubt, such term does not include the Director Forward Purchasers; |
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Initial Business Combination Redemption Time are to the time at which we redeem the shares of Class A Common Stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination, which will occur prior to the consummation our initial business combination; |
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Management or our Management Team are to our directors, director nominees and officers; |
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Pershing Square Funds are to Pershing Square, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Pershing Square International, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company, and Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd., a Guernsey company, which funds are managed by PSCM and are, collectively, the members of our Sponsor and the Forward Purchasers; |
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public stockholders are to the holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering (whether acquired during or after this offering), including our Sponsor and its affiliates and our Management Team, to the extent that such persons or entities purchase shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering (whether acquired during or after this offering), provided that such status as a public stockholder shall only exist with respect to such shares; |
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Redeemable Warrants are to our Distributable Redeemable Warrants included in the units issued in this offering and to the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants issuable to the remaining holders of our outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering (after we redeem any shares of Class A Common Stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination), and, for the avoidance of doubt, the term Redeemable Warrants does not include the Forward Purchase Warrants; |
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Registration Rights Agreement are to an agreement requiring the company, following our initial business combination, to register for resale certain securities held by our Sponsor, director nominees, the Forward Purchasers and their permitted transferees; |
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Sponsor are to Pershing Square TH Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; |
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Sponsor Warrants are to the warrant purchased by our Sponsor in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering that will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination, and will only then be exercisable for that |
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number of shares constituting 5.95% of the common shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis as of the time immediately following the initial business combination; and |
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Tontine Distribution Time are to the time at which the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed, which will occur immediately after the Initial Business Combination Redemption Time and immediately prior to the closing of our initial business combination. |
Each unit has an offering price of $20.00 and consists of one share of our Class A Common Stock and one-ninth of one Distributable Redeemable Warrant (or 22,222,222 Distributable Redeemable Warrants in the aggregate). In addition, an aggregate of 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed on a pro-rata basis to holders of record of our outstanding Class A Common Stock at the Tontine Distribution Time. Each whole redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A Common Stock at a price of $23.00 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus, and only whole Redeemable Warrants are exercisable. No fractional Redeemable Warrants will be issued upon the separation or distribution of our Redeemable Warrants, no cash will be paid in lieu of fractional Redeemable Warrants, and only whole Redeemable Warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least nine units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole Distributable Redeemable Warrant. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock that a public stockholder must hold to receive a whole Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrant after the Tontine Distribution Time will depend on the size of the pro-rata allocation of the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants.
Registered trademarks referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
Our Company
General
We are a newly organized, blank check company incorporated in Delaware 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, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination.
Our Sponsor is advised by Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. (Pershing Square or PSCM), a registered investment adviser under the Investment Act of 1940, as amended, and the members of our Sponsor are the Pershing Funds.
Pershing Square was established in 2003, and had approximately $10.3 billion of assets under management and $8.9 billion of net assets under management as of June 30, 2020. Pershing Square has demonstrated a strong track record of historical performance. The compound annual rate of return and cumulative total return (net of fees) of Pershing Square, L.P, the investment fund managed by Pershing Square with the longest track record, from its inception on January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2020, has materially exceeded that of its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, over the same period.
In addition to Pershing Square, L.P., Pershing Square has managed three other investment funds, each of which (like Pershing Square, L.P.) has invested in various public securities over its period of operation. The compound annual rate of return and cumulative total return (net of fees) of two of these other funds have also materially exceeded that of the S&P 500 Index, while one fund has not exceeded the S&P 500 Index (in each case from the inception of such fund until its closing or as of June 30, 2020, as applicable). Pershing Square has also managed six co-investment vehicles, each of which invested in a single, publicly traded company. The
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compound annual rate of return and cumulative total return (net of fees) of five of the co-investment vehicles materially exceeded that of the S&P 500 Index over their respective periods of operation, while one co-investment fund substantially underperformed the S&P 500 Index over its period of operation.
Pershing Square also served as co-sponsor of Justice Holdings, Ltd., which is the only special purpose acquisition company that Pershing Square has previously sponsored or co-sponsored. Justice Holdings, Ltd. raised approximately $1.5 billion in its initial public offering (including a $458 million investment by Pershing Square), and subsequently merged with Burger King Worldwide Inc., and later, Tim Hortons, to form Restaurant Brands International Inc. Pershing Square, through certain of the funds it manages, remains the second -largest investor in Restaurant Brands International Inc. The stock of Restaurant Brands International, Inc. has generated a compound annual total return of 19% since its merger with Justice Holdings, Ltd. in 2012 (as of June 30, 2020).
Our Management Team is led by William A. Ackman, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who will work closely with the PSCM investment team and the other employees of, and resources available to, PSCM to fulfill our corporate mission. Mr. Ackman has spent 28 years in the investment management industry, the last 17 years as CEO of PSCM. PSCMs investment strategy involves the purchase of large minority stakes in high-quality, large capitalization, growth companies during periods when they have underperformed their potential. By working with management teams and boards of directors, PSCM has assisted its portfolio companies in creating substantial long-term value.
The Pershing Square Investment Team is comprised of seven investment professionals with tenures at Pershing Square of 3 to 16 years, who prior to Pershing Square, served in analyst and associate roles at Apollo, Blackstone, KKR, Goldman Sachs, and Hellman & Friedman. PSCM has 30 other accounting, legal, finance, and technology professionals who will support our company on an as-needed basis.
We believe that we will have substantial competitive advantages when compared with other blank check companies and other sources of equity capital, such as private equity, growth equity and hedge funds, among others. We have these competitive advantages because of the amount of committed capital we have, our willingness to acquire a minority stake, our ability to give a private company access to public equity markets and the lower cost of capital of our structure compared to other blank check companies.
We will have the largest amount of committed capital of any blank check company upon the completion of this offering. As a result of this offering and the Committed Forward Purchase Units, we expect to have a minimum of approximately $5,000,000,000 in equity capital for use in our initial business combination (assuming that the Additional Forward Purchase is not consummated and assuming no redemptions of the Class A Common Stock), and as much as $7,000,000,000 (assuming the Additional Forward Purchase is consummated in full and assuming no redemptions of the Class A Common Stock offered hereby), in each case, before expenses and not including the $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units certain of our directors have agreed to purchase.
We intend to merge with one company through a transaction in which our stockholders (just prior to the initial business combination) will own a minority interest in the company that is created as a result of the initial business combination. We believe that a substantial majority of other investors in private companies are not prepared to (or are not able to) deploy $5,000,000,000 or more of cash in the acquisition of a minority interest in a company. While comparably sized or larger investment funds generally seek to acquire controlling or 100% interests in a company, we are willing to execute a transaction in which our stockholders will own a minority stake in a large-capitalization private company. As a result, we believe we will be one of the largest sources of cash equity capital for a private, single-company, minority investment in the world.
As the largest blank check company currently pursuing a business combination, we can offer a larger-capitalization private company (with market capitalization of $10,000,000,000 or more) the opportunity to gain
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access to the public equity markets, without such company having to conduct its own initial public offering (IPO). Through a merger, we will be, in effect, facilitating the IPO of a large private company, enabling a private business to avoid the inherent costs and risks associated with the traditional IPO process.
We intend to pursue merger opportunities with private, large capitalization, high-quality, growth companies. We will use PSCMs substantial experience in identifying, analyzing, and determining business quality and the sustainable competitive advantages of a target company, as well as PSCMs due diligence and negotiation expertise in executing a transaction.
We believe that our unique structure and our willingness to acquire a minority interest in a company will help facilitate the completion of a transaction on attractive terms. We believe that this unique structure will result in greater alignment and substantially less dilution than other blank check companies offer to a potential merger partner or stockholders, as explained in further detail below.
We believe the price at which we can, through a merger, acquire a minority interest in a large, high-quality business is substantially lower than the pricewhich would generally include a substantial control premiumthat would be required to acquire a controlling interest in the same company. Because of PSCMs large commitment of capital to us and the economic incentives created by our Tontine warrant structure, we can provide greater certainty to a merger partner of a large amount of committed funds and a successful deal.
Affiliates of our Sponsor and our directors are investing a minimum of $1,006,000,000 of capital at the same price as our public stockholders. Concurrently with this offering, our Sponsor will purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of this offering was determined by the company to be $65,000,000 in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. The valuation firm reviewed and discussed with us our methodology, procedures and assumptions for valuing the Sponsor Warrants. Taking into account such consultation, we concluded that our methodology, procedures and assumptions are reasonable (see Description of SecuritiesValuation of Sponsor Warrants). Since the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrant have an exercise price that is 20% above the price of the units being sold in this offering, these warrants will not be dilutive until the newly merged companys stock price increases to 20% above the price of the units, and the aggregate dilution thereafter from the Sponsor Warrant and the Director Warrants, upon their exercise, will be limited to approximately 6.21%. As a result, the effective cost of our capital to a merged company will be much lower than that of the substantial majority of other blank check companies.
We also believe that the economic and market dislocation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the potential uncertainties created by the upcoming U.S. presidential election, create market conditions and a resulting set of investment opportunities in four principal areas that we intend to pursue.
First, as a result of the currently high degree of stock market and debt capital market volatility, it has become increasingly difficult for even a high-quality, well-managed, large capitalization company to execute a public offering on favorable terms. Completion of an IPO is difficult, even for a business which has not been disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis. The nature of the IPO processwhereby the pricing, the ultimate terms of the offering, and even whether or not the offering can be completed remain unknown until the day of pricing of the offeringmakes the IPO process inherently uncertain and risky. We believe that this uncertainty, risk, the related upfront expenses, and the significant time required to pursue an IPO have discouraged many large private companies from attempting to execute public offerings in the current environment. As the blank check company with the largest amount of committed capital from the Forward Purchasers (affiliates of our Sponsor)a minimum of $1,000,000,000 and as much as $3,000,000,000 (or such greater amount as mutually agreed upon)we believe that our ability to finalize the principal terms of a transaction with a merger partner prior to their
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public disclosure will make us a more attractive alternative to a traditional public offering for a substantial number of large capitalization, high-quality growth companies, particularly in the current highly volatile environment.
The primary drawback to a company that is considering going public through a business combination with our company is that, as a special purpose acquisition company, we are required to permit our stockholders to redeem their shares in connection with the initial business combination at the per-share value of the trust account, which creates uncertainty with respect to the ultimate amount of capital we will have available at the time of our initial business combination. We believe that the substantial capital from our Forward Purchasers (equal to 25%, and as much as 75%, of the amount raised in this offering) significantly ameliorates this risk, as it provides committed capital to replace redeeming stockholders. Further, we view the risk of redemption as comparable to the risks inherent in the IPO market, where market conditions at the time of a planned IPO can significantly reduce the proceeds of the offering below the amount expected, or even cause the offering to be abandoned. As a result, on balance, we believe that going public through a business combination with our company is likely to be attractive to potential business combination partners.
Second, over the past decade, numerous high-quality, venture-backed businesses have achieved significant scale, market share, competitive dominance and cash flowwe call these companies Mature Unicorns. Many of these companies have chosen to remain private, as there has been, until recently, limited pressure from their investors for liquidity, and large amounts of growth capital available from investors, mutual funds and hedge funds. We believe that the recent dislocations in both the stock market and private growth equity markets, combined with a number of high-profile private investment failures and disappointing IPO outcomes, have likely reduced the amount of private funding available for these companies, while demands for liquidity from their investors are likely to have increased.
Furthermore, the short-term impact of COVID-19 on many of these Mature Unicorns has, even with respect to many of the highest quality companies in this sector, reduced their revenues and cash flows, thereby increasing their need for additional capital. In light of our large amount of committed capital and our willingness to effectuate a merger in which our stockholders will own a minority, non-controlling interest in a company, we believe that we are well-positioned to facilitate the recapitalization and public offering of a Mature Unicorn on terms that will generate attractive returns for our stockholders.
Third, the economic disruption of COVID-19 has substantially negatively impacted the revenues and cash flows of many large private equity portfolio companies, and caused certain companies to become distressed. In light of their typically highly leveraged balance sheets, these companies will likely require substantial equity infusions to withstand the impact of the crisis. Given our large amount of committed capital and our willingness to effectuate a merger in which our initial stockholders will be minority stockholders in a merger, we believe that we are well-positioned to acquire an interest in such a target company on highly favorable terms while facilitating the companys public offering.
Fourth, the economic disruption of COVID-19 has also negatively impacted the revenues and cash flows of many large, high-quality, private family-owned companies, which will require them to raise equity capital. We believe that our ability to recapitalize and facilitate a public offering of a family-owned business without the typical uncertainty, upfront costs and the time-consuming nature of the IPO process, will enable us to merge with a large, family-owned business on highly favorable terms.
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We intend to source initial business combination opportunities through Mr. Ackmans and PSCMs extensive relationships network of private business owners, public and private company executives and board members, venture capital fund managers, private equity and debt fund managers, investment bankers, ultra-high net worth families and their advisors, commercial bankers, attorneys, management consultants, accountants and other transaction intermediaries. We believe that this approach, augmented by the relationships and experience of our directors, will generate a substantial number of potential transaction alternatives that will create significant value for our stockholders.
Our independent director nominees have experience with public equity and debt markets, private equity, venture capital and growth company investments, as well as corporate strategy and operations, which will further assist us in identifying potential business combination candidates.
We believe our ability to complete our initial business combination will be enhanced by how we have structured this offering.
First, our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants provide our public stockholders with incentives not to redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with our initial business combination. We will issue a fixed pool of 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants; holders who choose to redeem their shares will lose the right to receive any such warrants. Public stockholders who choose not to redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock will share in this fixed pool with other non-redeeming holders (on a pro-rata basis), and will receive the additional warrants that were effectively surrendered by redeeming holders. As a result, public stockholders who do not redeem their shares will receive at least two-ninths of a Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrant per share they hold, and a proportionally greater amount as other holders elect to redeem. We believe this structure will likely lead to a lower level of redemptions, and therefore, we will likely have more funds available for our initial business combination.
Second, we have entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase a minimum of $1,000,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units, and up to $3,000,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units, or such greater amount as may be mutually agreed upon. Each Forward Purchase Unit will be comprised of a share of our Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant, at a purchase price of $20.00 per unit, and will be sold in one or more private placements no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. We believe that this large amount of committed capital and potential incremental capital represent a competitive advantage as we seek to attract potential business combination targets.
Third, our stockholders are subject to far less potential dilution than is the case with many other blank check companies. Unlike other blank check companies, our Sponsor is not being afforded the opportunity to purchase 20% of our stock at a nominal price; our Sponsor will instead purchase the Sponsor Warrants at their fair market value, and the Sponsor Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination. Thus, unlike other situations in which the Sponsor is entitled to a portion of the value of the company regardless as to whether the company increases or decreases in value, our Sponsor will only participate in the value of our company if our stock price is at least 20% higher than the initial offering price in this offering (and only then if the Sponsor Warrants are salable, transferable or exercisable at that time). Furthermore, our Sponsor is paying fair market value (as of the date of such purchase) for the opportunity to realize any such gain, and any such gains will accrue to the Pershing Square Funds, rather than to the individual members of a Sponsor entity. We believe that this incentive structure is better aligned with our stockholders and potential merger partners, substantially less dilutive than typical incentive arrangements in other blank check companies, and therefore will be more attractive to potential investors in this offering.
We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
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Our Management Team
Our Management Team will consist of William Ackman, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Ben Hakim, our Chief Financial Officer, who will both be supported by the PSCM investment team, the broader PSCM organization and our independent directors, as further described below.
Mr. Ackman, Mr. Hakim and each other member of the PSCM investment team (the Investment Team) bring significant investment expertise as well as broad industry networks that encompass a wide array of sectors, industry participants, and intermediaries. We believe that each member of the Investment Team has complementary skills and experience relevant to our business strategy, as well as a track record of working together and providing creative solutions for complex transactions, which we believe represent an important competitive advantage.
The Investment Team has experience in:
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sourcing, structuring, and executing on a wide range of investment opportunities; |
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providing constructive strategic and operational guidance to management teams and boards of directors, to drive long-term stockholder value creation; |
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leveraging insights from their substantial investment, financial, operational oversight and governance experience to help optimize the financial condition, operating performance and strategy of a company; and |
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leveraging their extensive network of relationships to augment or complement the senior management team or board of directors of a company. |
William Ackman serves as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ackman founded Pershing Square in 2003, and is principally responsible for its investment policies and implementation. Mr. Ackman has spent 28 years in the investment management industry. Prior to forming Pershing Square, he co-founded Gotham Partners Management Co., LLC, an investment adviser that managed public and private equity portfolios. Mr. Ackman is currently Chairman of the Board of the Howard Hughes Corporation, and a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY. Mr. Ackman received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College, where he graduated magna cum laude, and received his Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Ben Hakim serves as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hakim is a Partner at Pershing Square and joined the Investment Team in 2012. Mr. Hakim was previously a Senior Managing Director at The Blackstone Group, where he worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions group for 13 years. Mr. Hakim received his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in 1997.
Our Investment Team
In addition to Mr. Ackman and Mr. Hakim, our Investment Team includes the following individuals:
Ryan Israel is a Partner at Pershing Square and joined the Investment Team in 2009. Mr. Israel was previously an analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Technology, Media and Telecom group. Mr. Israel served as a director of Element Solutions Inc. from October 2013 through January 2019. Mr. Israel received his Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated summa cum laude and beta gamma sigma in 2007.
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Anthony Massaro is a Partner at Pershing Square and joined the Investment Team in 2013. Mr. Massaro was previously a private equity associate at Apollo Global Management, where he focused on leveraged buyout and distressed debt investments across a wide range of industries. Prior to Apollo, he was an analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Natural Resources group. Mr. Massaro received his Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated summa cum laude and beta gamma sigma in 2009.
Charles Korn is a Partner at Pershing Square and joined the Investment Team in 2014. Mr. Korn was previously a private equity associate at KKR, where he focused on media, communications and industrials. Prior to KKR, he was an analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Technology, Media and Telecom group. Mr. Korn received a degree in Honors Business Administration from The Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario, where he graduated with highest distinction as an Ivey Scholar in 2010.
Bharath Alamanda joined the Pershing Square Investment Team in 2017. Mr. Alamanda was previously a private equity associate at KKR, where he focused on financial services. Prior to KKR, he was an analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Technology, Media and Telecom Group. Mr. Alamanda received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Princeton University, where he graduated summa cum laude and phi beta kappa in 2013.
Feroz Qayyum joined the Pershing Square Investment Team in 2017. Mr. Qayyum was previously a private equity associate at Hellman & Friedman, where he evaluated and oversaw investments across a wide range of industries. Prior to Hellman & Friedman, he was an analyst in the Mergers & Acquisitions group at Evercore. Mr. Qayyum received a degree in Honors Business Administration from The Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario, where he graduated with highest distinction as an Ivey Scholar in 2013.
Our Independent Director Nominees
Our Investment Teams efforts to seek a suitable business combination target will be complemented and augmented by the expertise and network of relationships of our directors, who will provide extensive experience in business and financial matters.
Lisa Gersh co-founded Oxygen Media (Oxygen) in 1999 and remained its President and Chief Operating Officer until the companys sale to NBC in 2007 for $925 million. Oxygen was the first-ever multi-platform brand and created content for women, by women, and reached 74 million homes at the time of its sale. Following the sale of Oxygen, Ms. Gersh joined NBC and spearheaded NBCs acquisition of the Weather Channel, serving briefly as its interim Chief Executive Officer. Also at NBC, Ms. Gersh launched Education Nation, a transformative education initiative that established NBC as the media authority on education. In 2011, Ms. Gersh took over the operations of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (Martha Stewart), first as President and later as its Chief Executive Officer. During her tenure, Ms. Gersh rebranded Martha Stewart, materially reduced its operating expenses, and returned the company to profitability. In 2014, Ms. Gersh transformed Gwyneth Paltrows blog, Goop, Inc. (Goop), into the first contextual commerce brand. In the process of taking Goop from a collection of recommendations to a freestanding brand, Ms. Gersh oversaw, among other things, the launch of Goops e-commerce store, skincare and fashion lines, and created Goops pop-up retail strategy. In 2017, Ms. Gersh was named Chief Executive Officer of Alexander Wang, a global fashion brand based in New York City. A graduate of Rutgers Law School, Ms. Gersh began her career as a lawyer, first as a litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, and then as a Partner at Friedman, Kaplan, Seiler & Adelman LLP, a boutique law firm specializing in complex litigation and commercial transactions, which Ms. Gersh co-founded, and which today has more than 50 lawyers. Currently, Ms. Gersh sits on the board of directors of Hasbro, Inc., where she chairs the Compensation Committee, and Establishment Labs Holdings Inc., where she chairs the Nomination and Governance Committee. She also serves on the board of directors of the Bail Project, Inc. and the Samsung Retail Advisory Board. Ms. Gersh previously served on the board of directors of comScore, Inc.
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Michael Ovitz co-founded Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 1974 and served as its Chairman until 1995. Over that 20-year period, he grew the agency from a start-up organization to the worlds leading talent agency, representing more than 1,000 of the most notable actors, directors, musicians, screenwriters and other personalities in the entertainment industry, including Martin Scorsese, Sean Connery, Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Bill Murray, Dustin Hoffman, Steven Spielberg, David Letterman, Meryl Streep, Barbara Streisand, Michael Crichton and Michael Jackson. In his journey from the mailroom to media mogul, Mr. Ovitz launched the most powerful agency in the world (to date), sold three major Hollywood studios, executed all marketing and advertising for The Coca-Cola Company (including creating the Polar Bear Campaign) and was at the forefront of the digital revolution, making alliances with Intel Corporation and other early Silicon Valley companies. Mr. Ovitz also served as President of the Walt Disney Company, from October 1995 to January 1997. In 2010, Mr. Ovitz founded the venture capital fund Broad Beach Ventures LLC, a portfolio of over thirty companies. He has been a senior advisor to Palantir Technologies for over 10 years and has invested in and advised companies from startups to black swans. He was instrumental in the creation of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and frequently consults for Founders Fund, 8VC and many other firms. In 2018, Mr. Ovitz wrote and published his memoir Who Is Michael Ovitz?, which was on the long list for The Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award. Mr. Ovitz is a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles and helped rebuild the UCLA Medical Center in 1997 while serving as its Chairman for over a decade. Mr. Ovitz is also a notable art collector and serves on The Board of Trustees at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Jacqueline D. Reses serves as the Head of Square Capital, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Square, Inc. (Square), which focuses on facilitating small business credit to businesses which have been locked out of traditional sources of capital. Ms. Reses expects to serve as the Executive Chairman of Square Financial Services, a conditionally approved FDIC-insured bank owned by Square. Prior to Square, Ms. Reses was the Chief Development Officer of Yahoo! Inc. and the head of the U.S. media group at Apax Partners Worldwide LLP, one of the largest global private equity firms. Ms. Reses also spent seven years at Goldman Sachs in mergers and acquisitions and the principal investment area. She previously served on the board of directors of Alibaba Group Holdings Limited, Chinas largest mobile commerce company and Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. Ms. Reses sits on the boards of directors of Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. III and a number of privately held companies, as well as the Economic Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Board of Directors of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and National Public Radio (NPR). Ms. Reses is also currently serving on California Governor Newsoms Task Force for Business and Jobs Recovery. Ms. Reses received a bachelors degree in economics with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Joseph S. Steinberg is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jefferies Financial Group Inc., and, from January 1979 until March 1, 2013, served as President of Leucadia National Corporation (now Jefferies Financial Group Inc.). He has also been a director of Jefferies Group since 2008, Crimson Wine Group since 2013 and served as a director of HomeFed Corporation from August 1998 and Chairman of the Board from December 1999 until its acquisition by Jefferies Financial Group Inc. in 2019. Mr. Steinberg has previously served as a director of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., Mueller Industries, Inc., Fidelity & Guaranty Life and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. Mr. Steinberg has managerial and investing experience in a broad range of businesses through his more than 40 years as President and a director of Leucadia National Corporation and now as Chairman and a director of Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
Notwithstanding our founders and Management Teams past experiences, past performance is not a guarantee (i) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) that we will provide an attractive return to our stockholders from any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our founders and managements performance as indicative of our future performance. See Risk FactorsPast performance of our founders and the other members of our
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Management Team, including investments and transactions in which they have participated and businesses with which they have been associated, may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us, and we may be unable to provide positive returns to stockholders. For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled ManagementConflicts of Interest.
Our Forward Purchase Agreement, Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants
We believe our ability to complete our initial business combination will be enhanced by our having entered into the Forward Purchase Agreement and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants. These purchases are intended to provide us with appropriate funding for our initial business combination.
Under the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of Committed Forward Purchase Units, which will have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. The purchase of the 50,000,000 Committed Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, with the full amount to have been purchased no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers obligation to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units may not be transferred to any other parties.
The Forward Purchase Agreement also provides that the Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase up to an aggregate of $2,000,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units, which will also have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. Any purchases of the up to 100,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units will also take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers right to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units may be transferred, in whole or in part, to any entity that is managed by PSCM, but not to third parties. The Forward Purchasers obligation or right, as applicable, to purchase the Forward Purchase Units will be allocated among the Forward Purchasers from time to time as described herein. In addition, certain of our directors have committed to purchase Forward Purchase Units in an aggregate amount of $6,000,000, with such purchases to occur no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The proceeds of all purchases of Forward Purchase Units will be deposited into our operating account.
The terms of the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, respectively, will generally be identical to the terms of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the Redeemable Warrants included in the units being issued in this offering, except that the Forward Purchase Shares will have no right to receive the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, no redemption rights and no right to liquidating distributions from our trust account, the Forward Purchase Warrants will have no right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement prior to our initial business combination (with limited exceptions) and, as long as the Forward Purchase Securities are held by the Forward Purchasers, forward purchase directors or their permitted transferees, they will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights.
Concurrently with this offering, our Sponsor will purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of this offering was determined by the company to be $65,000,000 in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. The valuation firm reviewed and discussed with us our methodology, procedures and assumptions for valuing the Sponsor Warrants. The value of the Sponsor Warrants was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, subject to additional valuation adjustments reflecting certain volatility assumptions, the risk of a transaction not being consummated, the Sponsor Warrants three-year restriction on sale, transfer and exercise, and other factors as described in Description of SecuritiesValuation of Sponsor Warrants. Taking into account such consultation, we concluded that our methodology, procedures and assumptions are reasonable.
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The Sponsor Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination, and will only then be exercisable for that number of shares constituting 5.95% of the common shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis (as defined herein) as of the time immediately following the initial business combination, at an exercise price equal to $24.00 per common share of the post-combination business. The Sponsor Warrants will have a term of 10 years from the consummation of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will not be redeemable by us and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash). The Sponsor Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and, along with the shares underlying the Sponsor Warrants, will have certain registration rights described herein.
Each of our directors, other than Mr. Ackman, has been given the opportunity to purchase, in a private placement concurrently with this offering, a Director Warrant in an amount of up to $812,500. Our directors have agreed to purchase, in the aggregate, $2,837,500 of Director Warrants. Each Director Warrant will be exercisable for a percentage of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis) calculated as the purchase price of such Director Warrant divided by the purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants, multiplied by 5.95%, reflecting fair market value as determined with respect to the Sponsor Warrants. The exercise price per common share of the post-combination business will be $24.00. The Sponsor Warrants and the Director Warrants that our independent directors have agreed to purchase will be exercisable, in the aggregate, for that number of shares equal to approximately 6.21% of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis). The Director Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and, along with the shares underlying the Director Warrants, will have certain registration rights. The Director Warrants will otherwise have terms identical to those of the Sponsor Warrants.
Of the proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, approximately $35,000,000 will be deposited in the trust account and the remainder will be held by us outside of the trust account and used to pay expenses in connection with this offering and a potential initial business combination.
Our Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to identify and complete a business combination that creates substantial long-term value for our stockholders. We will seek target companies that demonstrate the characteristics set out under Our Acquisition Criteria below. We believe our Investment Teams operational, financial and transaction experience across economic cycles and broad networks of relationships, along with our deep understanding of the equity and debt capital markets, will allow us to effectively and efficiently identify and evaluate potential opportunities for our initial business combination.
We will consider companies in a wide range of industries, but generally will seek to acquire a simple, high-quality, high-return on capital business that generates predictable growing cash flows that can be estimated within a reasonable range over the long term. We will prefer targets that have low sensitivity to macroeconomic factors, with minimal commodity exposure and/or cyclical risk. We are willing to accept a high degree of situational, legal, and/or capital structure complexity in a business combination if we believe that the potential for reward justifies this additional complexity, particularly if these issues can be resolved in connection with and as a result of a combination with us.
To achieve a successful initial business combination, our Investment Team will leverage its experience to identify a company with a strong competitive position that can benefit from being a public company in the execution of its growth and value-creation strategy. We believe our scale and structure, coupled with our Investment Teams background and experience, will make us an attractive partner for high-quality management teams and owners.
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Following the completion of this offering, we intend to begin the process of communicating with the network of relationships of our Investment Team, our board of directors and their affiliates to articulate the parameters for our search for a potential target initial business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing potential opportunities.
Our Acquisition Criteria
Consistent with our core investment principles and business strategy, we expect to identify high-quality companies that have a number of the characteristics enumerated below. We will use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to complete our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet all of these criteria. We will seek to acquire companies that have the following characteristics:
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Simple, predictable, and free-cash-flow-generative. We will generally seek companies with a proven track record of growth and free cash flow generation, and predictable future financial performance that we expect will generate strong, sustainable growth in cash flows over the long termhowever, we are open to considering a company that may, at the time of the initial business combination, be cash-flow negative, if we believe that the businesss cash flow will become positive within a reasonable amount of time; |
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Formidable barriers to entry. We will seek companies that have long-term sustainable competitive advantages, significant barriers to entry, or wide moats, around their business, and low risks of disruption due to competition, innovation or new entrants; |
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Limited exposure to extrinsic factors that we cannot control. We will seek companies that are not materially affected by macroeconomic factors, commodity prices, regulatory risks, interest rate volatility and/or cyclical risk; |
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Strong balance sheet. We will seek companies that are conservatively financed relative to their free-cash-flow generation, after taking into consideration the de-leveraging effects of the initial business combination; |
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Minimal capital markets dependency. We will seek companies that can benefit from being a public company with broader access to the capital markets and greater governance, but will prefer companies that are not highly reliant on the capital markets to operate and grow their businesses; |
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Large capitalization. We will seek companies with large enterprise values and significant long-term growth potential that will be likely candidates for inclusion in the S&P 500 index; |
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Attractive valuation. We will seek companies at an attractive valuation relative to their long-term intrinsic value; and |
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Exceptional management and governance. We will seek companies that have trustworthy, talented, experienced, and highly competent management teams. These companies may be led by entrepreneurs who are looking for a partner with our expertise to execute on the next stage of their growth. For target companies that require new management, we will leverage PSCMs experience in identifying and recruiting new management. |
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 and our Investment Team may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not substantially meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not substantially 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 tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials that we would file with the SEC.
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Our Acquisition Process
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a detailed due diligence review of the issues that we deem important in order to determine a companys business quality and estimate its intrinsic value. That due diligence review will include, among other things, financial statement analysis, detailed document reviews, meetings with incumbent management and employees, consultations with relevant industry experts, competitors, customers and suppliers, as well as a review of additional financial, legal and other information that we will seek to obtain as part of our analysis of a target company.
We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
We 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 a company that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
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 is included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Members of our Management Team are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters, but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, we have an Investment Team comprised of seven members, who are employed by PSCM. We believe our Investment Team members will be able to allocate their duties to us and to PSCM amongst themselves in a manner that allows them to provide us with the resources and support we require while fulfilling their responsibilities to PSCM. The amount of time that any such person will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process.
Our Sponsor and its affiliates manage or advise several funds. We do not believe that PSCM and its affiliates activities present significant conflicts of interest with respect to our pursuit of an acquisition target, because we intend that our acquisition target will be a privately owned company, and the Pershing Square Funds are not permitted by their constituent documents to make investments in the equities of companies whose securities are not publicly traded (except that they may make investments in public companies that issue private securities).
PSCM and its affiliates (including our Sponsor and the Forward Purchasers) will not sponsor or form other public blank check companies similar to ours, or sponsor or form any private equity fund targeting private company acquisitions, during the period in which we are seeking our initial business combination. PSCM and its affiliates may form and manage other investment vehicles investing in public companies at any time prior to the announcement of our initial business combination, including, but not limited to, investment vehicles that may invest side-by-side with our company.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are
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legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue. Neither the affiliates of our Sponsor nor members of our Management Team who are employed by our Sponsor or its affiliates have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware. However, absent a significant conflict of interest with respect to our pursuit of an acquisition target, we would expect such opportunity to be provided to us, as such potential target company would be a private company.
Each of our directors, director nominees and officers currently 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 business combination opportunities to such entity. Our officers, in their capacities as officers, partners or managing directors of our Sponsor or its affiliates, may be required to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future investment vehicles of our Sponsor before they present such opportunities to us. Accordingly, in the future, if any of our directors or officers 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. Any presentation of such opportunities to entities other than us, or affiliates of our Sponsor, may present additional conflicts.
Although the current and future fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers could materially undermine our ability to complete our business combination, we believe this risk is partly mitigated for the following reasons. As stated above, our Sponsor and its affiliates currently do not make, or are not permitted to make, investments in private companies. Further, each of our directors, director nominees and officers has agreed not to become a director or officer of any other special purpose acquisition company (other than, in the case of Ms. Reses, with respect to the special purpose acquisition company at which she currently serves as a director) with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 (or 30 months, as applicable) of the closing of this offering. With respect to a potential business combination as to which a director may be interested or have a potential conflict of interest, we may take steps including, but not limited to, requiring the review of our audit committee pursuant to our related party policy, the recusal of such director with respect to such transaction, the appointment of a committee of independent and disinterested directors, or, as described above, the use of an independent accounting firm to ensure that a potential business combination is fair to our stockholders.
Initial Business Combination
So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the NYSE, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount held in trust) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. If our securities are no longer listed on the NYSE, we will not be obligated to satisfy such 80% test. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of a target business or businesses, it may be unable to do so if the board is less familiar or experienced with the target companys business, there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the companys assets or prospects, including if such company is at an early stage of development, operations or growth, or if the anticipated transaction involves a complex financial analysis or other specialized skills and the board determines that outside expertise would be helpful or necessary in conducting such analysis. Since any opinion, if obtained, would merely state that the fair market
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value of the target business meets the 80% of assets threshold, unless such opinion includes material information regarding the valuation of a target business or the consideration to be provided, it is not anticipated that copies of such opinion would be distributed to our stockholders. However, if required under applicable law, any proxy statement that we deliver to stockholders and file with the SEC in connection with a proposed transaction will include such opinion.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that our stockholders (including our Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers, and our public stockholders) will own a minority stake in the post-combination business, which post-combination business we anticipate will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-combination business owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business for the post-combination business to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-combination business owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target or assets 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. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-combination business, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for the purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
The size of the minority interest we expect our pre-combination stockholders to hold in the post-combination business could be impacted by a number of factors, including the structure of our initial business combination and the form of consideration we pay to acquire the target business, the size of the target company and the relative valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination and the potential dilutive effect of our warrants, including our Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants.
If we consummate our initial business combination with a target business that has a value that is greater than ours, the ownership of our stockholders in the pro forma post-combination business will be proportionately diluted. Further, the dilutive nature of our Redeemable Warrants, the Forward Purchase Warrants, the Sponsor Warrants and the Director Warrants could make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination, increase the cost of acquiring the target business, or otherwise result in terms for our initial business combination that are less advantageous to our public stockholders.
The unique structure of our Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, which provide our Sponsor and directors with a fixed percentage of the pro forma post-combination business, will have different effects on the ownership interest of our public stockholders in the post-combination business as compared to the typical structure of blank check companies, in which the Sponsor maintains a fixed 20% interest. The Sponsor Warrants will be exercisable for 5.95% of the common shares of the post-combination business, and the $2,837,500 of Director Warrants that our directors have agreed to purchase will be exercisable for approximately 0.26% of the common shares of the post-combination business. However, because of the $24.00 exercise price of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, such warrants will have no dilutive effect if the per-share value of the post-combination business is lower than $24.00, and will only be dilutive if and to the extent that the per-share value rises above $24.00, up to a limit of approximately 6.21% of the common shares of the post-combination business. For further description of how the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants affect the relative interests of our stockholders, see Proposed BusinessEffect of Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants on Ownership.
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Corporate Information
Our offices are located at 787 Eleventh Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10019, and our telephone number is (212) 813-3700. Upon the closing of this offering, our website address will be http://www.PSTontine.com. Our website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and is not considered to be part of, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should not rely on any such information in making your decision whether to invest in our securities.
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or 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.
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 30th, 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 shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
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The Offering
In making your decision on 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.
Securities offered |
200,000,000 units, at $20.00 per unit, each unit consisting of: |
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one share of Class A Common Stock; |
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one-ninth of one Distributable Redeemable Warrant; and |
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a contingent right to receive Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants. |
Distribution of additional Tontine Redeemable Warrants on the Tontine distribution date |
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that an aggregate of 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed, at the Tontine Distribution Time, on a pro-rata basis only to holders of record of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering (whether such shares were acquired during or after this offering) that remain outstanding after we redeem any shares of Class A Common Stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination. Public stockholders who elect to redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock will not receive any distribution of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants in respect of such redeemed shares of Class A Common Stock. |
The distribution of the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants in respect of a share of Class A Common Stock is contingent upon such share not being redeemed in connection with our initial business combination, and the number of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants to be distributed in respect of each such unredeemed share of Class A Common Stock will be contingent upon the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are redeemed. The contingent rights to receive Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will remain attached to our Class A Common Stock, will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any certificate or instrument. |
The Forward Purchase Shares will not have any right to receive Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants. |
Tontine Distribution Time |
The distribution of the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants is expected to occur immediately following the time at which we redeem any shares of our Class A Common Stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination (the Initial Business Combination Redemption Time), |
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and immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination (such distribution time, the Tontine Distribution Time). |
Proposed NYSE symbols |
Units: PSTH.U |
Class A Common Stock: PSTH |
Redeemable Warrants (whether the Distributable Redeemable Warrants or the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants): PSTH.WS |
Trading commencement and separation of Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants |
The units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We expect the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC and UBS Securities LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters (the Representatives), inform us of their 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. At the time that the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units begin separate trading, holders will hold the separate securities and no longer hold units (without any action needing to be taken by the holders), and the units will no longer trade or be listed on the NYSE. No fractional Distributable Redeemable Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Distributable Redeemable Warrants, no cash will be payable in lieu of fractional Distributable Redeemable Warrants and only whole Distributable Redeemable Warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least nine units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole Distributable Redeemable Warrant. The contingent right to receive Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will not detach from our shares of Class A Common Stock. |
Separate trading of the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants is prohibited until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K |
In no event will the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable 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. |
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Trading commencement of distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants |
We expect that the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will become tradable on the first trading day following the Tontine Distribution Time. Once issued, the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be fully fungible with the Distributable Redeemable Warrants and will trade under the same ticker symbol. No fractional Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be issued upon the distribution of the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, no cash will be paid in lieu of fractional Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants and only whole Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will trade. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock that a public stockholder must hold to receive a whole Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrant at the Tontine Distribution Time will depend on the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that remain outstanding after any redemptions of such shares in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that any of our public stockholders elect to redeem shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, the holders of the remaining such shares will receive a greater number of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants. By way of example, if no public stockholders elect to redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with our initial business combination, for every nine shares of Class A Common Stock held by a public stockholder and not redeemed, such holder would receive two Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants. If half of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering are redeemed, for every nine shares of Class A Common Stock held by a public stockholder and not redeemed, such holder would receive four Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants. The contingent right to receive such warrants will remain attached to the shares of Class A Common Stock sold in this offering and will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable. |
Units:
Number outstanding before this offering |
0 |
Number outstanding after this offering |
200,000,000(1) |
Common Stock:
Number outstanding before this offering |
100 shares of Class B Common Stock(2) |
1 |
Does not give effect to the issuance of any Forward Purchase Units. |
2 |
The shares of common stock included in the units are Class A Common Stock. The 100 shares of Class B Common Stock were issued to our Sponsor prior to this offering in connection with our formation. The 100 shares of Class B Common Stock will have such number of votes per share such that they will, in the aggregate, represent 20.0% of the total voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock immediately following this offering. The voting power of each share of Class B Common Stock will not be subject to any further adjustment. Our shares of Class B Common Stock will convert automatically on a one-to-one basis into shares of our Class A Common Stock upon consummation of our initial business combination. See Description of SecuritiesClass B Common Stock. |
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Number outstanding after this offering |
200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 100 shares of Class B Common Stock(1)(2) |
Redeemable Warrants:
Redeemable Warrants |
Consists of 22,222,222 Distributable Redeemable Warrants issued as a part of the units and 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants to be distributed on a pro-rata basis only to holders of record of shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that remain outstanding at the Tontine Distribution Time. We refer to the Distributable Redeemable Warrants and the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants collectively as the Redeemable Warrants. Such term does not include our Forward Purchase Warrants. |
Except with regard to the manner of their issuance, the Distributable Redeemable Warrants and the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants have the same terms and, once listed, will be fungible. |
The Forward Purchase Warrants will be governed by the same warrant agreement as the Redeemable Warrants and have the same terms as the Redeemable Warrants (including with respect to term, exercise price, redeemability and manner of exercise), except with respect to voting rights, registration rights and transfer restrictions as described herein. |
Number of Redeemable Warrants outstanding before this offering |
0 |
Number of Redeemable Warrants outstanding after this offering |
22,222,222(1) |
Number of Redeemable Warrants outstanding after distribution of the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants in connection with our initial business combination |
66,666,666(1) |
Exercisability of Redeemable Warrants |
Each whole redeemable warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein, and only whole Redeemable Warrants are exercisable. No fractional Redeemable Warrants will be issued upon the separation or distribution of the Redeemable Warrants, no cash will be paid in lieu of fractional Redeemable Warrants, and only whole Redeemable Warrants will trade. |
The Forward Purchase Warrants will be exercisable on the same terms as the Redeemable Warrants. |
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Exercise price of Redeemable Warrants |
$23.00 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. |
In addition to the other adjustments described herein, if (x) we issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock, equity-linked securities or any other instrument that is convertible or exercisable into, or exchangeable for, Class A Common Stock for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $18.40 per share of Class A Common Stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors) (the Newly Issued Price), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds (including from such issuances, this offering, the sale of the Forward Purchase Units and any interest thereon, net of redemptions) that are available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation thereof and (z) the daily volume-weighted average trading price of our Class A Common Stock during the 20-trading-day period starting on the trading day prior to the date on which we consummate our initial business combination (such price, the Market Value) is below $18.40 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $36.00 per share redemption trigger price described below under the heading Redemption of Redeemable Warrants when the price per share of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $36.00 will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $20.00 per share redemption trigger price described below under the heading Redemption of Redeemable Warrants when the price per share of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $20.00 will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of 100% of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. |
The Forward Purchase Warrants will have the same exercise price as the Redeemable Warrants and be subject to the same price adjustments described above. |
Exercise period of Redeemable Warrants |
The Redeemable Warrants will become exercisable on the later of: |
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30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; and |
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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 Redeemable Warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or we permit holders |
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to exercise their Redeemable 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 Redeemable 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 and, within 60 business days after such closing, have an effective registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Redeemable Warrants, and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A Common Stock until the Redeemable Warrants expire or are redeemed; provided, that if our Class A Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants who exercise their Redeemable Warrants to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an applicable exemption is not available. If a registration statement covering the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th day after the closing of the initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. In the event of such cashless exercise, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the fair market value (defined below) less the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.3611 per redeemable warrant. The fair market value as used in this paragraph shall mean the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of the Class A Common Stock for the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent. |
The Redeemable 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 redeemable warrant for cash, the exercise price will be paid directly to us. |
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The Forward Purchase Warrants will have the same exercise period as the Redeemable Warrants, but will have different registration rights. |
Redemption of Redeemable Warrants when the price per share of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $36.00 |
Once the Redeemable Warrants become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of the business combination and (b) 12 months from the closing of this offering, we may redeem the outstanding Redeemable Warrants at a price of $0.01 per warrant: |
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in whole and not in part; |
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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, provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants prior to redemption and, at our election, any such exercise may be required to be on a cashless basis as described below; and |
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if, and only if, the daily volume-weighted average price per share of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $36.00 per share (subject to adjustment as described under the heading Description of SecuritiesRedeemable WarrantsAnti-Dilution Adjustments) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. |
We will not redeem the Redeemable Warrants unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Redeemable Warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A Common Stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, or (ii) 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 Redeemable Warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. In the event that we require holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the fair market value (defined below) less the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.3611. The fair market value as used in this paragraph shall mean the daily volume-weighted average trading prices of the Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which a notice of redemption is sent to the registered holders of the warrants. |
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No fractional shares of our Class A Common Stock will be issued upon redemption. If, upon redemption, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of shares to be issued to the holder. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled Description of SecuritiesRedeemable Warrants for additional information. |
The Forward Purchase Warrants will be redeemable on the same terms as the Distributable Redeemable Warrants and the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants. |
Redemption of Redeemable Warrants when the price per share of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $20.00 |
Once the Redeemable Warrants become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of the business combination and (b) 12 months from the closing of this offering, we may redeem the outstanding Redeemable Warrants: |
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in whole and not in part; |
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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, at a price of $0.10 per warrant, provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table set forth under Description of SecuritiesRedeemable Warrants based on the redemption date and the fair market value (as defined above) except as otherwise described below; and |
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if, and only if, the daily volume-weighted average price per share of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $20.00 per public share (subject to adjustment as described under the heading Description of SecuritiesRedeemable WarrantsAnti-Dilution Adjustments) for any 20 trading days within the 30-trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which a notice of redemption is sent to the registered holders of the warrants. |
This redemption feature provides us with the ability to manage our capital structure with more flexibility, and allows holders the option to either (i) exercise the Redeemable Warrants for shares at a pre-determined fair value for the Redeemable Warrants based on their remaining term and the underlying share price at the time or (ii) be redeemed for $0.10 per redeemable warrant. |
No fractional shares of our Class A Common Stock will be issued upon redemption. If, upon redemption, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of shares to be issued to the holder. Please see |
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the section of this prospectus entitled Description of SecuritiesRedeemable Warrants for additional information. |
The Forward Purchase Warrants will be redeemable on the same terms as the Distributable Redeemable Warrants and the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants. |
Forward Purchase Agreement |
We have entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement with the forward purchasers, pursuant to which the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of Committed Forward Purchase Units, which will have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A common stock and one-third of one warrant. The purchase of the 50,000,000 Committed Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, with the full amount to have been purchased no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers obligation to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units may not be transferred to any other parties. |
The Forward Purchase Agreement also provides that the Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase up to an aggregate of $2,000,000,000 of Additional Forward Purchase Units, which will also have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. Any purchases of the up to 100,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units will also take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. We and the Forward Purchasers may determine, by mutual agreement, to increase the number of Additional Forward Purchase Units at any time prior to our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers right to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units may be transferred, in whole or in part, to any affiliate transferee, but not to third parties. The Forward Purchasers obligation or right, as applicable, to purchase the Forward Purchase Units will be allocated among the Forward Purchasers from time to time as described herein. |
The proceeds of any sales of Forward Purchase Units will not be deposited in the trust account. The Forward Purchase Shares will not have any right to receive Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, will not have any redemption rights in connection with our initial business combination or in connection with certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and will not be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. The Forward Purchase Warrants will have no right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement prior to our initial business combination, except with respect to certain provisions relating solely |
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to restrictions on the transfer of the Forward Purchase Securities. The Forward Purchase Securities will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights, as long as such Forward Purchase Securities are held by the Forward Purchasers, directors or their permitted transferees. The Forward Purchase Shares, to the extent issued prior to the record date for a stockholder vote on our initial business combination or any other matter, will have the right to vote on such matter with all other outstanding shares of common stock. |
Except as described above, the terms of the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, respectively, will be identical to the terms of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the Redeemable Warrants included in the units being issued in this offering. |
Director Forward Purchase Agreement |
Prior to or concurrently with this offering, we will enter into a Director Forward Purchase Agreement with certain of our independent directors, who we refer to as the Director Forward Purchasers. The Director Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase, in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as each Director Forward Purchaser determines, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination, an aggregate of $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units. The Director Forward Purchasers may not transfer their obligation to purchase such Forward Purchase Units, other than to our Sponsor, other directors and Affiliate Transferees. Such Forward Purchase Securities will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights, as described herein. |
Sponsor Warrants |
Concurrently with this offering, our Sponsor will purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of this offering was determined by the company to be $65,000,000 in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. The Sponsor Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination, and will only then be exercisable for that number of shares constituting 5.95% of the common shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis as of the time immediately following the initial business combination, at an exercise price equal to $24.00 per common share of the post-combination business. The term fully diluted basis means the number of shares deemed to be outstanding at such time and will include the gross number of shares issuable upon the exercise of the Redeemable Warrants, the Forward Purchase Warrants, the Sponsor Warrants, the Director Warrants and any other warrants or options of the company, as well as the gross number of shares underlying any other instrument, whether debt or otherwise, that is convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable for, or that tracks the performance |
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of, shares of common stock (including any equity or equity-based award), in each case without regard to whether such warrant, option or instrument is then exercisable or convertible or in-the-money and without regard as to whether fewer shares of common stock may actually be issued as a result of any cashless or net exercise procedure. |
The Sponsor Warrants will have a term of 10 years from the consummation of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and, along with the shares underlying the Sponsor Warrants, will have certain registration rights described herein. |
Of the proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, approximately $35,000,000 (including up to $5,000,000 in respect of any retail selling commissions) will be deposited in the trust account described below and the remainder will be held by us outside of the trust account and used to pay expenses in connection with this offering and a potential initial business combination, such that, at the time of closing, $4,000,000,000 will be held in the trust account. |
The Sponsor Warrants will not be redeemable by us and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash). |
Determination of purchase price of Sponsor Warrants |
Concurrently with this offering, our Sponsor will purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of this offering was determined by the company to be $65,000,000 in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. The valuation firm reviewed and discussed with us our methodology, procedures and assumptions for valuing the Sponsor Warrants. Taking into account such consultation, we concluded that our methodology, procedures and assumptions are reasonable. |
The value of the Sponsor Warrants was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, subject to additional valuation adjustments reflecting certain volatility assumptions, the risk of a transaction not being consummated, the Sponsor Warrants three-year restriction on sale, transfer and exercise, and other factors as described in Description of SecuritiesValuation of Sponsor Warrants. |
Transfer restrictions on Sponsor Warrants |
The Sponsor Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until three years after the completion of our initial business combination (except to certain permitted transferees and as described under the section of this prospectus entitled Principal StockholdersRestrictions on Transfers of Sponsor Warrants). |
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Cashless exercise of the Sponsor Warrants |
If the holder of the Sponsor Warrants elects to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis, in whole or in part, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering all or such part of the Sponsor Warrants for that number of shares of the post-combination business equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares to be issued upon such whole or partial exercise, multiplied by the excess of the fair market value (defined below) over the exercise price per share issuable thereupon ($24.00, subject to adjustment as described herein) by (y) the fair market value. The fair market value shall mean the average of the daily volume-weighted average trading prices of the Class A Common Stock during the 10 consecutive 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. |
Director Warrants |
Each of our directors, other than Mr. Ackman, has been given the opportunity to purchase, in a private placement to occur simultaneously with this offering, a Director Warrant in an amount of up to $812,500. Each Director Warrant will be exercisable for a percentage of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis, as defined above) calculated as the purchase price of such Director Warrant divided by the purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants, multiplied by 5.95%, reflecting fair market value as determined with respect to the Sponsor Warrants. The exercise price per common share of the post-combination business will be $24.00. The Sponsor Warrants and the $2,837,500 amount of Director Warrants that our directors have agreed to purchase will be exercisable, in the aggregate, for that number of shares equal to approximately 6.21% of the common shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis. |
The Director Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and, along with the shares underlying the Director Warrants, will have certain registration rights. The Director Warrants will otherwise have terms identical to those of the Sponsor Warrants (see Principal StockholdersRestrictions on Transfers of Director Warrants). As described above, certain proceeds from the sale of the Director Warrants may be deposited in the trust account. |
Class B Common Stock |
On May 7, 2020, our Sponsor acquired 100 shares of Class B Common Stock in exchange for a capital contribution of $25,000, or $250.00 per share. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by our Sponsor, the company had no tangible or intangible assets. The per-share purchase price of the Class B Common Stock was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the aggregate number of such shares issued. The number of votes carried by each share of Class B Common Stock will be such that the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock will, in the aggregate, hold 20.0% of the voting power of the Class A Common Stock and |
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Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after this offering. The voting power of each share of Class B Common Stock will not be subject to any further adjustment. Accordingly, upon the issuance of Forward Purchase Units prior to our initial business combination, the voting power of the Class B Common Stock, in the aggregate, will be less than 20%. The 100 shares of Class B Common Stock will convert automatically into 100 shares of our Class A Common Stock upon consummation of our initial business combination and may not be converted earlier. |
The shares of Class B Common Stock are identical to the shares of Class A Common Stock included in the units being issued in this offering, except that: |
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each share of Class B Common Stock will carry a number of votes such that, in the aggregate, the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock will have the voting power of 20.0% of our issued and outstanding common stock immediately following this offering, while the shares of Class A Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, 80.0% of the voting power of our issued and outstanding common stock immediately following this offering; |
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the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock automatically convert into 100 shares of Class A Common Stock at the time of our initial business combination, and may not be converted earlier; |
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the shares of Class B Common Stock will not be transferable, and the shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon the automatic conversion of our Class B Common Stock in connection with our initial business combination will not be transferable until 180 days after our initial business combination, subject to limited exceptions; and |
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the holders of the Class B Common Stock have the right to elect all of our directors prior to our initial business combination. |
Letter agreement with Sponsor, directors, director nominees, officers and Forward Purchasers |
Our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have entered into a letter agreement (the Letter Agreement) with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock held by them 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 allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (B) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or |
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30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24-month period), or (C) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity. The holders of our Class B Common Stock will not be issued any shares of Class A Common Stock in respect of their shares of Class B Common Stock if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, and therefore will have no rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account in respect of such shares. However, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that they hold (whether acquired by such person or entity during or after this offering) if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, we will complete our initial business combination only if it is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the common stock voted at such stockholder meeting. Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed to vote any shares of common stock held by them in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the vote of our 100 shares of Class B Common Stock, we would need only 75,000,001, or 37.5%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction in order to have our initial business combination approved, assuming (i) no Forward Purchase Shares have been issued, (ii) such parties to the Letter Agreement have not acquired any shares of Class A Common Stock and (iii) all outstanding shares are voted. |
The Forward Purchasers are also party to the Letter Agreement, solely for the purposes of setting forth certain transfer restrictions with respect to the Forward Purchase Securities. |
Registration Rights Agreement |
Concurrently with this offering, we will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with our Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers and our independent directors, pursuant to which we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement within 120 days of our initial business combination, and use our best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) thereafter, providing for the resale, under Rule 415 of the Securities Act, of (i) the Sponsor Warrants, (ii) the Director Warrants, (iii) the shares issuable upon the exercise of the Sponsor Warrants or Director Warrants, (iv) the Forward Purchase Securities, (v) the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of our Class B Common Stock and (vi) any other shares or warrants of the company that the parties to the |
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Registration Rights Agreement have purchased on the open market, subject to certain conditions as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. The parties to the Registration Rights Agreement, and their permitted transferees, will be entitled to make up to 10 demands that we register the foregoing securities, and will have certain piggyback rights with respect to other registration statements filed by the company. The post-combination business will bear the cost of registering these securities. |
In addition, the Redeemable Warrants will have certain registration rights as described herein.
Voting |
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 and as described herein. Each share of Class B Common Stock will carry a number of votes such that the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, 20.0% of the voting power of our issued and outstanding common stock immediately following this offering, while the shares of Class A Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, 80.0% of the voting power of our issued and outstanding common stock immediately following this offering. The number of votes carried by each share of Class B Common Stock is not subject to further adjustment. In addition, only the holders of our Class B Common Stock may vote on the election or removal of directors prior to our initial business combination. |
Proceeds to be held in trust account |
The rules of the NYSE provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and the Director Warrants be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and the Director Warrants, $4,000,000,000, or $20.00 per unit will be placed into a J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. trust account located in the United States, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. These proceeds include $56,250,000 in deferred underwriting commissions. Any proceeds of issuances of Forward Purchase Units will not be deposited in the trust account. |
Except with respect to any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds from this offering and certain proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and the Director 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 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are 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 allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (ii) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this |
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offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable), or (iii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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. 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 U.S. 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. Treasury obligations or money market funds or a combination thereof. Based upon current interest rates, we expect the trust account to generate approximately $4,000,000 of interest annually, however, we can provide no assurance of this amount, particularly if the interest rates of U.S. Treasury obligations become negative. Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from: |
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the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants not held in the trust account, which will be approximately $26,337,800 in working capital after the payment of approximately $6,499,700 in expenses relating to this offering and $35,000,000 in underwriting commissions (including up to $5,000,000 for any retail selling concessions, any amount of which we do not pay will be held outside the trust account); and |
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any loans or additional investments from our Sponsor, members of our Management Team or their affiliates or third parties, although they are under no obligation to advance funds or invest in us, and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account unless such proceeds are released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. |
Conditions to completing our initial business combination |
There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our assets held in the trust account (excluding the |
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amount of any deferred underwriting discount held in trust) at the time of the agreement to enter into our initial business combination. |
If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses or we are considering our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm. We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that our stockholders (including our Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers, and our public stockholders) will own a minority stake in the post-combination business, which post-combination business we anticipate will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-combination business owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business for the post-combination business to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-combination business owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target or assets 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. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-combination business, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for the purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable. |
Permitted purchases of Class A Common Stock 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, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. 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 |
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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. |
Redemption rights for holders of Class A common stock issued in this offering upon completion of our initial business combination |
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to have all or a portion of their shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering redeemed in connection with 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 five business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering. 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 Class B Common Stock, Redeemable Warrants, Forward Purchase Securities, Sponsor Warrants or Director Warrants. Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed to waive their redemption rights in connection with the completion of our business combination with respect to any shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that they may acquire during or after this offering. |
Manner of conducting redemptions |
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to have all or a portion of their shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering redeemed upon the completion of our initial business 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 we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements. 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 intend to 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 |
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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 the NYSE, 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 our 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 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 under the Exchange Act 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 their shares of Class A Common Stock, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem such 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 (so that we are not subject to the SECs 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 our 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: |
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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. |
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If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the voting power of the shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the 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. The holders of our shares of Class B Common Stock will count towards this quorum and have agreed to vote their shares of Class B Common Stock and any shares of Class A Common Stock purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of the voting power of the 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 the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock held by our Sponsor, we would need 75,000,001, or 37.5%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction in order to have our initial business combination approved, assuming (i) no Forward Purchase Shares have been issued, (ii) such parties to the Letter Agreement have not acquired any shares of Class A Common Stock and (iii) all outstanding shares are voted. 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, our ability to consummate the sale of the Forward Purchase Units prior to a stockholder vote and the ability of the Forward Purchase Shares to participate in such vote and the voting agreements contained in the Letter Agreement may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its shares of Class A Common Stock 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 or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. 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 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. |
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Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that in no event will we redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination (so that we are not subject to the SECs 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 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 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 business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of Class A Common Stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof. |
Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding 15% or more of the shares issued 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 business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares issued in this offering, unless our board of directors determines, in its sole discretion, to waive or amend such limit with respect to a particular stockholder or group. 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 issued in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against a business combination if such holders 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 public stockholders ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the shares issued in this offering (except as otherwise permitted by our board of directors), we believe we will limit the |
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ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our public stockholders ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those stockholders that hold more than 15% of the shares issued in this offering) for or against our initial business combination. |
Redemption rights for holders of shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering in connection with proposed amendments to our certificate of incorporation |
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the provisions related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and certain proceeds from the private placement of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein and to issue the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants) may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of the voting power of the outstanding 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 at least 65% of the voting power of the outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon. The provision that gives the holders of our Class B Common Stock the exclusive right to elect or remove directors prior to our initial business combination may only be amended if approved by holders of a majority of at least 90% of the voting power of the outstanding 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 the voting power 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 (other than the Forward Purchase Securities), or that would entitle holders thereof to receive funds from the trust account. The holders of our Class B Common Stock, who will collectively have 20.0% of the voting power of our issued and outstanding common stock immediately following 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. Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed that they will not propose |
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any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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 have their shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed 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 any interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering. The Letter Agreement also provides that our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers will waive their redemption rights in connection with such proposed amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are held by them (whether acquired by such person or entity during or after this offering). |
Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination |
On the completion of our initial business combination, all amounts held in the trust account will be released to us. 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. 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 instruments, 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 for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-combination 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 make other investments, or for working capital. |
Redemption of shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination |
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. |
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If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such 24-month (or 30-month, as applicable) period, we will: (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, redeem the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, 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 any of our Distributable Redeemable Warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our business combination within the 24-month (or 30-month, as applicable) time period. |
The holders of our Class B Common Stock will not be issued any shares of Class A Common Stock in respect of their shares of Class B Common Stock if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, and therefore will have no rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account in respect of such shares, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that they hold (whether acquired by such person or entity during or after this offering) if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. |
The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission held in the trust account in the event we do not complete our initial business combination 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 shares of Class A Common Stock. |
Limited payments to insiders |
There will be no finders fees, reimbursements, consulting fees, or cash or non-cash payments made to our Sponsor, directors, director nominees or officers, or their affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. However, the following payments will be made to our Sponsor, directors, director nominees or officers, or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering, or the proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director |
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Warrants that are held in the trust account, prior to the completion of our initial business combination: |
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Repayment of up to $1,500,000 (plus accrued interest) in loans made to us by our Sponsor; |
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Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing our initial business combination; and |
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Repayment of any other loans which may be made by our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined, and nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. |
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, directors, director nominees or officers, or their affiliates. |
Audit Committee |
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 ManagementCommittees of the Board of DirectorsAudit Committee. |
Conflicts of Interest |
Neither our Sponsor nor any members of our Management Team have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, unless presented to such member specifically in his or her capacity as an officer or a director of the company. Members of our Management Team may be required to present potential business combinations to other entities to whom they have fiduciary duties before they present such opportunities to us. Any knowledge or presentation of such opportunities may therefore present conflicts of interest. However, as described herein, we do not believe that any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers arising in the future would materially undermine our ability to complete our business combination. |
We do not believe that PSCM and its affiliates activities present significant conflicts of interest with respect to our pursuit of an acquisition target, because we intend that our acquisition target will be a privately owned company, and the Pershing Square Funds are not permitted by their constituent documents to make investments in the equities of companies whose securities are not publicly traded (except that they may make investments in public companies that issue private securities). Further, PSCM and its affiliates (including our Sponsor and |
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the Pershing Square Funds) will not sponsor or form other public blank check companies similar to ours, or sponsor or form any private equity fund targeting private company acquisitions, during the period in which we are seeking our initial business combination. PSCM and its affiliates may form and manage other investment vehicles investing in public companies at any time prior to the announcement of our initial business combination, including, but not limited to, investment vehicles that may invest side-by-side with our company. |
Each of our directors, director nominees and officers has agreed not to become a director or officer of any other special purpose acquisition company (other than, in the case of Ms. Reses, with respect to the special purpose acquisition company at which she currently serves as a director) 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 (or 30 months, as applicable) after the closing of this offering. |
For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled ManagementConflicts of Interest. |
Joseph Steinberg, one of our director nominees, is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jefferies Financial Group Inc., which is affiliated with Jefferies LLC, one of the underwriters for this offering. Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121. This rule requires, among other things, that a qualified independent underwriter has participated in the preparation of, and has exercised the usual standards of, due diligence with respect to, the registration statement. UBS Securities LLC has agreed to act as qualified independent underwriter for this offering and to undertake the legal responsibilities and liabilities of an underwriter under the Securities Act. See UnderwritingConflicts of Interest. |
Indemnity |
Our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent that any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or by a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering or (ii) such lesser amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, |
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then our Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our Sponsors only assets are securities of our company. We have not asked our Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations. None of our officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses. |
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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 BusinessComparison 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.
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.
Balance Sheet Data: |
June 30, 2020 | May 8, 2020 | ||||||
(Unaudited) | (Audited) | |||||||
Working capital (deficiency) |
$ | (2,126,581 | ) | $ | (276,358 | ) | ||
Total assets |
2,462,239 | 325,000 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
2,450,121 | 301,358 | ||||||
Shareholders equity |
12,118 | 23,642 |
If no business combination is completed within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, the proceeds then on deposit in the trust account including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), will be used to fund the redemption of our shares of Class A Common Stock. The holders of our Class B Common Stock will not be issued any shares of Class A Common Stock in respect of their shares of Class B Common Stock if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, and therefore will have no rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account in respect of such shares, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that they hold (whether acquired by such person or entity during or after this offering) if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe.
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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 our initial business combination and may be unable to complete our business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Past performance by Pershing Square, Justice Holdings, Ltd. or our Management Team may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, Pershing Square, Justice Holdings, Ltd. or our Management Team is presented for informational purposes only. Any past experience and performance of Pershing Square (and the investment funds and co-investment vehicles that it manages or has managed), Justice Holdings, Ltd. or our Management Team is not a guarantee either: (1) that we will be able to successfully identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination; or (2) of any results with respect to any initial business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of Pershing Square, Justice Holdings, Ltd., or our Management Teams performance as indicative of the future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will generate or are likely to generate going forward. An investment in us is not an investment in Pershing Square.
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 our 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. For instance, the NYSE rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a stockholder meeting but would still require us to obtain stockholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock to a target business as consideration in any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock, we would seek stockholder approval of such business combination. 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 the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering do not approve of the initial business combination we complete. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled Proposed BusinessStockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve our Initial Business Combination for additional information.
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers 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, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed to vote their shares of Class B Common Stock, as well as any shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering they hold (whether purchased during or after this offering, and including in open market and privately negotiated transactions), in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock held by our Sponsor, we would need only 75,000,001, or 37.5%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction in order to have our initial business combination approved, assuming (i) no Forward Purchase Shares have been issued, (ii) such parties to the Letter Agreement have not acquired any shares of Class A Common Stock and (iii) all outstanding shares are voted. The Class B Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, 20.0% of the voting power 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 such parties 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.
In evaluating a prospective target business for our initial business combination, our management will rely on the availability of the funds from the sale of the Forward Purchase Units to be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in our initial business combination. If the sale of the Forward Purchase Units fails to close, for any reason, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination.
We have entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement with the Forward Purchasers, pursuant to which they are obligated to purchase an aggregate of at least $1,000,000,000 of Committed Forward Purchase Units, each composed of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant, at a price of $20.00 per unit, in one or more private placements that will close no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. In addition, certain of our directors have entered into a Director Forward Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which they are obligated to purchase an aggregate of $6,000,000 Forward Purchase Units at a price of $20.00 per unit, in one or more private placements that will close no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination.
The funds from the sale of the such Forward Purchase Units are expected to be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in our initial business combination, and to pay expenses in connection with our initial business combination and may be used for working capital in the post-combination business. If the Forward Purchasers do not agree to fund more than the amount necessary to complete our initial business combination, the post-combination business may not have enough cash available for working capital. These purchases are intended to provide us with appropriate funding for our initial business combination. If the sale of the Committed Forward Purchase Units does not close by reason of the failure of the Forward Purchasers to fund the purchase price (and/or the Director Forward Purchasers do not purchase Forward Purchase Units), for example, or for any other reason, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination. In addition, the Forward Purchasers and Director Forward Purchasers obligation to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units is subject to termination prior to the closing of the sale of such units by mutual written consent of us and such parties, or automatically: (i) if our initial business combination is not consummated within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, unless extended in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or (ii) if this offering is not consummated on or prior to September 30, 2020. In addition, the such obligations to purchase the Forward Purchase Units are subject to fulfillment of customary closing conditions, including that our initial business combination must be consummated substantially concurrently with the purchase of the Forward Purchase Units (if the Forward Purchasers and/or Director Forward Purchasers have not elected to make such purchase at an earlier date). In the event of any such failure to fund by the Forward Purchasers or Director Forward Purchasers, any obligation is so terminated or any such condition is not satisfied and not waived by such party, we may not be able to obtain additional funds to account
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for such shortfall on terms favorable to us or at all. Any such shortfall would also reduce the amount of funds that we have available for the completion of our initial business combination or working capital of the post-combination business.
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 our 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 our initial business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on our 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.
If you elect to exercise your redemption rights with respect to your shares of Class A Common Stock, you will not receive any Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants.
In connection with our initial business combination, and in connection with certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, public stockholders will have the opportunity to exercise their right to redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock for cash. However, our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed only to the holders of record of those shares of our Class A Common Stock that remain outstanding after redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. The Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed at the Tontine Distribution Time on a pro-rata basis in respect of such remaining shares of Class A Common Stock. Accordingly, to the extent that you elect to redeem your shares of Class A Common Stock, you will receive no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants in respect of such shares. The contingent right to receive the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will remain attached to our Class A Common Stock, will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any certificate or instrument.
Our initial business combination will require approval of a majority of our independent directors.
Under NYSE rules, our initial business combination will require the approval of a majority of our independent directors. Unless we receive the requisite board member approvals, we will not be able to enter into a definitive merger or similar agreement relating to our initial business combination.
The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.
We may seek to enter into our 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. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, and we do not obtain sufficient funds from the sale of our Forward Purchase Units or from third-party financing, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with our initial business combination. Furthermore, in no event will we redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering 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 SECs 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
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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 initial 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. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure. 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 (which amount may be reduced based upon the number of shares redeemed).
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 Forward Purchasers have the right to purchase up to $2,000,000,000 of Additional Forward Purchase Units prior to or simultaneously with our initial business combination pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement (or such greater amount as mutually agreed upon by us and the Forward Purchasers), but have no obligation to make such purchase. Our ability to raise additional capital or consummate our initial business combination may be adversely impacted if the Forward Purchasers decline to exercise this right.
The Forward Purchasers have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase up to $2,000,000,000 of Additional Forward Purchase Units prior to or simultaneously with our initial business combination at a price of $20.00 per share. In addition, we and the Forward Purchasers may mutually agree to increase the amount of Additional Forward Purchase Units that the Forward Purchasers may choose to purchase. If our board of directors determines that additional capital is needed in order to consummate our initial business combination or for other reasons, and the Forward Purchasers or the Affiliate Transferees do not exercise this right in part or in
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full, we may not have the capital to satisfy certain conditions to our initial business combination. If the Forward Purchasers do elect to purchase the entire additional amount, they would receive an additional 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and Forward Purchase Warrants exercisable for an additional 33,333,333 shares of Class A Common Stock (or a greater number of Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants if we and the Forward Purchasers have mutually agreed to increase the additional forward purchase amount). Depending on the terms of our initial business combination and the value of our securities at such time, this may significantly reduce and/or dilute the economic interest of our public stockholders in the post-combination business.
The Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase forward units prior to our initial business combination, which could provide them with substantial influence over, or control of, the outcome of any matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders.
If the Forward Purchasers elect to purchase any Forward Purchase Units prior to our initial business combination, they will have the ability to vote their Forward Purchase Shares on any matter submitted to our stockholders for approval. If the Forward Purchasers were to vote as recommended by us on a matter submitted to our stockholders for their approval (although they are under no obligation to do so), this would substantially increase the likelihood that any such matter would receive the requisite stockholder approval. For example, if the Forward Purchasers acquired all 50,000,000 of the Committed Forward Purchase Units prior to the record date for a stockholder vote on our initial business combination and were to vote their Forward Purchase Shares in favor of such transaction, in addition to the voting power of such Forward Purchase Shares and the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock held by our Sponsor, we would need only 50,000,001, or 25.0%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction for it to be approved. If, prior to such record date, the Forward Purchasers acquired the total 150,000,000 Forward Purchase Units represented by the committed forward purchase and the additional forward purchase, our Sponsor and the Forward Purchasers would together effectively control the outcome of such vote, needing only one of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction. With respect to certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that require the approval of 65% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock, assuming the Forward Purchasers and our Sponsor vote in favor of such an amendment, the approval of such amendment would require (i) the vote of 95,000,001, or 47.5%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, if only the Committed Forward Purchase Units have been issued, and (ii) the vote of 60,000,001, or 30%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, if the Committed Forward Purchase Units and Additional Forward Purchase Units have been issued. Each of the foregoing examples assumes that our Sponsor, officers, directors and director nominees do not acquire any other shares of Class A Common Stock and that all outstanding shares are voted. The amount of the additional forward purchase may be increased by mutual agreement of us and the Forward Purchasers, which could further diminish the influence and/or control of our public stockholders. In addition, the Director Forward Purchasers may acquire up to 300,000 Forward Purchase Shares prior to the record date for a stockholder vote on our initial business combination and be able to vote such shares in favor of a transaction, which Forward Purchase Shares would have approximately 0.1% of the voting power of the outstanding common stock in the above scenarios.
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination and may decrease our ability to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular, as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our public stockholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning our initial business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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
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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 timeframe, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $20.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our Distributable Redeemable Warrants, Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants will expire worthless, and our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will never have been distributed.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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. Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively affected by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein.
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 10 business days thereafter, redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, 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 $20.00 per share, our Distributable Redeemable Warrants, Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants will expire worthless, and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been distributed. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $20.00 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 $20.00 per share and other risk factors below. Additionally, if you elect to exercise your redemption rights in connection with our initial business combination, you will not receive any Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants.
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 would reduce the public float of our Class A Common Stock or warrants, and the Forward Purchasers and/or Director Forward Purchasers may exercise their respective right to purchase Forward Purchase Units prior to a vote, each of which may influence a vote on a proposed 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, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or Distributable Redeemable 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. In addition, the Forward Purchasers and Director Forward Purchasers may purchase Forward Purchase Units prior to our initial business combination. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase shares, Redeemable Warrants or Forward Purchase Securities in such transactions.
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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 our initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of our initial business combination, or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of the Distributable Redeemable Warrants could be to reduce the number of such warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders 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 that such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
In addition, if such purchases are made (other than with respect to the Forward Purchase Units), the public float of our Class A Common Stock or Redeemable 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 the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering 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 have its shares redeemed. In addition, the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to our public stockholders in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem such 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 our 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 BusinessRedemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of our Initial Business CombinationTendering 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 shares of Class A Common Stock or Redeemable 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) the completion of our initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitation described herein, (ii) the redemption of any shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (B) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial
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business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24-month period), or (C) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering for any reason, compliance with Delaware law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing stockholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our trust account. In that case, public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering before they receive funds from our trust account. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Holders of Redeemable Warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to such warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your shares or Redeemable Warrants, potentially at a loss.
The NYSE may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We have applied to have our units listed on the NYSE. We expect that our units will be listed on the NYSE on the date of this prospectus. Following the date the shares of our Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants are eligible to trade separately, the shares of our Class A Common Stock and warrants will be listed separately on the NYSE (at which time the holders of our units would hold the separate component securities and no longer hold units, and the units would no longer trade). We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on the NYSE. Although after giving effect to this offering we expect to meet, on a pro forma basis, the minimum initial listing standards set forth in the NYSE listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will be, or will continue to be, listed on the NYSE in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on the NYSE prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and 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 the NYSEs initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than the NYSEs continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on the NYSE. 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 $5,000,000 and we would be required to have a minimum of 300 round lot holders of our securities (or 400 round lot holders following our initial business combination). In addition, the offering price for the units included in this offering is higher than typical offerings of this type, and may result in participants in the offering purchasing a lower number of units, potentially reducing the number of 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 the NYSE delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list our securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
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a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
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reduced liquidity for our securities; |
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a determination that our Class A Common Stock 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; |
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a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
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a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as covered securities. Because we expect that our units and eventually our Class A Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants will be listed on the NYSE, our units, Class A Common Stock and Redeemable 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 the NYSE, 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 Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants are intended to be used to complete our 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, the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director 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 the completion of our 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 BusinessComparison 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 unless our board of directors determines to waive or amend such limit with respect to you.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights without our prior consent with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares issued in this offering, which we refer to as the Excess Shares, unless our board of directors determines, in its sole discretion, to waive or amend such limit with respect to such stockholder or group. However, we would not be restricting our public 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
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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 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 $20.00 per share on our redemption of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless, and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been distributed.
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, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well-established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries.
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 our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $20.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account, and our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless, and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been distributed. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $20.00 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 $20.00 per share and other risk factors below.
If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable), we may be unable to complete our initial business combination, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $20.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless, and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been distributed.
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 (or 30 months, as applicable), 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 (or 30 months, as applicable); 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
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$20.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account, our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless, and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been distributed. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $20.00 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 $20.00 per share and other risk factors below.
If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director 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 our initial business combination, to pay our 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 Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, approximately $26,337,800 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. In the event that our offering expenses (excluding underwriting commissions) exceed our estimate of $6,499,700, 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 affected as a result of such increase or decrease. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses (excluding underwriting commissions) are less than our estimate of $6,499,700, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount. In addition, to the extent we do not pay selling concessions in respect of units purchased by retail investors, an additional amount of up to $5,000,000 will be available to us outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. We do not expect to seek additional capital due to the amount available to us outside the trust account, but if we are required to do so, we would need to borrow funds from our Sponsor, Management Team or 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. 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. The Forward Purchasers and Director Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase any or all of the number of Forward Purchase Units they have agreed to purchase at any time prior the initial business combination, which could provide a source of working capital. However, the Forward Purchasers and Director Forward Purchasers have no obligation to make such purchases until time of our initial business combination. 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 $20.00 per share on our redemption of their shares of Class A Common Stock, and our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless, and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been distributed. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $20.00 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 $20.00 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
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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 our initial business combination. Accordingly, any security holders who choose to remain security holders 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 unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our directors or officers 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 our 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 $20.00 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 (other than our independent auditors), 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, 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 partys 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. 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 the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, 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 $20.00 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 an exhibit 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, reduces the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering 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
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$20.00 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 business target 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 Sponsors 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 directors or officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
The securities in which we invest the proceeds held in the trust account could bear a negative rate of interest, which could reduce the interest income available for payment of taxes or reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $20.00 per share.
The net proceeds of this offering and certain proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and any sale of directors warrants, in the amount of $4,000,000,000, will be held in the trust account. The proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in direct U.S. Treasury obligations having a maturity of 180 days or less, or in certain money market funds which invest only in direct U.S. Treasury obligations. While short-term U.S. Treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event of very low or negative yields, the amount of interest income (which we are permitted to use for payment of our tax obligations and up to $100,000 of dissolution expenses) would be reduced. In the event that we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders are entitled to receive their pro-rata share of the proceeds held in the trust account, plus any interest income. If the balance of the trust account is reduced below $4,000,000,000 as a result of negative interest rates, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $20.00 per share.
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) $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering 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 $20.00 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 $20.00 per share.
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We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of our directors and officers.
We have agreed to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law and we will purchase directors and officers liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our directors and officers. However, any such insurance may not be available or sufficient. Further, our directors and officers 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 by us will be able to be satisfied by us only if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account, or (ii) we consummate our initial business combination. Our obligations to indemnify our directors and officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers even though, such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholders investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we may incur the costs of settlement and damage awards against our directors and officers 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 business combination. |
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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 our initial business combination and thereafter to operate the post-combination 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 direct U.S. Treasury obligations (which are 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. 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 of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (B) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable), or (C) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders rights or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent a business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable), our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public stockholders by redeeming their shares of Class A Common Stock. 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 our initial business combination or result in our liquidation. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $20.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account, our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been issued.
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the status of debt and equity markets.
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus was reported to have surfaced, which has and is continuing to spread throughout the world, including the United States. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a Public Health Emergency of International
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Concern. On January 31, 2020, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the U.S. healthcare community in responding to COVID-19, and on March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak as a pandemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 continues to grow both in the U.S. and globally and, while the extent of the impact of the outbreak on us will depend on future developments, it could limit our ability to complete our initial business combination, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a business combination if continued concerns relating to COVID-19 restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target companys personnel, vendors and services providers, limit our ability to thoroughly conduct due diligence, or restrict our ability to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. Additionally, the outbreak of COVID-19 may negatively impact businesses we may seek to acquire. If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other matters of global concern continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected.
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 their shares of Class A Common Stock in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24 month period) may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholders pro-rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred with respect to any claim commenced after the third anniversary of the dissolution. However, it is our intention to redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering as soon as reasonably possible following the 24th month (or 30th month, as applicable) 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,
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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 stockholders pro-rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred with respect to any claim commenced 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 the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable) 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. Unlike in the case of claims against stockholders relating to an unlawful liquidating distribution, however, stockholders are only liable for an unlawful redemption distribution if they knew that the redemption was unlawful.
We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after the consummation of our initial business combination, which could result in our stockholders attempting to cause us to hold an annual meeting, presenting us with an additional expense.
In accordance with the NYSE corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on the NYSE. 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.
Our Sponsor, as the holder of our Class B Common Stock, will have the right to elect all of our directors prior to our initial business combination, which could delay the opportunity for our stockholders to elect directors.
The holders of the Class B Common Stock have the exclusive right to elect all of our directors prior to our initial business combination. Accordingly, we do not expect to hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination. The holders of the Class B Common Stock will also have the exclusive right to vote on the removal of directors prior to our initial business combination.
We are not registering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Redeemable 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 Redeemable 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 Redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time. However, under the terms of the
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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 Redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants, until the expiration of the Redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants on a cashless basis. However, no redeemable 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 Redeemable 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 redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants who exercise their Redeemable 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, though we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any redeemable warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the Redeemable Warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the Redeemable Warrants under applicable state securities laws and there is no applicable exemption available. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the Redeemable Warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their Redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
If you exercise your Redeemable 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 Redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement, exercise Redeemable 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 Redeemable 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 will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. Third, if we call our Redeemable Warrants for redemption when the price per share of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $36.00, we may require any holders wishing to exercise their warrants prior to the date of redemption to do so on a cashless basis. In any of the circumstances described above, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of Class A Common Stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number
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of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the fair market value (as defined with respect to the applicable cashless exercise or redemption provision) less the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.3611 per redeemable warrant. Fourth, if we call our Redeemable Warrants for redemption when the price per share of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $20.00, holders who exercise their warrants will receive that number of shares set forth in the table as described under Description of SecuritiesRedeemable Warrants. 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 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.
Concurrently with this offering, we will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with our Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers and our independent directors, pursuant to which we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement within 120 days of our initial business combination, and use our best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) thereafter, providing for the resale, under Rule 415 of the Securities Act, of (i) the Sponsor Warrants, (ii) the Director Warrants, (iii) the shares issuable upon the exercise of the Sponsor Warrants or Director Warrants, (iv) the Forward Purchase Securities, (v) the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of our Class B Common Stock and (vi) any other shares or warrants of the company that the parties to the Registration Rights Agreement have purchased on the open market, subject to certain conditions as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. The parties to the Registration Rights Agreement, and their permitted transferees, will be entitled to make up to 10 demands that we register the foregoing securities, and will have certain piggyback rights with respect to other registration statements filed by the company. The post-combination business will bear the cost of registering these securities. In addition, the Redeemable Warrants have certain registration rights, as described herein. The post-combination business 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 (to the extent any such securities are not subject to transfer restrictions) 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 such securities are registered.
Because we are neither limited to evaluating a target business in a particular industry, 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 businesss operations.
We may seek to complete a business combination with an operating company in any industry or sector. However, 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 our initial business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target businesss operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. Although our directors and officers will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any security holders who choose to remain security holders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in
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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 directors or officers 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 our initial business combination, constituted an actionable material misstatement or omission.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria and guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by 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 $20.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account, our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been issued. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $20.00 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 stockholder may be less than $20.00 per share and other risk factors below.
We may, but 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. In addition, we may issue a substantial number of shares of Class A Common Stock upon the exercise of our warrants for common stock. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our public stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 3,020,000,000 shares of common stock, consisting of 3,000,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred
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stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Immediately after this offering, there will be 2,800,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock and 19,999,900 authorized but unissued shares of Class B Common Stock available for issuance, which amount of Class A Common Stock does not take into account the Forward Purchase Shares, shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of any outstanding warrants (including the Redeemable Warrants, Forward Purchase Warrants, Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants) or 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. The 100 shares of Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into 100 shares of our Class A Common Stock at the time of our initial business combination.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination (although our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we may not issue securities that are entitled to receive funds from the trust account or, other than the Forward Purchase Securities, that can vote with common stockholders on matters related to our pre-initial business combination activity).
The provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that enable or limit our ability to issue securities, like all provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, may be amended with the approval of our stockholders. However, our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed, pursuant to the Letter Agreement, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (B) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24-month period), or (C) 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 have their shares of common stock redeemed 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 any interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering.
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 directors and officers; and |
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A Common Stock and/or Redeemable 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 $20.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account, our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been issued.
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
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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 $20.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been issued. 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 $20.00 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 directors and officers of an initial business combination candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of our initial business combination targets key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of our initial business combination candidates key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of our initial business combination candidates management team will remain associated with our initial business combination candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of our 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.
We are dependent upon our directors and officers and their departure could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, directors and officers. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our directors and officers, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
Our 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 us after the completion of our initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with our initial business
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combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of our 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 our 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 initial 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 affect 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 businesss management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the targets management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the targets 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 security holders who choose to remain security holders following the initial business could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Members of our Management Team and Investment Team 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.
The members of our Management Team and Investment Team 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 our 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. The members of our Management Team and Investment Team may be engaged in other business endeavors for which he or she may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. The seven members of our Investment Team will allocate their time between fulfilling their duties to us and to PSCM. Our directors and independent director nominees may also serve as officers or board members for other entities. If such persons 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 ManagementDirectors and Officers.
Certain of our directors and officers 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,
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directors, director nominees and officers are, and may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business, although each of our directors, director nominees and officers has agreed not to become a director or officer of any other special purpose acquisition company (other than, in the case of Ms. Reses, with respect to the special purpose acquisition company at which she currently serves as a director) 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 (or 30 months, as applicable) after the closing of this offering.
In addition, although PSCM and its affiliates (including our Sponsor and the Forward Purchasers) will not sponsor or form other public blank check companies similar to ours, or Sponsor or form any private equity fund targeting private company acquisitions, during the period in which we are seeking our initial business combination, PSCM and its affiliates may form and manage other investment vehicles investing in public companies at any time prior to the announcement of our initial business combination, including but not limited to, investment vehicles that may invest side-by-side with our company.
Though we do not believe that PSCM and its affiliates activities present significant conflicts of interest with respect to our pursuit of an acquisition target, because we intend that our acquisition target will be a privately owned company, and the Pershing Square Funds are not permitted by their constituent documents to make investments in the equities of companies whose securities are not publicly traded (except they may make investments in public companies that issue private securities), certain conflicts described herein may still arise.
Our directors, director nominees and officers currently have, and any of them in the future may have, additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to another entity pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity, including, without limitation, funds managed or advised by our Sponsor or its affiliates, subject to their fiduciary duties. If any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has 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 directors and officers also may become aware of business opportunities which may be necessary or appropriate for presentation to other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties. Any presentation of such opportunities to such other entities may present additional conflicts.
Accordingly, our directors and officers 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 provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one 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.
None of the members of our Management Team or Investment Team are required to commit his or her full time to our affairs. The members of our Investment Team are employed by PSCM. While the members of our Management Team intend to vote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs, and while we believe the seven members of our Investment Team will be able to allocate their duties to us and to PSCM in a manner that allows them to provide us with the resources and support we require while also fulfilling their responsibilities to PSCM, such persons may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among various business activities.
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 ManagementDirectors, Director Nominees and Officers, ManagementConflicts of Interest and Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.
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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. It is possible that we enter into our initial business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our Sponsor and/or its affiliates, our directors or officers. 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.
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 company from a financial point of view of an initial business with one or more businesses affiliated with our directors, officers, or current stockholders, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of our initial business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
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, directors, and officers with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our Sponsor, directors or officers. Our directors and officers may also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under the section of this prospectus entitled ManagementConflicts of Interest. Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no preliminary discussions concerning 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 our initial business combination as set forth in the section of this prospectus entitled Proposed BusinessSelection 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 company from a financial point of view of an initial business with one or more businesses affiliated with our directors, officers, or current stockholders, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of our initial business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
Since the Forward Purchasers, our Sponsor and directors will lose the investment opportunity presented by the Forward Purchase Units, the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, respectively, if our initial business combination is not completed, our Sponsor, directors and director nominees may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
We have entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement with the Forward Purchasers pursuant to which they have agreed to purchase at least $1,000,000,000, and up to an additional $2,000,000,000, of Forward Purchase Units, for an aggregate investment of up to $3,000,000,000 (or such greater amount as mutually agreed upon with respect to the Additional Forward Purchase Units and such aggregate amount). In addition, certain of our independent directors have committed to purchase an aggregate of $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units. Each Forward Purchase Unit is composed of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant, at a
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price of $20.00 per Forward Purchase Unit. Purchases of the Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements at any time prior to, and no later than simultaneously with, the closing of our initial business combination. If we do not complete an initial business combination, the Forward Purchasers will lose the investment opportunity presented by the Forward Purchase Agreement.
Our Sponsor has agreed to purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The Sponsor Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination, and will only then be exercisable for that number of shares constituting 5.95% of the common shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis as of the time immediately following the initial business combination, at an exercise price equal to $24.00 per common share of the post-combination entity. The Sponsor Warrants will have a term of 10 years from the consummation of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will not be redeemable by us and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash).
In addition, each of our directors, other than Mr. Ackman, has been given the opportunity to purchase a Director Warrant in an amount up to $812,500, which will be exercisable at a price of a $24.00 per common share for a percentage of the common shares of the post-combination business based upon the purchase price of such Director Warrant in proportion to the purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants. Our directors have agreed to purchase, in the aggregate, $2,837,500 of Director Warrants. If we do not complete an initial business combination, or we enter into an initial business combination that is unlikely to result in a price per common share above $24.00, our Sponsor will lose the investment opportunity presented by the Sponsor Warrants, and our directors will lose the investment opportunity presented by the Director Warrants.
Our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed (A) to vote any shares of common stock owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination and (B) not to redeem any shares of Class A Common Stock held by them (whether acquired during or after this offering) 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 directors and officers may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target initial business, completing our initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following our initial business combination.
We may issue notes or other debt instruments, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete our 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 instruments, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following this offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our initial business. 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 our 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 Forward Purchase Units and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or 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 Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, up to $4,026,337,800, plus an additional $1,006,000,000 to $3,006,000,000 from the sale of the Forward Purchase Units, will be available to complete our business combination and pay related fees and expenses (which includes $56,250,000 for the payment of deferred underwriting commissions). The amount available to us may be less in the event of redemptions.
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 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.
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.
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We are likely to attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is publicly 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 are likely to 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 our initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
Our management may have limited influence over or control of a target business after our initial business combination.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that our stockholders (including our Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers, and our public stockholders) will own a minority stake in the post-combination business, which post-combination business we anticipate will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. However, we may structure our initial business combination so that the post-combination business 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-combination business 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. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the target companys stock than we initially acquired. Given that we intend to acquire a minority stake, and based on the foregoing factors, our management may have limited ability to influence or control the target business. We cannot provide assurance that we will have sufficient influence to ensure that management of the target business 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 our initial business combination with which a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold, other than the requirement we may not redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering 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 SECs 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 our 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.
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In order to effectuate our 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 other governing documents in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination but that our stockholders or warrant holders may not support.
In order to effectuate our 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. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds, and extended the time to consummate their initial business combinations and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. Amending the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation relating to certain pre-business combination activity and will require the affirmative vote of the holders of 65% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. Amending the warrant agreement governing our Redeemable Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants will require the vote of holders of at least 65% of the then-outstanding warrants entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, prior to our initial business combination, the Forward Purchase Warrants will not have the right to vote on any amendments to the warrant agreement, except with respect to certain provisions relating solely to the transfer of Forward Purchase Securities. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires us to provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to have their shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed 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 allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (B) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable), or (C) 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 amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the time to consummate our initial business combination, or seek other amendments to our governing document or warrant agreement 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 receive upon any redemption or liquidation is substantially reduced or eliminated, may be amended with the affirmative vote of the holders of 65% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of our initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any of its provisions related to pre-initial business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and certain proceeds of the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, 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 by the affirmative vote of holders of 65% of the voting power of the outstanding 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 the affirmative vote of holders of 65% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon. The provision granting the holders of Class B Common Stock the
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exclusive right to elect or remove directors prior to our initial business combination must be approved by holders of a majority of at least 90% of the voting power of the outstanding shares 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 the voting power 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 (other than the Forward Purchase Securities) that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The holders of our Class B Common Stock will hold, in the aggregate, 20.0% of the voting power of our common stock issued and outstanding immediately following 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 except as otherwise required by the Letter Agreement. In addition, the Forward Purchasers may elect to acquire Forward Purchase Units in advance of our initial business combination and be able to participate in any such vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement. 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, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed, pursuant to the Letter Agreement, 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 allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (ii) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable), or (iii) 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 have their shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed 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 shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering. Our stockholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, the Letter Agreement and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our Sponsor, directors or officers for any breach of the Letter Agreement. As a result, in the event of a breach, our stockholders would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
While our Sponsor may not propose certain amendments, our Sponsor may vote on such amendments, as may the Forward Purchasers if any Forward Purchase Units have been issued as of the record date for such a vote. If no Forward Purchase Units have been issued as of such time, and our Sponsor votes its 100 shares of Class B Common Stock in favor of such a matter, we would need 112,500,001, or 56.3%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of such amendment for it to be approved. If the Forward Purchasers were to vote as recommended by us on a matter submitted to our stockholders for their approval (although they are under no obligation to do so), this would substantially increase the likelihood that any such matter would receive the requisite stockholder approval. For example, if the Forward Purchasers acquired all 50,000,000 of the Committed Forward Purchase Units prior to the record date for a stockholder vote on such an amendment and were to vote their Forward Purchase Shares in favor of such transaction, in addition to the voting power of such Forward Purchase Shares and the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock held by our Sponsor, we would need 95,000,001, or 47.5%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of such amendment for it to be approved. If, prior to such record date, the Forward Purchasers acquired the total 150,000,000 Forward Purchase Units represented by the committed forward purchase and the additional forward purchase, in addition to the voting power of such Forward Purchase Shares and the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock held by our Sponsor, we would need 60,000,001, or 30%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of such amendment for it to be approved. Each of the foregoing examples assumes that our Sponsor, officers, directors and director nominees do not acquire any other shares of Class A Common Stock and that all
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outstanding shares are voted. The amount of the additional forward purchase may be increased by mutual agreement of us and the Forward Purchasers, which could further diminish the influence and/or control of our public stockholders. In addition, the Director Forward Purchasers may acquire and be able to vote up to 300,000 Forward Purchase Shares prior to the initial business combination, representing approximately 0.1% of the voting power of the outstanding common stock in the above scenarios.
Certain agreements related to this offering may be amended without stockholder approval.
Each of the agreements related to this offering to which we are a party, other than the warrant agreements and the investment management trust agreement, may be amended without stockholder approval. Such agreements are: the underwriting agreement; the Letter Agreement among us and our Sponsor, officers, directors, director nominees and the Forward Purchasers; the Registration Rights Agreement between us, our Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers, and our independent directors; the Forward Purchase Agreement among us and the Forward Purchasers; the Director Forward Purchase Agreement among us and certain of our independent directors; the Sponsor Warrant purchase agreement between us and our Sponsor; the Director Warrant purchase agreement between us and our independent directors; and the promissory note between us and our Sponsor. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. For example, certain of these agreements contain certain lock-up and transfer restriction provisions with respect to the Class B Common Stock, Forward Purchase Securities, Sponsor Warrants, Director Warrants, any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise or conversion thereof, and certain other securities held by our Sponsor, officers, directors and the Forward Purchasers. Amendments to such agreements would require the consent of the applicable parties thereto and would need to be approved by our board of directors, which may do so for a variety of reasons, including to facilitate our initial business combination. While we do not expect our board of directors to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board of directors, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement. Any amendment entered into in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination will be disclosed in our proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, related to such initial business combination, and any other material amendment to any of our material agreements will be disclosed in a filing with the SEC. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities. For example, amendments to the lock-up provision discussed above may result in our certain stockholders selling their securities earlier than they would otherwise be permitted, which may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
Although we believe that the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants, Director Warrants and the Forward Purchase Units will be sufficient to allow us to complete our initial business combination, because we have not yet identified any prospective target business we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants, the Director Warrants and the Forward Purchase Units proves to be insufficient, either because of the size of our initial business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to repurchase for cash a significant number of shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination, we may be required to seek additional financing or to abandon the proposed business combination. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. If we are unable to complete
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our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $20.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, plus any pro-rata interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes on the liquidation of our trust account, our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been issued. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors (except with respect to the purchase of $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units by certain of our independent directors) or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.
Our Sponsor 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 Sponsor, as the holder of 100 shares of our Class B Common Stock, will hold 20.0% of the voting power of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock immediately following this offering (assuming our Sponsor does not purchase any units in this offering). Accordingly, our Sponsor 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 Sponsor or its affiliates purchase any units in this offering or any additional shares of common stock in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase the influence of such parties. 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, prior to our initial business combination, our directors may be elected and removed only by the vote of the holders of our Class B Common Stock. Accordingly, our Sponsor will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our initial business combination. In addition, if the Forward Purchasers elect to purchase Forward Purchase Units prior to our initial business combination, although they have no obligation to vote with our Sponsor or as recommended by us, their ability to do so could also exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote.
For example, if the Forward Purchasers acquired all 50,000,000 of the Committed Forward Purchase Units prior to the record date for a stockholder vote on our initial business combination and were to vote their Forward Purchase Shares in favor of such transaction, in addition to the voting power of such Forward Purchase Shares and the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock held by our Sponsor, we would need only 50,000,001, or 25.0%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction for it to be approved. If, prior to such record date, the Forward Purchasers acquired the total 150,000,000 Forward Purchase Units represented by the committed forward purchase and the additional forward purchase, our Sponsor and the Forward Purchasers would together effectively control the outcome of such vote, needing only one of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction. With respect to certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that require the approval of 65% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock, assuming the Forward Purchasers and our Sponsor vote in favor of such an amendment, the approval of such amendment would require (i) the vote of 95,000,001, or 47.5%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, if only the Committed Forward Purchase Units have been issued, and (ii) the vote of 60,000,001, or 30%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, if the Committed Forward Purchase Units and Additional Forward Purchase Units have been issued. Each of the foregoing examples assumes that our Sponsor, officers, directors and director nominees do not acquire any other shares of Class A Common Stock and that all outstanding shares are voted. The amount of the additional forward purchase may be increased by mutual agreement of us and the Forward Purchasers, which could further diminish the influence and/or control of our public stockholders. In addition, the Director Forward Purchasers may acquire and be able to vote up to 300,000 Forward Purchase Shares prior to the initial business combination, representing approximately 0.1% of the voting power of the outstanding common stock in the above scenarios.
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We may amend the terms of the Redeemable Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of such warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then-outstanding Redeemable Warrants (prior to our initial business combination) and at least 65% of the then-outstanding Redeemable Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants (following our initial business combination). As a result, the exercise price of such 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 such a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.
Our Redeemable Warrants and Forward Purchase 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 such warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then-outstanding warrants entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, prior to our initial business combination, the Forward Purchase Warrants will not have the right to vote on any amendments to the warrant agreement, except with respect to certain provisions relating solely to the transfer of Forward Purchase Securities. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of such warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 65% of the then-outstanding Redeemable Warrants and, as applicable, Forward Purchase Warrants, approve of such amendment. Our ability to amend the terms of such warrants with the consent of at least 65% of the then-outstanding Redeemable Warrants and, as applicable, Forward Purchase Warrants includes, but is not limited to, amendments to increase the exercise price, convert such 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 such a warrant. Prior to our initial business combination, there will be 22,222,222 Distributable Redeemable Warrants outstanding, and only such warrants will be able to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement. Following our initial business combination, there will be 66,666,666 Redeemable Warrants outstanding (including the 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants issued in connection with our initial business combination), and (i) if only the Committed Forward Purchase Units have been issued, 16,666,666 Forward Purchase Warrants outstanding and (ii) if the entire amount of the Additional Forward Purchase Units have been issued, 50,000,000 Forward Purchase Warrants outstanding, all of which will have the right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement. Accordingly, following our initial business combination, the Forward Purchasers will hold between 20.0% and 42.9% of the outstanding amount of redeemable and Forward Purchase Warrants, potentially giving the Forward Purchasers substantial influence over any vote to amend the warrant agreement. If we and the Forward Purchasers determine, by mutual agreement, to increase the number of Additional Forward Purchase Units, the voting power of the Forward Purchasers with respect to the warrant agreement will be correspondingly greater. In addition, the Director Forward Purchasers will have the ability to vote 100,000 Forward Purchase Warrants on amendments to the warrant agreement following our initial business combination. The above descriptions of voting power in each case assume that no Redeemable Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants have been exercised.
We may redeem your unexpired Redeemable Warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making such warrants worthless.
We have the ability to redeem outstanding Redeemable Warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the reference value of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $36.00 per share (subject to adjustment as described under the heading Description of SecuritiesRedeemable WarrantsAnti-Dilution Adjustments). If and when the Redeemable Warrants become redeemable by us, we may not exercise our redemption right unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, or (ii) if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. We may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. Redemption of the outstanding Redeemable Warrants could force you (i) to exercise your Redeemable Warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) to sell your Redeemable Warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your
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Redeemable Warrants or (iii) to accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding Redeemable Warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your Redeemable Warrants. See Description of SecuritiesRedeemable WarrantsRedemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $36.00.
In addition, we have the ability to redeem the outstanding Redeemable Warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.10 per warrant if, among other things, the reference value equals or exceeds $20.00 per share (subject to adjustment as described under the heading Description of SecuritiesRedeemable WarrantsAnti-Dilution Adjustments). In such a case, the holders will be able to exercise their Redeemable Warrants prior to redemption for a number of shares of Class A Common Stock determined based on the redemption date and the fair market value of our Class A Common Stock. This provision could result in the warrant holders receiving less value than they may have been able to obtain if we had not called the warrants for redemption. For example, if we choose to redeem the warrants when the trading price of our Class A Common Stock is less than the exercise price of the warrants, the value warrant holders receive upon exercise may be less than the value they could have received if they were able to wait to exercise until a later time when the trading price of our Class A Common Stock could be higher. In other circumstances, including when our Class A Common Stock has a higher trading price, the amount received by exercising warrant holders pursuant to this provision may not compensate the holders for the value of the warrants, including because the number of shares received is capped at 0.3611 shares of Class A Common Stock per warrant (subject to adjustment) irrespective of the remaining life of the warrants. Description of SecuritiesRedeemable WarrantsRedemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $20.00.
Our Forward Purchase Units, Redeemable Warrants, Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants 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 have entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement with the Forward Purchasers pursuant to which they have agreed to purchase at least $1,000,000,000, and up to an additional $2,000,000,000, of Forward Purchase Units, for an aggregate investment of up to $3,000,000,000 (or such greater amount of Additional Forward Purchase Units as mutually agreed upon). In addition, certain of our independent directors have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units. Each Forward Purchase Unit is composed of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant, at a price of $20.00 per Forward Purchase Unit. In addition, certain of our directors have committed to purchase Forward Purchase Units. Purchases of the Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements at any time prior to, and no later than simultaneously with, the closing of our initial business combination. If we do not complete an initial business combination, the Forward Purchasers will lose the investment opportunity presented by the Forward Purchase Agreement.
We will be issuing Distributable Redeemable Warrants to purchase 22,222,222 shares of our Class A Common Stock as part of the units offered by this prospectus, and also distributing Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants to purchase 44,444,444 shares of our Class A Common Stock in connection with the closing of our initial business combination, each at an exercise price of $23.00 per share. In addition, no later than simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination, Forward Purchase Warrants to purchase at least 16,666,666 shares of Class A Common Stock will be issued pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement (as part of the Committed Forward Purchase Units) and as many as 50,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (or such greater amount as mutually agreed upon) if the Forward Purchasers elect to purchase the full amount of Additional Forward Purchase Units. In a private placement simultaneous with the closing of this offering, we will be issuing a Sponsor Warrants to purchase shares constituting 5.95% of the common share capital of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis, with an exercise price equal to $24.00 per share of the post-combination business. In addition, each of our directors, other than Mr. Ackman, have been given the opportunity to purchase up to $812,500 of Director Warrants in private placements concurrently with this
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offering. Our directors have agreed to purchase an aggregate amount of $2,837,500 of Director Warrants, exercisable for approximately 0.26% of the common share capital of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis, with an exercise price equal to $24.00 per share of the post-combination business.
The potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of Class A Common Stock upon the issuance or exercise of these securities could make us a less attractive business combination vehicle to a target business. Any issuance of Forward Purchase Units or exercise of Forward Purchase Warrants or Redeemable Warrants will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock may reduce the value of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued, if any, to complete our initial business combination. In addition, if stockholders of a target company are to remain stockholders in the post-combination business, the exercise of any of our warrants would reduce the ownership interest maintained in the post-combination business by such stockholders of the target company. Therefore, our warrants may make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
Because each unit contains one-ninth of one warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other blank check companies.
Each unit contains one-ninth of one Distributable Redeemable Warrant. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, the Redeemable Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares and only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time. While holders of units (or the underlying shares of Class A Common Stock) who elect not to redeem such shares in connection with our initial business combination will also receive a distribution of Redeemable Warrants in the form of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, it is likely that the number of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants issued to any such holder will not be a whole number. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one whole share. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of our initial business combination, since the Distributable Redeemable Warrants and Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants (assuming no redemptions of our Class A Common Stock) will be exercisable in the aggregate for one-third of the number of shares sold in this offering (as compared to units that each contain a warrant to purchase one whole share), and to provide an incentive to our public stockholders to not redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock. While we believe this makes us a more attractive merger partner for target businesses, this unit structure may nevertheless cause our units to be worth less than if they included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
If (x) we issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock, equity-linked securities or any other instrument that is convertible or exercisable into, or exchangeable for, our Class A Common Stock for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $18.40 per share of Class A Common Stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors) (the Newly Issued Price), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds (including from such issuances, this offering, the sale of the Forward Purchase Units and any interest thereon, net of redemptions) that are available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation thereof and (z) the daily volume-weighted average trading price of our Class A Common Stock during the 20-trading-day period starting on the trading day prior to the date on which we consummate our initial business combination (such price, the Market Value) is below $18.40 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $36.00 per share redemption trigger price described under the heading Description of SecuritiesRedeemable WarrantsRedemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $36.00 will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $20.00 per share redemption trigger price described under the heading Description of Securities
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Redeemable WarrantsRedemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $20.00 will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 100% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. By lowering the price at which warrant holders may exercise, this provision may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
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 the 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:
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the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies; |
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prior offerings of those companies; |
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our prospects for acquiring an operating business; |
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a review of debt to equity ratios in leveraged transactions; |
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our capital structure; |
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an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies; |
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general conditions of the securities markets at the time of this offering; and |
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other factors as were deemed relevant. |
Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities of an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results.
There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
There is currently no market for our securities. Stockholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
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 our 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
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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 financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe.
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 accounting 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 our 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, 2021. 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
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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 initial 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 contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include 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.
Section 203 of the DGCL affects the ability of an interested stockholder to engage in certain business combinations, for a period of three years following the time that the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. We will take all necessary corporate action to ensure that our Sponsor, its affiliates, and their transferees will not be deemed to be interested stockholders, regardless of the percentage of our voting stock owned by them, and will therefore not be subject to such restrictions. See Description of SecuritiesCertain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires, 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 or, if that court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, another federal or state court situated in the State of Delaware. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This exclusive provision forum will not apply to suits arising under the Exchange Act or any other claim for which federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action under the Securities Act.
In March 2020, the Delaware Supreme Court issued a decision in Salzburg et al. v. Sciabacucchi, which found that an exclusive forum provision providing for claims under the Securities Act to be brought in federal court is facially valid under Delaware law. It is unclear whether this decision will be appealed, or what the final outcome of this case will be. We intend to enforce this provision, but we do not know whether courts in other jurisdictions will agree with this decision or enforce it.
This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholders ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
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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:
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higher costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with different commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets; |
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rules and regulations regarding currency redemption; |
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complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals; |
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laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected; |
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tariffs and trade barriers; |
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regulations related to customs and import/export matters; |
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longer payment cycles and challenges in collecting accounts receivable; |
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tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States; |
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currency fluctuations and exchange controls; |
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rates of inflation; |
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cultural and language differences; |
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employment regulations; |
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crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and wars; |
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deterioration of political relations with the United States; and |
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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.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements contained 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 Teams 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, intends, 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:
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our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses; |
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our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in light of disruption that may result from limitations imposed by the COVID-19 outbreak; |
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our expectations around the performance of the prospective target business or businesses; |
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our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination; |
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our Management Team and Investment Team members allocating their time to other businesses, and our directors and officers 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; |
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our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination; |
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our pool of prospective target businesses; |
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the ability of our directors and officers to generate a number of potential acquisition opportunities; |
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our public securities potential liquidity and trading; |
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the lack of a market for our securities; |
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the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to us from any interest income on the trust account balance; |
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the trust account not being subject to claims of third parties; or |
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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 in 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.
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We are offering 200,000,000 units at an offering price of $20.00 per unit. We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering together with the funds we will receive from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants will be used as set forth in the following table.
Gross proceeds |
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Gross proceeds from units offered to public(1) |
$ | 4,000,000,000 | ||
Gross proceeds from Sponsor Warrants and directors warrants sold in private placements concurrently with offering(2) |
$ | 67,837,500 | ||
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Total gross proceeds |
$ | 4,067,837,500 | ||
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|
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Offering expenses(3) |
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Underwriting commissions (subject to $30,000,000 cap, plus $5,000,000 selling concessions, and excluding deferred portion)(4)(5) |
$ | 35,000,000 | ||
Legal fees and expenses |
$ | 2,000,000 | ||
Accounting fees and expenses |
$ | 60,000 | ||
SEC/FINRA Expenses |
$ | 744,700 | ||
NYSE listing and filing fees |
$ | 85,000 | ||
Director & Officer liability insurance premiums |
$ | 3,300,000 | ||
Printing and engraving expenses |
$ | 10,000 | ||
Miscellaneous |
$ | 300,000 | ||
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Total offering expenses (excluding underwriting commissions) |
$ | 6,499,700 | ||
Proceeds after offering expenses |
$ | 4,026,337,800 | ||
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Held in trust account(5) |
$ | 4,000,000,000 | ||
% of public offering size |
100 | |||
Not held in trust account |
$ | 26,337,800 | ||
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The following table shows the use of the $26,337,800 of net proceeds not held in the trust account.(6)
Amount |
%
of Total |
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Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, consulting and other expenses in connection with any business combination |
$ | 5,000,000 | 18.98 | % | ||||
Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations |
$ | 150,000 | 0.57 | % | ||||
NYSE continued listing fees |
$ | 170,000 | 0.65 | % | ||||
Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses (including franchise taxes) |
$ | 500,000 | 1.90 | % | ||||
Excess warrant proceeds |
$ | 20,517,800 | 77.90 | % | ||||
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Total |
$ | 26,337,800 | 100.00 | % | ||||
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(1) |
Includes amounts payable to public stockholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our initial business combination. |
(2) |
Includes proceeds of $65,000,000 from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and $2,837,500 from the sale of the Director Warrants. |
(3) |
A portion of the offering expenses can be paid from the proceeds of a loan from our Sponsor of up to $1,500,000 as described in this prospectus. Any amounts drawn under this loan will be payable no later than the end of the 24-month (or 30-month, as applicable) period from the closing of this offering in which we must complete our initial business offering and will be repaid from amounts not to be held in the trust account. 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. In the event that the offering expenses are more than as set forth in this table, we may fund such excess with funds not held in the trust account. |
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(4) |
Underwriting commissions will be 2.0% for gross proceeds from the units being sold in this offering up to $1,000,000,000, 1.5% for gross proceeds from the units being sold in this offering from $1,000,000,000 up to $1,500,000,000, 1.0% for gross proceeds from the units being sold in this offering from $1,500,000,000 up to $2,000,000,000, and 0.5% for gross proceeds from the units being sold in this offering of $2,000,000,000 and above, excluding the deferred portion of the underwriting commissions, and subject to a cap that provides that any underwriting commissions in excess of $30,000,000 (not including the up to $5,000,000 payable for retail investor selling concessions) will be added to the deferred portion of the underwriting commission. Assumes payment by us of the entire additional aggregate amount of up to $5,000,000 payable for selling concessions of $0.20 per unit for units sold to retail investors. To the extent we do not pay such retail investor selling concessions, up to an additional $5,000,000 will not be held in the trust account and will be available to fund our working capital expenses. |
(5) |
In addition to the deferral of any underwriting commissions, other than any retail selling concessions, in excess of $30,000,000 (a deferral of $12,500,000), a 2.0% rate is applicable to the gross proceeds from the units being sold in this offering, with such aggregate amount of deferred underwriting commissions and fees being subject to a cap of $56,250,000. If the amount of proceeds from the trust account paid in connection with the redemption rights of public stockholders, together with the amount of capital raised in private placements in connection with the initial business combination from investors other than our Sponsor or its affiliates (the Net Redemptions), results in us having less than $2,000,000,000 of cash available upon consummation of our initial business combination, only 25% of the aggregate deferred underwriting commissions will be payable. If such amount of cash available is $2,000,000,000 or greater, 50% of the aggregate deferred underwriting commissions will be payable, and the remaining 50% of the aggregate deferred underwriting commissions will be subject to a pro-rata reduction based on the amount of Net Redemptions as a percentage of the total public offering proceeds. Subject to the foregoing, $56,250,000 of deferred commissions 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 make other investments, or for working capital. The underwriters will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, and in no event will the aggregate underwriting discounts and commissions exceed $91,250,000, including the up to $5,000,000 for selling concessions of $0.20 per unit for units sold to retail investors. |
(6) |
These expenses are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth herein. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring our business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify a business combination target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal counsel. In addition, our staffing needs may vary and as a result, we may engage a number of consultants to assist with legal and financial due diligence. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would not be available for our expenses. |
The rules of the NYSE provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, $4,000,000,000, including $56,250,000 of deferred underwriting commissions, will be placed in a J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. trust account located in the United States, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and will be invested only in U.S. 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 U.S. Treasury obligations. We estimate that the interest earned on the trust account will be approximately $4,000,000 per year, assuming an interest rate of 0.10% per year; however, we can provide no assurance regarding this amount, particularly if the interest rates of U.S. Treasury obligations
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become negative. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants that are held in the trust account 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 shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (B) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24-month period), or (C) 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 have their shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed 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 any interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable released to us) divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering; and (c) the redemption of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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 business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt instruments, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-combination business, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or make other investments, or for working capital.
We believe that amounts not held in trust will be sufficient to pay the costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. This belief is based on the fact that while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective acquisition, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of a business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. If we are required to seek additional capital, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from our Sponsor, members of our Management Team or their affiliates, but such persons are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.
Our Sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $1,500,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering, general corporate purposes prior to our initial business combination and potential transaction costs in connection with our intended initial business combination. As of June 30, 2020, we had borrowed $971,850 under the promissory note with our Sponsor.
This loan is unsecured, bears interest on a monthly basis at the Applicable Federal Rate (as defined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) and is payable no later than the end of the 24-month (or 30-month, as applicable) period from the closing of this offering in which we must complete our initial business offering. The loan will be repaid out of 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 directors and officers 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
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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. The terms of such loans by our directors and officers, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
We have entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement with the Forward Purchasers, pursuant to which the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of Committed Forward Purchase Units, which will have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. The purchase of the 50,000,000 Committed Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, with the full amount to have been purchased no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers obligation to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units may not be transferred to any other parties.
The Forward Purchase Agreement also provides that the Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase up to an aggregate of $2,000,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units, which will also have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. Any purchases of the up to 100,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units will also take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. We and the Forward Purchasers may determine, by mutual agreement, to increase the number of Additional Forward Purchase Units at any time prior to our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers right to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units may be transferred, in whole or in part, to any affiliate transferee, but not to third parties. The Forward Purchasers obligation or right, as applicable, to purchase the Forward Purchase Units will be allocated among the Forward Purchasers from time to time as described herein.
Prior to or concurrently with this offering, we will enter into a Director Forward Purchase Agreement with certain of our independent directors. The Director Forward Purchaser have agreed to purchase, in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as each Director Forward Purchaser determines, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination, an aggregate of $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units.
The proceeds from purchases of Forward Purchase Units will not be deposited in the trust account. The Forward Purchase Shares will have no right to receive our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, no redemption rights in connection with our initial business combination or in connection with certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have no rights to liquidating distributions from our trust account in the event we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. The Forward Purchase Warrants will have no right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement prior to our initial business combination, except with respect to certain provisions relating solely to the transfer of Forward Purchase Securities. The Forward Purchase Securities, as long as they are held by the Forward Purchasers, Director Forward Purchasers, or their permitted transferees, will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights. In all other respects, the terms of the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, respectively, will be identical to the terms of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the Redeemable Warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions either prior to or following the
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completion of our initial business combination. 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 non-public 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.
We may not redeem the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination (so that we are not subject to the SECs penny stock rules) and the agreement for our 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 such shares or the 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 our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (B) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable), or (C) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (iii) the redemption of our shares of Class A Common Stock if we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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 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, directors, director nominees and officers have entered into a Letter Agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. The holders of our Class B Common Stock will not be issued any shares of Class A Common Stock in respect of their shares of Class B Common Stock if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, and therefore will have no rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account in respect of such shares, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that they hold (whether acquired by such person or entity during or after this offering) if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe.
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We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that an aggregate of 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed, on a pro-rata basis, only to holders of record of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that remain outstanding at the Tontine Distribution Time (immediately after we redeem any shares of Class A Common Stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination, and immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination). Public stockholders who elect to redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock will not receive any Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants in respect of such redeemed shares of Class A Common Stock.
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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, the Sponsor Warrants or Director 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 Sponsor Warrants and Director 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 June 30, 2020, our net tangible book deficit was $2,126,581.00, or approximately $21,265.81 per share of Class B Common Stock. After giving effect to the sale of 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock included in the units we are offering by this prospectus, the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value at June 30, 2020 would have been $5,000,018.00, or approximately $2.87 per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value (as decreased by the value of 198,254,995 shares of Class A Common Stock that may be redeemed for cash) of $21,268.68 per share to our Sponsor as of the date of this prospectus and an immediate dilution of $17.13 per share or 85.7% to our public stockholders not exercising their redemption rights. 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 Sponsor Warrants:
Public offering price |
$ | 20.00 | ||||||
Net tangible book deficit before this offering |
$ | (21,265.81 | ) | |||||
Increase attributable to public stockholders |
$ | 21,268.68 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants |
$ | 2.87 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Dilution to public stockholders(1) |
$ | 17.13 | ||||||
|
|
|||||||
Percentage of dilution to public stockholders |
85.7 | % |
For purposes of presentation, we have reduced our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering by $3,965,099,900 because holders of up to approximately 99.1% of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering may redeem such 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 five days prior to the commencement of our tender offer or stockholders meeting, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes), divided by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our Sponsor and the public stockholders:
Shares Purchased | Total Consideration |
Average
Price per Share |
||||||||||||||||||
Number | Percentage | Amount | Percentage | |||||||||||||||||
Sponsor |
100 | 0.00005 | % | $ | 25,000 | 0.00062 | % | $ | 250.00 | |||||||||||
Public Stockholders |
200,000,000 | 99.99995 | % | $ | 4,000,000,000 | 99.99938 | % | $ | 20.00 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
200,000,100 | 100.0000 | % | $ | 4,000,025,000 | 100.0000 | % | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:
Numerator: |
||||
Net tangible book deficit before this offering(1) |
$ | (2,126,581 | ) | |
Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants(2) |
$ | 4,026,337,800 | ||
Plus: Offering costs paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value before this offering(1) |
$ | 2,138,699 | ||
Less: Deferred underwriting commissions(3) |
$ | (56,250,000 | ) | |
|
|
|||
Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption |
$ | (3,965,099,900 | ) | |
|
|
|||
$ | 5,000,018 | |||
Denominator: |
||||
Class B Common Stock outstanding prior to this offering |
100 | |||
Class A Common Stock included in the units offered |
200,000,000 | |||
Less: Shares subject to redemption |
(198,254,995 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
1,745,105 | ||||
|
|
(1) |
As of June 30, 2020. |
(2) |
Includes proceeds of $65,000,000 from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and $2,837,500 from the sale of the Director Warrants. |
(3) |
In addition to the deferral of any underwriting discount, other than the up to $5,000,000 additional aggregate amount for selling concessions of $0.20 per unit for units sold to retail investors, in excess of $30,000,000 (a deferral of $12,500,000), a 2.0% rate is applicable to the gross proceeds of this offering, which aggregate amount of deferred underwriting discounts is subject to a $56,250,000 cap. The aggregate deferred underwriting discounts are subject to further reduction as disclosed in the footnotes to Use of Proceeds above. |
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The following table sets forth our capitalization at June 30, 2020, and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our units, the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities:
June 30, 2020 | ||||||||
Actual | As Adjusted(1) | |||||||
Promissory note related party(2) |
$ | 971,924 | | |||||
Deferred underwriting commissions |
| $ | 56,250,000 | |||||
Class A Common Stock subject to possible redemption; -0- shares actual and 198,254,995 shares as adjusted(3) |
| $ | 3,965,099,900 | |||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted |
| | ||||||
Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value, 3,000,000,000 shares authorized, actual and as adjusted; -0- and 0 shares issued and outstanding (excluding -0- and 198,254,995 shares subject to possible redemption), actual and as adjusted, respectively(3) |
| 175 | ||||||
Class B Common Stock, $0.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, actual and as adjusted, 100 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted |
| | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
$ | 25,000 | $ | 5,012,725 | ||||
Accumulated deficit |
$ | (12,882 | ) | $ | (12,882 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total stockholders equity |
$ | 12,118 | $ | 5,000,018 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total capitalization |
$ | 984,042 | $ | 4,026,349,918 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Excludes gross proceeds from the sale of Forward Purchase Units that would close no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination (or earlier, if the Forward Purchasers or Director Forward Purchasers so elect). |
(2) |
Our Sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $1,500,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering, general corporate purposes prior to our initial business combination and potential transaction in connection with our intended initial business combination. As of June 30, 2020, we had borrowed $971,850 under the promissory note with our Sponsor. |
(3) |
Upon the completion of our initial business combination, we will provide our public stockholders the opportunity have their shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering redeemed for cash equal to their pro-rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of five business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, subject to the limitations described herein whereby our net tangible assets will be maintained at a minimum of $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination, and any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed business combination. |
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MANAGEMENTS 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, engaged in 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 placements of the Sponsor Warrants, Director Warrants and Forward Purchase Units, our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, stock and debt. Our initial business combination will be a negotiated transaction, not a hostile takeover.
The issuance of additional shares of our stock in a business combination, including the Forward Purchase Securities:
|
may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering; |
|
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 directors and officers; |
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may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and |
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A Common Stock and/or Redeemable Warrants. |
Similarly, if we issue debt instruments or otherwise incur significant debt to bank or other lenders or owners of a target, it could result in:
|
default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after our 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; |
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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 |
|
other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. |
As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at June 30, 2020, we had deferred offering costs of $2,138,699. Further, we expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition 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 may generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied prior to the completion of this offering through a capital contribution of our Sponsor of $25,000 for the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock. In addition, our Sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $1,500,000 under an unsecured promissory note that will bear interest on a monthly basis at the Applicable Federal Rate. We estimate that the net proceeds from (i) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $6,499,700, underwriting commissions of $35,000,000 (including the up to $5,000,000 in selling concessions in connection with units sold to retail investors and excluding deferred underwriting commissions of $56,250,000), and (ii) the sale of the Sponsor Warrants for a purchase price of $65,000,000, will be $4,026,337,800. Of this amount, $4,000,000,000 will be held in the trust account, which includes $56,250,000 of deferred underwriting commissions. The remaining amount of approximately $26,337,800 will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $6,499,700, 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 $6,499,700, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount. To the extent we do not pay such retail selling concessions, up to an additional $5,000,000 will be held outside the trust account and available to us to fund our working capital expenses.
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 taxes payable and deferred underwriting commissions), and the proceeds from the sale of the Forward Purchase Units to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest to pay 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. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. 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.
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Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we will have available to us the approximately $26,337,800 of proceeds held outside the trust account. We will use these funds primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a business combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our directors and officers may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we 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. The terms of such loans by our directors and officers, 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 $5,000,000 for legal, accounting, due diligence, travel and other expenses associated with structuring, negotiating and documenting any business combinations; $150,000 for legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting requirements; $170,000 for NYSE continued listing fees; and approximately $500,000 for working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses and reserves (including franchise taxes).
These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. In addition, we could use a portion of the funds not being placed in trust to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a no-shop provision (a provision designed to keep target businesses from shopping around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business, the amount that would be used as a down payment or to fund a no-shop provision would be determined based on the terms of the specific business combination and the amount of our available funds at the time. Our forfeiture of such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise) could result in our not having sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.
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 our 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 business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering upon completion of our business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our 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.
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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, 2021. 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 have our auditors 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 that we may consider for our 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 managements report on internal controls is complete, we will retain our independent auditors to audit and render an opinion on such report when required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The independent auditors may identify additional issues concerning a target businesss 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 Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants that are held in the trust account will be invested in U.S. 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. Treasury obligations. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk. However, if the interest rates of U.S. Treasury obligations become negative, we may have less interest income available to us for payment of taxes, and a decline in the value of the assets held in the trust account could reduce the principal below the amount initially deposited in the trust account.
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Related Party Transactions
On May 7, 2020, our Sponsor acquired 100 shares of Class B Common Stock in exchange for a capital contribution of $25,000, or $250.00 per share. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by our Sponsor, we had no tangible or intangible assets. The per-share purchase price of the shares of Class B Common Stock was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued. Our Sponsor (assuming it does not purchase any units in this offering) will have 20.0% of the voting power of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock immediately following this offering.
Our Sponsor, directors and officers, or any of their respective affiliates, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, officers, directors 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.
Our Sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $1,500,000 ($971,850 of which was outstanding as of June 30, 2020) to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering, general corporate purposes prior to our initial business combination and potential transaction costs in connection with our intended initial business combination. This loan is be unsecured, bears interest on a monthly basis at the Applicable Federal Rate, and is payable no later than the end of the 24-month (or 30-month, as applicable) period from the closing of this offering in which we must complete our initial business offering. The loan will be repaid out of 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 directors and officers 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. The terms of such loans by our directors and officers, 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 have entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement with the Forward Purchasers, pursuant to which the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of Committed Forward Purchase Units, which will have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. The purchase of the 50,000,000 Committed Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, with the full amount to have been purchased no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers obligation to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units may not be transferred to any other parties.
The Forward Purchase Agreement also provides that the Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase up to an aggregate of $2,000,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units, which will also have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. Any purchases of the up to 100,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units will also take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. We and the Forward Purchasers may determine, by mutual agreement, to increase the number of Additional Forward Purchase Units at any time prior to our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers right to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units may be transferred, in whole or in part, to any affiliate transferee, but not to third parties.
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The obligation of each Forward Purchaser to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units, as well as the right of each Forward Purchaser to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units, as of the date that any Forward Purchaser elects to purchase Forward Purchase Units, shall be determined by multiplying the amount of the Committed Forward Purchase Units and Additional Forward Purchase Units that have not yet been purchased by a fraction, (x) the numerator of which is the gross assets under management of such Forward Purchaser and (y) the denominator of which is the gross assets under management of the Forward Purchasers in the aggregate, in each case based upon the gross assets under management as of the last day of the month prior to such notice of election to purchase Forward Purchase Units, adjusted for future capital activity, including but not limited to anticipated redemptions, as deemed necessary.
Prior to or concurrently with this offering, we will enter into a Director Forward Purchase Agreement with certain of our independent directors. The Director Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase, in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as each Director Forward Purchaser determines, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination, an aggregate of $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units. The Director Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase the following amounts of Forward Purchase Units: Mr. Ovitz, $5,000,000 and Ms. Reses, $1,000,000. The Director Forward Purchasers may not transfer their obligation to purchase such Forward Purchase Units, other than to our Sponsor, other directors and Affiliate Transferees. Such Forward Purchase Securities will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights, as described herein.
The proceeds of purchases of Forward Purchase Units will not be deposited in the trust account. The Forward Purchase Shares will have no right to receive our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, no redemption rights in connection with our initial business combination or in connection with certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have no rights to liquidating distributions from our trust account in the event that we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. The Forward Purchase Warrants will have no right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement prior to our initial business combination, except with respect to certain provisions relating solely to the transfer of the Forward Purchase Securities. The Forward Purchase Securities, as long as they are held by the Forward Purchasers, Director Forward Purchasers or their permitted transferees, will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights. In all other respects, the terms of the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, respectively, will be identical to the terms of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the Redeemable Warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.
Concurrently with this offering, our Sponsor will purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of this offering was determined by us to be $65,000,000 in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. The valuation firm reviewed and discussed with us our methodology, procedures and assumptions for valuing the Sponsor Warrants. Taking into account such consultation, we concluded that our methodology, procedures and assumptions are reasonable. The Sponsor Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination, and will only then be exercisable for that number of shares constituting 5.95% of the common shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis as of the time immediately following the initial business combination, at an exercise price equal to $24.00 per common share of the post-combination business. The Sponsor Warrants will have a term of 10 years from the consummation of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will not be redeemable by us and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash). The Sponsor Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and, along with the shares issuable upon exercise, will have certain registration rights described herein.
The term fully diluted basis means the number of shares deemed to be outstanding at such time and will include the gross number of shares issuable upon the exercise of the Redeemable Warrants, the Forward Purchase Warrants, the Sponsor Warrants, the Director Warrants and any other warrants or options of the company, as well as the gross number of shares underlying any other instrument, whether debt or otherwise, that is convertible or
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exercisable into or exchangeable for, or that tracks the performance of, shares of common stock (including any equity or equity-based award), in each case without regard to whether such warrant, option or instrument is then exercisable or convertible or in-the-money and without regard as to whether fewer shares of common stock may actually be issued as a result of any cashless or net exercise procedure. The Sponsor Warrants will have a term of 10 years from the consummation of our initial business combination.
Each of our directors, other than Mr. Ackman, has been given the opportunity to purchase, in a private placement concurrently with this offering, a Director Warrant in an amount of up to $812,500. Each Director Warrant will be exercisable for a percentage of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis) calculated as the purchase price of such Director Warrant divided by the purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants, multiplied by 5.95%, reflecting fair market value as determined with respect to the Sponsor Warrants. The exercise price per common share of the post-combination business will be $24.00. The Sponsor Warrants and the $2,837,500 aggregate amount of Director Warrants will be exercisable, in the aggregate, for that number of shares equal to approximately 6.21% of the shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis. Our directors have agreed to purchase Director Warrants in the following amounts: Ms. Gersh, $400,000; Mr. Ovitz, $812,500; Ms. Reses, $812,500; and Mr. Steinberg, $812,500. Such aggregate amount of $2,837,500 of Director Warrants will be exercisable for approximately 0.26% of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis). The Director Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and, along with the shares underlying the Director Warrants, will have certain registration rights. The Director Warrants will otherwise have terms identical to those of the Sponsor Warrants.
Of the proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and the Director Warrants, approximately $35,000,000 (including up to $5,000,000 in respect of retail selling concessions) will be deposited in the trust account, and the remainder will be held by us outside of the trust account and used to pay expenses in connection with this offering and a potential initial business combination. To the extent we do not pay such retail selling concessions, up to an additional $5,000,000 will be available to us outside of the trust account.
The purchases of the Sponsor Warrants, Director Warrants and the Forward Purchase Units are intended to provide us with appropriate equity funding for our initial business combination.
Our Sponsor and any director purchasing a Director Warrant will be permitted to transfer the Sponsor Warrants or Director Warrant, respectively, to certain permitted transferees, including the Affiliate Transferees, but the transferees receiving such securities will be subject to the same agreements with respect to such securities as the transferor. Otherwise, the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants will not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferable or salable until three years after the completion of our business combination. The Sponsor Warrants and any Director Warrants will not be redeemable by us and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash).
Concurrently with this offering, we will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with our Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers and our independent directors, pursuant to which we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement within 120 days of our initial business combination, and use our best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) thereafter, providing for the resale, under Rule 415 of the Securities Act, of (i) the Sponsor Warrants, (ii) the Director Warrants, (iii) the shares issuable upon the exercise of the Sponsor Warrants or Director Warrants, (iv) the Forward Purchase Securities, (v) the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of our Class B Common Stock and (vi) any other shares or warrants of the company that the parties to the Registration Rights Agreement have purchased on the open market, subject to certain conditions as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. The parties to the Registration Rights Agreement, and their permitted transferees, will be entitled to make up to 10 demands that we register the foregoing securities, and will have certain piggyback rights with respect to other registration statements filed by the company. The post-combination business will bear the cost of registering these securities. See the section of this prospectus entitled Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results
As of June 30, 2020, 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 auditors 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 auditors report 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 CEOs 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.
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Introduction
We are a newly organized, blank check company incorporated in Delaware 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, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination.
Our Sponsor is advised by Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. (Pershing Square or PSCM), a registered investment adviser under the Investment Act of 1940, as amended, and the members of our Sponsor are the Pershing Funds.
Pershing Square was established in 2003, and had approximately $10.3 billion of assets under management and $8.9 billion of net assets under management as of June 30, 2020. Pershing Square has demonstrated a strong track record of historical performance. The compound annual rate of return and cumulative total return (net of fees) of Pershing Square, L.P, the investment fund managed by Pershing Square with the longest track record, from its inception on January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2020, has materially exceeded that of its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, over the same period. In addition to Pershing Square, L.P., Pershing Square has managed three other investment funds, each of which (like Pershing Square, L.P.) has invested in various public securities over its period of operation. The compound annual rate of return and cumulative total return (net of fees) of two of these other funds have also materially exceeded that of the S&P 500 Index, while one fund has not exceeded the S&P 500 Index (in each case from the inception of such fund until its closing or as of June 30, 2020, as applicable). Pershing Square has also managed six co-investment vehicles, each of which invested in a single, publicly traded company. The compound annual rate of return and cumulative total return (net of fees) of five of the co-investment vehicles materially exceeded that of the S&P 500 Index over their respective periods of operation, while one co-investment fund substantially underperformed the S&P 500 Index over its period of operation.
Pershing Square also served as co-sponsor of Justice Holdings, Ltd., which is the only special purpose acquisition company that Pershing Square has previously sponsored or co-sponsored. Justice Holdings, Ltd. raised approximately $1.5 billion in its initial public offering (including a $458 million investment by Pershing Square), and subsequently merged with Burger King Worldwide Inc., and later, Tim Hortons, to form Restaurant Brands International Inc. Pershing Square, through certain of the funds it manages, remains the second-largest investor in Restaurant Brands International Inc. The stock of Restaurant Brands International, Inc. has generated a compound annual total return of 19% since its merger with Justice Holdings, Ltd. in 2012 (as of June 30, 2020).
Our Management Team is led by William A. Ackman, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who will work closely with the PSCM investment team and the other employees of, and resources available to, PSCM to fulfill our corporate mission. Mr. Ackman has spent 28 years in the investment management industry, the last 17 years as CEO of PSCM. PSCMs investment strategy involves the purchase of large minority stakes in high-quality, large capitalization, growth companies during periods when they have underperformed their potential. By working with management teams and boards of directors, PSCM has assisted its portfolio companies in creating substantial long-term value.
The Pershing Square Investment Team is comprised of seven investment professionals with tenures at Pershing Square of 3 to 16 years, who prior to Pershing Square, served in analyst and associate roles at Apollo, Blackstone, KKR, Goldman Sachs, and Hellman & Friedman. PSCM has 30 other accounting, legal, finance, and technology professionals who will support our company on an as-needed basis.
We believe that we will have substantial competitive advantages when compared with other blank check companies and other sources of equity capital, such as private equity, growth equity and hedge funds, among others. We have these competitive advantages because of the amount of committed capital we have, our willingness to acquire a minority stake, our ability to give a private company access to public equity markets and the lower cost of capital of our structure compared to other blank check companies.
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We will have the largest amount of committed capital of any blank check company upon the completion of this offering. As a result of this offering and the Committed Forward Purchase Units, we expect to have a minimum of approximately $5,000,000,000 in equity capital for use in our initial business combination (assuming that the Additional Forward Purchase is not consummated and assuming no redemptions of the Class A Common Stock offered hereby), and as much as $7,000,000,000 (assuming the Additional Forward Purchase is consummated in full and assuming no redemptions of the Class A Common Stock), in each case, before expenses and not including the $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units certain of our directors have agreed to purchase.
We intend to merge with one company through a transaction in which our stockholders (just prior to the initial business combination) will own a minority interest in the company that is created as a result of the initial business combination. We believe that a substantial majority of other investors in private companies are not prepared to (or are not able to) deploy $5,000,000,000 or more of cash in the acquisition of a minority interest in a company. While comparably sized or larger investment funds generally seek to acquire controlling or 100% interests in a company, we are willing to execute a transaction in which our stockholders will own a minority stake in a large-capitalization private company. As a result, we believe we will be one of the largest sources of cash equity capital for a private, single-company, minority investment in the world.
As the largest blank check company currently pursuing a business combination, we can offer a larger-capitalization private company (with market capitalization of $10,000,000,000 or more) the opportunity to gain access to the public equity markets, without such company having to conduct its own initial public offering (IPO). Through a merger, we will be, in effect, facilitating the IPO of a large private company, enabling a private business to avoid the inherent costs and risks associated with the traditional IPO process.
We intend to pursue merger opportunities with private, large capitalization, high-quality, growth companies. We will use PSCMs substantial experience in identifying, analyzing, and determining business quality and the sustainable competitive advantages of a target company, as well as PSCMs due diligence and negotiation expertise in executing a transaction.
We believe that our unique structure and our willingness to acquire a minority interest in a company will help facilitate the completion of a transaction on attractive terms. We believe that this unique structure will result in greater alignment and substantially less dilution than other blank check companies offer to a potential merger partner or stockholders, as explained in further detail below.
We believe the price at which we can, through a merger, acquire a minority interest in a large, high-quality business is substantially lower than the pricewhich would generally include a substantial control premiumthat would be required to acquire a controlling interest in the same company. Because of PSCMs large commitment of capital to us and the economic incentives created by our Tontine warrant structure, we can provide greater certainty to a merger partner of a large amount of committed funds and a successful deal.
Affiliates of our Sponsor and our directors are investing a minimum of $1,006,000,000 of capital at the same price as our public stockholders. Concurrently with this offering, our Sponsor will purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of this offering was determined by the company to be $65,000,000 in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. The valuation firm reviewed and discussed with us our methodology, procedures and assumptions for valuing the Sponsor Warrants. Taking into account such consultation, we concluded that our methodology, procedures and assumptions are reasonable (see Description of SecuritiesValuation of Sponsor Warrants). Since the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrant have an exercise price that is 20% above the price of the units being sold in this offering, these warrants will not be dilutive until the newly merged companys stock price increases to 20% above the price of the units, and the aggregate dilution thereafter from the Sponsor Warrants and the Director Warrants, upon their exercise, will be limited to approximately 6.21%. As a result, the effective cost of our capital to a merged company will be much lower than that of the substantial majority of other blank check companies.
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We also believe that the economic and market dislocation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the potential uncertainties created by the upcoming U.S. presidential election, create market conditions and a resulting set of investment opportunities in four principal areas that we intend to pursue.
First, as a result of the currently high degree of stock market and debt capital market volatility, it has become increasingly difficult for even a high-quality, well-managed, large capitalization company to execute a public offering on favorable terms. Completion of an IPO is difficult, even for a business which has not been disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis. The nature of the IPO processwhereby the pricing, the ultimate terms of the offering, and even whether or not the offering can be completed remain unknown until the day of pricing of the offeringmakes the IPO process inherently uncertain and risky. We believe that this uncertainty, risk, the related upfront expenses, and the significant time required to pursue an IPO have discouraged many large private companies from attempting to execute public offerings in the current environment. As the blank check company with the largest amount of committed capital from the Forward Purchasers (affiliates of our Sponsor)a minimum of $1,000,000,000 and as much as $3,000,000,000 (or such greater amount as mutually agreed upon)we believe that our ability to finalize the principal terms of a transaction with a merger partner prior to their public disclosure will make us a more attractive alternative to a traditional public offering for a substantial number of large capitalization, high-quality growth companies, particularly in the current highly volatile environment.
The primary drawback to a company that is considering going public through a business combination with our company is that, as a special purpose acquisition company, we are required to permit our stockholders to redeem their shares in connection with the initial business combination at the per-share value of the trust account, which creates uncertainty with respect to the ultimate amount of capital we will have available at the time of our initial business combination. We believe that the substantial capital from our Forward Purchasers (equal to 25%, and as much as 75%, of the amount raised in this offering) significantly ameliorates this risk, as it provides committed capital to replace redeeming stockholders. Further, we view the risk of redemption as comparable to the risks inherent in the IPO market, where market conditions at the time of a planned IPO can significantly reduce the proceeds of the offering below the amount expected, or even cause the offering to be abandoned. As a result, on balance, we believe that going public through a business combination with our company is likely to be attractive to potential business combination partners.
Second, over the past decade, numerous high-quality, venture-backed businesses have achieved significant scale, market share, competitive dominance and cash flowwe call these companies Mature Unicorns. Many of these companies have chosen to remain private, as there has been, until recently, limited pressure from their investors for liquidity, and large amounts of growth capital available from investors, mutual funds and hedge funds. We believe that the recent dislocations in both the stock market and private growth equity markets, combined with a number of high-profile private investment failures and disappointing IPO outcomes, have likely reduced the amount of private funding available for these companies, while demands for liquidity from their investors are likely to have increased.
Furthermore, the short-term impact of COVID-19 on many of these Mature Unicorns has, even with respect to many of the highest quality companies in this sector, reduced their revenues and cash flows, thereby increasing their need for additional capital. In light of our large amount of committed capital and our willingness to effectuate a merger in which our stockholders will own a minority, non-controlling interest in a company, we believe that we are well-positioned to facilitate the recapitalization and public offering of a Mature Unicorn on terms that will generate attractive returns for our stockholders.
Third, the economic disruption of COVID-19 has substantially negatively impacted the revenues and cash flows of many large private equity portfolio companies, and caused certain companies to become distressed.
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In light of their typically highly leveraged balance sheets, these companies will likely require substantial equity infusions to withstand the impact of the crisis. Given our large amount of committed capital and our willingness to effectuate a merger in which our initial stockholders will be minority stockholders in a merger, we believe that we are well-positioned to acquire an interest in such a target company on highly favorable terms while facilitating the companys public offering.
Fourth, the economic disruption of COVID-19 has also negatively impacted the revenues and cash flows of many large, high-quality, private family-owned companies, which will require them to raise equity capital. We believe that our ability to recapitalize and facilitate a public offering of a family-owned business without the typical uncertainty, upfront costs and the time-consuming nature of the IPO process, will enable us to merge with a large, family-owned business on highly favorable terms.
We intend to source initial business combination opportunities through Mr. Ackmans and PSCMs extensive relationships network of private business owners, public and private company executives and board members, venture capital fund managers, private equity and debt fund managers, investment bankers, ultra-high net worth families and their advisors, commercial bankers, attorneys, management consultants, accountants and other transaction intermediaries. We believe that this approach, augmented by the relationships and experience of our directors, will generate a substantial number of potential transaction alternatives that will create significant value for our stockholders.
Our independent director nominees have experience with public equity and debt markets, private equity, venture capital and growth company investments, as well as corporate strategy and operations, which will further assist us in identifying potential business combination candidates.
We believe our ability to complete our initial business combination will be enhanced by how we have structured this offering.
First, our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants provide our public stockholders with incentives not to redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with our initial business combination. We will issue a fixed pool of 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants; holders who choose to redeem their shares will lose the right to receive any such warrants. Public stockholders who choose not to redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock will share in this fixed pool with other non-redeeming holders (on a pro-rata basis), and will receive the additional warrants that were effectively surrendered by redeeming holders. As a result, public stockholders who do not redeem their shares will receive at least two-ninths of a Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrant per share they hold, and a proportionally greater amount as other holders elect to redeem. We believe this structure will likely lead to a lower level of redemptions, and therefore, we will likely have more funds available for our initial business combination.
Second, we have entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase a minimum of $1,000,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units, and up to $3,000,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units, or such greater amount as may be mutually agreed upon. Each Forward Purchase Unit will be comprised of a share of our Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant, at a purchase price of $20.00 per unit, and will be sold in one or more private placements no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. We believe that this large amount of committed capital and potential incremental capital represent a competitive advantage as we seek to attract potential business combination targets.
Third, our stockholders are subject to far less potential dilution than is the case with many other blank check companies. Unlike other blank check companies, our Sponsor is not being afforded the opportunity to purchase 20% of our stock at a nominal price; our Sponsor will instead purchase the Sponsor Warrants at their fair market value, and the Sponsor Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination. Thus, unlike other situations in which the Sponsor is
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entitled to a portion of the value of the company regardless as to whether the company increases or decreases in value, our Sponsor will only participate in the value of our company if our stock price is at least 20% higher than the initial offering price in this offering (and only then if the Sponsor Warrants are salable, transferable or exercisable at that time). Furthermore, our Sponsor is paying fair market value (as of the date of such purchase) for the opportunity to realize any such gain, and any such gains will accrue to the Pershing Square Funds, rather than to the individual members of a Sponsor entity. We believe that this incentive structure is better aligned with our stockholders and potential merger partners, substantially less dilutive than typical incentive arrangements in other blank check companies, and therefore will be more attractive to potential investors in this offering.
We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
Our Management Team
Our Management Team will consist of William Ackman, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Ben Hakim, our Chief Financial Officer, who will both be supported by the PSCM investment team, the broader PSCM organization and our independent directors, as further described below.
Mr. Ackman, Mr. Hakim and each other member of the PSCM investment team (the Investment Team) bring significant investment expertise as well as broad industry networks that encompass a wide array of sectors, industry participants, and intermediaries. We believe that each member of the Investment Team has complementary skills and experience relevant to our business strategy, as well as a track record of working together and providing creative solutions for complex transactions, which we believe represent an important competitive advantage.
The Investment Team has experience in:
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sourcing, structuring, and executing on a wide range of investment opportunities; |
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providing constructive strategic and operational guidance to management teams and boards of directors, to drive long-term stockholder value creation; |
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leveraging insights from their substantial investment, financial, operational oversight and governance experience to help optimize the financial condition, operating performance and strategy of a company; and |
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leveraging their extensive network of relationships to augment or complement the senior management team or board of directors of a company. |
William Ackman serves as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ackman founded Pershing Square in 2003, and is principally responsible for its investment policies and implementation. Mr. Ackman has spent 28 years in the investment management industry. Prior to forming Pershing Square, he co-founded Gotham Partners Management Co., LLC, an investment adviser that managed public and private equity portfolios. Mr. Ackman is currently Chairman of the Board of the Howard Hughes Corporation, and a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY. Mr. Ackman received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College, where he graduated magna cum laude, and received his Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Ben Hakim serves as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hakim is a Partner at Pershing Square and joined the Investment Team in 2012. Mr. Hakim was previously a Senior Managing Director at The Blackstone Group, where he worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions group for 13 years. Mr. Hakim received his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in 1997.
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Our Investment Team
In addition to Mr. Ackman and Mr. Hakim, our Investment Team includes the following individuals:
Ryan Israel is a Partner at Pershing Square and joined the Investment Team in 2009. Mr. Israel was previously an analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Technology, Media and Telecom group. Mr. Israel served as a director of Element Solutions Inc. from October 2013 through January 2019. Mr. Israel received his Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated summa cum laude and beta gamma sigma in 2007.
Anthony Massaro is a Partner at Pershing Square and joined the Investment Team in 2013. Mr. Massaro was previously a private equity associate at Apollo Global Management, where he focused on leveraged buyout and distressed debt investments across a wide range of industries. Prior to Apollo, he was an analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Natural Resources group. Mr. Massaro received his Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated summa cum laude and beta gamma sigma in 2009.
Charles Korn is a Partner at Pershing Square and joined the Investment Team in 2014. Mr. Korn was previously a private equity associate at KKR, where he focused on media, communications and industrials. Prior to KKR, he was an analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Technology, Media and Telecom group. Mr. Korn received a degree in Honors Business Administration from The Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario, where he graduated with highest distinction as an Ivey Scholar in 2010.
Bharath Alamanda joined the Pershing Square Investment Team in 2017. Mr. Alamanda was previously a private equity associate at KKR, where he focused on financial services. Prior to KKR, he was an analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Technology, Media and Telecom Group. Mr. Alamanda received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Princeton University, where he graduated summa cum laude and phi beta kappa in 2013.
Feroz Qayyum joined the Pershing Square Investment Team in 2017. Mr. Qayyum was previously a private equity associate at Hellman & Friedman, where he evaluated and oversaw investments across a wide range of industries. Prior to Hellman & Friedman, he was an analyst in the Mergers & Acquisitions group at Evercore. Mr. Qayyum received a degree in Honors Business Administration from The Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario, where he graduated with highest distinction as an Ivey Scholar in 2013.
Our Independent Director Nominees
Our Investment Teams efforts to seek a suitable business combination target will be complemented and augmented by the expertise and network of relationships of our directors, who will provide extensive experience in business and financial matters.
Lisa Gersh co-founded Oxygen Media (Oxygen) in 1999 and remained its President and Chief Operating Officer until the companys sale to NBC in 2007 for $925 million. Oxygen was the first-ever multi-platform brand and created content for women, by women, and reached 74 million homes at the time of its sale. Following the sale of Oxygen, Ms. Gersh joined NBC and spearheaded NBCs acquisition of the Weather Channel, serving briefly as its interim Chief Executive Officer. Also at NBC, Ms. Gersh launched Education Nation, a transformative education initiative that established NBC as the media authority on education. In 2011, Ms. Gersh took over the operations of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (Martha Stewart), first as President and later as its Chief Executive Officer. During her tenure, Ms. Gersh rebranded Martha Stewart, materially reduced its operating expenses, and returned the company to profitability. In 2014, Ms. Gersh transformed Gwyneth Paltrows blog, Goop, Inc. (Goop), into the first contextual commerce brand. In the process of taking Goop from a collection of recommendations to a freestanding brand, Ms. Gersh oversaw,
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among other things, the launch of Goops e-commerce store, skincare and fashion lines, and created Goops pop-up retail strategy. In 2017, Ms. Gersh was named Chief Executive Officer of Alexander Wang, a global fashion brand based in New York City. A graduate of Rutgers Law School, Ms. Gersh began her career as a lawyer, first as a litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, and then as a Partner at Friedman, Kaplan, Seiler & Adelman LLP, a boutique law firm specializing in complex litigation and commercial transactions, which Ms. Gersh co-founded, and which today has more than 50 lawyers. Currently, Ms. Gersh sits on the board of directors of Hasbro, Inc., where she chairs the Compensation Committee, and Establishment Labs Holdings Inc., where she chairs the Nomination and Governance Committee. She also serves on the board of directors of the Bail Project, Inc. and the Samsung Retail Advisory Board. Ms. Gersh previously served on the board of directors of comScore, Inc.
Michael Ovitz co-founded Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 1974 and served as its Chairman until 1995. Over that 20-year period, he grew the agency from a start-up organization to the worlds leading talent agency, representing more than 1,000 of the most notable actors, directors, musicians, screenwriters and other personalities in the entertainment industry including Martin Scorsese, Sean Connery, Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Bill Murray, Dustin Hoffman, Steven Spielberg, David Letterman, Meryl Streep, Barbara Streisand, Michael Crichton and Michael Jackson. In his journey from the mailroom to media mogul, Mr. Ovitz launched the most powerful agency in the world (to date), sold three major Hollywood studios, executed all marketing and advertising for The Coca-Cola Company (including creating the Polar Bear Campaign) and was at the forefront of the digital revolution, making alliances with Intel Corporation and other early Silicon Valley companies. Mr. Ovitz also served as President of the Walt Disney Company, from October 1995 to January 1997. In 2010, Mr. Ovitz founded the venture capital fund Broad Beach Ventures LLC, a portfolio of over thirty companies. He has been a senior advisor to Palantir Technologies for over 10 years and has invested in and advised companies from startups to black swans. He was instrumental in the creation of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and frequently consults for Founders Fund, 8VC and many other firms. In 2018, Mr. Ovitz wrote and published his memoir Who Is Michael Ovitz?, which was on the long list for The Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award. Mr. Ovitz is a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles, and helped rebuild the UCLA Medical Center in 1997 while serving as its Chairman for over a decade. Mr. Ovitz is also a notable art collector and serves on The Board of Trustees at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Jacqueline D. Reses serves as the Head of Square Capital, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Square, Inc. (Square), which focuses on facilitating small business credit to businesses which have been locked out of traditional sources of capital. Ms. Reses expects to serve as the Executive Chairman of Square Financial Services, a conditionally approved FDIC-insured bank owned by Square. Prior to Square, Ms. Reses was the Chief Development Officer of Yahoo! Inc. and the head of the U.S. media group at Apax Partners Worldwide LLP, one of the largest global private equity firms. Ms. Reses also spent seven years at Goldman Sachs in mergers and acquisitions and the principal investment area. She previously served on the board of directors of Alibaba Group Holdings Limited, Chinas largest mobile commerce company and Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. Ms. Reses sits on the boards of directors of Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. III and a number of privately held companies, as well as the Economic Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Board of Directors of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and National Public Radio (NPR). Ms. Reses is also currently serving on California Governor Newsoms Task Force for Business and Jobs Recovery. Ms. Reses received a bachelors degree in economics with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Joseph S. Steinberg is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jefferies Financial Group Inc., and, from January 1979 until March 1, 2013, served as President of Leucadia National Corporation (now Jefferies Financial Group Inc.). He has also been a director of Jefferies Group since 2008, Crimson Wine Group since 2013 and served as a director of HomeFed Corporation from August 1998 and Chairman of the Board from December 1999 until its acquisition by Jefferies Financial Group Inc. in 2019. Mr. Steinberg has previously served as a director of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., Mueller Industries, Inc., Fidelity & Guaranty Life and Fortescue
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Metals Group Ltd. Mr. Steinberg has managerial and investing experience in a broad range of businesses through his more than 40 years as President and a director of Leucadia National Corporation and now as Chairman and a director of Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
Notwithstanding our founders and Management Teams past experiences, past performance is not a guarantee (i) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) that we will provide an attractive return to our stockholders from any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our founders and managements performance as indicative of our future performance. See Risk FactorsPast performance of our founders and the other members of our Management Team, including investments and transactions in which they have participated and businesses with which they have been associated, may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us, and we may be unable to provide positive returns to stockholders. For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled ManagementConflicts of Interest.
Our Forward Purchase Agreement, Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants
We believe our ability to complete our initial business combination will be enhanced by our having entered into the Forward Purchase Agreement and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants. These purchases are intended to provide us with appropriate funding for our initial business combination.
Under the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of Committed Forward Purchase Units, which will have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. The purchase of the 50,000,000 Committed Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, with the full amount to have been purchased no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers obligation to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units may not be transferred to any other parties.
The Forward Purchase Agreement also provides that the Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase up to an aggregate of $2,000,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units, which will also have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. Any purchases of the up to 100,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units will also take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers right to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units may be transferred, in whole or in part, to any entity that is managed by PSCM, but not to third parties. The Forward Purchasers obligation or right, as applicable, to purchase the Forward Purchase Units will be allocated among the Forward Purchasers from time to time as described herein. In addition, certain of our directors have committed to purchase Forward Purchase Units in an aggregate amount of $6,000,000, with such purchases to occur no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The proceeds of all purchases of Forward Purchase Units will be deposited into our operating account.
The terms of the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, respectively, will generally be identical to the terms of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the Redeemable Warrants included in the units being issued in this offering, except that the Forward Purchase Shares will have no right to receive the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, no redemption rights and no right to liquidating distributions from our trust account, the Forward Purchase Warrants will have no right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement prior to our initial business combination (with limited exceptions) and, as long as the Forward Purchase Securities are held by the Forward Purchasers, forward purchase directors or their permitted transferees, they will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights.
Concurrently with this offering, our Sponsor will purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of this offering was
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determined by the company to be $65,000,000 in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. The valuation firm reviewed and discussed with us our methodology, procedures and assumptions for valuing the Sponsor Warrants. The value of the Sponsor Warrants was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, subject to additional valuation adjustments reflecting certain volatility assumptions, the risk of a transaction not being consummated, the Sponsor Warrants three-year restriction on sale, transfer and exercise, and other factors as described in Description of SecuritiesValuation of Sponsor Warrants. Taking into account such consultation, we concluded that our methodology, procedures and assumptions are reasonable. The Sponsor Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination, and will only then be exercisable for that number of shares constituting 5.95% of the common shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis (as defined herein) as of the time immediately following the initial business combination, at an exercise price equal to $24.00 per common share of the post-combination business. The Sponsor Warrants will have a term of 10 years from the consummation of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will not be redeemable by us and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash). The Sponsor Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and, along with the shares underlying the Sponsor Warrants, will have certain registration rights described herein.
Each of our directors, other than Mr. Ackman, has been given the opportunity to purchase, in a private placement concurrently with this offering, a Director Warrant in an amount of up to $812,500. Our directors have agreed to purchase, in the aggregate, $2,837,500 of Director Warrants. Each Director Warrant will be exercisable for a percentage of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis) calculated as the purchase price of such Director Warrant divided by the purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants, multiplied by 5.95%, reflecting fair market value as determined with respect to the Sponsor Warrant. The exercise price per common share of the post-combination business will be $24.00. The Sponsor Warrants and the Director Warrants that our independent directors have agreed to purchase will be exercisable, in the aggregate, for that number of shares equal to approximately 6.21% of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis). The Director Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and, along with the shares underlying the Director Warrants, will have certain registration rights. The Director Warrants will otherwise have terms identical to those of the Sponsor Warrant.
Of the proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrant and Director Warrants, approximately $35,000,000 will be deposited in the trust account, and the remainder will be held by us outside of the trust account and used to pay expenses in connection with this offering and a potential initial business combination.
Our Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to identify and complete a business combination that creates substantial long-term value for our stockholders. We will seek target companies that demonstrate the characteristics set out under Our Acquisition Criteria below. We believe our Investment Teams operational, financial and transaction experience across economic cycles and broad networks of relationships, along with our deep understanding of the equity and debt capital markets, will allow us to effectively and efficiently identify and evaluate potential opportunities for our initial business combination.
We will consider companies in a wide range of industries, but generally will seek to acquire a simple, high-quality, high-return on capital business that generates predictable growing cash flows that can be estimated within a reasonable range over the long term. We will prefer targets that have low sensitivity to macroeconomic factors, with minimal commodity exposure and/or cyclical risk. We are willing to accept a high degree of situational, legal, and/or capital structure complexity in a business combination if we believe that the potential for reward justifies this additional complexity, particularly if these issues can be resolved in connection with and as a result of a combination with us.
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To achieve a successful initial business combination, our Investment Team will leverage its experience to identify a company with a strong competitive position that can benefit from being a public company in the execution of its growth and value-creation strategy. We believe our scale and structure, coupled with our Investment Teams background and experience, will make us an attractive partner for high-quality management teams and owners.
Following the completion of this offering, we intend to begin the process of communicating with the network of relationships of our Investment Team, our board of directors and their affiliates to articulate the parameters for our search for a potential target initial business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing potential opportunities.
Our Acquisition Criteria
Consistent with our core investment principles and business strategy, we expect to identify high-quality companies that have a number of the characteristics enumerated below. We will use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to complete our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet all of these criteria. We will seek to acquire companies that have the following characteristics:
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Simple, predictable, and free-cash-flow-generative. We will generally seek companies with a proven track record of growth and free cash flow generation, and predictable future financial performance that we expect will generate strong, sustainable growth in cash flows over the long termhowever, we are open to considering a company that may, at the time of the initial business combination, be cash-flow negative, if we believe that the businesss cash flow will become positive within a reasonable amount of time; |
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Formidable barriers to entry. We will seek companies that have long-term sustainable competitive advantages, significant barriers to entry, or wide moats, around their business, and low risks of disruption due to competition, innovation or new entrants; |
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Limited exposure to extrinsic factors that we cannot control. We will seek companies that are not materially affected by macroeconomic factors, commodity prices, regulatory risks, interest rate volatility and/or cyclical risk; |
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Strong balance sheet. We will seek companies that are conservatively financed relative to their free-cash-flow generation, after taking into consideration the de-leveraging effects of the initial business combination; |
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Minimal capital markets dependency. We will seek companies that can benefit from being a public company with broader access to the capital markets and greater governance, but will prefer companies that are not highly reliant on the capital markets to operate and grow their businesses; |
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Large capitalization. We will seek companies with large enterprise values and significant long-term growth potential that will be likely candidates for inclusion in the S&P 500 index; |
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Attractive valuation. We will seek companies at an attractive valuation relative to their long-term intrinsic value; and |
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Exceptional management and governance. We will seek companies that have trustworthy, talented, experienced, and highly competent management teams. These companies may be led by entrepreneurs who are looking for a partner with our expertise to execute on the next stage of their growth. For target companies that require new management, we will leverage PSCMs experience in identifying and recruiting new management. |
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 and our Investment Team may deem relevant. In the
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event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not substantially meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not substantially 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 tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials that we would file with the SEC.
Our Acquisition Process
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a detailed due diligence review of the issues that we deem important in order to determine a companys business quality and estimate its intrinsic value. That due diligence review will include, among other things, financial statement analysis, detailed document reviews, meetings with incumbent management and employees, consultations with relevant industry experts, competitors, customers and suppliers, as well as a review of additional financial, legal and other information that we will seek to obtain as part of our analysis of a target company.
We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
We 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 a company that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
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 is included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Members of our Management Team are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters, but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, we have an Investment Team comprised of seven members, who are employed by PSCM. We believe our Investment Team members will be able to allocate their duties to us and to PSCM amongst themselves in a manner that allows them to provide us with the resources and support we require while fulfilling their responsibilities to PSCM. The amount of time that any such person will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process.
Our Sponsor and its affiliates manage or advise several funds. We do not believe that PSCM and its affiliates activities present significant conflicts of interest with respect to our pursuit of an acquisition target, because we intend that our acquisition target will be a privately owned company, and the Pershing Square Funds are not permitted by their constituent documents to make investments in the equities of companies whose securities are not publicly traded (except that they may make investments in public companies that issue private securities).
PSCM and its affiliates (including our Sponsor and the Forward Purchasers) will not sponsor or form other public blank check companies similar to ours, or sponsor or form any private equity fund targeting private company acquisitions, during the period in which we are seeking our initial business combination. PSCM and its affiliates may form and manage other investment vehicles investing in public companies at any time prior to the announcement of our initial business combination, including, but not limited to, investment vehicles that may invest side-by-side with our company.
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Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue. Neither the affiliates of our Sponsor nor members of our Management Team who are employed by our Sponsor or its affiliates have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware. However, absent a significant conflict of interest with respect to our pursuit of an acquisition target, we would expect such opportunity to be provided to us, as such potential target company would be a private company.
Each of our directors, director nominees and officers currently 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 business combination opportunities to such entity. Our officers, in their capacities as officers, partners or managing directors of our Sponsor or its affiliates, may be required to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future investment vehicles of our Sponsor before they present such opportunities to us. Accordingly, in the future, if any of our directors or officers 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. Any presentation of such opportunities to entities other than us, or affiliates of our Sponsor, may present additional conflicts.
Although the current and future fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers could materially undermine our ability to complete our business combination, we believe this risk is partly mitigated for the following reasons. As stated above, our Sponsor and its affiliates currently do not make, or are not permitted to make, investments in private companies. Further, each of our directors, director nominees and officers has agreed not to become a director or officer of any other special purpose acquisition company (other than, in the case of Ms. Reses, with respect to the special purpose acquisition company at which she currently serves as a director) with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 (or 30 months, as applicable) of the closing of this offering. With respect to a potential business combination as to which a director may be interested or have a potential conflict of interest, we may take steps including, but not limited to, requiring the review of our audit committee pursuant to our related party policy, the recusal of such director with respect to such transaction, the appointment of a committee of independent and disinterested directors, or, as described above, the use of an independent accounting firm to ensure that a potential business combination is fair to our stockholders.
Initial Business Combination
So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the NYSE, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount held in trust) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. If our securities are no longer listed on the NYSE, we will not be obligated to satisfy such 80% test. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of a target business or businesses, it may be unable to do so if the board is less familiar or experienced with the target companys business, there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the companys assets or prospects, including if such company is at an early stage of development, operations or growth, or if the anticipated transaction involves a complex financial analysis or other specialized skills and the board determines that outside expertise would be helpful or
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necessary in conducting such analysis. Since any opinion, if obtained, would merely state that the fair market value of the target business meets the 80% of assets threshold, unless such opinion includes material information regarding the valuation of a target business or the consideration to be provided, it is not anticipated that copies of such opinion would be distributed to our stockholders. However, if required under applicable law, any proxy statement that we deliver to stockholders and file with the SEC in connection with a proposed transaction will include such opinion.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that our stockholders (including our Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers, and our public stockholders) will own a minority stake in the post-combination business, which post-combination business we anticipate will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-combination business owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business for the post-combination business to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-combination business owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target or assets 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. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-combination business, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for the purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
Effect of Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants on Ownership
The unique structure of our Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, which provide our Sponsor and directors with a fixed percentage of the pro forma post-combination business immediately after the initial business combination, will have different effects on the ownership interest of our public stockholders in the post-combination business as compared to the typical structure of blank check companies, in which the Sponsor maintains a fixed 20% interest in the pre-combination business. Specifically, the dilutive effect of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants depends on the price of the post-combination businesss common shares at the time of exercise (the Market Price), and only exists to the extent the Market Price exceeds the exercise price.
Though the number of shares issuable to the holders of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants (for the purposes of this discussion, the Private Holders) is calculated as approximately 6.21% of the fully-diluted common shares outstanding immediately following the initial business combination, the actual ownership stake of the Private Holders in the post-combination business upon the exercise of all warrants will differ significantly. At or below the $24.00 exercise price of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, the Private Holders will not have any ownership stake. Accordingly, there will be no dilutive effect on the public stockholders and the holders of the Redeemable Warrants (for the purposes of this discussion, the Public Holders). At higher Market Prices, the ownership stake (and overall dilutive effect) of the Private Holders increases towards its limit of approximately 6.21%.
The following table presents the dilutive effect of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants as (i) the change in the Public Holders ownership stake with and without taking into account the Sponsor Warrants and Directors Warrants, as a percentage of (ii) the Public Holders ownership stake if the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants did not exist. The dilutive effect is shown across a range of transaction sizes and Market Prices at the time of the initial business combination. The scenarios below assume no redemptions of Class A Common Stock and that the Forward Purchasers purchase the $1,000,000,000 of Committed Forward Purchase Units (50,000,000 Forward Purchase Units).
If the target company is valued at $10.0 billion and the Market Price is $20.00, the $4,000,000,000 represented by the shares of Class A Common Stock sold in the offering gives the Public Owners an ownership
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stake of 40.0% in the post-combination business, whether or not the Sponsor Warrants exist (as none of the warrants are exercisable at this Market Price). At a Market Price of $36.00, the Public Owners have an ownership stake of 42.3% (reflecting exercise of their Redeemable Warrants), without taking into account the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants. By including the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, their ownership stake decreases to 41.3%. The dilutive effect, calculated as the 1.0% decline in ownership stake, divided by 42.3%, is 2.4%.
If the target company is valued at $25.0 billion and the Market Price is $20.00, the $4,000,000,000 represented by the shares of Class A Common Stock sold in the offering gives the Public Owners an ownership stake of 16.0% in the post-combination business, whether or not the Sponsor Warrants exist (as none of the warrants are exercisable at this Market Price). At a Market Price of $36.00, the Public Owners have an ownership stake of 17.5% (reflecting exercise of their Redeemable Warrants), absent the Private Holders. Including the Private Holders, their ownership stake decreases to 17.1%. The dilutive effect, calculated as the 0.4% decline in ownership stake, divided by 17.5%, is 2.2%.
As shown below, the size of ownership stake of all of our pre-combination stockholders and warrant holders decreases proportionately with a larger deal size. However, the dilutive effect does not vary significantly with deal size.
Dilution from Sponsor and Director Warrants to Public Holders |
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Share Price of our Class A Common Stock |
Target Equity Value at IBC (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 10,000 | $ | 15,000 | $ | 20,000 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 30,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
% Public Holders Equity Ownership Stake at IBC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
40.0 | % | 26.7 | % | 20.0 | % | 16.0 | % | 13.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$20.00 |
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$24.00 |
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$28.00 |
1.1 | % | 1.0 | % | 1.0 | % | 1.0 | % | 1.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$32.00 |
1.8 | % | 1.8 | % | 1.7 | % | 1.7 | % | 1.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$36.00 |
2.4 | % | 2.3 | % | 2.3 | % | 2.2 | % | 2.2 | % |
All warrants are assumed to be exercised by surrendering such warrants for that number of common shares of the post-combination business equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of common shares underlying such warrants, multiplied by the excess of the Market Price over the exercise price of such warrants, by (y) the Market Price.
Status as a Public Company
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or 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.
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.
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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 30th, 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 shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Financial Position
As a result of this offering and the committed forward purchase, we expect to have a minimum of approximately $5,000,000,000 in equity capital (subject to redemptions in the case of the Class A Common Stock offered hereby) for use in our initial business combination (assuming that the additional forward purchase is not consummated and assuming no redemptions of the Class A Common Stock), and as much as $7,000,000,000 (assuming the additional forward purchase is consummated in full and assuming no redemptions of the Class A Common Stock), in each case before the payment of fees and expenses associated with our initial business combination. We believe that 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, strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt. Because we are able to complete our business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit owners and managements needs and requirements. We have not, however, 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 Sponsor Warrants, Director Warrants and the Forward Purchase Units, our capital stock, debt or a combination of these as the consideration to be paid in our initial business combination. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt instruments, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our 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 for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-combination business, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or make other investments, or for working capital.
In addition to the Forward Purchase Units, we may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the trust account. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of our business combination. In the case of our initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our tender offer documents or proxy materials disclosing the business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately, or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, other than the Forward Purchase Agreement, 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.
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Sources of Target Businesses
We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity fund sponsors, investment banking firms, consultants, accounting firms and large business enterprises. 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 directors and officers, as well as 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 directors and officers. We may engage the services of professional firms (such as a boutique investment bank) or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, in which event we may pay a finders fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arms-length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. We will engage such parties only to the extent our management determines that doing so 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 finders 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 current directors or officers, or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finders fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or 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). We have agreed to reimburse our Sponsor for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing our initial business combination. Some of our directors and officers may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the post-combination business 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 acquisition candidate.
We are not prohibited from pursuing our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our Sponsor, our directors or our officers or from making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our Sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our Sponsor, our directors or our officers, 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 our 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 ManagementConflicts of Interest, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has 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.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of our Initial Business Combination
So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the NYSE, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount held in trust) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. If our securities are no longer listed on the NYSE, we will not be obligated to satisfy such 80% test. The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as discounted cash flow valuation or value of comparable businesses. If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA,
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or from an independent accounting firm, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. 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 an interest in the target sufficient for the post-combination business 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-combination business is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. There is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our business combination.
To the extent we effect our business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review, which will 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 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. We intend to focus our search for our initial business combination in a single industry. By completing our 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 Targets Management Team
Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our 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. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our business
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combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our 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 a 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.
Type of Transaction |
Whether Stockholder
Approval is Required |
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Purchase of assets |
No | |
Purchase of stock of target not involving a merger with the company |
No | |
Merger of target into a subsidiary of the company |
No | |
Merger of the company with a target |
Yes |
Under the NYSEs listing rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
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we issue 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 (other than in a public offering); |
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any of our directors, officers or substantial security holders (as defined by NYSE rules) has a 5% or greater interest, directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired and the number of shares or common stock to be issued, or if the number of shares into which the securities may be convertible or exercisable, exceeds either (a) 1% of the number of shares of common stock or 1% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance in the case of any of our directors, director nominees and officers or (b) 5% of the number of shares of common stock or 5% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance in the case of any substantial security holders; or |
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the issuance or potential issuance of common stock will result in our undergoing a change of control (as defined by NYSE rules). |
Permitted Purchases of Our Securities
In the event we seek stockholder approval of our business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions, and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. In addition, the Forward Purchasers may exercise their right under the Forward Purchase Agreement to acquire the Forward Purchase Securities prior to or simultaneously with our initial
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business combination. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase our securities in such transactions. They will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. 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. 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.
The purpose of such purchases would be to (i) vote such shares in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the business combination or (ii) 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 business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. This may result in the completion of our business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public float of our Class A Common Stock or Redeemable 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 and/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 and/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 the business combination. Our Sponsor, officers, directors, advisors and/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.
Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to have all or a portion of their shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed 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 five business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in
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this offering. 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, directors, director nominees and officers have entered into a Letter Agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering held by them (whether acquired by such person during or after this offering) in connection with the completion of our business combination.
Distribution of Redeemable Warrants to Holders of Class A Common Stock Not Electing Redemption
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that an aggregate of 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed, at the Tontine Distribution Time, on a pro-rata basis only to holders of record of the shares of our Class A common issued in this offering that are outstanding after we redeem any shares of Class A Common Stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination (the Initial Business Combination Redemption Time). The Tontine Distribution Time will be immediately after the Initial Business Combination Redemption Time and immediately prior to the closing of our initial business combination.
Each such remaining share of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering will receive as a dividend that number of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants calculated as the aggregate number of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants (44,444,444 such warrants) divided by the aggregate number of then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (after we have redeemed shares of Class A Common Stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination). Accordingly, public stockholders who elect to redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock will not receive any Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants in respect of such redeemed shares of Class A Common Stock. The contingent right to receive the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will remain attached to our Class A Common Stock, will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any form of certificate or instrument.
Our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants are otherwise identical to our Distributable Redeemable Warrants, including with respect to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. No fractional Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be issued, no cash will be paid in lieu of fractional Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants and only whole Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will trade. The Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be fungible with our Distributable Redeemable Warrants and we expect that they will become tradable on the first trading day following their distribution, under the same stock symbol as the Distributable Redeemable Warrants.
No Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed in respect of the Forward Purchase Shares.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to have all or a portion of their shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed upon the completion of our initial business 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 we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirement. Under NYSE 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 a business combination transaction with a target company in a manner that requires stockholder approval, we will
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not have discretion as to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed business combination. We intend to conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by 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 the NYSE, 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 our 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 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 the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering 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 the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering which are not purchased by our Sponsor, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem such 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 (so that we are not subject to the SECs 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 our 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 our initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of voting power of shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the 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 Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers will count toward this quorum, and have agreed to vote their shares of common stock in favor of our initial business
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combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of the voting power of the 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. In addition to the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock held by our Sponsor, we would need 75,000,001, or 37.5%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction in order to have our initial business combination approved, assuming (i) no Forward Purchase Shares have been issued, (ii) such parties to the Letter Agreement have not acquired any shares of Class A Common Stock and (iii) all outstanding shares are voted. 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, our ability to consummate the sale of the Forward Purchase Units prior to a stockholder vote and the ability of the Forward Purchase Shares to participate in such vote, and the voting provisions of the Letter Agreement, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its shares of Class A Common Stock irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that in no event will we redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination (so that we are not subject to the SECs 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 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 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 business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of Class A Common Stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
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 business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares issued in this offering, which we refer to as the Excess Shares, unless our board of directors determines, in its sole discretion, to waive or amend such limit with respect to a particular stockholder or group. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed business combination as a means to force us or our 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 issued in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holders 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 issued in this offering (except as otherwise permitted by our board of directors), we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not restrict our stockholders ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our business combination.
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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 business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Companys DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holders option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to our public stockholders 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 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 public stockholders to use electronic delivery of their shares of Class A Common Stock.
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 our initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, we would contact such stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an option window after the completion of the business combination during which he or she could monitor the price of our 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 us for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become option rights surviving past the completion of the business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holders election to redeem is irrevocable once the business combination is approved.
Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the tender offer materials or the date of the stockholder meeting set forth in our proxy materials, as applicable. Furthermore, if a holder of a share of Class A Common Stock 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 the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering who elect to redeem their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our 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.
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If our initial proposed business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete a business combination with a different target until 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24-month period).
Redemption of Class A Common Stock and Liquidation if No Initial Business Combination
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only 24 months (or 30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24-month period) from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our business combination within such 24-month (or 30-month, as applicable) 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 shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less $100,000 of accrued interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, 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 Redeemable Warrants, and our Distributable Redeemable Warrants will expire worthless and no Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will have been issued if we fail to complete our business combination within the 24-month time period.
The holders of our Class B Common Stock will not be issued any shares of Class A Common Stock in respect of their shares of Class B Common Stock if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, and therefore will have no rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account in respect of such shares, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that they hold (whether acquired by such person or entity during or after this offering) if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe.
Our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed, pursuant to the Letter 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 allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (ii) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable), or (iii) 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 have their shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed 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 any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering. However, we may not redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination (so that we are not subject to the SECs penny stock rules). If this optional redemption right is exercised with respect to an excessive number of such 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 such shares at such time.
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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 $26,337,800 of proceeds held outside the trust account, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. However, if those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any accrued interest in the trust account not required to pay our taxes as described herein, 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 Sponsor Warrants and Director 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 $20.00. 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 $20.00. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors claims.
Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent auditors), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest and 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 partys 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.
In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent auditors) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering or (ii) such lesser amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then our Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our Sponsors only assets are securities of our company. We have not asked our Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering. In such event, we may
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not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering. None of our officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below (i) $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering or (ii) such lesser amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in 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 $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering.
We will seek to reduce the possibility that our Sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent auditors), 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 $26,337,800 from the proceeds of this offering with which to pay any such potential claims. 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 (excluding underwriting commissions) exceed our estimate of $6,499,700, 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 (excluding underwriting commissions) are less than our estimate of $6,499,700, 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 the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering in the event we do not complete our business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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 stockholders pro-rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred with respect to claims commenced 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 their shares of Class A Common Stock in the event we do not complete our business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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
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legal proceedings that a party may bring 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. Unlike in the case of claims against stockholders relating to an unlawful liquidating distribution, however, stockholders are only liable for an unlawful redemption distribution if they knew that the redemption distribution was unlawful. If we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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 10 business days thereafter, redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, 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 the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering 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 (other than our independent auditors), 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) $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering or (ii) such lesser amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in 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 $20.00 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.
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Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are 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 allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (B) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable) or (C) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (iii) the redemption of all of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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 stockholders voting in connection with our initial business combination alone will not result in a stockholders 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 the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that may take place in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24-month period).
Redemptions in
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Other Permitted Purchases
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Redemptions If We Fail to
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Calculation of redemption
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Redemptions at the time of our initial business combination may be made pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. The redemption price will be the same whether we conduct redemptions pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. In either case, our public stockholders may redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock for cash equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of five business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination (which is | If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market prior to or following completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit to the prices that our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may pay in these transactions. | If we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, we will redeem all shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount, then on deposit in the trust account (which is initially anticipated to be $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering), including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution |
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Redemptions in
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Other Permitted Purchases
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Redemptions If We Fail to
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initially anticipated to be $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering), including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, 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 business combination. | expenses), divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering. | |||||
Impact to remaining
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The redemptions in connection with our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for our remaining stockholders, who will bear the burden of the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable.
The remaining Class A stockholders will also receive a distribution of an aggregate of 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants. |
If the permitted purchases described above are made there would be no impact to our remaining stockholders because the purchase price would not be paid by us. | The redemption of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we fail to complete our business combination will reduce the book value per share for the shares held by our Sponsor, who will be our only remaining stockholders after such redemptions. |
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
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commissions and underwriting expenses of our offering would be identical to those of an offering undertaken by a company subject to Rule 419. None of the provisions of Rule 419 apply to our offering.
Terms of Our Offering |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
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Escrow of offering proceeds | $4,000,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants will be deposited into a J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. trust account located in the United States, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. | Approximately $3,517,875,000 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. | ||
Investment of net proceeds | $4,000,000,000 of the net offering proceeds and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants held in trust will be invested only in U.S. 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 U.S. Treasury obligations. | Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States. | ||
Receipt of interest on escrowed
funds |
Any interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to stockholders is reduced by (i) any 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 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. | Any interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our completion of a business combination. | ||
Limitation on fair value or net
assets of target business |
So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the NYSE, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount held in trust) at the time of the agreement to enter into our initial business combination. | 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 |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
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Trading of securities issued |
The units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We expect that the Class A Common Stock and the Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless the Representatives inform us of their 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. At the time that the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units begin separate trading, holders will hold the separate securities and no longer hold units (without any action needing to be taken by the holders), and the units will no longer trade or be listed on the NYSE. 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. |
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. | ||
We expect that the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will become tradable on the first trading day following the distribution thereof. The Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be fully fungible with our Distributable Redeemable Warrants and will trade under the same stock symbol. | ||||
Exercise of Redeemable Warrants | The Redeemable 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. | The Redeemable Warrants could be exercised prior to the completion of a business combination, but securities received and cash paid in connection with the exercise would be deposited in the escrow or trust account. | ||
Election to remain an investor | We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to have all or a portion of their | A prospectus containing information pertaining to the business combination required by |
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Terms of Our Offering |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
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shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed for cash equal to their pro-rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of five business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our 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. 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 our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SECs proxy rules. If, however, we hold a stockholder vote, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the tender offer rules. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the voting power of the shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their shares of Class A Common Stock irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of our outstanding capital stock representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding |
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 companys registration statement, to decide if it elects to remain a stockholder of the company or require the return of its investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all funds on deposit in the escrow account must be returned to all of the investors and none of the securities are issued. |
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Terms of Our Offering |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
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shares of capital stock entitled to vote at such meeting. | ||||
Initial Business combination deadline |
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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 10 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, 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. |
If an acquisition has not been completed within 18 months after the effective date of the companys registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors. | ||
Release of funds | Except with respect to any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of | The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. |
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Terms of Our Offering |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
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our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (B) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the Class A Common Stock if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable), or (C) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (iii) the redemption of 100% of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we are unable to complete a business combination within the required timeframe (subject to the requirements of applicable law). |
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our business combination, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity fund sponsors and leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. 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 our initial business combination.
Facilities
Our offices are at 787 Eleventh Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10019 and our telephone number is (212) 813-3700. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations. We do not expect to lease alternative office space from an unaffiliated third party prior to consummation of this offering.
Employees
We currently have two officers. 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
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affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, we have an Investment Team comprised of seven members, who are employed by PSCM. We believe our Investment Team will be able to allocate their duties to us and to PSCM amongst themselves in a manner that allows them to provide us with the resources and support we require while fulfilling their responsibilities to PSCM. The amount of time that any such person will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We will register our units, Class A Common Stock and Redeemable 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 GAAP. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with GAAP. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential acquisition 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, 2021 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 acquisition.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our Management Team in their capacity as such, and we and the members of our Management Team have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 12 months preceding the date of this prospectus.
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Management Team
Our officers, directors and director nominees are as follows:
Name |
Age |
Position |
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William A. Ackman |
54 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Director | ||||
Ben Hakim |
44 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Lisa Gersh |
61 | Director Nominee | ||||
Michael Ovitz |
73 | Director Nominee | ||||
Jacqueline Reses |
50 | Director Nominee | ||||
Joseph S. Steinberg |
76 | Director Nominee |
Our Officers
William Ackman serves as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ackman founded Pershing Square in 2003, and is principally responsible for its investment policies and implementation. Mr. Ackman has spent 28 years in the investment management industry. Prior to forming Pershing Square, he co-founded Gotham Partners Management Co., LLC, an investment adviser that managed public and private equity and hedge fund portfolios. Mr. Ackman is currently Chairman of the Board of the Howard Hughes Corporation, and a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY. Mr. Ackman received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College, where he graduated magna cum laude, and received his Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Ben Hakim serves as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hakim is a Partner at Pershing Square and joined the Investment Team in 2012. Mr. Hakim was previously a Senior Managing Director at The Blackstone Group, where he worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions group for 13 years. Mr. Hakim received his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in 1997.
Our Independent Director Nominees
Lisa Gersh co-founded Oxygen Media (Oxygen) in 1999 and remained its President and Chief Operating Officer until the companys sale to NBC in 2007 for $925 million. Oxygen was the first-ever multi-platform brand and created content for women, by women, and reached 74 million homes at the time of its sale. Following the sale of Oxygen, Ms. Gersh joined NBC and spearheaded NBCs acquisition of the Weather Channel, serving briefly as its interim Chief Executive Officer. Also at NBC, Ms. Gersh launched Education Nation, a transformative education initiative that established NBC as the media authority on education. In 2011, Ms. Gersh took over the operations of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (Martha Stewart), first as President and later as its Chief Executive Officer. During her tenure, Ms. Gersh rebranded Martha Stewart, materially reduced its operating expenses, and returned the company to profitability. In 2014, Ms. Gersh transformed Gwyneth Paltrows blog, Goop, Inc. (Goop), into the first contextual commerce brand. In the process of taking Goop from a collection of recommendations to a freestanding brand, Ms. Gersh oversaw, among other things, the launch of Goops e-commerce store, skincare and fashion lines, and created Goops pop-up retail strategy. In 2017, Ms. Gersh was named Chief Executive Officer of Alexander Wang, a global fashion brand based in New York City. A graduate of Rutgers Law School, Ms. Gersh began her career as a lawyer, first as a litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, and then as a Partner at Friedman, Kaplan, Seiler & Adelman LLP, a boutique law firm specializing in complex litigation and commercial transactions, which Ms. Gersh co-founded, and which today has more than 50 lawyers. Currently, Ms. Gersh sits on the board of directors of Hasbro, Inc., where she chairs the Compensation Committee, and Establishment Labs Holdings Inc., where she chairs the Nomination and Governance Committee. She also serves on the board of directors of the Bail Project, Inc. and the Samsung Retail Advisory Board. Ms. Gersh previously served on the board of directors of comScore, Inc. We believe Ms. Gersh is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her extensive operating experience, serving as an officer and board member of several companies, as well as her vast network of relationships.
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Michael Ovitz co-founded Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 1974 and served as its Chairman until 1995. Over that 20-year period, he grew the agency from a start-up organization to the worlds leading talent agency, representing more than 1,000 of the most notable actors, directors, musicians, screenwriters and other personalities in the entertainment industry including Martin Scorsese, Sean Connery, Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Bill Murray, Dustin Hoffman, Steven Spielberg, David Letterman, Meryl Streep, Barbara Streisand, Michael Crichton and Michael Jackson. In his journey from the mailroom to media mogul, Mr. Ovitz launched the most powerful agency in the world (to date), sold three major Hollywood studios, executed all marketing and advertising for The Coca-Cola Company (including creating the Polar Bear Campaign) and was at the forefront of the digital revolution, making alliances with Intel Corporation and other early Silicon Valley companies. Mr. Ovitz also served as President of the Walt Disney Company, from October 1995 to January 1997. In 2010, Mr. Ovitz founded the venture capital fund Broad Beach Ventures LLC, a portfolio of over thirty companies. He has been a senior advisor to Palantir Technologies for over 10 years and has invested in and advised companies from startups to black swans. He was instrumental in the creation of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and frequently consults for Founders Fund, 8VC and many other firms. In 2018, Mr. Ovitz wrote and published his memoir Who Is Michael Ovitz?, which was on the long list for The Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award. Mr. Ovitz is a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles, and helped rebuild the UCLA Medical Center in 1997 while serving as its Chairman for over a decade. Mr. Ovitz is also a notable art collector and serves on The Board of Trustees at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City. We believe Mr. Ovitz is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive experience investing in and leading businesses, serving as an officer and board member of several companies, as well as his vast network of relationships.
Jacqueline D. Reses serves as the Head of Square Capital, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Square, Inc. (Square), which focuses on facilitating small business credit to businesses which have been locked out of traditional sources of capital. Ms. Reses expects to serve as the Executive Chairman of Square Financial Services, a conditionally approved FDIC-insured bank owned by Square. Prior to Square, Ms. Reses was the Chief Development Officer of Yahoo! Inc. and the head of the U.S. media group at Apax Partners Worldwide LLP, one of the largest global private equity firms. Ms. Reses also spent seven years at Goldman Sachs in mergers and acquisitions and the principal investment area. She previously served on the board of directors of Alibaba Group Holdings Limited, Chinas largest mobile commerce company and Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. Ms. Reses sits on the boards of directors of Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. III and a number of privately held companies, as well as the Economic Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Board of Directors of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and National Public Radio (NPR). Ms. Reses is also currently serving on California Governor Newsoms Task Force for Business and Jobs Recovery. Ms. Reses received a bachelors degree in economics with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. We believe Ms. Reses is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her extensive operating and investing experience, serving as an officer and board member of several companies, as well as her vast network of relationships.
Joseph S. Steinberg is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jefferies Financial Group Inc., and, from January 1979 until March 1, 2013, served as President of Leucadia National Corporation (now Jefferies Financial Group Inc.). He has also been a director of Jefferies Group since 2008, Crimson Wine Group since 2013 and served as a director of HomeFed Corporation from August 1998 and Chairman of the Board from December 1999 until its acquisition by Jefferies Financial Group Inc. in 2019. Mr. Steinberg has previously served as a director of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., Mueller Industries, Inc., Fidelity & Guaranty Life and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. Mr. Steinberg has managerial and investing experience in a broad range of businesses through his more than 40 years as President and a director of Leucadia National Corporation and now as Chairman and a director of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. We believe Mr. Steinberg is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive investing experience, serving as an officer and board member of several companies, as well as his vast network of relationships.
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Number and Terms of Office of Directors and Officers
We intend to have five directors upon the closing of this offering. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination.
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, President, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Director Independence
The NYSE 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 our board of directors, would interfere with the directors exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that Mses. Gersh and Reses and Messrs. Ovitz and Steinberg will be independent directors as defined in the NYSE listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Director and Officer Compensation
None of our directors or officers has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. No compensation of any kind, including finders and consulting fees, will be paid to our Sponsor, directors and officers, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. 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, directors or officers, or their affiliates.
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 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 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 directors and officers 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 managements 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 directors and officers that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
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Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors will have three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee, and a nominating and governance committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the rules of the NYSE require that the compensation committee and the nominating and governance 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. Under the NYSE 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 member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Jacqueline Reses qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined in applicable SEC rules. Lisa Gersh, Michael Ovitz, and Jacqueline Reses will serve as members of our audit committee, and Jacqueline Reses will serve as its Chair.
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 auditors and any other 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 auditors or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures; |
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reviewing and discussing with the independent auditors all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence; |
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setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent auditors; |
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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 auditors describing (i) the independent auditors internal quality-control procedures and (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues; |
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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 auditors, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. |
Compensation Committee
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors. Lisa Gersh, Jacqueline Reses and Joseph Steinberg will serve as members of our compensation committee. Under the NYSE listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two
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members of the compensation committee, all of whom must be independent. Lisa Gersh, Jacqueline Reses and Joseph Steinberg are independent. Lisa Gersh will serve as chair of the compensation committee. However, as we are not paying compensation to any employees, and have already determined director compensation, we do not expect that the compensation committee will meet for substantive compensation purposes prior to our initial business combination.
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 Officers compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officers 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 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 reimbursement of expenses, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our current stockholders, officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate the consummation of a business combination. Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of our 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 the NYSE and the SEC.
Nominating and Governance Committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish a nominating and governance committee. The members of our nominating and governance will be Lisa Gersh, Michael Ovitz and Joseph Steinberg. Joseph Steinberg will serve as chair of the nominating and governance committee.
The primary purposes of our nominating and corporate governance committee will be to assist the board in:
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identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors and recommending to the board of directors candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill vacancies on the board of directors; |
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developing and recommending to the board of directors and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines; |
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coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the board of directors, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the company; and |
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reviewing on a regular basis our overall corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary. |
The nominating and governance committee will be governed by a charter that complies with the rules of the NYSE.
Director Nominations
Our nominating and governance committee will recommend to the board of directors candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of the stockholders. 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 board of directors or 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 SECs 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
Our Sponsor and its affiliates manage or advise several funds. We do not believe that PSCM and its affiliates activities present significant conflicts of interest with respect to our pursuit of an acquisition target because we intend that our acquisition target will be a privately owned company, and the Pershing Square Funds are not permitted by their constituent documents to make investments in the equities of companies whose securities are not publicly traded (except that they may make investments in public companies that issue private securities).
PSCM and its affiliates (including our Sponsor and the Forward Purchasers) will not sponsor or form other public blank check companies similar to ours, or sponsor or form any private equity fund targeting private company acquisitions, during the period in which we are seeking our initial business combination. PSCM and its affiliates may form and manage other investment vehicles investing in public companies at any time prior to the announcement of our initial business combination, including, but not limited to, investment vehicles that may invest side-by-side with our company.
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Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue. Neither the affiliates of our Sponsor nor members of our Management Team who are employed by our Sponsor or its affiliates have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware. However, absent a significant conflict of interest with respect to our pursuit of an acquisition target, we would expect such opportunity to be provided to us, as such potential target company would be a private company.
Each of our directors, director nominees and officers currently 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 business combination opportunities to such entity. Our officers, in their capacities as officers, partners or managing directors of our Sponsor or its affiliates, may be required to present potential business combinations to the related entities described above, current or future investment vehicles of our Sponsor before they present such opportunities to us. Accordingly, in the future, if any of our directors or officers 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. Any presentation of such opportunities to entities other than us, or affiliates of our Sponsor, may present additional conflicts.
Although the current and future fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our directors or officers could materially undermine our ability to complete our business combination, we believe this risk is partly mitigated for the following reasons. As stated above, our Sponsor and its affiliates currently do not make, or are not permitted to make, investments in private companies. Further, each of our directors, director nominees and officers has agreed not to become a director or officer of any other special purpose acquisition company (other than, in the case of Ms. Reses, with respect to the special purpose acquisition company at which she currently serves as a director) with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 (or 30 months, as applicable) of the closing of this offering. With respect to a potential business combination as to which a director may be interested or have a potential conflict of interest, we may take steps including, but not limited to, requiring the review of our audit committee pursuant to our related party policy, the recusal of such director with respect to such transaction, the appointment of a committee of independent and disinterested directors, or, as described above, the use of an independent accounting firm to ensure that a potential business combination is fair to our stockholders.
Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
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None of the members of our Management Team or Investment Team are required to commit his or her full time to our affairs. The members of our Investment Team are employed by PSCM. While the members of our Management Team intend to vote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs, and while we believe the seven members of our Investment Team will be able to allocate their duties to us and to PSCM in a manner that allows them to provide us with the resources and support we require while also fulfilling their responsibilities to PSCM, such persons may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among various business activities. |
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In the course of their other business activities, our directors and officers 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 Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of our Class A Common Stock held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, certain proceeds of the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering and the investment opportunity presented by the Sponsor Warrants, the Director Warrants and the Forward Purchase Securities (with respect to the Forward Purchasers and Director Forward Purchasers) will be lost. With certain limited exceptions in each case, the shares of Class B Common Stock and the Forward Purchase Units will not be transferable, assignable or salable and the shares of Class A Common Stock included therein or issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof, as applicable, will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 180 days after the consummation of our initial business combination, and the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants will not be exercisable, transferable, assignable or salable until three years after the consummation of our initial business combination. Since our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers may directly or indirectly own common stock and warrants following this offering, our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers 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 directors and officers may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such directors and officers was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. |
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Our Sponsor, directors or officers 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 directors or officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. |
The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.
In general, directors and officers 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 corporations line of business; and |
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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 directors and officers 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 provides that the doctrine of corporate opportunity will not apply with respect to any of our directors or officers in circumstances where the application of the doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have.
We are not prohibited from pursuing our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our Sponsor, our directors or our officers. 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, our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed to vote any shares of common stock held by them in favor of our initial business combination.
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Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors and officers will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, 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 directors and officers 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 directors and officers liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our directors and officers.
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 directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholders investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers 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 directors and officers.
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The following tables set 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:
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each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock; |
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each of our directors and executive officers upon completion of this offering who beneficially owns shares of our common stock; and |
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all our directors and executive officers upon completion of this offering as a group. |
We believe that all persons named in the tables have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them, except with respect to our Sponsor, the Pershing Square Funds and Mr. Ackman, who have shared investment and voting power with respect to the securities they may be deemed to beneficially own. The following tables do not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the Sponsor Warrants, Director Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, as such warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
The following tables present the number of shares and percentage of our common stock beneficially owned by our Sponsor, the members of our Sponsor (in their capacity as such, and as the Forward Purchasers), directors, director nominees and officers before this offering and after this offering, as well as the voting power held by each such owner. Following the offering, our Forward Purchasers will be deemed to beneficially own the Forward Purchase Shares underlying the Committed Forward Purchase Units and Additional Forward Purchase Units that they have the right to purchase, and the Director Forward Purchasers will be deemed to own the Forward Purchase Shares underlying the Director Forward Purchase Units.
We have also presented, solely for illustrative purposes, the ownership and voting power of each of the below persons after this offering if such persons beneficial ownership (i) did not include any Forward Purchase Shares and (ii) did not include any Forward Purchase Shares underlying the Additional Forward Purchase Units.
The address of each of the persons below is 787 Eleventh Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10019.
Before Offering | After Offering | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Name of Beneficial
|
Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned(1) |
Approximate
Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
Approximate
Percentage of Voting Power |
Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned(2) |
Approximate
Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
Approximate
Percentage of Voting Power |
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Pershing Square TH Sponsor, LLC (our Sponsor) |
100 | 100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | * | 20.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
Pershing Square Funds(3) |
100 | 100 | % | 100 | % | 150,000,100 | 42.9 | % | 50.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
William A. Ackman(4) |
100 | 100 | % | 100 | % | 150,000,100 | 42.9 | % | 50.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Ben Hakim |
| | % | | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||||
Lisa Gersh |
| | % | | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||||
Michael Ovitz(5) |
| | % | | % | 250,000 | * | % | * | % | ||||||||||||||
Jacqueline Reses(6) |
| | % | | % | 50,000 | * | % | * | % | ||||||||||||||
Joseph S. Steinberg |
| | % | | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (6 individuals) |
100 | 100 | % | 100 | % |
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150,300,100
|
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42.9 | % | 50.0 | % |
* |
Less than one percent. |
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(1) |
Interests shown consist solely of shares of Class B Common Stock, each of which is entitled to that number of votes such that the holders of the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock will have 20.0% of the voting power of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock immediately following this offering. Such shares will automatically convert into 100 shares of Class A Common Stock at the closing of our initial business combination, as described in the section of this prospectus entitled Description of Securities. |
(2) |
Reflects 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately following this offering, and as applicable, (i) 100 shares of Class B Common Stock; (ii) an aggregate of 150,000,000 Committed Forward Purchase Units and Additional Forward Purchase Units (each of which includes one share of Class A Common Stock); and (iii) an aggregate of 300,000 Director Forward Purchase Units to be purchased by the Director Forward Purchasers (each of which includes one share of Class A Common Stock). The respective purchasers of the Committed Forward Purchase Units, the Additional Forward Purchase Units and Director Forward Purchase Units are obligated to purchase such Forward Purchase Units no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination, and may do so at any time prior thereto at the election of the respective purchaser. The amount of Additional Forward Purchase Units may be increased at any time upon the mutual agreement of us and the Forward Purchasers. |
(3) |
Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd., Pershing Square, L.P. and Pershing Square International, Ltd. may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of such securities in their capacity as the Forward Purchasers, and as the members of our Sponsor, and have shared voting and investment power with respect to such securities. |
(4) |
Securities beneficially owned by Mr. Ackman. Mr. Ackman may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such securities by virtue of his position as Chief Executive Officer of PSCM, the investment advisor to each of Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd., Pershing Square, L.P. and Pershing Square International, Ltd., and as managing member of PS Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as to which voting and investment power is shared. Mr. Ackman disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
(5) |
Pursuant to the Director Forward Purchase Agreement, Mr. Ovitz has agreed to purchase 250,000 Forward Purchase Units. |
(6) |
Pursuant to the Director Forward Purchase Agreement, Ms. Reses has agreed to purchase 50,000 Forward Purchase Units. |
The Forward Purchasers and Director Forward Purchasers are obligated to purchase, respectively, 50,000,000 and 300,000 Forward Purchase Units, and may purchase such amount, in part or in whole, at any time prior to or simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination.
The following table presents, for illustrative purposes only, the beneficial ownership following this offering of the persons below if (i) no Forward Purchase Units have yet been issued, and (ii) if the Committed Forward Purchase Units and Director Forward Purchase Units have been issued, but no Additional Forward Purchase Units have been issued.
After Offering(1)
(Excludes All Forward Purchase Units) |
After Offering(2)
(Excludes Additional Forward Purchase Units) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
Approximate
Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
Approximate
Percentage of Voting Power |
Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
Approximate
Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
Approximate
Percentage of Voting Power |
||||||||||||||||||
Pershing Square TH Sponsor, LLC (our Sponsor) |
100 | * | 20 | % | 100 | * | 20.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Pershing Square Funds(3) |
100 | * | 20 | % | 50,000,100 |
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20.0
|
%
|
33.3 | % | ||||||||||||||
William A. Ackman(4) |
100 | * | 20 | % | 50,000,100 | 20.0 | % | 33.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
Ben Hakim |
| | % | | % | | | % | | % |
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After Offering(1)
(Excludes All Forward Purchase Units) |
After Offering(2)
(Excludes Additional Forward Purchase Units) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner |
Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
Approximate
Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
Approximate
Percentage of Voting Power |
Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
Approximate
Percentage of Outstanding Common Stock |
Approximate
Percentage of Voting Power |
||||||||||||||||||
Lisa Gersh |
| | % | | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||||
Michael Ovitz(5) |
| | % | | % | 250,000 | * | % | * | % | ||||||||||||||
Jacqueline Reses(6) |
| | % | | % | 50,000 | * | % | * | % | ||||||||||||||
Joseph S. Steinberg |
| | % | | % | | | % | | % | ||||||||||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (6 individuals) |
100 | * | 20 | % | 50,300,100 | 20.1 | % | 33.4 | % |
* |
Less than one percent. |
(1) |
Reflects 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately following this offering, and as applicable, 100 shares of Class B Common Stock |
(2) |
Reflects 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately following this offering, and as applicable, (i) 100 shares of Class B Common Stock; (ii) 50,000,000 Committed Forward Purchase Units; and (iii) an aggregate of 300,000 Director Forward Purchase Units to be purchased by the forward purchase directors. |
(3) |
Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd., Pershing Square, L.P. and Pershing Square International, Ltd. may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of such securities in their capacity as the Forward Purchasers, and as the members of our Sponsor, and have shared voting and investment power with respect to such securities. |
(4) |
Securities beneficially owned by Mr. Ackman. Mr. Ackman may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such securities by virtue of his position as Chief Executive Officer of PSCM, the investment advisor to each of Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd., Pershing Square, L.P. and Pershing Square International, Ltd., and as managing member of PS Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as to which voting and investment power is shared. Mr. Ackman disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
(5) |
Pursuant to the Director Forward Purchase Agreement, Mr. Ovitz has agreed to purchase 250,000 Forward Purchase Units. |
(6) |
Pursuant to the Director Forward Purchase Agreement, Ms. Reses has agreed to purchase 50,000 Forward Purchase Units. |
Immediately after this offering, our Sponsor, as holder of our Class B Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, 20.0% of the voting power of the then-issued and outstanding shares of our common stock (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Because the voting power held by each share of Class B Common Stock will not be adjusted following this offering, upon the issuance of any Forward Purchase Units, the Class B Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, less than 20.0% of the voting power of the then-issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. The holders of our Class B Common Stock will have the right to elect all of our directors prior to our initial business combination. Accordingly, the holders of our Class B Common Stock may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions, including approval of our initial business combination.
Our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed (A) to vote any shares of common stock owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination and (B) not to redeem any shares of common stock owned by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination.
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Our Sponsor and our directors and officers are deemed to be our promoters as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.
Restrictions on Transfers of Shares of Class B Common Stock
The shares of Class B Common Stock and any shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof are subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to a lock-up provision in the Letter Agreement with us entered into by our Sponsor, directors, director nominees, officers and the Forward Purchasers, which provides that the shares of Class B Common Stock are not transferable or salable prior to our initial business combination, and such shares of Class A Common Stock are not transferable or salable until the earlier of (x) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination or (y) subsequent to our initial business combination, the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, except (a) to any Affiliate Transferees (defined as any entity that is managed by PSCM) or (b) in the event of our liquidation prior to the completion of our initial business combination; provided, however, that in the case of clause (a), 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 Agreement 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).
Restrictions on Transfers of Sponsor Warrants
The Sponsor Warrants are subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions as set forth in the Sponsor Warrant purchase agreement. Those lock-up provisions provide that the Sponsor Warrants are not transferable or salable until the earlier of (x) three years after the completion of our initial business combination or (y) subsequent to our initial business combination, the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, except to any Affiliate Transferees; provided, however, that permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions, and the other restrictions contained in the Sponsor Warrant purchase agreement and by the same agreements entered into by our Sponsor with respect to such securities.
Restrictions on Transfers of Director Warrants
The Director Warrants are subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions as set forth in the Director Warrant purchase agreement. Those lock-up provisions provide that the Director Warrants are not transferable or salable until the earlier of (x) three years after the completion of our initial business combination or (y) subsequent to our initial business combination, the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, except (a) to our Sponsor, directors and any Affiliate Transferees, (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individuals immediate family, to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individuals immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization, (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; or (d) in the case of an individual pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; provided, however, that in each case, these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions, and the other restrictions contained in the Director Warrant purchase agreement and by the same agreements entered into by any such director with respect to such securities.
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Restrictions on Transfers of Forward Purchase Securities
The Forward Purchase Securities are subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions as set forth in the Letter Agreement, with respect to the Forward Purchasers, and the Director Forward Purchase Agreement, with respect to the forward purchase directors. Those lock-up provisions provide that such securities are not transferable or salable until the earlier of (x) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination or (y) subsequent to our initial business combination, the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, except (i) in the case of the Forward Purchasers and their permitted transferees, (a) to any affiliate transferee or (b) in the event of our liquidation prior to the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) in the case of the forward purchase directors and their permitted transferees, (a) to our Sponsor, directors or any affiliate transferee, (b) in the event of our liquidation prior to the completion of our initial business combination, (c) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individuals immediate family, to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individuals immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization, (d) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; and (e) in the case of an individual pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; provided, however, that in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b)-(e), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions, and the other restrictions contained in the applicable purchase agreement and by the same agreements entered into by the purchasers of the Forward Purchase Securities with respect to such securities.
The Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants comprising the Forward Purchase Units shall not be separately transferable until 180 days after the completion of the initial business combination, except in the event that a Forward Purchase Warrant has been exercised prior to such date, in which case the shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon such exercise and the Forward Purchase Share included in the Forward Purchase Unit of which such Forward Purchase Warrant was a part may be transferred separately, subject to the restrictions described herein.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On May 7, 2020, our Sponsor acquired 100 shares of Class B Common Stock in exchange for a capital contribution of $25,000, or $250 per share. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by our Sponsor, we had no tangible or intangible assets. The per-share purchase price of such shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to us by the aggregate number of shares issued. Our Sponsor will hold 20.0% of the voting power of our issued and outstanding common stock immediately following this offering (assuming our Sponsor does not purchase any units in this offering). Because the voting power held by each share of Class B Common Stock will not be adjusted following this offering, upon the issuance of any Forward Purchase Units, the Class B Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, less than 20.0% of the voting power of the then-issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. The Class B Common Stock (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.
We have entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement with the Forward Purchasers, pursuant to which the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of Committed Forward Purchase Units, which will have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. The purchase of the 50,000,000 Committed Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, with the full amount to have been purchased no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers obligation to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units may not be transferred to any other parties.
The Forward Purchase Agreement also provides that the Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase up to an aggregate of $2,000,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units, which will also have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. Any purchases of the up to 100,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units will also take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. We and the Forward Purchasers may determine, by mutual agreement, to increase the number of Additional Forward Purchase Units at any time prior to our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers right to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units may be transferred, in whole or in part, to any affiliate transferee, but not to third parties. The Forward Purchasers obligation or right, as applicable, to purchase the Forward Purchase Units will be allocated among the Forward Purchasers from time to time as described herein.
Prior to or concurrently with this offering, we will enter into a Director Forward Purchase Agreement with certain of our independent directors. The forward purchase directors have agreed to purchase, in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as each forward purchase director determines, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination, an aggregate of $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units. The forward purchase directors have agreed to purchase the following amounts of Forward Purchase Units: Mr. Ovitz, $5,000,000, and Ms. Reses, $1,000,000. The forward purchase directors may not transfer their obligation to purchase such Forward Purchase Units, other than to our Sponsor, other directors and Affiliate Transferees. Such Forward Purchase Securities will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights, as described herein.
The proceeds of purchases of Forward Purchase Units will not be deposited in the trust account. The Forward Purchase Shares will have no right to receive our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, no redemption rights in connection with our initial business combination or in connection with certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have no rights to liquidating distributions from our trust account in the event that we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, the Forward Purchase Warrants will have no right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement prior to our initial business combination, except with respect to certain
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provisions relating solely to the transfer of Forward Purchase Securities. The Forward Purchase Securities, as long as they are held by the Forward Purchasers or their permitted transferees, will have certain transfer restrictions and registration rights. In all other respects, the terms of the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, respectively, will be identical to the terms of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the Redeemable Warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.
Our Sponsor may, in its discretion, transfer, directly or indirectly, its shares of Class B Common Stock (including the Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof) to any affiliate transferee, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws.
Concurrently with this offering, our Sponsor will purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of this offering was determined by us to be $65,000,000 in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. The valuation firm reviewed and discussed with the us our methodology, procedures and assumptions for valuing the Sponsor Warrants. Taking into account such consultation, we concluded that our methodology, procedures and assumptions are reasonable.
We determined the value of the Sponsor Warrants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, subject to additional valuation adjustments due to the risk of not consummating a transaction, the warrants three-year restriction on sale, transfer, and exercisability, and certain other factors described herein.
The nature of the valuation process used to value the Sponsor Warrants is inherently uncertain and imprecise. The Sponsor Warrants price and were not determined by a negotiation between arms-length third parties, which, had it occurred, may have resulted in a higher or lower valuation and more or less favorable terms. Although we do not know what prices and terms would have resulted from a negotiation between arms-length third parties, we believe that the $65,000,000 purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants reflects fair market value. For further description regarding the valuation of the Sponsor Warrants, see Description of SecuritiesValuation of Sponsor Warrants.
The Sponsor Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will be exercisable, in whole or in part, for that number of shares constituting 5.95% of the common stock of the post-combination business outstanding, on a fully diluted basis, as of the time immediately following the initial business combination, at an exercise price equal to $24.00 per common share of the post-combination business. The term fully diluted basis means the number of shares deemed to be outstanding at such time and will include the gross number of shares issuable upon the exercise of the Redeemable Warrants, the Forward Purchase Warrants, the Sponsor Warrants, the Director Warrants and any other warrants or options of the company, as well as the gross number of shares underlying any other instrument, whether debt or otherwise, that is convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable for, or that tracks the performance of, shares of common stock (including any equity or equity-based award), in each case without regard to whether such warrant, option or instrument is then exercisable or convertible or in-the-money, and without regard as to whether fewer shares of common stock may actually be issued as a result of any cashless or net exercise procedure. The Sponsor Warrants will be issued pursuant to a Sponsor Warrant agreement between us and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent. You should review a copy of the Sponsor Warrant agreement, which is 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 Sponsor Warrants.
The Sponsor Warrants will not be redeemable by us (other than as may be required in connection with a merger where the holders receive consideration other than common stock) and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash) beginning three years after the consummation of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will have a term of 10 years from the consummation of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions until the date that is three years after the consummation of our initial business combination. See the section of this
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prospectus entitled Principal StockholdersRestrictions on Transfers of Sponsor Warrants. We have granted Sponsor, its permitted transferees and any holders of the Sponsor Warrants or the shares issuable upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants certain registration rights, as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, which will permit such securities to be sold on the public market when the lock-up period ends, three years after the date on which we consummate our initial business combination.
Each of our directors, other than Mr. Ackman, has been given the opportunity to purchase, in a private placement concurrently with this offering, a Director Warrant in an amount of up to $812,500. Each Director Warrant will be exercisable for a percentage of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis) calculated as the purchase price of such Director Warrant divided by the purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants, multiplied by 5.95%, reflecting fair market value as determined with respect to the Sponsor Warrants. The exercise price per common share of the post-combination business will be $24.00. Our independent directors to purchase Director Warrants in the following amounts: Ms. Gersh, $400,000; Mr. Ovitz, $812,500; Ms. Reses, $812,500; and Mr. Steinberg, $812,500. The Sponsor Warrants and the aggregate $2,837,500 amount of Director Warrants will be exercisable, in the aggregate, for that number of shares equal to approximately 6.21% of the shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis. The Director Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions until the date that is three years after the consummation of our initial business combination. We have granted our directors and their permitted transferees and any holders of the Director Warrants or the shares issuable upon exercise of the Director Warrants certain registration rights, as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, which will permit such securities to be sold on the public market when the lock-up period ends, three years after the date on which we consummate our initial business combination. In all other respects, the Director Warrants will have terms identical to those of the Sponsor Warrants. The Director Warrants will otherwise have terms identical to those of the Sponsor Warrants.
Of the proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, approximately $35,000,000 (including up to $5,000,000 in respect of any retail selling concessions) will be deposited in the trust account, and the remainder will be held by us outside of the trust account and used to pay expenses in connection with this offering and a potential initial business combination. To the extent we do not pay such retail selling concessions, an additional amount of up to $5,000,000 will be available to us outside of the trust account.
The purchases of the Sponsor Warrants, Director Warrants and Forward Purchase Units are intended to provide us with appropriate equity funding for our initial business combination.
Until three years after our initial business combination, (i) our Sponsor will be permitted to transfer the Sponsor Warrants only to Affiliate Transferees and (ii) any director owning a Director Warrant will be permitted to transfer such warrant only to our Sponsor, other directors or Affiliate Transferees, with limited exceptions in each case, with any such transferee being subject to the same agreements with respect to such securities as the transferor. Otherwise, this Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the completion of our business combination. The Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants will not be redeemable by us and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash).
Concurrently with this offering, we will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with our Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers and our independent directors, pursuant to which we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement within 120 days of our initial business combination, and use our best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) thereafter, providing for the resale, under Rule 415 of the Securities Act, of (i) the Sponsor Warrants, (ii) the Director Warrants, (iii) the shares issuable upon the exercise of the Sponsor Warrants or Director Warrants, (iv) the Forward Purchase Securities, (v) the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of our Class B Common Stock and (vi) any other shares or warrants of the company that the parties to the Registration Rights Agreement have purchased on the open market, subject to certain conditions as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. The parties to the Registration Rights Agreement, and their permitted
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transferees, will be entitled to make up to 10 demands that we register the foregoing securities, and will have certain piggyback rights with respect to other registration statements filed by the company. The post-combination business will bear the cost of registering these securities.
As more fully discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled ManagementConflicts of Interest, if any of our directors or officers becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, including our Sponsor, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. Our directors, director nominees and officers currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.
PSCM has agreed to provide us office space and general administrative services at no cost.
No compensation of any kind, including finders and consulting fees, will be paid to our Sponsor, directors and officers, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. 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 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.
Our Sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $1,500,000 (of which $971,850 was outstanding as of June 30, 2020) to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering, general corporate purposes prior to our initial business combination and potential transaction costs in connection with our intended initial business combination. This loan is unsecured, bears interest on a monthly basis at the Applicable Federal Rate, and is payable no later than the end of the 24-month (or 30-month, as applicable) period from the closing of this offering in which we must complete our initial business offering. The loan will be repaid out of 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 directors and officers 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. The terms of such loans by our directors and officers, 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 officer and director compensation.
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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, director nominees and 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.
PSCM and its affiliates (including our Sponsor and the Pershing Square Funds) will not sponsor or form other public blank check companies similar to ours, or sponsor or form any private equity fund targeting private company acquisitions, during the period in which we are seeking our initial business combination. PSCM and its affiliates may form and manage other investment vehicles investing in public companies at any time prior to the announcement of our initial business combination, including, but not limited to, investment vehicles that may invest side-by-side with our company.
We do not believe that PSCM and its affiliates activities present significant conflicts of interest with respect to our pursuit of an acquisition target because we intend that our acquisition target will be a privately owned company, and the Forward Purchasers are not permitted by their constituent documents to make investments in the equities of companies whose securities are not publicly traded (except that they may make investments in public companies that issue private securities).
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate our initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our Sponsor, directors or officers 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 finders fees, reimbursements or cash payments will be made to our Sponsor, directors or officers, or their affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. However, the following payments will be made to our Sponsor, directors or officers, 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:
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Repayment of up to $1,500,000 (plus accrued interest) in loans made to us by our Sponsor; |
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Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing our initial business combination; and |
|
Repayment of any other loans which may be made by our Sponsor or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined, and nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. |
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, directors or officers, or their affiliates.
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Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our authorized capital stock will consist of 3,000,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value, 20,000,000 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 $20.00 and consists of one whole share of Class A Common Stock and one-ninth of one redeemable warrant, which we refer to as the Distributable Redeemable Warrants, and the contingent right to receive a distribution of additional Redeemable Warrants, which we refer to as the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, and collectively with the Distributable Redeemable Warrants, our Redeemable Warrants.
The Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless the Representatives inform us of their 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. At the time that the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units begin separate trading, holders will hold the separate securities and no longer hold units (without any action needing to be taken by the holders), and the units will no longer trade.
The contingent right to receive Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will remain attached to the shares of Class A Common Stock sold in this offering, will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any form of certificate or instrument. Once our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants are issued, such warrants will be fungible with our Distributable Redeemable Warrants. The Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants are expected to be eligible for trading on the day that they are distributed, and will be fully fungible with and trade under the same stock symbol as our Distributable Redeemable Warrants.
In no event will the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable 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.
Common Stock
Upon the closing of this offering, 200,000,100 shares of our common stock will be outstanding, consisting of:
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200,000,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock included in the units being offered in this offering; and |
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100 shares of Class B Common Stock held by our Sponsor. |
Each share of Class B Common Stock will carry a number of votes such that, immediately following this offering, the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock will have in the aggregate, 20.0% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock immediately following this offering, and our Class A Common Stock, with one vote per share, will hold 80.0% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock immediately following this offering. 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. The number of
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votes carried by each share of Class B Common Stock is not subject to further adjustment. 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 the voting power of our shares of common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders. Our bylaws provide that any amendment thereto must be approved by a majority of the voting power of the shares of common stock generally entitled to vote in the election of directors. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of 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.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 3,000,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. If we were to enter into a business combination, we may (depending on the terms of such a business combination) be required to increase the number of shares of Class A Common Stock which we are authorized to issue at the same time as our stockholders vote on the business combination to the extent we seek stockholder approval in connection with our business combination.
In accordance with the NYSE corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on the NYSE. 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 public stockholders with the opportunity to have all or a portion of their shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed 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 five business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $20.00 per share of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering. 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, directors, director nominees and officers have entered into a Letter Agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our 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 the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering 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 requires these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SECs proxy rules.
If, however, 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
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seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of our outstanding capital stock representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock 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, as well as the Forward Purchasers election to purchase Forward Purchase Units prior to our initial business combination, could result in the approval of our 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 the voting power of the shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our 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 business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, our ability to consummate the sale of the Forward Purchase Units prior to a stockholder vote and the ability of the Forward Purchase Shares to participate in such vote, and the voting provision under the Letter Agreement, 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 business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares of common stock issued in this offering, which we refer to as the Excess Shares, unless our board of directors determines, in its sole discretion, to waive or amend such limit with respect to a particular stockholder or group. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our business combination. Our stockholders inability to redeem the Excess Shares (except as otherwise permitted by our board of directors) will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our business combination, and such stockholders could suffer a material loss in their investment if they sell such Excess Shares on the open market. Additionally, such stockholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete the business combination. 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 business combination, our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed to vote their common stock in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock, we would need only 75,000,001, or 37.5%, of the 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction in order to have our initial business combination approved, assuming (i) no Forward Purchase Shares have been issued, (ii) our Sponsor, directors and director nominees have not acquired any shares of Class A Common Stock and (iii) all outstanding shares are voted. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem its shares of Class A Common Stock 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 business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) 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 10 business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating
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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.
The holders of our Class B Common Stock will not be issued any shares of Class A Common Stock in respect of their shares of Class B Common Stock if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, and therefore will have no rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account in respect of such shares, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that they hold (whether acquired by such person or entity during or after this offering) if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe.
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after a 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 public stockholders with the opportunity to have all or a portion of their shares of the Class A Common Stock issued in this offering redeemed 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.
Class B Common Stock
Our Class B Common Stock is identical to the Class A Common Stock included in the units being issued in this offering, and holders of Class B Common Stock have the same stockholder rights as public stockholders, except that (i) each share of Class B Common Stock is entitled to that number of votes such that the 100 shares of Class B Common Stock hold, in the aggregate, 20.0% of the voting power of our outstanding and issued common stock immediately following this offering, (ii) only the shares of Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote for the election or removal of directors prior to our initial business combination, (iii) the shares of Class B Common Stock are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below, and (iv) each share of Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into one share of our Class A Common Stock at the time of our initial business combination and may not convert earlier.
Because the voting power held by each share of Class B Common Stock will not be adjusted following this offering, upon the issuance of any Forward Purchase Units, the Class B Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, less than 20.0% of the voting power of the then-issued and outstanding shares of our common stock.
In the event of 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, there shall be a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, unless any such corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalization is waived by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.
Our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have entered into a Letter Agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (A) waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and (B) waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (x) to modify the
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substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (y) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24-month period), or (z) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders rights on pre-initial business combination activity. Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, if we submit our business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our Sponsor, directors, director nominees and officers have agreed to vote any shares of common stock held by them in favor of our initial business combination.
The holders of our Class B Common Stock will not be issued any shares of Class A Common Stock in respect of their shares of Class B Common Stock if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, and therefore will have no rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account in respect of such shares, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock sold in this offering that they hold (whether acquired by such person or entity during or after this offering) if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe.
The shares of Class B Common Stock are not transferable, assignable or salable, with certain limited exceptions, including transfers to the Affiliate Transferees, each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions. Our Sponsor, and its permitted transferees, will have certain registration rights with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Class B Common Stock, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides 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.
Contingent Right
We refer to the right attached to each share of Class A Common Stock sold in this offering to receive a dividend of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants as a contingent right. Whether any Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants are distributed in respect of a share of Class A Common Stock is contingent upon such share of Class A Common Stock not being redeemed in connection with our initial business combination, and the number of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants to be distributed in respect of each unredeemed share of Class A Common Stock upon such distribution is contingent upon the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are not redeemed. The contingent right to receive Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will remain attached to our Class A Common Stock, will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any form of certificate or instrument.
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Redeemable Warrants
Our Redeemable Warrants include our Distributable Redeemable Warrants and our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants. Each unit issued in this offering will include one-ninth of one Distributable Redeemable Warrant (an aggregate of 22,222,222 such warrants), and the contingent right to receive Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that an aggregate of 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed at the Tontine Distribution Time, on a pro-rata basis, only to the holders of record of the remaining shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are outstanding after we redeem the shares of Class A shares common stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination. The Tontine Distribution Time will be immediately after the Initial Business Combination Redemption Time and immediately prior to the closing of our initial business combination.
The Redeemable Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants will be issued pursuant to the warrant agreement between us and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which is 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 Redeemable Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants.
The Redeemable Warrants and the Forward Purchase Warrants will have identical terms in all respects, except that the Forward Purchase Warrants will have no right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement prior to our initial business combination (with limited exceptions), and (along with the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Forward Purchase Warrants) will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights as long as they are held by the Forward Purchasers or their permitted transferees.
Each whole redeemable warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one whole share of our Class A Common Stock at a price of $23.00 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. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its Redeemable Warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock. This means that only a whole redeemable warrant may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon the separation or the distribution of the Redeemable Warrants, no cash will be paid in lieu of fractional warrants and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least nine units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole redeemable warrant prior to our initial business combination. The Redeemable 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 redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration. No redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a redeemable 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 redeemable warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised Redeemable Warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such redeemable warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the share of Class A Common Stock underlying such unit.
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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 Redeemable Warrants. We will use our best efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after such closing, and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. 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 Redeemable Warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. If a registration statement covering the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th day after the closing of the initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of Class A Common Stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the fair market value (defined below) less the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.3611 per redeemable warrant. The fair market value as used in this paragraph shall mean the average of the daily volume-weighted average trading prices of the Class A Common Stock during the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $36.00. Once the warrants become exercisable, we may call the Redeemable Warrants (and the Forward Purchase 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 a minimum of 30 days prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder, provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants prior to the time of redemption and, at our election, any such exercise may be required to be on a cashless basis as described below; and |
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if, and only if, the daily volume-weighted average price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $36.00 per share (subject to adjustment as described under the heading Description of SecuritiesRedeemable WarrantsAnti-Dilution Adjustments) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading-day period ending three trading days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. |
We will not redeem the warrants as described above unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A Common Stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period or (ii) 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 exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
If we elect to require any holder wishing to exercise their warrants to do so on a cashless basis, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of Class A Common Stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Class A Common Stock
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underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the fair market value (defined below) less the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.3611 per redeemable warrant. The fair market value as used in this paragraph shall mean the average of the daily volume-weighted average trading prices of the Class A Common Stock during the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the registered holders of the warrants. In determining whether to require any such exercises to be made on a cashless basis in connection with this redemption provision, we 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 such warrants.
We have established the last of the redemption criteria discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the redeemable warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the Redeemable Warrants, each warrant holder 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 $36.00 redemption trigger price (subject to adjustment as described under the heading Description of SecuritiesRedeemable WarrantsAnti-Dilution Adjustments) as well as the $23.00 redeemable warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $20.00. In addition, once the warrants become exercisable, we may call the Redeemable Warrants (and the Forward Purchase Warrants) for redemption:
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in whole and not in part; |
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at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days prior written notice of redemption; provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the fair market value of our Class A Common Stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described below; and |
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if, and only if, the daily volume-weighted average price of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $20.00 per public share (subject to adjustment as described under the heading Description of SecuritiesRedeemable WarrantsAnti-Dilution Adjustments) for any 20 trading days within the 30-trading-day period ending three trading days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders;. |
Beginning on the date the notice of redemption is given until the warrants are redeemed or exercised, holders may elect to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. The numbers in the table below represent the number of shares of our Class A Common Stock that a holder of Redeemable Warrants will receive upon such cashless exercise in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, based on the fair market value of our Class A Common Stock on the corresponding redemption date (assuming holders elect to exercise their warrants and such warrants are not redeemed for $0.10 per warrant), determined for these purposes based on the average of the daily volume-weighted average trading prices of the Class A Common Stock during the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the registered holders of warrants, and the number of months that the corresponding redemption date precedes the expiration date of the warrants, each as set forth in the table below. We will provide our warrant holders with the applicable fair market value in the notice of redemption.
Pursuant to the warrant agreement, references above to shares of our Class A Common Stock shall include a security other than shares of our Class A Common Stock into which the shares of our Class A Common Stock have been converted or exchanged for in the event we are not the surviving company in our initial business combination. The numbers in the table below will not be adjusted when determining the number of shares of our Class A Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the Redeemable Warrants if we are not the surviving entity following our initial business combination.
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Redemption Date
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Fair Market Value of our Class A Common Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
<$20.00 | $22.00 | $24.00 | $26.00 | $28.00 | $30.00 | $32.00 | $34.00 | >$36.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
60 |
0.2375 | 0.2586 | 0.2778 | 0.2952 | 0.3111 | 0.3254 | 0.3385 | 0.3503 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
57 |
0.2334 | 0.2552 | 0.2750 | 0.2930 | 0.3093 | 0.3242 | 0.3377 | 0.3500 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
54 |
0.2291 | 0.2515 | 0.2719 | 0.2905 | 0.3075 | 0.3229 | 0.3369 | 0.3496 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
51 |
0.2245 | 0.2475 | 0.2686 | 0.2879 | 0.3054 | 0.3214 | 0.3359 | 0.3491 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
48 |
0.2195 | 0.2433 | 0.2651 | 0.2850 | 0.3032 | 0.3198 | 0.3349 | 0.3486 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
45 |
0.2142 | 0.2386 | 0.2612 | 0.2819 | 0.3008 | 0.3181 | 0.3338 | 0.3481 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
42 |
0.2083 | 0.2336 | 0.2569 | 0.2785 | 0.2982 | 0.3162 | 0.3326 | 0.3475 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
39 |
0.2020 | 0.2280 | 0.2523 | 0.2747 | 0.2953 | 0.3141 | 0.3313 | 0.3469 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
36 |
0.1950 | 0.2220 | 0.2472 | 0.2705 | 0.2920 | 0.3118 | 0.3298 | 0.3462 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
33 |
0.1874 | 0.2153 | 0.2415 | 0.2659 | 0.2884 | 0.3092 | 0.3281 | 0.3454 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
30 |
0.1791 | 0.2078 | 0.2351 | 0.2606 | 0.2844 | 0.3062 | 0.3263 | 0.3445 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27 |
0.1698 | 0.1995 | 0.2279 | 0.2547 | 0.2798 | 0.3029 | 0.3241 | 0.3435 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24 |
0.1594 | 0.1901 | 0.2198 | 0.2480 | 0.2745 | 0.2990 | 0.3217 | 0.3423 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 |
0.1478 | 0.1795 | 0.2105 | 0.2402 | 0.2684 | 0.2946 | 0.3188 | 0.3409 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 |
0.1347 | 0.1673 | 0.1997 | 0.2312 | 0.2612 | 0.2893 | 0.3154 | 0.3393 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 |
0.1198 | 0.1531 | 0.1870 | 0.2204 | 0.2526 | 0.2830 | 0.3113 | 0.3374 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 |
0.1026 | 0.1365 | 0.1719 | 0.2074 | 0.2421 | 0.2752 | 0.3063 | 0.3349 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 |
0.0828 | 0.1167 | 0.1535 | 0.1914 | 0.2292 | 0.2656 | 0.3000 | 0.3319 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 |
0.0592 | 0.0923 | 0.1305 | 0.1713 | 0.2129 | 0.2536 | 0.2922 | 0.3282 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 |
0.0302 | 0.0601 | 0.0997 | 0.1453 | 0.1929 | 0.2397 | 0.2837 | 0.3242 | 0.3611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 |
0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0417 | 0.1154 | 0.1786 | 0.2333 | 0.2813 | 0.3235 | 0.3611 |
The stock prices set forth in the column headings of the table above will be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a redeemable warrant or the exercise price is adjusted as set forth under the heading Anti-dilution Adjustments above. If the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a redeemable warrant is adjusted, the adjusted stock prices in the column headings will equal the stock prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a redeemable warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a redeemable warrant as so adjusted. The number of shares in the table above shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a redeemable warrant. If the exercise price of a warrant is adjusted, (a) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to the fifth paragraph under the heading Anti-dilution Adjustments below, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the unadjusted share price multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price as set forth under the heading Anti-dilution Adjustments and the denominator of which is $20.00 and (b) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to the second paragraph under the heading Anti-dilution Adjustments below, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the unadjusted share price less the decrease in the exercise price of a warrant pursuant to such exercise price adjustment.
The exact fair market value and redemption date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the fair market value is between two values in the table or the redemption date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of shares of our Class A Common Stock to be issued for each redeemable warrant exercised will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower fair market values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365 or 366-day year, as applicable. For example, if the average of the daily volume-weighted average trading prices of our Class A Common Stock as reported during the 10 consecutive trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the Redeemable Warrants is $22.00 per share, and at such time there are 57 months until the expiration of the warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their Redeemable Warrants for 0.2552 shares of Class A Common Stock for each
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whole redeemable warrant. For an example where the exact fair market value and redemption date are not as set forth in the table above, if the average of the daily volume-weighted average trading prices of our Class A Common Stock as reported during the 10 consecutive 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 Redeemable Warrants is $27.00 per share, and at such time there are 38 months until the expiration of the Redeemable Warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their Redeemable Warrants for 0.2838 shares of Class A Common Stock for each whole redeemable warrant. In no event will the Redeemable Warrants be exercisable in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.3611 shares of Class A Common Stock per redeemable warrant (subject to adjustment). Finally, as reflected in the table above, if the warrants are out of the money and about to expire, they cannot be exercised on a cashless basis in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, since they will not be exercisable for any Class A Common Stock.
This redemption feature is structured to allow for all of the outstanding Redeemable Warrants (and Forward Purchase Warrants) to be redeemed when the shares of our Class A Common Stock are trading at or above $20.00 per share, which may be at a time when the trading price of our the shares of Class A Common Stock is below the exercise price of the Redeemable Warrants. We have established this redemption feature to provide us with the flexibility to redeem such warrants without the Redeemable Warrants having to reach the $36.00 per share threshold set forth above under Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $36.00. Holders choosing to exercise their Redeemable Warrants in connection with a redemption pursuant to this feature will, in effect, receive a number of shares for their warrants based on an option pricing model with a fixed volatility input as of the date of this prospectus. This redemption right provides us with an additional mechanism by which to redeem all of the outstanding Redeemable Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants, and therefore have certainty as to our capital structure as such warrants would no longer be outstanding and would have been exercised or redeemed. We will be required to pay the applicable redemption price to warrant holders if we choose to exercise this redemption right and it will allow us to quickly proceed with a redemption of such warrants if we determine it is in our best interest to do so. As such, we would redeem the warrants in this manner when we believe it is in our best interest to update our capital structure to remove such warrants and pay the redemption price to the warrant holders.
As stated above, we can redeem the Redeemable Warrants when the shares of our Class A Common Stock are trading at a price starting at $20.00, which is below the exercise price of $23.00, because it will provide certainty with respect to our capital structure and cash position while providing warrant holders with the opportunity to exercise their Redeemable Warrants on a cashless basis for the applicable number of shares. If we choose to redeem the warrants when the shares of our Class A Common Stock are trading at a price below the exercise price of the warrants, this could result in the warrant holders receiving fewer Class A Common Stock than they would have received if we had not called the warrants for redemption, in which case the warrant holders would have been able to wait to exercise their warrants for Class A Common Stock if and when such Class A Common Stock were trading at a higher price.
No fractional shares of Class A Common Stock will be issued upon exercise of the Redeemable Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants. If, upon exercise, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the holder. If, at the time of redemption, the warrants are exercisable for a security other than the Class A Common Stock pursuant to the warrant agreement (for instance, if we are not the surviving company in our initial business combination), the warrants may be exercised for such security. At such time as the warrants become exercisable for a security other than the Class A Common Stock, the Company (or surviving company) will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register under the Securities Act the security issuable upon the exercise of the warrants.
Redemption procedures. A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such persons affiliates), to the warrant agents actual
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knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Anti-dilution Adjustments. 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 redeemable 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 historical fair market value (as defined below) will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (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) multiplied by (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 historical 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) historical fair market value means the average of the daily volume-weighted average trading prices of the Class A Common Stock during the 10 consecutive trading days 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 Redeemable 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 Redeemable 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 allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (ii) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed our initial business combination within such 24-month period) or (iii) 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 shares of Class A Common Stock upon our failure to complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, then the redeemable 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 redeemable 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 Redeemable 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 Redeemable 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.
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In addition, if (x) we issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock, equity-linked securities or any other instrument that is convertible or exercisable into, or exchangeable for, Class A Common Stock for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $18.40 per share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors) (the Newly Issued Price), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds (including from such issuances, this offering, the sale of the Forward Purchase Units and any interest thereon, net of redemptions) that are available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation thereof (net of redemptions) and (z) the daily volume-weighted average trading price of our Class A Common Stock during the 20-trading-day period starting on the trading day prior to the date on which we consummate our initial business combination (such price, the Market Value) is below $18.40 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $36.00 per share redemption trigger price described above under Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $36.00 will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $20.00 per share redemption trigger price described above under Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $20.00 will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 100% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
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 Redeemable Warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets for which each warrant will become exercisable will be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and if a tender, exchange or redemption offer has been made to and accepted by such holders (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by us in connection with redemption rights held by our stockholders as provided for in our amended and restated articles of incorporation or as a result of the redemption of Class A Common Stock by us if a proposed initial business combination is presented to our stockholders for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, the holder of a warrant will be entitled to receive the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such warrant holder had exercised the warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Class A Common Stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustment (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in the warrant agreement. 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
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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 redeemable warrant properly exercises the redeemable 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 redeemable warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the Redeemable Warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the Redeemable Warrants pursuant to which the holders of the Redeemable Warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the warrants.
The Redeemable Warrants and Forward Purchase 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 is 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 Redeemable Warrants. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the Redeemable Warrants and Forward Purchase 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 warrants entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class, to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Redeemable Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants. Prior to our initial business combination, the Forward Purchase Warrants will have no right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement, except with respect to certain provisions of the warrant agreement relating solely to restrictions on the transfer of Forward Purchase Securities. Such provisions set forth the time period in which the Forward Purchase Securities may not be transferred and the exceptions thereto (subject to the Letter Agreement and Director Forward Purchase Agreement, as applicable), and set forth the conditions on which the Forward Purchase Securities constituting the Forward Purchase Units may be separately transferable.
The Redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A Common Stock or 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 Redeemable Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Redeemable Warrants or Forward Purchase 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 holder.
Forward Purchase Units
We have entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement with the Forward Purchasers, pursuant to which the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of Committed Forward Purchase Units, which will have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. The purchase of the 50,000,000 Committed Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, with the full amount to have been purchased no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers obligation to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units may not be transferred to any other parties.
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The Forward Purchase Agreement also provides that the Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase up to an aggregate of $2,000,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units, which will also have a purchase price of $20.00 and consist of one share of Class A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant. Any purchases of the up to 100,000,000 Additional Forward Purchase Units will also take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. We and the Forward Purchasers may determine, by mutual agreement, to increase the number of Additional Forward Purchase Units at any time prior to our initial business combination. The Forward Purchasers right to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units may be transferred, in whole or in part, to any affiliate transferee, but not to third parties.
The obligation of each Forward Purchaser to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units, as well as the right of each Forward Purchaser to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units, as of the date that any Forward Purchaser elects to purchase Forward Purchase Units, shall be determined by multiplying the amount of the Committed Forward Purchase Units and Additional Forward Purchase Units that have not yet been purchased by a fraction, (x) the numerator of which is the gross assets under management of such Forward Purchaser and (y) the denominator of which is the gross assets under management of the Forward Purchasers in the aggregate, in each case based upon the gross assets under management as of the last day of the month prior to such notice of election to purchase Forward Purchase Units, adjusted for future capital activity, including but not limited to anticipated redemptions, as deemed necessary.
Prior to or concurrently with this offering, we will enter into a Director Forward Purchase Agreement with certain of our independent directors. The forward purchase directors have agreed to purchase, in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as each forward purchase director determines, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination, an aggregate of $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units. The forward purchase directors have agreed to purchase the following amounts of Forward Purchase Units: Mr. Ovitz, $5,000,000, and Ms. Reses, $1,000,000. The forward purchase directors may not transfer their obligation to purchase such Forward Purchase Units, other than to our Sponsor, other directors and Affiliate Transferees. Such Forward Purchase Securities will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights, as described herein.
The proceeds of purchases of Forward Purchase Units will not be deposited in the trust account. The Forward Purchase Shares will have no right to receive our Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, no redemption rights in connection with our initial business combination or in connection with certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
The Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants comprising the Forward Purchase Units shall not be separately transferable until 180 days after the completion of the initial business combination, except in the event that a Forward Purchase Warrant has been exercised prior to such date, in which case the shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon such exercise and the Forward Purchase Share included in the Forward Purchase Unit of which such Forward Purchase Warrant was a part may be transferred separately, subject to the restrictions described herein. The Forward Purchasers and forward purchase directors have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Forward Purchase Securities until the date that is 180 days after the date we complete our initial business combination, except to the Affiliate Transferees and other limited exceptions. See the section of this prospectus entitled Principal StockholdersRestrictions on Transfers of Forward Purchase Securities.
As long as the Forward Purchase Securities are held by the Forward Purchasers, forward purchase directors or their permitted transferees, the holders of the Forward Purchase Securities will have certain registration rights as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. Prior to the initial business combination, the Forward Purchase Warrants will have no right to vote on any amendments to the warrant agreement, except with respect to certain provisions relating solely to the transfer of Forward Purchase Securities. In all other respects, the terms of the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, respectively, will be identical to the terms of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the Redeemable Warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.
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Forward Purchase Warrants
The Forward Purchase Warrants and Redeemable Warrants will be issued pursuant to the same warrant agreement, and accordingly will have identical terms in all respects, except that the Forward Purchase Warrants will not have the right to vote on amendments to the warrant agreement prior to our initial business combination (with limited exceptions), and will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights as long as they are held by the Forward Purchasers, forward purchase directors or their permitted transferees (as described herein).
Forward Purchase Shares
The Forward Purchase Shares will have terms identical to the shares of Class A Common Stock being sold in this offering except that the Forward Purchase Shares will have no right to receive the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, no redemption rights and no right to liquidating distributions from our trust account and, as long as the Forward Purchase Securities are held by the Forward Purchasers or their permitted transferees, they will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights (as described herein).
Sponsor Warrants
Concurrently with this offering, our Sponsor will purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of this offering was determined by us in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm, as described in greater detail in the Valuation of Sponsor Warrants section below.
The Sponsor Warrants will generally not be saleable, transferable, or exercisable until three years after the date of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will be exercisable, in whole or in part, for that number of shares constituting 5.95% of the common stock of the post-combination business outstanding, on a fully diluted basis, as of the time immediately following the initial business combination, at an exercise price equal to $24.00 per common share of the post-combination business. The term fully diluted basis means the number of shares deemed to be outstanding at such time and will include the gross number of shares issuable upon the exercise of the Redeemable Warrants, the Forward Purchase Warrants, the Sponsor Warrants, the Director Warrants and any other warrants or options of the company, as well as the gross number of shares underlying any other instrument, whether debt or otherwise, that is convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable for, or that tracks the performance of, shares of common stock (including any equity or equity-based award), in each case without regard to whether such warrant, option or instrument is then exercisable or convertible or in-the-money and without regard as to whether fewer shares of common stock may actually be issued as a result of any cashless or net exercise procedure. The Sponsor Warrants will be issued pursuant to a Sponsor Warrant agreement between us and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent. You should review a copy of the Sponsor Warrant agreement, which is 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 Sponsor Warrants.
The Sponsor Warrants will not be redeemable by us (other than as may be required in connection with a merger where the holders receive consideration other than common stock) and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash) beginning three years after the consummation of our initial business combination. The Sponsor Warrants will have a term of 10 years from the consummation of our initial business combination. Any amount of the Sponsor Warrants that is not exercised as of the expiration date will be deemed exercised just prior to the time of expiration if the fair market value (as defined in the following paragraph) on the expiration date exceeds the exercise price. The Sponsor Warrants and the shares issuable upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions until the date that is three years after the consummation of our initial business combination. See the section of this prospectus entitled Principal StockholdersRestrictions on Transfers of Sponsor Warrants. We have granted Sponsor, its
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permitted transferees and any holders of the Sponsor Warrants or the shares issuable upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants certain registration rights, as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, which will permit such securities to be sold on the public market when the lock-up period ends, three years after the date on which we consummate our initial business combination.
If a holder of the Sponsor Warrants elects to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis, in whole or in part, it will pay the aggregate exercise price by surrendering all or a part of such Sponsor Warrants and reducing the number of shares issuable upon such exercise by a number of shares whose fair market value equals that exercise price. The fair market value shall mean the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of a share during the 10 consecutive 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.
We do not plan to make future adjustments to the terms of the Sponsor Warrants. As provided in the Sponsor Warrant agreement, the exercise price of the Sponsor Warrants and the number of shares issuable pursuant to the Sponsor Warrants are subject to adjustment upon certain events, including: stock dividends or stock-splits; dividends or distributions; aggregations, consolidations or reverse stock-splits; the issuance of additional shares for capital-raising purposes in connection with the initial business combination at an issue price of less than $18.40; reorganizations, mergers, tender offers and exchange offers; rights offerings at a below-market price; tender offers or exchange offers by the company at a premium to market; and other events that require an adjustment to the terms of the Sponsor Warrants to avoid an adverse economic impact on the Sponsor Warrants and to effectuate the purpose of the Sponsor Warrants adjustment provisions contained in the Sponsor Warrant agreement. In the event of a spin-off, the Sponsor Warrants will be split in two (one for the company and one for the spun-off entity). If the company is a party to a merger or similar transaction after the initial business combination, the Sponsor Warrants will become exercisable for the consideration the holder would have received if it had exercised the Sponsor Warrants immediately before the closing of that transaction. If the company is a party to a merger or similar transaction where the holders of common stock receive consideration other than common stock of the surviving company, the holder of such Sponsor Warrants may require the company to repurchase all or a portion of such holders Sponsor Warrants for their then-current value, as determined by independent appraisers, using the Agreed Model under the ISDA definitions.
Valuation of Sponsor Warrants
Contemporaneous with our initial public offering, the company is selling the Sponsor Warrants to the Sponsor for $65,000,000, our estimate of the Sponsor Warrants fair market value, as explained further below. By comparison, other blank check companies have sold 20% of their common stock to their sponsors for nominal consideration, typically $25,000. By selling the Sponsor Warrants with an exercise price 20% above our IPO price on 5.95% of the post-consummation company which cannot be sold, transferred or exercised for three years after transaction consummation to the Sponsor for our $65,000,000 estimate of their fair market value, we are intending to better align the interests of our Sponsor with our shareholders. We believe this incentive structure is substantially superior for our shareholders compared with the sponsor incentives used by other blank check companies.
We believe that the combination of the Sponsors minimum $1,000,000,000 forward purchase commitment and the $65,000,000 Sponsor Warrant purchase gives our Sponsor significant skin in the game, motivating the Sponsor to: (1) identify a company that meets our acquisition criteria, (2) consummate a merger transaction on attractive terms for our shareholders, and (3) create value for our shareholders over the long term. In the event that the Sponsor is unable to consummate a transaction prior to the dissolution deadline for the company, the Sponsor Warrant will likely lose substantially all of its value.
In consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm, we determined the value of the Sponsor Warrants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, subject to additional valuation adjustments due to the risk of our failure to consummate a transaction, the warrants three-year restriction on sale, transfer, and exercisability after transaction consummation, and certain other factors described further below.
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The assumptions used in the warrants Black-Scholes valuation include a spot price equal to the initial offering price of $20.00, an exercise price of $24.00, and a risk-free rate consistent with the Sponsor Warrants term. The volatility of the post-combination company was estimated to be 25% by observing a range of historical and implied long-term volatilities for large-capitalization companies which meet our acquisition criteria. Companies in the Pershing Square Funds portfolio which meet our acquisition criteria were also considered in estimating the post-combination businesss long-term volatility.
The Sponsor Warrant valuation assumed that the post-combination business would pay no dividends, and that the warrants would remain outstanding for their entire term. The valuation assumed that the Sponsor Warrants would not be extinguished for cash in a sale or merger, and would not be subject to dilution or impairment in value due to stock splits, stock dividends, cash dividends and other distributions, self-tenders by the company at a premium to market price, rights offerings at a below-market price, spin-offs, or certain equity issuances in connection with the initial business combination at prices below $18.40 per share.
For purposes of the valuation, the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants was determined by applying the 5.95% fully diluted post-combination ownership to an estimated target equity value at the time of the initial business combination. In order to estimate this target equity value, we reviewed the historical relationship between the amount of capital raised by blank check companies and the equity value of their eventual merger targets. Capital raised in these precedent blank check company IPOs was adjusted by funds raised at the time of their initial business combinations from forward purchase agreements, private investment in public equity capital, and other forms of equity capital to determine their available capital. We observed that the median multiple between historical blank check companies available capital and the equity value of their eventual merger targets was 2.2 times. The company estimated its available capital at $5,000,000,000 by assuming that we would not have any shareholder redemptions or raise additional equity capital to consummate a merger transaction. The warrant valuation applied this same 2.2 times median multiple to our available capital of $5,000,000,000 to determine an estimated target equity value of approximately $11,000,000,000.
We further adjusted the value of the Sponsor Warrants by factors which took into account that the probability of consummating an initial business combination by our dissolution deadline was less than 100%. To inform this probability, the company reviewed historical blank check company transaction consummations sorted by transaction size and observed a range of transaction consummation success rates of 74% to 80%. The blank check companies in this historical data set had available capital of approximately $100,000,000 to $1,400,000,000. In light of the companys substantially greater available capital, its resulting smaller target universe, and the generally lower probability of transaction consummation for larger capitalization companies, the company adjusted the estimated transaction consummation success rate downward by a factor.
In order to estimate this factor in light of the limited data available on private company sale transactions, we observed the number of public company sale transactions per year at different market capitalizations, and compared the number of company sale transactions that occurred at larger capitalization companies with those of smaller market capitalizations. With these data, we estimated transaction sale probabilities at different company market capitalization ranges, and estimated a 26% to 57% range of the probability of transaction consummation at companies in our target market capitalization range. In the Sponsor Warrant valuation, the company used the 80% high end of the range of the probability of transaction consummation from precedent blank check company transactions adjusted for the 57% high end of the range of the probability of large capitalization transaction consummation in estimating the companys overall probability of transaction consummation of 46%.
The company also reviewed sponsor incentive restructurings in completed blank check company transactions and observed an average range of 17% to 32% of founder stock forfeiture or restructurings at the time of initial business combination. The company used the midpoint of this range and accordingly reduced the warrant value by 24.5%.
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The company also adjusted the valuation of the Sponsor Warrants by an illiquidity discount of 18%. To inform this illiquidity discount, the company used a discount for lack of marketability (DLOM) analysis to account for the Sponsor Warrants three-year restriction on sale, transfer, and exercise post transaction consummation, as well as an estimate of the range of time frames necessary to search for, negotiate and complete due diligence on potential target businesses in advance of the eventual initial business combination.
After considering all of the above factors, the company estimated the value of the Sponsor Warrants, and rounded this value up to the nearest million dollars to arrive at the $65,000,000 purchase price.
The nature of the valuation process used to value the Sponsor Warrants is inherently uncertain and imprecise. Neither the price nor the terms of the Sponsor Warrants were determined by negotiation between arms-length third parties, or in relation to the price of a publicly traded security. Had such arms-length negotiations taken place, or if the price and terms had been determined in relation to a marketable security, the price of the Sponsor Warrants might have been materially higher or lower, and the terms of the Sponsor Warrants might have been materially less or more favorable to the Sponsor or to the company.
Under these circumstances, the valuation of the Sponsor Warrants is subject to a significant degree of uncertainty and judgment, including with respect to the assumptions described above. Changes in these assumptions would likely have a material effect on the valuation of the Sponsor Warrants. Accordingly, although we do not know what price and what terms would have resulted from a negotiation between arms-length third parties, or if the price and terms had been determined in relation to a marketable security, we believe that the $65,000,000 purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants is a reasonable estimate of their fair market value.
Director Warrants
Each of our directors, other than Mr. Ackman, has been given the opportunity to purchase, in a private placement concurrently with this offering, a Director Warrant in an amount of up to $812,500. Our directors have agreed to purchase, in the aggregate, $2,837,500 of Director Warrants. Each Director Warrant will be exercisable for a percentage of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis) calculated as the purchase price of such Director Warrant divided by the purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants, multiplied by 5.95%, reflecting fair market value as determined with respect to the Sponsor Warrants. The exercise price per common share of the post-combination business will be $24.00. The aggregate amount of Director Warrants that our directors have agreed to purchase will be exercisable for approximately 0.26% of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis). The Director Warrants will be issued pursuant to a Director Warrant agreement between us and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent. You should review a copy of the Director Warrant agreement, which is 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 Director Warrants.
The Director Warrants will be subject to certain transfer restrictions until the date that is three years after the consummation of our initial business combination. See the section of this prospectus entitled Principal StockholdersRestrictions on Transfers of Director Warrants. We have granted our directors and their permitted transferees and any holders of the Director Warrants or the shares issuable upon exercise of the Director Warrants certain registration rights, as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, which will permit such securities to be sold on the public market when the lock-up period ends, three years after the date on which we consummate our initial business combination. In all other respects, the Director Warrants will have terms identical to those of the Sponsor Warrants.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of a 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
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completion of a business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. 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 amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that an aggregate of 44,444,444 Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributed, at the Tontine Distribution Time, on a pro-rata basis only to the holders of record of the remaining shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering that are outstanding after we redeem any shares of Class A Common Stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination. Public stockholders who elect to redeem any shares of their Class A Common Stock will not receive any distribution of the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants in respect of such redeemed shares of Class A Common Stock.
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
We intend to file a second amended and restated certificate of incorporation prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, amending Section 9.4 to clarify that we may issue the Director Forward Purchase Units.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains 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 the voting power of our outstanding common stock. Our Sponsor, as the owner of 100 shares of Class B Common Stock, will hold 20.0% of the voting power of our issued and outstanding common stock immediately following this offering (assuming our Sponsor does 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 (or 30 months, as applicable) 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 10 business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering, 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) vote on any initial business combination (other than the Forward Purchase Securities) or (ii) receive funds from the trust account; |
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although we do not intend to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our Sponsor, our directors, our officers, we are not prohibited from doing so. In the event we enter |
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into such a transaction, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that such a business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view; |
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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 the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act; |
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so long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the NYSE, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our assets held in the trust account (excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount held in trust) at the time of the agreement to enter into our initial business combination; and |
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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 allow redemptions in connection with our initial business combination, (ii) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in this offering if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 30 months, as applicable), or (iii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to have all or a portion of their shares of Class A Common Stock redeemed upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then-outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering. |
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 provides that under no circumstances will we redeem the shares of our Class A Common Stock issued in this offering in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
We are subject to the restrictions imposed under Section 203 of the DGCL, which provides that we may not engage in certain business combinations with any interested stockholder for a three-year period following the time that such stockholder becomes an interested stockholder unless:
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prior to such time, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
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upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding certain shares); or |
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on or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder. |
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Generally, a business combination includes a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an interested stockholder is a person who, together with that persons affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our voting stock.
Under some circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who is an interested stockholder to effect various business combinations with us for a three-year period.
We will take all necessary corporate action to ensure that our Sponsor, its affiliates and their transferees will not be deemed to be interested stockholders regardless of the percentage of our voting stock owned by them, and accordingly will not be subject to this provision.
Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
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 contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include 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.
Exclusive Forum Provisions
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires, 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 or, if that court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, another federal or state court situated in the State of Delaware. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This exclusive provision forum will not apply to suits arising under the Exchange Act or any other claim for which federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action under the Securities Act.
Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court may determine that these provisions are unenforceable, and to the extent they are enforceable, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Special meeting of stockholders
Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by our board of directors, by our Chief Executive Officer or by our Chairman.
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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 stockholders notice will need to be received by the company secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the 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.
Board of Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. 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. Prior to our initial business combination, the holders of our Class B Common Stock will have the exclusive right to vote on the election or removal of directors, and such provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be changed with the approval of holders of a majority of at least 90% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon.
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 amended and restated 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 we will have 200,000,100 shares of common stock outstanding. Of these shares, the 200,000,000 shares issued in this offering will be freely tradable (once the component securities of our units begin trading separately) 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. Our Class B Common Stock, the Sponsor Warrants, Director Warrants, Forward Purchase Securities and any shares issuable upon the conversion or exercise thereof are or will be restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering, and such securities are subject to transfer restrictions as set forth elsewhere in this prospectus. These restricted securities will have certain registration rights pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, as more fully described below under Registration Rights.
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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 2,000,000 shares immediately after this offering; or |
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the average weekly reported trading volume of the Class A 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 Sponsor will be able to sell its shares of Class B Common Stock (and shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon the conversion thereof), pursuant to Rule 144 without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination.
Registration Rights
Concurrently with this offering, we will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with our Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers and our independent directors, pursuant to which we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement within 120 days of our initial business combination, and use our best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) thereafter, providing for the resale, under Rule 415 of the Securities Act, of (i) the Sponsor Warrants, (ii) the Director Warrants, (iii) the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Sponsor Warrants or Director Warrants, (iv) the Forward Purchase Securities, (v) the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of our Class B Common Stock and (vi) any other shares or warrants of the company
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that the parties to the Registration Rights Agreement have purchased on the open market, subject to certain conditions as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. The parties to the Registration Rights Agreement, and their permitted transferees, will be entitled to make up to 10 demands that we register the foregoing securities, and will have certain piggyback rights with respect to other registration statements filed by the company. We have granted our Sponsor, directors and their permitted transferees certain registration rights in respect of the Sponsor Warrants, Director Warrants and Director Forward Purchase Units (and any shares included in or issuable upon the exercise of such securities) certain registration rights as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, which will permit such securities to be sold on the public market when the respective lock-up period for such securities ends.
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 and, within 60 business days after such closing, have an effective registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Redeemable Warrants, and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A Common Stock until the Redeemable Warrants expire or are redeemed.
The post-combination business 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 the NYSE under the symbols PSTH.U, PSTH and PSTH.WS, respectively. We expect that our units will be listed on the NYSE 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 on the NYSE. At the time that the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units begin separate trading, holders will hold the separate securities and no longer hold units (without any action needing to be taken by the holders), and the units will no longer trade or be listed on the NYSE. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing.
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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units, shares of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants, which we refer to collectively as our securities. Because we expect the components of a unit to be automatically separated on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus (subject to our filing a Current Report on Form 8-K containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering), 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-ninth of one Redeemable Warrant components of the unit. As a result, the discussion below with respect to actual holders of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants also should apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable 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 purchase units in this offering.
This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances, including 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, such as:
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our Sponsor, founders, officers or directors; |
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banks, financial institutions or financial services entities; |
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S corporations; |
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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 United States; |
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insurance companies; |
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broker-dealers; |
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taxpayers subject to mark-to-market accounting rules; |
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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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persons that actually or constructively own 5% or more of our shares by vote or value; |
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persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation or in connection with services; |
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accrual-method taxpayers who are required under Section 451(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) to recognize income for U.S. federal income tax purposes no later than when such income is taken into account in applicable financial statements; |
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controlled foreign corporations or passive foreign investment companies; and |
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tax-exempt entities. |
This discussion also does not consider the tax treatment of entities treated as partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes or persons who hold our securities through such entities. If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership
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generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partner and the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our securities, we urge you to consult your own tax advisors.
This discussion is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations as of the date hereof, 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 do not expect to seek, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (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.
THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR CAREFUL TAX PLANNING. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.
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 corporations adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).
Depending on the date and size of our initial business combination, it is possible that at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our Sponsor and certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts, it is possible that more than 50% of our stock 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-ninth of one Redeemable Warrant to acquire one share of our Class A Common
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Stock. Under this treatment, 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-ninth of one Redeemable Warrant based on their relative fair market values at the time of issuance. Under U.S. federal income tax law, each investor must make his or her own determination of fair market value based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge each investor to consult his or her tax advisors regarding the determination of fair market value for these purposes. The price allocated to each share of Class A Common Stock and the one-ninth of one Redeemable Warrant should be the investors tax basis in such share or one-ninth of one Redeemable 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-ninth of one Redeemable Warrant comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the Class A Common Stock and the one-ninth of one Redeemable Warrant based on their relative fair market values at the time of disposition. The separation of the Class A Common Stock and the one-ninth of one Redeemable Warrant constituting a unit 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 Redeemable Warrants and an investors purchase price allocation are not binding on the 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 Redeemable 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 for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
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an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or |
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a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and which has one or more United States persons (within the meaning of the Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has in effect a valid election under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person. |
Taxation of Distributions. If we pay distributions 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. holders 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. HoldersGain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable 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 generally will constitute qualified dividends that will be subject to tax at the maximum tax rate accorded to long-term
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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 Redeemable Warrants. Upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A Common Stock or Redeemable Warrants, which, in general, would include a redemption of Class A Common Stock or Redeemable Warrants as described below, and including as a result of a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not consummate our 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. holders adjusted tax basis in the Class A Common Stock or Redeemable Warrants. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holders holding period for the Class A Common Stock or Redeemable 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 Redeemable 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 may 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 Redeemable 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 component Class A Common Stock or the Redeemable Warrants based upon their fair market values at that time) and (ii) the U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in its Class A Common Stock or Redeemable Warrants so disposed of. A U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in its Class A Common Stock or Redeemable Warrants generally will equal the U.S. holders 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-ninth of one Redeemable Warrant or, as discussed below, the U.S. holders initial basis for Class A Common Stock received upon exercise of Redeemable Warrants; see U.S. HoldersDistribution of Additional Redeemable Warrants for a discussion regarding the tax basis of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants and adjustments to the allocation of basis as between Class A Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants upon receipt of Distributable Tontine Redeemable 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. holders Class A Common Stock is redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under the section of this prospectus entitled Description of SecuritiesCommon Stock or we purchase a U.S. holders Class A Common Stock in an open market transaction (each of which we refer to as a Redemption), the treatment of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the Redemption qualifies as 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. HoldersGain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable 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. HoldersTaxation of Distributions. Whether a Redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of our stock treated as owned by the U.S. holder (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. holder as a result of owning Redeemable
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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. holders 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 is 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 Redeemable Warrants that it owns at the time of the Redemption. For a Redemption 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. Before our initial business combination, the Class A Common Stock may not be treated as voting stock for this purpose and, consequently, the substantially disproportionate test may not apply. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. holders 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 stock. The Redemption of the Class A Common Stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if a U.S. holders conversion results in a meaningful reduction of the U.S. holders proportionate interest in us. Whether a Redemption results in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. holders proportionate interest in us would 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 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. HoldersTaxation 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. holders adjusted tax basis in its remaining stock, or, if it has none, to the U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in its Redeemable Warrants or possibly in other stock constructively owned by it.
Exercise, Lapse, or Redemption of a Redeemable Warrant. Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a Redeemable Warrant, a U.S. holder generally will not recognize taxable gain or loss on the acquisition of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a Redeemable Warrant for cash. The U.S. holders tax basis in the share of our Class A Common Stock received upon exercise of the Redeemable Warrant generally will be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. holders initial investment in the Redeemable Warrant (i.e., the portion of the U.S. holders purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the Redeemable Warrant, as described above under Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit) and the exercise price. The U.S. holders holding period for the Class A Common Stock received upon exercise of a Redeemable Warrant will begin on the day following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the Redeemable Warrant and will not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the Redeemable Warrant. If a Redeemable Warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to the holders tax basis in the Redeemable Warrant.
The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a Redeemable Warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-free, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is
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treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either tax-free situation, a U.S. holders basis in the Class A Common Stock received would equal the holders basis in the Redeemable Warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, a U.S. holders holding period in the Class A Common Stock would be treated as commencing on the day following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the Redeemable Warrant. 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 Redeemable Warrant.
It also is possible that a cashless exercise could be treated in whole or in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss is recognized. In such event, a U.S. holder would be deemed to have surrendered Redeemable 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 Redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. holders tax basis in the Redeemable Warrants deemed surrendered. In this case, a U.S. holders tax basis in the Class A Common Stock received would equal the sum of the U.S. holders initial investment in the Redeemable Warrants deemed exercised (i.e., the portion of the U.S. holders purchase price for units that is allocated to the Redeemable Warrants, as described above under Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit) and the exercise price of such Redeemable Warrants. A U.S. holders holding period for the Class A Common Stock would commence on the day following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the Redeemable Warrants.
Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, 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.
If we redeem Redeemable Warrants for cash pursuant to the redemption provisions described in the section of this prospectus entitled Description of SecuritiesRedeemable Warrants or if we purchase Redeemable Warrants in an open market transaction, such redemption or purchase generally will be treated as a taxable disposition to the U.S. holder, taxed as described above under Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants.
If we provide notice that we will redeem Redeemable Warrants for $0.10 as described in the section of this prospectus entitled Description of SecuritiesRedeemable Warrants, and a U.S. holder exercises its Redeemable Warrant on a cashless basis and receives the amount of Class A Common Stock as determined by reference to the table set forth therein, we intend to treat such exercise as a redemption of Redeemable Warrants for Class A Common Stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such redemption should be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a U.S. holder should not recognize any gain or loss on the redemption of Redeemable Warrants for shares of Class A Common Stock. A U.S. holders aggregate tax basis in the shares of Class A Common Stock received in the redemption generally should equal the U.S. holders aggregate tax basis in the Redeemable Warrants redeemed and the holding period for the shares of Class A Common Stock received should include the U.S. holders holding period for the surrendered Redeemable Warrants. However, there is some uncertainty regarding this tax treatment and it is possible such a redemption could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized in a manner similar to that discussed above for a cashless exercise of Redeemable Warrants. Accordingly, U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a redemption of Redeemable Warrants for shares of Class A Common Stock.
Distribution of Additional Redeemable Warrants. Although the authorities governing transactions such as the distribution of additional Redeemable Warrants before an initial business combination as described in the section of this prospectus entitled Proposed BusinessDistribution of Redeemable Warrants to Holders of Class A Common Stock Not Electing Redemption are complex and unclear in certain respects, we expect that a U.S. holder of Class A Common Stock receiving additional Redeemable Warrants pursuant to the distribution
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should not be treated as receiving a taxable distribution. However, the general rule under which a distribution of a right to acquire stock (such as the additional Redeemable Warrants) would not be included in the taxable income of the recipient for U.S. federal income tax purposes is subject to exceptions, including for disproportionate distributions. A disproportionate distribution is a distribution or a series of distributions, including deemed distributions, that has the effect of the receipt of cash or other property by some stockholders and an increase in the proportionate interest of other stockholders in a corporations assets or earnings and profits. For this purpose, distributions of cash or other property incident to an isolated redemption of stock do not cause a distribution or series of distributions to be disproportionate. Although not entirely clear, under these rules, we do not expect the distribution of additional Redeemable Warrants before an initial business combination to be treated as a disproportionate distribution.
If the distribution is non-taxable to a U.S. holder, and the additional Redeemable Warrants that the U.S. holder receives in the distribution have a fair market value equal to 15% or more of the fair market value of the U.S. holders shares of our Class A Common Stock on the date of the distribution, the U.S. holder must allocate its adjusted tax basis in its Class A Common Stock between those shares and the additional Redeemable Warrants in proportion to their relative fair market values at that time. Otherwise, the U.S. holders tax basis in the additional Redeemable Warrants that the U.S. holder receives in the distribution will be zero unless the U.S. holder irrevocably elects, in its U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year in which the additional Redeemable Warrants are received, to allocate its adjusted tax basis in its Class A common shares between those shares and the additional Redeemable Warrants as described in the foregoing sentence.
If our position is determined by the IRS or a court to be incorrect, U.S. holders receiving the additional Redeemable Warrants would be treated as receiving a corporate distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of such additional Redeemable Warrants at that time, with the tax consequences described above under Taxation of Distributions.
Possible Constructive Distributions. The terms of each Redeemable Warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which the Redeemable Warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the Redeemable Warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled Description of SecuritiesRedeemable Warrants. An adjustment that has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. U.S. holders of the Redeemable Warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if the adjustment increases their proportionate interests in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would be obtained upon exercise) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property to the holders of shares of our Class A Common Stock that is taxable to the U.S. holders of such shares as described under U.S. HoldersTaxation of Distributions above. Any 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 Redeemable 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 Redeemable 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).
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will generally be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holders U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. All U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding application of information reporting and backup withholding to them.
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Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a Non-U.S. holder. A Non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of our units, shares of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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a non-resident alien individual, other than certain former citizens and residents of the United States subject to U.S. tax as expatriates; |
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a foreign corporation; or |
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an estate or trust that is not a U.S. holder; |
but generally does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in (including the sale or other disposition of) our units.
Taxation of Distributions. In general, any distributions (including constructive distributions) we make to a Non-U.S. holder of shares of our Class A Common Stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holders conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividends 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 the reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E). In the case of any constructive dividend, it is possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to a Non-U.S. holder by the applicable withholding agent, including cash distributions on other property or sale proceeds from Redeemable Warrants or other property subsequently paid or credited to the holder. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in its shares of our Class A Common Stock and, to the extent the distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. holders 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. HoldersGain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants below. In addition, if we determine that we are classified as a U.S. real property holding corporation (see Non-U.S. HoldersGain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable 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 an IRS Form W-8ECI certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holders 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, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. A Non-U.S. holder that is treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes 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, Lapse or Redemption of a Redeemable Warrant. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a Non-U.S. holders exercise of a Redeemable Warrant, or the lapse or redemption of a Redeemable Warrant held by a Non-U.S. holder, generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the exercise, lapse, or redemption of a Redeemable Warrant by a U.S. holder, as described under U.S. HoldersExercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Redeemable 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. HoldersGain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants.
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Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable 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 consummate our initial business combination within the required time period, or Redeemable Warrants (including an expiration or redemption of our Redeemable Warrants), in each case without regard to whether those securities were held as part of a unit, unless:
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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 |
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we are or have been a United States real property holding corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. holder held our Class A Common Stock, and, in the case where shares of our Class A Common Stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the Non-U.S. holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our Class A Common Stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such Non-U.S. holders 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 income tax 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 gain described in the first bullet point above of a Non-U.S. holder that is treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes also may 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 Redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants from the holder may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon the disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a United States real property holding corporation in the future until we complete our initial business combination. We will be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our United States real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Redemption of Class A Common Stock. The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a Non-U.S. holders Class A Common Stock pursuant to the redemption provisions described in the section of this prospectus entitled Description of SecuritiesCommon Stock generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of such a Redemption of a U.S. holders Class A Common Stock, as described under U.S. HoldersRedemption 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. HoldersTaxation of Distributions or Non-U.S. HoldersGain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants, as applicable. It is possible that because the applicable withholding agent may not be able to determine the proper characterization of a Redemption of a Non-U.S. holders Class A Common Stock, the withholding agent might treat the redemption as a distribution subject to withholding tax.
Distribution of Additional Redeemable Warrants. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a Non-U.S. holders receipt of additional Redeemable Warrants before an initial business combination as described in the section of this prospectus captioned Proposed BusinessDistribution of Redeemable Warrants to Holders of Class A Common Stock Not Electing Redemption generally should correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a U.S. holder on receipt of additional Redeemable Warrants, as described under U.S. HoldersDistribution of
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Additional Redeemable Warrants above. If our position described therein is determined by the IRS or a court to be incorrect, Non-U.S. holders receiving the additional Redeemable Warrants would be treated as receiving a corporate distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of such additional Redeemable Warrants at that time, with the tax consequences described above under Taxation of Distributions. In that event, if a distribution of additional Redeemable Warrants before an initial business combination were to be subject to withholding tax as described above under Taxation of Distributions, the applicable withholding agent might withhold additional Redeemable Warrants whose aggregate fair market value equals the amount of the applicable withholding tax, or might withhold from any other amount owed to the Non-U.S. holder, including cash distributions on other property or sale proceeds from Redeemable Warrants or other property subsequently paid or credited to the holder.
Possible Constructive Distributions. The terms of each Redeemable Warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which the Redeemable Warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the Redeemable Warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled Description of SecuritiesRedeemable Warrants. An adjustment that has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. Non-U.S. holders of the Redeemable Warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if the adjustment increases their proportionate interests in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would be obtained upon exercise) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property to the holders of shares of our Class A Common Stock that is taxable to the Non-U.S. holders of such shares as described under Non-U.S. HoldersTaxation of Distributions above. The constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. holders of the Redeemable Warrants received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of the increased interest. A Non-U.S. holder would be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding under that section in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. holder received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of the increased interest without any corresponding receipt of cash.
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 Redeemable 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 an applicable income tax treaty generally will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding as well.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. holder will generally be allowed as a credit against the holders U.S. federal income tax liability (if any) and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding to them.
FATCA Withholding Taxes. Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (commonly referred as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act or FATCA) generally impose withholding at a rate of 30% in certain circumstances on dividends in respect of our securities that are held by or through certain foreign financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities unless U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements have been satisfied by, or an exemption applies to, the payee. 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. Non-U.S. holders that are exempt from withholding tax under FATCA generally must provide a certification to that effect on IRS Form W-8BEN-E to eliminate the withholding tax. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our securities.
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Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement dated , 2020 we have agreed to sell to the underwriters named below, for whom Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Jefferies LLC and UBS Securities LLC are acting as representatives, the following respective numbers of units:
Underwriter |
Number of Units | |||
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
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Jefferies LLC |
||||
UBS Securities LLC |
||||
CastleOak Securities, L.P. |
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Loop Capital Markets LLC |
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Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc. |
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Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC |
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Academy Securities, Inc. C.L. King & Associates, Inc. |
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Roberts and Ryan Investments Inc. |
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|
|
|||
Total |
200,000,000 | |||
|
|
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are obligated to purchase all the units in this offering if any are purchased.
We have not granted the underwriters any option to purchase additional units to cover any over-allotments.
The underwriters propose to offer the units initially at the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus and to selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $ per unit. In addition, we will pay up to an additional aggregate amount of $5,000,000 for selling concessions of $0.20 per unit for units sold to retail investors, to be paid to the relevant selling group member. The underwriters and the selling group members may allow a discount of $ per unit on sales to other broker/dealers. After the initial public offering the underwriters may change the public offering price and concession and discount to broker/dealers.
The following table summarizes the compensation and estimated expenses we will pay:
Per Unit(1)(2) | Total(1)(2) | |||||||
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions Paid by Us |
$ | $ |
(1) |
Includes an underwriting discount of (i) $0.40 per unit for gross offering proceeds up to $1,000,000,000, (ii) $0.30 per unit for gross offering proceeds from $1,000,000,000 up to $1,500,000,000, (iii) $0.20 per unit for gross offering proceeds from $1,500,000,000 up to $2,000,000,000 and (iv) $0.10 per unit for gross offering proceeds at $2,000,000,000 and above), other than the additional aggregate amount of up to $5,000,000 for selling concessions of $0.20 per unit for units sold to retail investors, in excess of $30,000,000 as described below. |
(2) |
The aggregate deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriters to be placed in a J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. trust account located in the United States as described herein is equal to (x) a spillover amount for any aggregate underwriting discount, other than retail selling concessions of up to $5,000,000, in excess of $30,000,000 plus (y) a 2.0% rate applied to the gross offering proceeds, subject to a cap on the aggregate deferred underwriting commissions of $56,250,000. If the amount of proceeds from the trust account paid in |
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connection with the redemption rights of public stockholders, together with the amount of capital raised in private placements in connection with the initial business combination from investors other than Sponsor or its affiliates (the Net Redemptions) results in the company having less than $2,000,000,000 of cash available upon consummation of the initial business combination, only 25% of the aggregate deferred underwriting commissions will be payable. If such amount of cash available is $2,000,000,000 or greater, 50% of the aggregate deferred underwriting commissions will be payable, and the remaining 50% of the aggregate deferred underwriting commissions will be subject to a pro-rata reduction based on the amount of net redemptions as a percentage of the gross offering proceeds. The deferred underwriting commissions will be released to the underwriters only on completion of our initial business combination, as described in this prospectus. |
Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5121, Jefferies LLC will not confirm sales of the securities to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific written approval of the account holder.
We estimate that our out-of-pocket expenses for this offering, excluding underwriting commissions, will be approximately $6,499,700. We have agreed to pay for the FINRA-related fees and expenses of the underwriters legal counsel, not to exceed $25,000.
The Representatives have informed us that the underwriters do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.
We, our Sponsor and our officers, directors and director nominees have agreed that we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Representatives for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, any units, warrants, shares of common stock or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Class A Common Stock; provided, however, that we may (1) issue and sell the Sponsor Warrants, Director Warrants and the Forward Purchase Securities, (2) register with the SEC pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement to be entered into concurrently with, or prior to, the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, the resale of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of our Class B Common Stock, and (3) issue securities in connection with our initial business combination. The Representatives in their sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in that respect.
We expect our units to be listed on the NYSE, under the symbol PSTH.U and, once the Class A Common Stock and warrants begin separate trading, to have our Class A Common Stock and warrants listed on the NYSE under the symbols PSTH and PSTH.WS, respectively. At the time that the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units begin separate trading, holders will hold the separate securities and no longer hold units (without any action needing to be taken by the holders), and the units will no longer trade or be listed on the NYSE.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the representative.
The determination of our per unit offering price was more arbitrary than would typically be the case if we were an operating company. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, our management, our capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which the units, Class A Common Stock or Redeemable 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 Redeemable Warrants will develop and continue after this offering.
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If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months (or 30 months, as applicable) from the closing of this offering, the trustee and the underwriters have agreed that: (1) they will forfeit any rights or claims to their deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, including any accrued interest thereon, then in the trust account; and (2) the deferred underwriters discounts and commissions will be distributed on a pro-rata basis, together with any accrued interest thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) to the public stockholders.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
|
Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. |
|
Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of units in excess of the number of units the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the units in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Because the offering does not include an over-allotment option, the short position, if any, would have to be covered with purchases of units in the market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. |
|
Penalty bids permit the representative to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the units originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. |
These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the units. As a result, the price of our units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
We are not under any contractual obligation to engage any of the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. However, any of the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future. If any of the underwriters provide services to us after this offering, we may pay such underwriter fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arms-length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with any of the underwriters and no fees for such services will be paid to any of the underwriters prior to the date that is 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 they are affiliated, a finders fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a business combination.
Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The representative may agree to allocate
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a number of units to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.
The units are offered for sale in those jurisdictions in the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere it is lawful to make such offers.
Each of the underwriters has represented and agreed that it has not offered, sold or delivered and will not offer, sell or deliver any of the units directly or indirectly, or distribute this prospectus or any other offering material relating to the units, in or from any jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations thereof and that will not impose any obligations on us except as set forth in the underwriting agreement.
European Economic Area
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area 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; |
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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 underwriter 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. |
provided that no such offer of units referred to in the bullet points above shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 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.
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Furthermore, the units are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available by any person to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (the EEA). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, MiFID II); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC, as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU, the Prospectus Directive). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the PRIIPs Regulation) for offering or selling the units or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the units or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. This prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of units in any member state of the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of units. This prospectus is not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Directive.
Directed Unit Program
At our request, the underwriters have reserved up to 1% of the common units being offered by this prospectus for sale at the initial public offering price to our directors, officers, employees and other individuals associated with us and members of their families. The sales will be made by UBS Financial Services Inc., a selected dealer affiliated with UBS Securities LLC, an underwriter of this offering, through a directed unit program. We do not know if these persons will choose to purchase all or any portion of these reserved units, but any purchases they do make will reduce the number of units available to the general public. Any reserved units not so purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same terms as the other units of common stock. Participants in the directed unit program who purchase more than $1,000,000 of units shall be subject to a 25-day lock-up with respect to any units sold to them pursuant to that program. This lock-up will have similar restrictions and an identical extension provision to the lock-up agreements described above. Any units sold in the directed unit program to our directors, executive officers or selling stockholders shall be subject to the lock-up agreements described above.
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 Residents of Japan
The underwriters will not offer or sell any of our units directly or indirectly in Japan or to, or for the benefit of any Japanese person or to others, for re-offering or re-sale directly or indirectly in Japan or to any Japanese person, except in each case pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and any other applicable laws and regulations of Japan. For purposes of this paragraph, Japanese person means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.
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Notice to Residents of Hong Kong
The underwriters and each of their affiliates have not (1) offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, in Hong Kong, by means of any document, our units other than (A) to professional investors as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance or (B) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a prospectus as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32 of Hong Kong) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance or (2) issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere any advertisement, invitation or document relating to our units which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to our securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to professional investors as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance. The contents of this document have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of this document, you should obtain independent professional advice.
Notice to Residents of Singapore
This prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units has not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the units will be offered in Singapore pursuant to exemptions under Section 274 and Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the Securities and Futures Act). Accordingly our units may not be offered or sold, or be the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to the public or any member of the public in Singapore other than (a) to an institutional investor or other person specified in Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, (b) to a sophisticated investor, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act or (c) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the Securities and Futures Act.
Notice to Residents of Germany
Each person who is in possession of this prospectus is aware that no German sales prospectus (Verkaufsprospekt) within the meaning of the Securities Sales Prospectus Act (Wertpapier-Verkaufsprospektgesetz, the Act) of the Federal Republic of Germany has been or will be published with respect to our units. In particular, each underwriter has represented that it has not engaged and has agreed that it will not engage in a public offering (offentliches Angebot) within the meaning of the Act with respect to any of our units otherwise then in accordance with the Act and all other applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Notice to Residents of France
The units are being issued and sold outside the Republic of France and that, in connection with their initial distribution, it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any units to the public in the Republic of France, and that it has not distributed and will not distribute or cause to be distributed to the public in the Republic of France this prospectus or any other offering material relating to the units, and that such offers, sales and distributions have been and will be made in the Republic of France only to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) in accordance with Article L.411-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code and decrét no. 98-880 dated October 1, 1998.
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Notice to Residents of the Netherlands
Our units may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered in or from the Netherlands as part of their initial distribution or at any time thereafter, directly or indirectly, other than to, individuals or legal entities situated in The Netherlands who or which trade or invest in securities in the conduct of a business or profession (which includes banks, securities intermediaries (including dealers and brokers), insurance companies, pension funds, collective investment institutions, central governments, large international and supranational organizations, other institutional investors and other parties, including treasury departments of commercial enterprises, which as an ancillary activity regularly invest in securities; hereinafter, Professional Investors); provided that in the offer, prospectus and in any other documents or advertisements in which a forthcoming offering of our units is publicly announced (whether electronically or otherwise) in The Netherlands it is stated that such offer is and will be exclusively made to such Professional Investors. Individual or legal entities who are not Professional Investors may not participate in the offering of our units, and this prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units may not be considered an offer or the prospect of an offer to sell or exchange our units.
Notice to Canadian Residents
Resale Restrictions
The distribution of units in Canada is being made only in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia on a private placement basis exempt from the requirement that we prepare and file a prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in each province where trades of these securities are made. Any resale of the units in Canada must be made under applicable securities laws which may vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made under available statutory exemptions or under a discretionary exemption granted by the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authority. Purchasers are advised to seek legal advice prior to any resale of the securities.
Representations of Canadian Purchasers
By purchasing units in Canada and accepting delivery of a purchase confirmation, a purchaser is representing to us and the dealer from whom the purchase confirmation is received that:
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the purchaser is entitled under applicable provincial securities laws to purchase the units without the benefit of a prospectus qualified under those securities laws as it is an accredited investor as defined under National Instrument 45-106Prospectus Exemptions; |
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the purchaser is a permitted client as defined in National Instrument 31-103Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations; |
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where required by law, the purchaser is purchasing as principal and not as agent; and |
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the purchaser has reviewed the text above under Resale Restrictions. |
Statutory Rights of Action
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if the prospectus (including any amendment thereto) such as this document contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchasers province or territory. The purchaser of these securities in Canada should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchasers province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Enforcement of Legal Rights
All of our directors and officers as well as the experts named herein may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible for Canadian purchasers to effect service of process within Canada upon us or those persons. All or a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of those persons may be located outside of
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Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible to satisfy a judgment against us or those persons in Canada or to enforce a judgment obtained in Canadian courts against us or those persons outside of Canada.
Taxation and Eligibility for Investment
Canadian purchasers of units should consult their own legal and tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of an investment in the units in their particular circumstances and about the eligibility of the units for investment by the purchaser under relevant Canadian legislation.
Conflicts of Interest
Joseph Steinberg, one of our director nominees, is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jefferies Financial Group Inc., which is affiliated with Jefferies LLC, one of the underwriters for this offering. Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121. This rule requires, among other things, that a qualified independent underwriter has participated in the preparation of, and has exercised the usual standards of, due diligence with respect to, the registration statement. UBS Securities LLC has agreed to act as qualified independent underwriter for this offering and to undertake the legal responsibilities and liabilities of an underwriter under the Securities Act.
Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5121, Jefferies LLC will not confirm sales of the securities to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific written approval of the account holder.
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP has passed upon the validity of the securities offered hereby on behalf of us. Certain legal matters will be passed upon on behalf of the underwriters by Ropes & Gray LLP.
The financial statements of Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd. at May 8, 2020, and for the period from May 4, 2020 (inception) through May 8, 2020 included in this prospectus have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on such report given upon such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement 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 SECs website at www.sec.gov.
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F-3 | ||||
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F-6 | ||||
F-7 |
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd. (the Company) as of May 8, 2020, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders equity and cash flows for the period from May 4, 2020 (inception) through May 8, 2020, 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 May 8, 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from May 4, 2020 (inception) through May 8, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Marcum LLP
Marcum LLP
We have served as the Companys auditor since 2020.
New York, NY
July 13, 2020
F-2
PERSHING SQUARE TONTINE HOLDINGS, LTD.
June 30,
2020 (Unaudited) |
May 8,
2020 (Audited) |
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Assets: |
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Current assets: cash |
$ | 323,540 | $ | 25,000 | ||||
Deferred offering costs associated with initial public offering |
2,138,699 | 300,000 | ||||||
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Total assets |
$ | 2,462,239 | $ | 325,000 | ||||
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Liabilities and Stockholders Equity: |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accrued offering costs associated with initial public offering |
$ | 1,478,197 | $ | 301,358 | ||||
Promissory noterelated party |
971,924 | | ||||||
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Total current liabilities |
$ | 2,450,121 | 301,358 | |||||
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Commitments |
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Stockholders Equity: |
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Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding |
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Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding |
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Class B Common Stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 100 shares issued and outstanding |
| | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
$ | 25,000 | $ | 25,000 | ||||
Accumulated deficit |
(12,882 | ) | (1,358 | ) | ||||
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|
|
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Total Stockholders Equity |
12,118 | 23,642 | ||||||
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|
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Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity |
$ | 2,462,239 | $ | 325,000 | ||||
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F-3
PERSHING SQUARE TONTINE HOLDINGS, LTD.
For the Period
from May 4, 2020 (Inception) through |
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June 30,
2020 (Unaudited) |
May 8,
2020 (Audited) |
|||||||
Formation and operating costs |
$ | (12,882 | ) | $ | (1,358 | ) | ||
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|
|
|
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Net loss |
$ | (12,882 | ) | $ | (1,358 | ) | ||
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Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
100 | 100 | ||||||
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|
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Basic and diluted net loss per share |
$ | (128.82 | ) | $ | (13.58 | ) | ||
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|
F-4
PERSHING SQUARE TONTINE HOLDINGS, LTD.
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
Common Stock |
Additional
Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated
Deficit |
Total
Stockholders Equity |
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Class A | Class B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
BalanceMay 4, 2020 (inception) |
| $ | | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||||
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|
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Issuance of Class B Common Stock to Sponsor |
| | | | 25,000 | | 25,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | (1,358 | ) | (1,358 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
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BalanceMay 8, 2020 (audited) |
| $ | | | $ | | $ | 25,000 | $ | (1,358 | ) | $ | 23,642 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | (11,524 | ) | (11,524 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
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BalanceJune 30, 2020 (unaudited) |
| $ | | | $ | | $ | 25,000 | $ | (12,882 | ) | $ | 12,118 | |||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
F-5
PERSHING SQUARE TONTINE HOLDINGS, LTD.
For the Period
from May 4, 2020 (Inception) through |
||||||||
June 30,
2020 (Unaudited) |
May 8,
2020 (Audited) |
|||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (12,882 | ) | $ | (1,358 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||||||
Increase in operating assets: |
||||||||
Deferred offering costs associated with initial public offering: |
(2,138,699 | ) | (300,000 | ) | ||||
Increase in operating liabilities: |
||||||||
Accrued offering costs associated with initial public offering: |
1,478,197 | 301,358 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
$ | (673,384 | ) | $ | | |||
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|
|
|
|||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: |
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Proceeds from promissory noterelated party |
$ | 971,924 | $ | | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of Class B Common Stock to Sponsor |
25,000 | 25,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
996,924 | 25,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net increase in cash |
$ | 323,540 | $ | 25,000 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cashbeginning of the period |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cashend of the period |
$ | 323,540 | $ | 25,000 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Supplemental disclosure of noncash activities: |
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Deferred offering costs |
$ | 1,465,389 | $ | 300,000 | ||||
|
|
|
|
F-6
PERSHING SQUARE TONTINE HOLDINGS, LTD.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1Description of Organization and Business Operations
Organization and General
Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd. (the Company) was incorporated in Delaware on May 4, 2020. 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 Initial Business Combination). 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).
At June 30, 2020, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from May 4, 2020 (inception) through June 30, 2020 relates to the Companys formation and the proposed initial public offering (Proposed Offering) described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of its Initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company may generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Offering. The Company has selected December 31st as its fiscal year end.
Sponsor and Proposed Financing
The Companys sponsor is Pershing Square TH Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Sponsor) organized on May 4, 2020. The Company intends to finance its Initial Business Combination with $4,000,000,000 of proceeds from the Proposed Offering of Units (as defined below) (Note 3), $65,000,000 of proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants (as defined below) (Note 4), and $2,837,500 of proceeds from the sale of Director Warrants (as defined below) (Note 4). Upon the closing of the Proposed Offering and the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants, $4,000,000,000 will be held in a trust account (the Trust Account) (discussed below).
The Trust Account
The proceeds held in the Trust Account will be invested only in U.S. Treasury obligations with a maturity of one hundred eighty (180) days or less or in money market funds that meet certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and that invest only in U.S. Treasury obligations. Funds will remain in the Trust Account until the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Initial Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account proceeds as described below. The remaining proceeds outside the Trust Account may be used to pay for business, legal and accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and continuing general and administrative expenses.
The Companys amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, other than the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, if any, none of the funds held in the Trust Account will be released until the earlier of: (i) the completion of its Initial Business Combination; (ii) the redemption of any shares of Class A Common Stock (as defined below) included in the Units being sold in the Proposed Offering (the Public Shares) that have been properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Companys amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to allow redemptions in connection with its Initial Business Combination, (B) to modify the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if it does not complete its Initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Offering (or 30 months from the closing of the Proposed Offering if it has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for its Initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Offering but has not completed its Initial Business Combination within such 24-month period) (the Combination Period), or (C) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders right for pre-Initial Business Combination activities; and (iii) the
F-7
redemption of 100% of the Public Shares if the Company is unable to complete an Initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, subject to the requirements of law. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of the Companys creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of the Companys public stockholders.
Initial Business Combination
The Companys management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Offering, although substantially all of the net proceeds of the Proposed Offering are intended to be generally applied toward consummating an Initial Business Combination. The Initial Business Combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount held in the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the Initial Business Combination. Furthermore, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect an Initial Business Combination.
The Company, after signing a definitive agreement for an Initial Business Combination, will either (i) seek stockholder approval of the Initial Business Combination at a meeting called for such purpose in connection with which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the Initial Business Combination, for cash equal to their pro-rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of five business days prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay the Companys taxes, or (ii) provide stockholders with the opportunity to sell their Public Shares to the Company by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount in cash equal to their pro-rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of five business days prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay the Companys taxes. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of the Initial Business Combination or will allow stockholders to sell their Public Shares in a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its 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 the Company to seek stockholder approval, unless a vote is required by law or under NYSE rules. If the Company seeks stockholder approval, it will complete its Initial Business Combination only if a majority of the voting power of the shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the Initial Business Combination. However, in no event will the Company redeem its Public Shares in an amount that would cause its net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of the Initial Business Combination. In such case, the Company would not proceed with the redemption of its Public Shares and the related Initial Business Combination, and instead may search for an alternate Initial Business Combination.
If the Company holds a stockholder vote or there is a tender offer for shares in connection with an Initial Business Combination, a public stockholder will have the right to redeem its shares for an amount in cash equal to its pro-rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of five business days prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay the Companys taxes. As a result, such shares of Class A Common Stock will be recorded at redemption amount and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Offering, in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.
Pursuant to the Companys amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if the Company is unable to complete the Initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate
F-8
amount then on deposit in the Trust Account including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay the Companys taxes (less $100,000 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 the Companys remaining stockholders and the Companys board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Companys obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. The holders of our Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value (Class B Common Stock) will not be issued any shares of Class A Common Stock in respect of their shares of Class B Common Stock if we fail to complete our Initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, and will have no rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account in respect of such shares, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any Public Shares that they hold (whether acquired by such person or entity during or after this offering) if we fail to complete our Initial Business Combination within the prescribed timeframe.
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company after an Initial Business Combination, the Companys 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. The Companys stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock, except that the Company will provide its 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 the Initial Business Combination, subject to the limitations described herein.
Note 2Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying audited financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The accompanying unaudited financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the period presented. The interim results for the period from May 4, 2020 (inception) to June 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the period from May 4, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2020 or for any future interim periods. In connection with the Companys assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with ASU 2014-15, Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entitys Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, as of June 30, 2020, the Company does not have sufficient liquidity to meet its current obligations. However, management has determined that the Company has access to funds from the Sponsor entity that are sufficient to fund the working capital needs of the Company until the earlier of the consummation of the Proposed Offering or a minimum 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, as modified by the JOBS Act. 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
F-9
and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the 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 Companys 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.
Net Loss Per Common Share
Net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods, plus, to the extent dilutive, the incremental number of shares of common stock to settle warrants, as calculated using the treasury stock method. At June 30, 2020 and May 8, 2020, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company under the treasury stock method. As a result, diluted loss per common share is the same as basic loss per common share for the periods.
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. 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 Companys assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Companys 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 periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Deferred Offering Costs
The Company complies with the requirements of ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5AExpenses of Offering. Deferred offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet dates that are directly related to the Proposed Offering and that will be charged to stockholders equity upon the completion of the Proposed Offering. Should the Proposed Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.
F-10
Income Taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under 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.
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.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of June 30, 2020 and May 8, 2020. 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.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Companys financial statements.
Note 3Public Offering
Pursuant to the Proposed Offering, the Company intends to offer for sale up to 200,000,000 units at a price of $20.00 per unit (the Units). Concurrently with the Proposed Offering, the Sponsor will purchase warrants (the Sponsor Warrants) for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of the Proposed Offering was determined by the Company in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. The valuation firm reviewed and discussed with the Company the methodology, procedures and assumptions used by the Company in valuing the Sponsor Warrants. Taking into account such consultation, the Company concluded that its methodology, procedures and assumptions are reasonable (see Note 4).
Each Unit consists of one share of the Companys Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value (Class A Common Stock), and one-ninth of one redeemable warrant (or 22,222,222 Redeemable Warrants in the aggregate) (the Distributable Redeemable Warrants). We expect the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the Units to begin separate trading on the NYSE on the 52nd date following the date of the Proposed Offering, subject to certain conditions described herein. At the time that the Class A Common Stock and Distributable Redeemable Warrants comprising the units begin separate trading, holders will hold the separate securities and no longer hold units (without any action needing to be taken by the holders), and the units will no longer trade or be listed on the NYSE. In addition, the Companys amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that an aggregate of 44,444,444 redeemable warrants (the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants and, collectively with the Distributable Redeemable Warrants, the Redeemable Warrants) will be distributed on a pro-rata basis to the holders of record of Public Shares that are remaining after we redeem any Public Shares that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with the Initial Business Combination, which distribution will occur immediately after such redemptions and immediately prior to the closing of the Initial Business Combination.
Each whole Redeemable Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant (as defined below and, collectively, the Warrants) entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $23.00 per share. In
F-11
addition, if (x) we issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock, equity-linked securities or any other instrument that is convertible or exercisable into, or exchangeable for, Class A Common Stock for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our Initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $18.40 per share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors) (the Newly Issued Price), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds (including from such issuances, this offering, the sale of the Forward Purchase Units and any interest thereon, net of redemptions) that are available for the funding of our Initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation thereof (net of redemptions) and (z) the daily volume-weighted average trading price of our Class A Common Stock during the 20-trading-day period starting on the trading day prior to the date on which we consummate our Initial Business Combination (such price, the Market Value) is below $18.40 per share, the exercise price of the Warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $36.00 per share redemption trigger price described below will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $20.00 per share redemption trigger price described below will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 100% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
No fractional shares will be issued, other than as part of the Units or Forward Purchase Units (as defined below), and only whole Warrants will trade. Upon separation of the Units or Forward Purchase Units, as applicable, there will be no fractional Units. Each Warrant will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of the Companys Initial Business Combination or 12 months from the closing of the Proposed Offering and will expire five years after the completion of the Companys Initial Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
Once the Warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Warrants in whole and not in part at a price of $0.01 per Warrant upon a minimum of 30 days prior written notice of redemption, if and only if the daily volume-weighted average price of the Companys Class A Common Stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading-day period ending on the third business day prior to the date on which the Company sent the notice of redemption to the Warrant holders (the Reference Value) equals or exceeds $36.00 per share. The Company may elect to require any such exercise to be effected on a cashless basis.
In addition, once the Warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Warrants in whole and not in part at a price of $0.10 per Warrant upon a minimum 30 days prior written notice, provided that holders will be able to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table set forth below, based on the redemption date and the fair market value and if, and only if, the Reference Value equals or exceeds $20.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like).
The Company will pay an underwriting discount of 2.0% (for gross proceeds of the Proposed Offering of up to $1,000,000,000), an underwriting discount of 1.5% (for gross proceeds of the Proposed Offering between $1,000,000,000 and $1,500,000,000), an underwriting discount of 1.0% (for gross proceeds of the Proposed Offering between $1,500,000,000 and $2,000,000,000) and an underwriting discount of 0.5% (for gross proceeds of the Proposed Offering above $2,000,000,000) of the per Unit offering price to the underwriters at the closing of the Proposed Offering, subject to the deferral of any underwriting discount (other than the additional aggregate amount of up to $5,000,000 for selling concessions of $0.20 per units for units sold to retail investors, to be paid to the relevant selling group members) in excess of $30,000,000 and a deferred discount consisting of (i) any amount of the underwriting discount (other than the selling concessions for Units sold to retail investors) in excess of $30,000,000 plus (ii) 2.0% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Offering, with such aggregate deferred discount subject to a cap of $56,250,000 (the Deferred Discount), payable upon the Companys completion of an Initial Business Combination. If the amount of proceeds from the Trust Account paid in connection with the redemption rights of Public Stockholders, together with the amount of capital raised in private placements in connection with the Initial Business Combination from investors other than Sponsor or its affiliates (the Net Redemptions) results in the Company having less than $2,000,000,000 of cash available
F-12
upon the consummation of its Initial Business Combination, only 25% of the Deferred Discount will be payable. If such amount of cash available is $2,000,000,000 or greater, 50% of the aggregate Deferred Discount will be payable, and the remaining 50% of the aggregate Deferred Discount will be subject to a pro-rata reduction based on the amount of Net Redemptions as a percentage of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Offering. The Deferred Discount will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event the Company completes its Initial Business Combination.
Note 4Related Party Transactions
Sponsor Shares
On May 7, 2020, the Sponsor acquired 100 shares of Class B Common Stock (the Sponsor Shares) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or $250.00 per share. As used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, Sponsor Shares shall be deemed to include the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof. The Sponsor Shares are identical to the Class A Common Stock included in the Units being sold in the Proposed Offering except that: (i) the Sponsor Shares will have, in the aggregate, the voting power of 20.0% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company immediately following the Proposed Offering, while the shares of Class A Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, 80.0% of the voting power of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company immediately following the Proposed Offering; (ii) the Sponsor Shares automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock at the time of the Companys Initial Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustments and certain transfer restrictions; and (iii) the holders of the Sponsor Shares shall have the right to elect all directors of the Company prior to the Initial Business Combination.
The Companys Sponsor has agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Sponsor Shares until the earlier to occur of (A) 180 days after the completion of the Initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the Initial Business Combination the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Companys stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Sponsor Warrants
The Sponsor will purchase the Sponsor Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $65,000,000. The fair market value of the Sponsor Warrants as of the date of the Proposed Offering was determined by the Company to be $65,000,000 in consultation with a third-party, nationally recognized valuation firm. Such purchase will occur in a private placement that will close no later than simultaneously with the Proposed Offering. The Sponsor Warrants will generally not be salable, transferable or exercisable until three years after the date of the Initial Business Combination, and will only then be exercisable for that number of shares constituting 5.95% of the common shares of the post-combination business on a fully diluted basis as of the time immediately following the Initial Business Combination, at an exercise price equal to $24.00 per common share of the post-combination business.
Of the proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants (as defined below), an amount will be deposited in the Trust Account such that $4,000,000,000 will be held in the Trust Account, and the remainder of the proceeds of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants will be held by the Company outside of the Trust Account and used to pay expenses in connection with the Proposed Offering and Initial Business Combination. If the Initial Business Combination is not completed within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Sponsor Warrants and Director Warrants held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law). The Sponsor Warrants will not be redeemable by the Company and, will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash).
The Sponsor will agree, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell the Sponsor Warrants until three years after the completion of the Initial Business Combination.
F-13
Director Warrants
Each of our directors, other than Mr. Ackman, has been given the opportunity to purchase, in a private placement concurrently with the Proposed Offering, a director warrant (a Director Warrant) in an amount of up to $812,500. Our directors have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $2,837,500 of Director Warrants. Each Director Warrant will be exercisable for a percentage of the common shares of the post-combination business (on a fully diluted basis) calculated as the purchase price of such Director Warrant divided by the purchase price of the Sponsor Warrants, multiplied by 5.95%, reflecting fair market value as determined with respect to the Sponsor Warrants. The exercise price per common share of the post-combination business will be $24.00.
As described above, certain proceeds from the sale of the Director Warrants may be deposited in the Trust Account. If the Initial Business Combination is not completed within the Combination Period, proceeds from the sale of the Director Warrants held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law). The Director Warrants will not be redeemable by the Company and will be exercisable, in whole or in part, on a cashless basis (in addition to being exercisable for cash).
Any director purchasing a Director Warrant will agree, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell such Director Warrant until three years after the completion of the Initial Business Combination.
Forward Purchase Agreement
On June 21, 2020, Pershing Square, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Pershing Square International, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company, and Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd., a Guernsey company, each of which is a member of Sponsor and is managed by Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P., (each a Forward Purchaser and collectively the Forward Purchasers), entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement (the Forward Purchase Agreement) with the Company, regarding the purchase of units (the Forward Purchase Units), each of which has a purchase price of $20.00 and consists of one share of Class A Common Stock (the Forward Purchase Shares), and one-third of one warrant (the Forward Purchase Warrants). Pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Forward Purchasers agreed to purchase an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units (the Committed Forward Purchase Units), or 50,000,000 such units. The purchase of the Committed Forward Purchase Units will take place in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, with the full amount to have been purchased no later than simultaneously with the closing of our Initial Business Combination. The Forward Purchasers are not permitted to transfer the right to purchase the Committed Forward Purchase Units.
The Forward Purchase Agreement also will provide that the Forward Purchasers may elect to purchase up to an additional aggregate of $2,000,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units (the Additional Forward Purchase Units), or up to 100,000,000 such units, in whole or in part, in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as the Forward Purchasers determine, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Business Combination. The Company and the Forward Purchasers may determine, by mutual agreement, to increase the number of Additional Forward Purchase Units at any time prior to the Initial Business Combination. The Forward Purchasers may transfer the right to purchase the Additional Forward Purchase Units, in whole or in part, to any entity that is managed by Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. (the Affiliate Transferees), but not to any third party. The Forward Purchasers obligation or right, as applicable, to purchase the Forward Purchase Units will be allocated among the Forward Purchasers from time to time as described in this prospectus.
The Forward Purchase Shares, the Forward Purchase Warrants and the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Forward Purchase Warrants (collectively, the Forward Purchase Securities) have terms identical to those of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the Redeemable Warrants included in the Units being sold in the Proposed Offering, except; the Forward Purchase Securities will be subject to transfer restrictions and will have certain rights as long as they are held by the Forward Purchaser or its permitted transferees; the Forward Purchase Warrants will not have the right to vote on any amendments to the warrant agreement prior to the Initial Business Combination, except with respect to certain provisions relating solely to restrictions on the transfer of
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the Forward Purchase Securities; and the Forward Purchase Shares will not be entitled to receive any Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants, will not have any redemption rights in connection with our Initial Business Combination or in connection with certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and will not have any right to liquidating distributions from the trust account in the event that we fail to complete our Initial Business Combination within the Combination Period.
Director Forward Purchase Agreement
Prior to or concurrently with the Proposed Offering, we will enter into a Director Forward Purchase Agreement with certain of our independent directors (the Forward Purchase Directors). The Forward Purchase Directors have agreed to purchase, in one or more private placements in such amounts and at such time or times as each Forward Purchase Director determines, but no later than simultaneously with the closing of our Initial Business Combination, an aggregate of $6,000,000 of Forward Purchase Units. The Forward Purchase Directors may not transfer their obligation to purchase such Forward Purchase Units, other than to our Sponsor and its affiliates and to other directors. Such Forward Purchase Securities will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and have certain registration rights, as described herein.
Registration Rights
Concurrently with the Proposed Offering, the Company will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement (the Registration Rights Agreement) with Sponsor, the Forward Purchasers and the independent directors of the Company, pursuant to which the Company will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to file within 120 days of the Initial Business Combination, and use best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 60 days) thereafter, providing for the resale, under Rule 415 of the Securities Act, of (i) the Sponsor Warrants, (ii) the Director Warrants, (iii) the shares issuable upon the exercise of the Sponsor Warrants or Director Warrants, (iv) the Forward Purchase Securities, (v) the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Class B Common Stock and (vi) any other shares or warrants of the Company that the parties to the Registration Rights Agreement have purchased on the open market, subject to certain conditions as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. The parties to the Registration Rights Agreement, and their permitted transferees, will be entitled to make up to 10 demands that the Company register the foregoing securities, and will have certain piggyback rights with respect to other registration statements filed by the company.
The post-combination business will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Related Party Loans
The Sponsor has agreed to loan the Company up to $1,500,000 to cover expenses related to the Proposed Offering, general corporate purposes prior to our Initial Business Combination and potential transaction costs in connection with our intended Initial Business Combination, pursuant to a promissory note (the Note). This loan is unsecured, will bear interest on a monthly basis at the Applicable Federal Rate, and is payable no later than the end of Combination Period. The loan will be repaid out of proceeds not held in the trust account. As of May 8, 2020, the Company had not borrowed any amount under the Note and had no outstanding balance due under the Note. As of June 30, 2020, the Company borrowed $971,850 under the Note and had an outstanding balance due under the Note of $971,924 inclusive of accrued interest.
Note 5Stockholders Equity
Common Stock
The authorized common stock of the Company includes up to 3,000,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 20,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock. If the Company enters into an Initial Business
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Combination, it 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 the Company is authorized to issue at the same time as the Companys stockholders vote on the Initial Business Combination to the extent the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with the Initial Business Combination. The shares of Class A Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, 80.0% of the voting power of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company immediately following the Proposed Offering and, the shares of Class B Common Stock will have, in the aggregate, the voting power of 20.0% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company immediately following the Proposed Offering. At June 30, 2020 and May 8, 2020 there were 100 shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding.
Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Companys board of directors. At June 30, 2020 and May 8, 2020, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Note 6Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the interim financial statements were available to be issued. From the date of the balance sheet to July 13, 2020, there were no subsequent events that necessitated disclosures and/or adjustments, other than (i) the amendment of the amount of Director Warrants up to $812,500 (previously $500,000), (ii) the addition of a separate Forward Purchase Agreement entered into by the Directors, in each case as discussed in Note 4, (iii) the removal of the underwriters over-allotment, and (iv) the amendment of the Companys certificate of incorporation to increase the authorized shares of Class A Common Stock to 3,000,000,000 (previously 200,000,000) as discussed in Note 5.
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Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd.
200,000,000 Units
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
Citigroup | Jefferies | UBS Investment Bank | ||||
CastleOak
Securities, L.P. |
Loop Capital
Markets |
Ramirez & Co.,
Inc. |
Siebert Williams
Shank |
|||
Academy Securities | C.L. King & Associates | Roberts and Ryan |
, 2020
Until , 2020 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our 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 their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
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 discounts and commissions) will be as follows:
Legal fees and expenses |
$ | 2,000,000 | ||
Accounting fees and expenses |
60,000 | |||
SEC/FINRA expenses |
744,700 | |||
NYSE listing and filing fees |
85,000 | |||
Director and officer liability insurance premiums(1) |
3,300,000 | |||
Printing and engraving expenses |
10,000 | |||
Miscellaneous |
300,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Total offering expenses |
$ | 6,499,700 |
(1) |
This amount represents the approximate amount of annual director and officer liability insurance premiums the registrant anticipates paying following the completion of its initial public offering and until it completes a business combination. |
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that all of our directors, officers, employees and agents shall be entitled to be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL).
Section 145 of the DGCL concerning indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.
Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.
(a) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the persons 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 persons 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
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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 of the corporation at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
(e) Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents of the corporation or by persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
(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 persons official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.
(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
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such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such persons 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 bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporations obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys fees).
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that no director shall be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL 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 improper personal benefit from their actions as directors. 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
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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 directors 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 also provides that we will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify our current and former directors and officers, 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, attorneys 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 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 also permits 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 include provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those 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
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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 indemnity agreements with each of our directors and officers, 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 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 May 7, 2020, our Sponsor acquired 100 shares of Class B Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000.00, or $250.00 per share. 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 under the Securities Act.
In addition, our Sponsor has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase from us a Sponsor Warrants for a purchase price of $65,000,000. This purchase will take place on a private placement basis no later than simultaneously with the completion of this offering. This issuance will be made 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 under the Securities Act.
In June 2020, we entered into the Forward Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Forward Purchasers have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $1,000,000,000 of committed Forward Purchase Units (50,000,000 such units) and may elect to purchase an aggregate of up to an $2,000,000,000 of additional Forward Purchase Units (up to 100,000,000 such units), or such greater amount of additional Forward Purchase Units as the parties may mutually agree at any time prior to our initial business combination, in one or more private placements that will occur no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. Certain of our directors have entered into a Director Forward Purchase Agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to purchase an aggregate of $6,000,000 Forward Purchase Units at any time prior to our initial business combination, in one or more private placements that will occur no later than simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The Forward Purchasers and each such director are accredited investors for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D under 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.
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Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter 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.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
II-7
Exhibit
|
Description |
|
99.2 | Form of Compensation Committee Charter.* | |
99.3 | Form of Nominating and Governance Committee Charter.* | |
99.4 | Consent of Lisa Gersh.* | |
99.5 | Consent of Michael Ovitz.* | |
99.6 | Consent of Jacqueline Reses.* | |
99.7 | Consent of Joseph S. Steinberg.* |
* |
Previously filed. |
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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 16th day of July, 2020.
PERSHING SQUARE TONTINE HOLDINGS, LTD. | ||||
By: |
/s/ William A. Ackman |
|||
William A. Ackman | ||||
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name |
Position |
Date |
||
/s/ William A. Ackman |
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | July 16, 2020 | ||
William A. Ackman | ||||
/s/ Ben Hakim |
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
July 16, 2020 | ||
Ben Hakim |
II-9
Exhibit 3.4
FORM OF
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
PERSHING SQUARE TONTINE HOLDINGS, LTD.
July [●], 2020
Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
1. The name of the Corporation is Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd.. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 4, 2020 and an amended and restated certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 7, 2020 (the Current Certificate).
2. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Second Amended and Restated Certificate), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Current 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 Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
4. The text of the Current Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd. (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 General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the DGCL).
ARTICLE III
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the Corporations 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 Corporations 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 3,021,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 3,020,000,000 shares of common stock (the Common Stock), of which (i) 3,000,000,000 shares shall be series designated as Class A Common Stock (the Class A Common Stock) and (ii) 20,000,000 shares shall be a series designated as Class B Common Stock (the Class B Common Stock), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the Preferred Stock).
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock. 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 the issuance of 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 powers, 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 second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended and/or restated from time to time and including any Preferred Stock Designation (collectively, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate), and except as set forth in Section 9.9 hereof, the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the capital stock of the Corporation.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including as set forth in Section 9.9 hereof), on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each such share.
(iii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote, the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled, for each such share, to that number of votes equal to (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued in connection with the Corporations initial public offering of securities (the Offering) (such number of shares, including any shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the over-allotment option of the underwriters in the Offering, the Offering Shares), divided by (ii) four hundred, such
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that, immediately following the Offering, the aggregate voting power of the Class B Common Stock will equal 20% of the combined voting power of the outstanding Class B Common Stock and the Offering Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the issuance of any shares of Class A Common Stock, and except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote, the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each such share.
(iv) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including as set forth in Section 9.9 hereof), 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 Second Amended and Restated Certificate, holders of shares of any series of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second 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 of the other series of Common Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as applicable, are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the DGCL.
(b) Class B Common Stock.
(i) Each one share of Class B Common Stock shall be automatically converted into one share of Class A Common Stock, without any action on the part of the Corporation or the holder thereof, upon the consummation of the Corporations initial merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the Initial Business Combination).
(ii) In the event of 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 filing of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, there shall be a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, unless any such corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalization is waived by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.
(iii) Voting. Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, 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
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separately as a single class, amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Second 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. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.3 hereof, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders of Class B Common Stock, before or after the Offering, 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 to the Secretary of the Corporation or another officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which minutes of proceedings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporations 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. Dividends may be declared on the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock or both series of Common Stock in the discretion of the Board. The holders of one series of Common Stock shall have no right to any dividend declared to holders of any other series of Common Stock. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, the provisions of Article IX hereof, and the right of the Board to declare dividends in respect of only the Class A Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock, the holders of shares of such series 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 with respect to such series of Common Stock by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor, and the holders of shares of such series of Common Stock 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 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
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shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, or series, 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
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 Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws (the Bylaws) of the Corporation, 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 and this Second Amended and Restated Certificate.
Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term. 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. Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. A director shall hold office until the annual meeting following his or her appointment, and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such directors earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. 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 until the annual meeting following his or her appointment, and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such directors earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 5.4 Removal. Except as otherwise required by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including as set forth in Section 9.9 hereof), any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, with or without 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.
ARTICLE VI
BYLAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series
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of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Corporation to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided further, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE VII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Section 7.1 Special Meetings. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by another person or persons.
Section 7.2 Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
Section 7.3 Action by Written Consent. Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock and as set forth in Section 4.3(b)(iii) hereof relating to the rights of the holders of the Class B Common Stock to act by written consent both before and after the consummation of the Offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Director Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
Section 8.2 Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by 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,
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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 Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Second 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.
(e) To the extent an indemnitee has rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by Pershing Square TH Sponsor, LLC, the Corporations
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sponsor (Sponsor), or its affiliates as applicable, (i) the Corporation shall be the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., that its obligations to an indemnitee are primary and any obligation of Sponsor or its affiliates, as applicable, to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by an indemnitee are secondary), (ii) the Corporation shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by an indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs and expenses (including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromises and settlements, as fines and penalties and legal or other costs and reasonable expenses of investigating or defending against any claim or alleged claim) to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws and the agreements to which the Corporation is a party, without regard to any rights an indemnitee may have against Sponsor or its affiliates, as applicable, and (iii) the Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases Sponsor and its affiliates, as applicable, from any and all claims against them for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. No advancement or payment by Sponsor or its affiliates, as applicable, on behalf of an indemnitee with respect to any claim for which an indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Corporation shall affect the foregoing, and the Sponsor and its affiliates, as applicable, shall have a right of contribution and be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of an indemnitee against the Corporation.
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 Second Amended and Restated Certificate and terminating upon the consummation of the Corporations 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 the voting power 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 Corporations registration statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 22, 2020, as amended (the Registration Statement), shall be deposited in a trust account (the Trust Account), established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, 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 consummation of the Initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation is unable to consummate its initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering (or 30 months from the closing of the Offering if the Corporation has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for its Initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering but has not consummated its Initial Business Combination within such 24-month period) or (iii) the redemption of shares in connection with a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation regarding
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the amendment of certain provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate as described in Section 9.7 hereof. Holders of 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 in connection with the consummation of the Initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations of, Sections 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) hereof (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 or repurchase Offering Shares to the extent that such redemption would result in the Corporations failure to have net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g) 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 upon consummation of the Corporations Initial Business Combination which may be contained in the agreement relating to the Initial Business Combination (such limitation hereinafter called the Redemption Limitation). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Second 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 under 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 under 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 under 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
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Offering Shares pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with the Tender Offer Rules, the Redemption Price per share of Class A 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 five business days prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, including interest, if any, not previously released to the Corporation to pay taxes, by (ii) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares. If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on the proposed Initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, the Redemption Price per share of Class A 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, if any, not previously released to the Corporation to pay 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 consent of the Corporation, unless the Board determines to waive such restriction with respect to a particular stockholder or group.
(d) In the event that the Corporation has not consummated an Initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering (or 30 months from the closing of the Offering if the Corporation has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for its Initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering but has not consummated its Initial Business Combination within such 24-month period), 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 (less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), including interest, if any, not previously released to the Corporation to pay taxes, by (B) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (and, therefore, the Offering Shares will have no 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 Corporations 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 voting power of the shares of Common Stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to consider such Initial Business Combination (or such other vote as the applicable stock exchange rules then in effect may require) and (ii) the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.
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(f) If the Corporation conducts a tender offer pursuant to Section 9.2(b) hereof, 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. Following the Offering and prior to the consummation of the Corporations Initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall not issue any additional shares of capital stock of the Corporation that would (a) entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the Trust Account or (b) vote on any initial Business Combination, on any pre-Business Combination activity or on any amendment to this Article IX. Notwithstanding the foregoing, clause (b) of this Section 9.4 shall not apply to any shares of capital stock issuable pursuant to (or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of securities issuable pursuant to) any agreement that is described in the Registration Statement and is to be entered into by the Corporation in connection with, and no later than, the Offering (including without limitation shares of capital stock issued pursuant to forward purchase agreements described in the Registration Statement).
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 or an independent accounting firm that such Initial Business Combination is fair to the Corporation from a financial point of view.
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Section 9.6 No Transactions with Other Blank Check Companies. The Corporation shall not enter into an Initial Business Combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
Section 9.7 Additional Redemption Rights. In accordance with Section 9.1(a)(iii) hereof, if any amendment is made (i) to Sections 9.2(a) or 9.2(b) hereof to modify the substance or timing of the Corporations obligation to provide all Public Stockholders, prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, with the opportunity to have their Offering Shares redeemed upon the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, (ii) to Section 9.2(d) hereof to modify the substance or timing of the Corporations 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 (or 30 months from the closing of the Offering if the Corporation has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for its Initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering but has not consummated its Initial Business Combination within such 24-month period) or (iii) with respect to any other provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate relating to stockholders rights or pre-Initial Business Combination activity, the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including, if any, interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares. The Corporations ability to provide such opportunity is subject to the Redemption Limitation.
Section 9.8 Minimum Value of Target. The Corporations Initial Business Combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting discount held in, and taxes payable on the income earned on, the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the Initial Business Combination.
Section 9.9 Appointment and Removal of Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination, the holders of Class B Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote on the election and removal of any director, and the holders of Class A Common Stock shall have no right to vote on the election or removal of any director. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, 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 Second Amended and Restated Certificate, this Section 9.9 may be amended only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of at least 90% of the voting power of the outstanding Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.
Section 9.10 Distribution of Warrants.
(a) Following the time at which Public Stockholders have elected to redeem any Offering Shares in connection with the Initial Business Combination pursuant to Section 9.2 hereof (and provided that the Redemption Limit has not been exceeded), and prior to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination (such time, the Tontine Warrant Distribution Time), the Corporation will effect a distribution of warrants (the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants) only to the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock as provided in this Section 9.10.
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(b) Each whole Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrant will be exercisable for one whole share of Class A Common Stock, on such terms and subject to adjustment and such other conditions as described in the Registration Statement and as provided in the warrant agreement to be entered into by the Company and its warrant agent at the time of the Offering.
(c) The Corporation shall not issue any shares of Class A Common Stock prior to the Initial Business Combination, other than the Offering Shares, unless the purchasers of such shares of Class A Common Stock have contractually agreed to waive their right to receive the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants.
(d) At the Tontine Warrant Distribution Time, and in accordance with Section 9.10(c) hereof, the Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants will be distributable only in respect of those Offering Shares that are then-outstanding and for which redemption has not been elected (the Remaining Offering Shares), and the holders of the Remaining Offering Shares will receive, in respect of each such share, a distribution of that number of Distributable Tontine Redeemable Warrants calculated as (i)(A) the aggregate number of Offering Shares issued in connection with the Offering, multiplied by (B) two-ninths, divided by (ii) the number of Remaining Offering Shares.
ARTICLE X
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY
To the fullest 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, directors, stockholders or other fiduciaries, or any of their respective affiliates, and the Corporation renounces any interest or expectancy in, and any expectancy that any of the directors, officers, stockholders or other fiduciaries of the Corporation, or any of their respective affiliates, will offer, any such corporate opportunity of which he, she or it may become aware to the Corporation, except, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall apply with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation only with respect to a corporate opportunity that was offered to such person solely and exclusively in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to the Corporation without violating any legal obligation.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change, add or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and except as set forth in Article VIII, all rights, powers, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article.
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ARTICLE XII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS
Section 12.1 Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, 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 action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery and (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as to which the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 12.1 will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
Section 12.2 Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 12.1 hereof 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 hereof (an FSC Enforcement Action) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholders counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
ARTICLE XIII
SEVERABILITY
If any provision or provisions (or any part thereof) of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate 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, (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to
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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, and (ii) the provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd. has caused this Second 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.
PERSHING SQUARE TONTINE HOLDINGS, LTD. | ||
By: | /s/ | |
Name: | William A. Ackman | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibit 23.1
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS CONSENT
We consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement of Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd. (the Company) on Amendment No. 3 to Form S-1, File No. 333-239342, of our report dated July 13, 2020, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Companys ability to continue as a going concern, with respect to our audit of the financial statements of Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd. as of May 8, 2020 and for the period from May 4, 2020 (inception) through May 8, 2020, which report appears in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading Experts in such Prospectus.
/s/ Marcum LLP
Marcum LLP
New York, NY
July 16, 2020