UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 25, 2021
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands | 001-40112 | 98-1583275 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
(Commission
File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
||
1701 Village Center Circle Las Vegas, NV |
89134 |
|||
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(702) 323-7330
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ |
Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ |
Pre-commencements communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading
|
Name of Each Exchange
|
||
Units, each consisting of one Class A Ordinary Share and one-fourth of one Warrant | ASZ.U | The New York Stock Exchange | ||
Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share | ASZ | The New York Stock Exchange | ||
Warrants, each whole Warrant exercisable for one Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share | ASZ WS | The New York Stock Exchange |
☒ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). |
☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. |
Item 8.01 |
Other Events. |
On February 25, 2021, the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-252933) (the Registration Statement) relating to the initial public offering (the IPO) of Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the Company) was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Company subsequently filed on February 26, 2021, a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-253557) pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which was effective immediately upon filing. On March 2, 2021, the Company consummated the IPO of 138,000,000 units (the Units). Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (Class A Ordinary Shares), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant of the Company, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $1,380,000,000.
On February 25, 2021, the Company effected a share dividend with respect to the Companys Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, and Class C ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of 9,857,142 aggregate shares thereof, resulting in the Companys initial shareholders holding an aggregate of 29,571,428 Class B ordinary shares and 29,571,428 Class C ordinary shares.
Substantially concurrently with the closing of the IPO, the Company completed the private sale of 19,733,333 warrants (the Private Placement Warrants) at a purchase price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant, to Cannae Holdings, LLC (Cannae Holdings), generating gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $29,600,000. The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the Units in the IPO, except that, so long as they are held by Cannae Holdings or its permitted transferees: (i) they will not be redeemable by the Company (except in certain redemption scenarios when the price per Class A Ordinary Share equals or exceeds $10.00 (as adjusted)), (ii) they (including the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by Cannae Holdings until 30 days after the completion of the Companys initial business combination, (iii) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis, and (iv) they (including the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights.
A total of $1,380,000,000, comprised of the proceeds from the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, were placed in a U.S.-based trust account at JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds in the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay its taxes, if any, the proceeds from the IPO will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of the Companys initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of its obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other provisions relating to shareholders rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) the redemption of all of the Companys public shares if the Company has not completed its initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO, subject to applicable law.
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On February 25, 2021, in connection with the IPO, the Company adopted its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and, on the dates referred to below, entered into the following agreements previously filed as exhibits to the Companys Registration Statement:
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A Warrant Agreement, dated March 2, 2021, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. |
|
An Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated March 2, 2021, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. |
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A Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 2, 2021, among the Company, Austerlitz Acquisition Sponsor, LP II (the Sponsor), Cannae Holdings and certain other security holders named therein. |
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A Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated February 25, 2021, between the Company and Cannae Holdings. |
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An Administrative Services Agreement, dated March 2, 2021, between the Company and Cannae Holdings, Inc. |
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Letter Agreements, dated March 2, 2021, between the Company and each of its officers and directors. |
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A Letter Agreement, dated March 2, 2021, between the Company and the Sponsor. |
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A Letter Agreement, dated March 2, 2021, between the Company and Cannae Holdings. |
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Indemnity Agreements, dated March 2, 2021, between the Company and each of its officers and directors. |
On February 25, 2021, the Company issued a press release, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, announcing the pricing of the IPO. On March 2, 2021, the Company issued a press release, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, announcing the closing of the IPO.
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Item 9.01 |
Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed with this Form 8-K:
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II | ||||||
Date: March 3, 2021 | By: | /s/ Michael L. Gravelle | ||||
Name: | Michael L. Gravelle | |||||
Title: | General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
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Exhibit 3.1
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED 25 FEBRUARY 2021 AND EFFECTIVE ON 25 FEBRUARY 2021)
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED 25 FEBRUARY 2021 AND EFFECTIVE ON 25 FEBRUARY 2021)
1 |
The name of the Company is Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II |
2 |
The Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands, or at such other place within the Cayman Islands as the Directors may decide. |
3 |
The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
4 |
The liability of each Member is limited to the amount unpaid on such Members shares. |
5 |
The share capital of the Company is US$96,100 divided into 800,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 80,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 80,000,000 Class C ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and 1,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each. |
6 |
The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
7 |
Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association bear the respective meanings given to them in the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company. |
2
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II
(ADOPTED BY SPECIAL RESOLUTION DATED 25 FEBRUARY 2021 AND EFFECTIVE ON 25 FEBRUARY 2021)
1 |
Interpretation |
1.1 |
In the Articles Table A in the First Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith: |
Affiliate | in respect of a person, means any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person, and (a) in the case of a natural person, shall include, without limitation, such persons spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, whether by blood, marriage or adoption or anyone residing in such persons home, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, a company, partnership or any natural person or entity wholly or jointly owned by any of the foregoing and (b) in the case of an entity, shall include a partnership, a corporation or any natural person or entity which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity. | |
Applicable Law | means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person. | |
Articles | means these amended and restated articles of association of the Company. | |
Audit Committee | means the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. |
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Auditor | means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any). | |
Business Combination | means a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganisation or similar business combination involving the Company, with one or more businesses or entities (the target business), which Business Combination: (a) as long as the securities of the Company are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80 per cent of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting discounts and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing of the definitive agreement to enter into such Business Combination; and (b) must not be solely effectuated with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations. | |
business day | means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City. | |
Clearing House | means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction. | |
Class A Share | means a Class A ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. | |
Class B Share | means a Class B ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. | |
Class C Share | means a Class C ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. | |
Company | means the above named company. | |
Companys Website | means the website of the Company and/or its web-address or domain name (if any). | |
Compensation Committee | means the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. | |
Designated Stock | means any United States national securities exchange on which the |
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Exchange | securities of the Company are listed for trading, including the New York Stock Exchange. | |
Directors | means the directors for the time being of the Company. | |
Dividend | means any dividend (whether interim or final) resolved to be paid on Shares pursuant to the Articles. | |
Electronic Communication | means a communication sent by electronic means, including electronic posting to the Companys Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website (including the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by the Directors. | |
Electronic Record | has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Act. | |
Electronic Transactions Act | means the Electronic Transactions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands. | |
Equity-linked Securities | means any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Shares issued in a financing transaction in connection with a Business Combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt. | |
Exchange Act | means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar U.S. federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time. | |
Forward Purchase Agreement | means an agreement that provides for the sale of equity securities in a private placement that will close substantially concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination. | |
Forward Purchase Share | means a Class A Share to be issued pursuant to a Forward Purchase Agreement. | |
Forward Purchase Warrant | means a warrant to purchase a Class A Share to be issued pursuant to a Forward Purchase Agreement. | |
Founders | means all Members immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO. | |
Independent Director | has the same meaning as in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange or in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as the case may be. |
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IPO | means the Companys initial public offering of securities. | |
Member | has the same meaning as in the Statute. | |
Memorandum | means the amended and restated memorandum of association of the Company. | |
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee | means the corporate governance and nominating committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee. | |
Officer | means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company. | |
Ordinary Resolution | means a resolution passed by a simple majority of the Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting, and includes a unanimous written resolution. In computing the majority when a poll is demanded regard shall be had to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled by the Articles. | |
Over-Allotment Option | means the option of the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 15 per cent of the firm units (as described in the Articles) issued in the IPO at a price equal to US$10 per unit, less underwriting discounts and commissions. | |
Preference Share | means a preference share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company. | |
Public Share | means a Class A Share issued as part of the units (as described in the Articles) issued in the IPO. | |
Redemption Notice | means a notice in a form approved by the Company by which a holder of Public Shares is entitled to require the Company to redeem its Public Shares, subject to any conditions contained therein. | |
Register of Members | means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Statute and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of Members. | |
Registered Office | means the registered office for the time being of the Company. | |
Representative | means a representative of the Underwriters. |
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Seal | means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal. | |
Securities and Exchange Commission | means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. | |
Share | means a Class A Share, a Class B Share, a Class C Share or a Preference Share and includes a fraction of a share in the Company. | |
Special Resolution | subject to Article 29.4, has the same meaning as in the Statute, and includes a unanimous written resolution. | |
Sponsor | means Austerlitz Acquisition Sponsor, LP II, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, and its successors or assigns. | |
Statute | means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands. | |
Treasury Share | means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Statute. | |
Trust Account | means the trust account established by the Company upon the consummation of the IPO and into which a certain amount of the net proceeds of the IPO, together with a certain amount of the proceeds of a private placement of warrants simultaneously with the closing date of the IPO, will be deposited. | |
Underwriter | means an underwriter of the IPO from time to time and any successor underwriter. |
1.2 |
In the Articles: |
(a) |
words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa; |
(b) |
words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender; |
(c) |
words importing persons include corporations as well as any other legal or natural person; |
(d) |
written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record; |
(e) |
shall shall be construed as imperative and may shall be construed as permissive; |
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(f) |
references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced; |
(g) |
any phrase introduced by the terms including, include, in particular or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms; |
(h) |
the term and/or is used herein to mean both and as well as or. The use of and/or in certain contexts in no respects qualifies or modifies the use of the terms and or or in others. The term or shall not be interpreted to be exclusive and the term and shall not be interpreted to require the conjunctive (in each case, unless the context otherwise requires); |
(i) |
headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing the Articles; |
(j) |
any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an Electronic Record; |
(k) |
any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles including the execution of the Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as defined in the Electronic Transactions Act; |
(l) |
sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply; |
(m) |
the term clear days in relation to the period of a notice means that period excluding the day when the notice is received or deemed to be received and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect; and |
(n) |
the term holder in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of such Share. |
2 |
Commencement of Business |
2.1 |
The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation of the Company as the Directors shall see fit. |
2.2 |
The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration. |
3 |
Issue of Shares and other Securities |
3.1 |
Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting) and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other |
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competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Directors may allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) with or without preferred, deferred or other rights or restrictions, whether in regard to Dividends or other distributions, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to such persons, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper, and may also (subject to the Statute and the Articles) vary such rights, save that the Directors shall not allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) to the extent that it may affect the ability of the Company to carry out a Class B Ordinary Share Conversion or Class C Ordinary Share Conversion set out in the Articles. |
3.2 |
The Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company on such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine. |
3.3 |
The Company may issue units of securities in the Company, which may be comprised of whole or fractional Shares, rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company, upon such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine. The securities comprising any such units which are issued pursuant to the IPO can only be traded separately from one another on the 52nd day following the date of the prospectus relating to the IPO unless the Representative(s) determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to the Company having filed a current report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Prior to such date, the units can be traded, but the securities comprising such units cannot be traded separately from one another. |
3.4 |
The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer. |
4 |
Register of Members |
4.1 |
The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Statute. |
4.2 |
The Directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Statute. The Directors may also determine which register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time. |
5 |
Closing Register of Members or Fixing Record Date |
5.1 |
For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose, the Directors may, after notice has been given by advertisement in an appointed newspaper or any |
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other newspaper or by any other means in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, provide that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not in any case exceed forty days. |
5.2 |
In lieu of, or apart from, closing the Register of Members, the Directors may fix in advance or arrears a date as the record date for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of the Members or any adjournment thereof, or for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose. |
5.3 |
If the Register of Members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Members or Members entitled to receive payment of a Dividend or other distribution, the date on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the resolution of the Directors resolving to pay such Dividend or other distribution is passed, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
6 |
Certificates for Shares |
6.1 |
A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. Share certificates shall be signed by one or more Directors or other person authorised by the Directors. The Directors may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) affixed by mechanical process. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and, subject to the Articles, no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate representing a like number of relevant Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled. |
6.2 |
The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by more than one person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
6.3 |
If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate. |
6.4 |
Every share certificate sent in accordance with the Articles will be sent at the risk of the Member or other person entitled to the certificate. The Company will not be responsible for any share certificate lost or delayed in the course of delivery. |
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6.5 |
Share certificates shall be issued within the relevant time limit as prescribed by the Statute, if applicable, or as the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law may from time to time determine, whichever is shorter, after the allotment or, except in the case of a Share transfer which the Company is for the time being entitled to refuse to register and does not register, after lodgement of a Share transfer with the Company. |
7 |
Transfer of Shares |
7.1 |
Subject to the terms of the Articles, any Member may transfer all or any of his Shares by an instrument of transfer provided that such transfer complies with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options, warrants or units issued pursuant to the Articles on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the Directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such right, option, warrant or unit. |
7.2 |
The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law or in any other form approved by the Directors and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and if the Directors so require, signed by or on behalf of the transferee) and may be under hand or, if the transferor or transferee is a Clearing House or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Directors may approve from time to time. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members. |
8 |
Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares |
8.1 |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Member or the Company. The redemption of such Shares, except Public Shares, shall be effected in such manner and upon such other terms as the Company may, by Special Resolution, determine before the issue of such Shares. With respect to redeeming or repurchasing the Shares: |
(a) |
Members who hold Public Shares are entitled to request the redemption of such Shares in the circumstances described in the Business Combination Article hereof; |
(b) |
Class B Shares held by the Founders shall be surrendered by the Founders for no consideration on a pro-rata basis to the extent that the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised in full so that the Founders will own 30 per cent of the Companys issued |
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Shares after the IPO (exclusive of any securities purchased in a private placement simultaneously with the IPO); and |
(c) |
Public Shares shall be repurchased by way of tender offer in the circumstances set out in the Business Combination Article hereof. |
8.2 |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) in such manner and on such other terms as the Directors may agree with the relevant Member. For the avoidance of doubt, redemptions, repurchases and surrenders of Shares in the circumstances described in the Article above shall not require further approval of the Members. |
8.3 |
The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital. |
8.4 |
The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share. |
9 |
Treasury Shares |
9.1 |
The Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share. |
9.2 |
The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration). |
10 |
Variation of Rights of Shares |
10.1 |
Subject to Article 3.1, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied without the consent of the holders of the issued Shares of that class where such variation is considered by the Directors not to have a material adverse effect upon such rights; otherwise, any such variation shall be made only with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two thirds of the issued Shares of that class (other than with respect to a waiver of the provisions of the Class B Ordinary Share and Class C Ordinary Share Conversion Article hereof, which as stated therein shall only require the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued Shares of that class), or with the approval of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. For the avoidance of doubt, the Directors reserve the right, notwithstanding that any such variation may not have a material adverse effect, to obtain consent from the holders of Shares of the relevant class. To any such meeting all the provisions of the Articles relating to general meetings shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that the necessary quorum shall be one person |
12
holding or representing by proxy at least one third of the issued Shares of the class and that any holder of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll. |
10.2 |
For the purposes of a separate class meeting, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such class of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares. |
10.3 |
The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith or Shares issued with preferred or other rights. |
11 |
Commission on Sale of Shares |
The Company may, in so far as the Statute permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether absolutely or conditionally) or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolutely or conditionally) for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.
12 |
Non Recognition of Trusts |
The Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by the Articles or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder.
13 |
Lien on Shares |
13.1 |
The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether fully paid-up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others) for all debts, liabilities or engagements to or with the Company (whether presently payable or not) by such Member or his estate, either alone or jointly with any other person, whether a Member or not, but the Directors may at any time declare any Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The registration of a transfer of any such Share shall operate as a waiver of the Companys lien thereon. The Companys lien on a Share shall also extend to any amount payable in respect of that Share. |
13.2 |
The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares on which the Company has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, and is not paid within fourteen clear days after notice has been received or deemed to have been received by the holder of the Shares, or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold. |
13
13.3 |
To give effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The purchaser or his nominee shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer, and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the sale or the exercise of the Companys power of sale under the Articles. |
13.4 |
The net proceeds of such sale after payment of costs, shall be applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable and any balance shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the date of the sale. |
14 |
Call on Shares |
14.1 |
Subject to the terms of the allotment and issue of any Shares, the Directors may make calls upon the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares (whether in respect of par value or premium), and each Member shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen clear days notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on the Shares. A call may be revoked or postponed, in whole or in part, as the Directors may determine. A call may be required to be paid by instalments. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. |
14.2 |
A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising such call was passed. |
14.3 |
The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof. |
14.4 |
If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at such rate as the Directors may determine (and in addition all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment), but the Directors may waive payment of the interest or expenses wholly or in part. |
14.5 |
An amount payable in respect of a Share on issue or allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the par value of the Share or premium or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a call and if it is not paid all the provisions of the Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call. |
14.6 |
The Directors may issue Shares with different terms as to the amount and times of payment of calls, or the interest to be paid. |
14.7 |
The Directors may, if they think fit, receive an amount from any Member willing to advance all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any Shares held by him, and may (until the |
14
amount would otherwise become payable) pay interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such amount in advance. |
14.8 |
No such amount paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such amount to any portion of a Dividend or other distribution payable in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such amount would, but for such payment, become payable. |
15 |
Forfeiture of Shares |
15.1 |
If a call or instalment of a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than fourteen clear days notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment. The notice shall specify where payment is to be made and shall state that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. |
15.2 |
If the notice is not complied with, any Share in respect of which it was given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all Dividends, other distributions or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. |
15.3 |
A forfeited Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited Share is to be transferred to any person the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share in favour of that person. |
15.4 |
A person any of whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of them and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the Shares forfeited and shall remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with interest at such rate as the Directors may determine, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all monies due and payable by him in respect of those Shares. |
15.5 |
A certificate in writing under the hand of one Director or Officer that a Share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. The certificate shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer) constitute a good title to the Share and the person to whom the Share is sold or otherwise disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the Share. |
15.6 |
The provisions of the Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of |
15
the par value of the Share or by way of premium as if it had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified. |
16 |
Transmission of Shares |
16.1 |
If a Member dies, the survivor or survivors (where he was a joint holder), or his legal personal representatives (where he was a sole holder), shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his Shares. The estate of a deceased Member is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, for which he was a joint or sole holder. |
16.2 |
Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may be required by the Directors, elect, by a notice in writing sent by him to the Company, either to become the holder of such Share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the holder of such Share. If he elects to have another person registered as the holder of such Share he shall sign an instrument of transfer of that Share to that person. The Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution, as the case may be. |
16.3 |
A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same Dividends, other distributions and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the holder of such Share. However, he shall not, before becoming a Member in respect of a Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings of the Company and the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to have some person nominated by him be registered as the holder of the Share (but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution or any other case than by transfer, as the case may be). If the notice is not complied with within ninety days of being received or deemed to be received (as determined pursuant to the Articles), the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all Dividends, other distributions, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with. |
17 |
Class B Ordinary Share and Class C Ordinary Share Conversion |
17.1 |
The rights attaching to the Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares shall rank pari passu in all respects, and the Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares shall vote together as a single class on all matters (subject to the Variation of Rights of Shares Article and the Appointment and Removal of Directors Article hereof) with the exception that the holder of a Class B Share and the holder of a Class C Share shall have the conversion rights referred to in this Article. |
16
17.2 |
Class B Shares shall automatically convert into Class A Shares on a one-for-one basis (the Initial Class B Share Conversion Ratio): automatically on the first business day following the closing of a Business Combination. |
17.3 |
Notwithstanding the Initial Class B Share Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional Class A Shares or any other Equity-linked Securities, are issued, or deemed issued, by the Company in excess of the amounts offered in the IPO and related to the closing of a Business Combination, all Class B Shares in issue shall automatically convert into Class A Shares on the first business day following the closing of a Business Combination; provided that the Initial Class B Share Conversion Ratio shall convert into Class A Shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the Class B Shares in issue agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A Shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B Shares will equal, on an as-converted basis, in the aggregate, 15 per cent of the sum of all Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares in issue upon completion of the IPO plus all Class A Shares and Equity-linked Securities issued or deemed issued in connection with a Business Combination (including any Forward Purchase Shares but not any Forward Purchase Warrants), excluding (A) any Shares or any Equity-linked Securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination, (B) any private placement warrants issued to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company and (C) any Class A Shares issued or deemed issued upon conversion of the Class B Shares and the Class C Shares as a result of the Business Combination. |
17.4 |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the foregoing adjustment to the Initial Class B Share Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance of additional Class A Shares or Equity-linked Securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the Class B Shares then in issue consenting or agreeing separately as a separate class in the manner provided in the Variation of Rights of Shares Article hereof. |
17.5 |
The Initial Class B Share Conversion Ratio shall also be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by share subdivision, exchange, capitalisation, rights issue, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or combination (by share consolidation, exchange, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class A Shares in issue into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring after the original filing of the Articles without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class B Shares in issue. |
17.6 |
Each Class B Share shall convert into its pro rata number of Class A Shares pursuant to this Article. The pro rata share for each holder of Class B Shares will be determined as follows: each Class B Share shall convert into such number of Class A Shares as is equal to the product of 1 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of Class A Shares into which all of the Class B Shares in issue shall be converted pursuant to this Article and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Class B Shares in issue at the time of conversion. |
17
17.7 |
Class C Shares shall automatically convert into Class A Shares on a one-for-one basis (the Initial Class C Share Conversion Ratio): after the closing of the Business Combination, at the earlier of (x) a time following the closing of the initial Business Combination in which the last reported sale price of our Class A ordinary shares for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period equals or exceeds: |
(a) |
US$15.25 if occurring before the third (3rd) anniversary of the closing of the Business Combination; |
(b) |
US$23.00 if occurring before the sixth (6th) anniversary of the closing of the Business Combination; or |
(c) |
US$35.00 if occurring before the ninth (9th) anniversary of the closing of the Business Combination, |
and (y) the date on which we complete a merger, share exchange, reorganisation or other similar transaction that results in both a Change of Control (as defined below) and all of our public shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Shares for cash, securities or other property. For the avoidance of doubt, all Class C Shares shall automatically convert to Class A Shares upon the first to occur of any of this Article 17.7(x)(a), (b) or (c), or 17.7(y) above, at the Initial Class C Share Conversion Ratio.
17.8 |
Change of Control means the occurrence of any one of the following after the consummation of a Business Combination (but not in connection with such Business Combination) if any of the following occurs: |
(a) |
a person or group within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, any of its wholly owned subsidiaries and the Companys and its wholly-owned subsidiaries respective employee benefit plans: |
(i) |
has become the direct or indirect beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of Shares representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Shares; and |
(ii) |
has filed a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that an event described in (b)(i) below has occurred; provided, however, that a person or group shall not be deemed a beneficial owner of, or to own beneficially, any securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such person or group or any of their affiliates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange thereunder; |
(b) |
the consummation of: |
(i) |
any recapitalisation, reclassification or change of the Shares in issue (other than a change from no par value to par value, a change in par value or a change from |
18
par value to no par value, or changes resulting from a sub-division or consolidation) as a result of which all of the Shares in issue would be converted into, or exchanged for, shares, other securities, or other property or assets; |
(ii) |
any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company pursuant to which all of the Class A Shares in issue shall be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets (including any combination or consolidation thereof); or |
(iii) |
any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the Companys or its consolidated assets, taken as a whole, to any person or entity (other than one of the Companys wholly owned subsidiaries); |
provided, however, that a transaction described in (b)(i) or (ii) in which the holders of all classes of the Companys common equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of the common equity of the continuing or surviving entity immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a Change of Control pursuant to this (b);
(c) (i) |
the Members approve any plan or proposal for the Companys liquidation (other than a liquidation that shall occur contemporaneously with a transaction described in (b)(ii) above); or |
(ii) |
Class A Shares cease to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market (or any of their respective successors); provided, however, that a transaction or transactions described in (a) or (b) above shall not constitute a Change of Control, if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by the holders of Shares, excluding cash payments for fractional Shares and cash payments made in respect of dissenters rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of Shares that are listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market (or any of their respective successors) or shall be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions, and as a result of such transaction or transactions such consideration becomes the equity interests in which Class C Shares convert into. |
17.9 |
Notwithstanding the Initial Class C Share Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional Class A Shares or any other Equity-linked Securities, are issued, or deemed issued, by the Company in excess of the amounts offered in the IPO and related to the closing of a Business Combination, all Class C Shares in issue shall automatically convert into Class A Shares upon the first to occur of any of pursuant to Article 17.7(x)(a), (b) or (c), or 17.7(y) above; provided that the Initial Class C Share Conversion Ratio will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the Class C Shares |
19
in issue agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A Shares issuable upon conversion of all Class C Shares will equal, on an as-converted basis, in the aggregate, 15 per cent of the sum of all Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares in issue upon completion of the IPO plus all Class A Shares and Equity-linked Securities issued or deemed issued in connection with a Business Combination (including any Forward Purchase Shares but not any Forward Purchase Warrants), , excluding (A) any Shares or Equity-linked Securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination, (B) any private placement warrants issued to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company and (C) any Class A Shares issued or deemed issued upon conversion of the Class B Shares and the Class C Shares as a result of the Business Combination. |
17.10 |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the foregoing adjustment to the Initial Class C Share Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance of additional Class A Shares or Equity-linked Securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the Class C Shares then in issue consenting or agreeing separately as a separate class in the manner provided in the Variation of Rights of Shares Article hereof. |
17.11 |
The foregoing Initial Class C Share Conversion Ratio shall also be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by share subdivision, exchange, capitalisation, rights issue, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or combination (by share consolidation, exchange, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class A Shares in issue into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring after the original filing of the Articles without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class C Shares in issue. |
17.12 |
Each Class C Share shall convert into its pro rata number of Class A Shares pursuant to this Article. The pro rata share for each holder of Class B Shares will be determined as follows: each Class C Share shall convert into such number of Class A Shares as is equal to the product of 1 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of Class A Shares into which all of the Class C Shares in issue shall be converted pursuant to this Article and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Class C Shares in issue at the time of conversion. |
17.13 |
References in this Article to converted, conversion or exchange shall mean the compulsory redemption without notice of Class B Shares or Class C Shares of any Member and, on behalf of such Members, automatic application of such redemption proceeds in paying for such new Class A Shares into which the Class B Shares or Class C Shares have been converted or exchanged at a price per Class B Share or price per Class C Share necessary to give effect to a conversion or exchange calculated on the basis that the Class A Shares to be issued as part of the conversion or exchange will be issued at par. The Class A Shares to be issued on an exchange or conversion shall be registered in the name of such Member or in such name as the Member may direct. |
20
17.14 |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article, in no event may any Class B Share or Class C Share convert into Class A Shares at a ratio that is less than one-for-one. |
18 |
Amendments of Memorandum and Articles of Association and Alteration of Capital |
18.1 |
The Company may by Ordinary Resolution: |
(a) |
increase its share capital by such sum as the Ordinary Resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine; |
(b) |
consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
(c) |
convert all or any of its paid-up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid-up Shares of any denomination; |
(d) |
by subdivision of its existing Shares or any of them divide the whole or any part of its share capital into Shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum or into Shares without par value; and |
(e) |
cancel any Shares that at the date of the passing of the Ordinary Resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled. |
18.2 |
All new Shares created in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article shall be subject to the same provisions of the Articles with reference to the payment of calls, liens, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise as the Shares in the original share capital. |
18.3 |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the provisions of the Articles as regards the matters to be dealt with by Ordinary Resolution and Article 29.4, the Company may by Special Resolution: |
(a) |
change its name; |
(b) |
alter or add to the Articles; |
(c) |
alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and |
(d) |
reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund. |
19 |
Offices and Places of Business |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors change the location of its Registered Office. The Company may, in addition to its Registered Office, maintain such other offices or places of business as the Directors determine.
21
20 |
General Meetings |
20.1 |
All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. |
20.2 |
The Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Statute) be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. Any annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Directors shall appoint. At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented. |
20.3 |
The Directors, the chief executive officer or the chairman of the board of Directors may call general meetings, and, for the avoidance of doubt, Members shall not have the ability to call general meetings. |
20.4 |
Members seeking to bring business before the annual general meeting or to nominate candidates for appointment as Directors at the annual general meeting must deliver notice to the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 120 calendar days before the date of the Companys proxy statement released to Members in connection with the previous years annual general meeting or, if the Company did not hold an annual general meeting the previous year, or if the date of the current years annual general meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous years annual general meeting, then the deadline shall be set by the board of Directors with such deadline being a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its related proxy materials. |
21 |
Notice of General Meetings |
21.1 |
At least five clear days notice shall be given of any general meeting. Every notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be conducted at the general meeting and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed: |
(a) |
in the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and |
(b) |
in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, together holding not less than ninety-five per cent in par value of the Shares giving that right. |
21.2 |
The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non receipt of notice of a general meeting by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that general meeting. |
22
22 |
Proceedings at General Meetings |
22.1 |
No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. The holders of a majority of the Shares being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy shall be a quorum. |
22.2 |
A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. |
22.3 |
A resolution (including a Special Resolution) in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by or on behalf of all of the Members for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (or, being corporations or other non-natural persons, signed by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the resolution had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held. |
22.4 |
If a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and/or place or to such other day, time and/or place as the Directors may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall be a quorum. |
22.5 |
The Directors may, at any time prior to the time appointed for the meeting to commence, appoint any person to act as chairman of a general meeting of the Company or, if the Directors do not make any such appointment, the chairman, if any, of the board of Directors shall preside as chairman at such general meeting. If there is no such chairman, or if he shall not be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
22.6 |
If no Director is willing to act as chairman or if no Director is present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
22.7 |
The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. |
22.8 |
When a general meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of an adjourned meeting. |
22.9 |
If, prior to a Business Combination, a notice is issued in respect of a general meeting and the Directors, in their absolute discretion, consider that it is impractical or undesirable for any reason |
23
to hold that general meeting at the place, the day and the hour specified in the notice calling such general meeting, the Directors may postpone the general meeting to another place, day and/or hour provided that notice of the place, the day and the hour of the rearranged general meeting is promptly given to all Members. No business shall be transacted at any postponed meeting other than the business specified in the notice of the original meeting. |
22.10 |
When a general meeting is postponed for thirty days or more, notice of the postponed meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of a postponed meeting. All proxy forms submitted for the original general meeting shall remain valid for the postponed meeting. The Directors may postpone a general meeting which has already been postponed. |
22.11 |
A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. |
22.12 |
A poll shall be taken as the chairman directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
22.13 |
A poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such date, time and place as the chairman of the general meeting directs, and any business other than that upon which a poll has been demanded or is contingent thereon may proceed pending the taking of the poll. |
22.14 |
In the case of an equality of votes the chairman shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. |
23 |
Votes of Members |
23.1 |
Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Shares, including as set out at Article 29.4, every Member present in any such manner shall have one vote for every Share of which he is the holder. |
23.2 |
In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy), shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members. |
23.3 |
A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote by his committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person on such Members behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy. |
23.4 |
No person shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless he is registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies then payable by him in respect of Shares have been paid. |
24
23.5 |
No objection shall be raised as to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made in due time in accordance with this Article shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
23.6 |
Votes may be cast either personally or by proxy (or in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy). A Member may appoint more than one proxy or the same proxy under one or more instruments to attend and vote at a meeting. Where a Member appoints more than one proxy the instrument of proxy shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which each proxy is entitled to exercise the related votes. |
23.7 |
A Member holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of his Shares in the same way on any resolution and therefore may vote a Share or some or all such Shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing him, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed. |
24 |
Proxies |
24.1 |
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation or other non natural person, under the hand of its duly authorised representative. A proxy need not be a Member. |
24.2 |
The Directors may, in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, specify the manner by which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited and the place and the time (being not later than the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which the proxy relates) at which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited. In the absence of any such direction from the Directors in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited physically at the Registered Office not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting or adjourned meeting to commence at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote. |
24.3 |
The chairman may in any event at his discretion declare that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted, or which has not been declared to have been duly deposited by the chairman, shall be invalid. |
24.4 |
The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form (or such other form as the Directors may approve) and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any |
25
adjournment thereof or generally until revoked. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the power to demand or join or concur in demanding a poll. |
24.5 |
Votes given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given unless notice in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer was received by the Company at the Registered Office before the commencement of the general meeting, or adjourned meeting at which it is sought to use the proxy. |
25 |
Corporate Members |
25.1 |
Any corporation or other non-natural person which is a Member may in accordance with its constitutional documents, or in the absence of such provision by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Members, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member. |
25.2 |
If a Clearing House (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of such Shares held by the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)). |
26 |
Shares that May Not be Voted |
Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding Shares at any given time.
27 |
Directors |
27.1 |
There shall be a board of Directors consisting of not less than one person provided however that the Company may by Ordinary Resolution increase or reduce the limits in the number of Directors. |
27.2 |
The Directors shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The number of Directors in each class shall be as nearly equal as possible. Upon the adoption of the Articles, the existing Directors shall by resolution classify themselves as Class I, Class II or Class III Directors. The Class I Directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at the Companys first annual general meeting, the Class II Directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at the Companys second annual general meeting and the Class III Directors shall stand appointed for a term |
26
expiring at the Companys third annual general meeting. Commencing at the Companys first annual general meeting, and at each annual general meeting thereafter, Directors appointed to succeed those Directors whose terms expire shall be appointed for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual general meeting after their appointment. Except as the Statute or other Applicable Law may otherwise require, in the interim between annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings called for the appointment of Directors and/or the removal of one or more Directors and the filling of any vacancy in that connection, additional Directors and any vacancies in the board of Directors, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of Directors for cause, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, although less than a quorum (as defined in the Articles), or by the sole remaining Director. All Directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. A Director appointed to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a Director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the Director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified. |
28 |
Powers of Directors |
28.1 |
Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Memorandum and the Articles and to any directions given by Special Resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of the Memorandum or Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Directors. |
28.2 |
All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable or transferable instruments and all receipts for monies paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed as the case may be in such manner as the Directors shall determine by resolution. |
28.3 |
The Directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any Director who has held any other salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his widow or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance. |
28.4 |
The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
29 |
Appointment and Removal of Directors |
29.1 |
Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares and the Class C Shares appoint any person to be a Director |
27
or may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares and the Class C Shares remove any Director. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, holders of Class A Shares shall have no right to vote on the appointment or removal of any Director. |
29.2 |
The Directors may appoint any person to be a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director provided that the appointment does not cause the number of Directors to exceed any number fixed by or in accordance with the Articles as the maximum number of Directors. |
29.3 |
After the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director or may by Ordinary Resolution remove any Director. |
29.4 |
Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, Article 29.1 may only be amended by a Special Resolution passed by at least 90 per cent of such Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given, or by way of unanimous written resolution. |
30 |
Vacation of Office of Director |
The office of a Director shall be vacated if:
(a) |
the Director gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns the office of Director; or |
(b) |
the Director absents himself (for the avoidance of doubt, without being represented by proxy) from three consecutive meetings of the board of Directors without special leave of absence from the Directors, and the Directors pass a resolution that he has by reason of such absence vacated office; or |
(c) |
the Director dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or |
(d) |
the Director is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; or |
(e) |
all of the other Directors (being not less than two in number) determine that he should be removed as a Director, either by a resolution passed by all of the other Directors at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held in accordance with the Articles or by a resolution in writing signed by all of the other Directors. |
31 |
Proceedings of Directors |
31.1 |
The quorum for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed shall be a majority of the Directors then in office. |
28
31.2 |
Subject to the provisions of the Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. |
31.3 |
A person may participate in a meeting of the Directors or any committee of Directors by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation by a person in a meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Directors, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the chairman is located at the start of the meeting. |
31.4 |
A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of the Directors or, in the case of a resolution in writing relating to the removal of any Director or the vacation of office by any Director, all of the Directors other than the Director who is the subject of such resolution shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors, or committee of Directors as the case may be, duly convened and held. |
31.5 |
A Director may, or other Officer on the direction of a Director shall, call a meeting of the Directors by at least two days notice in writing to every Director which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors either at, before or after the meeting is held. To any such notice of a meeting of the Directors all the provisions of the Articles relating to the giving of notices by the Company to the Members shall apply mutatis mutandis. |
31.6 |
The continuing Directors (or a sole continuing Director, as the case may be) may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to the Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to be equal to such fixed number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose. |
31.7 |
The Directors may elect a chairman of their board and determine the period for which he is to hold office; but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. |
31.8 |
All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director, and/or that they or any of them were disqualified, and/or had vacated their office and/or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and/or not disqualified to be a Director and/or had not vacated their office and/or had been entitled to vote, as the case may be. |
29
31.9 |
A Director may be represented at any meetings of the board of Directors by a proxy appointed in writing by him. The proxy shall count towards the quorum and the vote of the proxy shall for all purposes be deemed to be that of the appointing Director. |
32 |
Presumption of Assent |
A Director who is present at a meeting of the board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action.
33 |
Directors Interests |
33.1 |
A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of Auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Directors may determine. |
33.2 |
A Director may act by himself or by, through or on behalf of his firm in a professional capacity for the Company and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director. |
33.3 |
A Director may be or become a director or other officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder, a contracting party or otherwise, and no such Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him as a director or officer of, or from his interest in, such other company. |
33.4 |
No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by or arising in connection with any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director holding office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established. A Director shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested provided that the nature of the interest of any Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon. |
33.5 |
A general notice that a Director is a shareholder, director, officer or employee of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be sufficient disclosure for the purposes of voting on a resolution in respect of a contract or transaction in which he has an interest, and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction. |
30
34 |
Minutes |
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of recording all appointments of Officers made by the Directors, all proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any class of Shares and of the Directors, and of committees of the Directors, including the names of the Directors present at each meeting.
35 |
Delegation of Directors Powers |
35.1 |
The Directors may delegate any of their powers, authorities and discretions, including the power to sub-delegate, to any committee consisting of one or more Directors (including, without limitation, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee). Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such delegation may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee of Directors shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. |
35.2 |
The Directors may establish any committees, local boards or agencies or appoint any person to be a manager or agent for managing the affairs of the Company and may appoint any person to be a member of such committees, local boards or agencies. Any such appointment may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such appointment may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of any such committee, local board or agency shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying. |
35.3 |
The Directors may adopt formal written charters for committees and, if so adopted, shall review and assess the adequacy of such formal written charters on an annual basis. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in the Articles and shall have such powers as the Directors may delegate pursuant to the Articles and as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, if established, shall consist of such number of Directors as the Directors shall from time to time determine (or such minimum number as may be required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law). For so long as any class of Shares is listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. |
31
35.4 |
The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such conditions as the Directors may determine, provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked by the Directors at any time. |
35.5 |
The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or authorised signatory of the Company for such purpose and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under the Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such powers of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorneys or authorised signatories as the Directors may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. |
35.6 |
The Directors may appoint such Officers as they consider necessary on such terms, at such remuneration and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors may think fit. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of his appointment an Officer may be removed by resolution of the Directors or Members. An Officer may vacate his office at any time if he gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns his office. |
36 |
No Minimum Shareholding |
The Company in general meeting may fix a minimum shareholding required to be held by a Director, but unless and until such a shareholding qualification is fixed a Director is not required to hold Shares.
37 |
Remuneration of Directors |
37.1 |
The remuneration to be paid to the Directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the Directors shall determine, provided that no cash remuneration shall be paid to any Director by the Company prior to the consummation of a Business Combination. The Directors shall also, whether prior to or after the consummation of a Business Combination, be entitled to be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of Directors or committees of Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or separate meetings of the holders of any class of Shares or debentures of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company or the discharge of their duties as a Director, or to receive a fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other. |
37.2 |
The Directors may by resolution approve additional remuneration to any Director for any services which in the opinion of the Directors go beyond his ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel, attorney or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity shall be in addition to his remuneration as a Director. |
32
38 |
Seal |
38.1 |
The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal. The Seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorised by the Directors. Every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by at least one person who shall be either a Director or some Officer or other person appointed by the Directors for the purpose. |
38.2 |
The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the common Seal of the Company and, if the Directors so determine, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used. |
38.3 |
A Director or Officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal over his signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by him under seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever. |
39 |
Dividends, Distributions and Reserve |
39.1 |
Subject to the Statute and this Article and except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, the Directors may resolve to pay Dividends and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the Dividends or other distributions out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. A Dividend shall be deemed to be an interim Dividend unless the terms of the resolution pursuant to which the Directors resolve to pay such Dividend specifically state that such Dividend shall be a final Dividend. No Dividend or other distribution shall be paid except out of the realised or unrealised profits of the Company, out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by law. |
39.2 |
Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, all Dividends and other distributions shall be paid according to the par value of the Shares that a Member holds. If any Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for Dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for Dividend accordingly. |
39.3 |
The Directors may deduct from any Dividend or other distribution payable to any Member all sums of money (if any) then payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise. |
39.4 |
The Directors may resolve that any Dividend or other distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular (but without limitation) by the distribution of shares, debentures, or securities of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional Shares and may fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Members and may vest any such specific assets in trustees in such manner as may seem expedient to the Directors. |
33
39.5 |
Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, Dividends and other distributions may be paid in any currency. The Directors may determine the basis of conversion for any currency conversions that may be required and how any costs involved are to be met. |
39.6 |
The Directors may, before resolving to pay any Dividend or other distribution, set aside such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Directors, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, at the discretion of the Directors, be employed in the business of the Company. |
39.7 |
Any Dividend, other distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be paid by wire transfer to the holder or by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the holder who is first named on the Register of Members or to such person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any Dividends, other distributions, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders. |
39.8 |
No Dividend or other distribution shall bear interest against the Company. |
39.9 |
Any Dividend or other distribution which cannot be paid to a Member and/or which remains unclaimed after six months from the date on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable may, in the discretion of the Directors, be paid into a separate account in the Companys name, provided that the Company shall not be constituted as a trustee in respect of that account and the Dividend or other distribution shall remain as a debt due to the Member. Any Dividend or other distribution which remains unclaimed after a period of six years from the date on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company. |
40 |
Capitalisation |
The Directors may at any time capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Companys reserve accounts or funds (including the share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of the profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution; appropriate such sum to Members in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst such Members had the same been a distribution of profits by way of Dividend or other distribution; and apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid-up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power given to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit in the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Directors may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental or relating thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all such Members and the Company.
34
41 |
Books of Account |
41.1 |
The Directors shall cause proper books of account (including, where applicable, material underlying documentation including contracts and invoices) to be kept with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place, all sales and purchases of goods by the Company and the assets and liabilities of the Company. Such books of account must be retained for a minimum period of five years from the date on which they are prepared. Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Companys affairs and to explain its transactions. |
41.2 |
The Directors shall determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Members not being Directors and no Member (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by Statute or authorised by the Directors or by the Company in general meeting. |
41.3 |
The Directors may cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law. |
42 |
Audit |
42.1 |
The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine. |
42.2 |
Without prejudice to the freedom of the Directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Directors shall establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the Directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy of the formal written charter on an annual basis. The composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The Audit Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. |
42.3 |
If the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit Committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest. |
42.4 |
The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists). |
35
42.5 |
If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his services are required, the Directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor. |
42.6 |
Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and Officers such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor. |
42.7 |
Auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members. |
42.8 |
The Audit Committee shall monitor compliance with the terms of the IPO and, if any non-compliance is identified, the Audit Committee shall be charged with the responsibility to take all action necessary to rectify such non-compliance or otherwise cause compliance with the terms of the IPO. |
42.9 |
At least one member of the Audit Committee shall be an audit committee financial expert as determined by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The audit committee financial expert shall have such past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individuals financial sophistication. |
43 |
Notices |
43.1 |
Notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or by sending it by courier, post, cable, telex, fax or e-mail to him or to his address as shown in the Register of Members (or where the notice is given by e-mail by sending it to the e-mail address provided by such Member). Notice may also be served by Electronic Communication in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or by placing it on the Companys Website. |
43.2 |
Where a notice is sent by: |
(a) |
courier; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by delivery of the notice to a courier company, and shall be deemed to have been received on the third day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays) following the day on which the notice was delivered to the courier; |
36
(b) |
post; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre paying and posting a letter containing the notice, and shall be deemed to have been received on the fifth day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays in the Cayman Islands) following the day on which the notice was posted; |
(c) |
cable, telex or fax; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing and sending such notice and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was transmitted; |
(d) |
e-mail or other Electronic Communication; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by transmitting the e-mail to the e-mail address provided by the intended recipient and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was sent, and it shall not be necessary for the receipt of the e-mail to be acknowledged by the recipient; and |
(e) |
placing it on the Companys Website; service of the notice shall be deemed to have been effected one hour after the notice or document was placed on the Companys Website. |
43.3 |
A notice may be given by the Company to the person or persons which the Company has been advised are entitled to a Share or Shares in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member in the same manner as other notices which are required to be given under the Articles and shall be addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description at the address supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled, or at the option of the Company by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred. |
43.4 |
Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner authorised by the Articles to every holder of Shares carrying an entitlement to receive such notice on the record date for such meeting except that in the case of joint holders the notice shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the Register of Members and every person upon whom the ownership of a Share devolves by reason of his being a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Member where the Member but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting, and no other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings. |
44 |
Winding Up |
44.1 |
If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator shall apply the assets of the Company in satisfaction of creditors claims in such manner and order as such liquidator thinks fit. Subject to the rights attaching to any Shares, in a winding up: |
(a) |
if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the Companys issued share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them; or |
37
(b) |
if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the Companys issued share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise. |
44.2 |
If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, subject to the rights attaching to any Shares and with the approval of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other approval required by the Statute, divide amongst the Members in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether such assets shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like approval, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like approval, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability. |
45 |
Indemnity and Insurance |
45.1 |
Every Director and Officer (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former Director and former Officer (each an Indemnified Person) shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect. |
45.2 |
The Company shall advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person. |
38
45.3 |
The Directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or Officer against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company. |
46 |
Financial Year |
Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on 31st December in each year and, following the year of incorporation, shall begin on 1st January in each year.
47 |
Transfer by Way of Continuation |
47.1 |
If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute and with the approval of a Special Resolution, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands. |
47.2 |
Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, only the Class B Shares and the Class C Shares shall carry the right to vote on any resolution of the Members to approve any transfer by way of continuation pursuant to this Article. |
48 |
Mergers and Consolidations |
The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more other constituent companies (as defined in the Statute) upon such terms as the Directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Statute) with the approval of a Special Resolution.
49 |
Business Combination |
49.1 |
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles, this Article shall apply during the period commencing upon the adoption of the Articles and terminating upon the first to occur of the consummation of a Business Combination and the full distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to this Article. In the event of a conflict between this Article and any other Articles, the provisions of this Article shall prevail. |
49.2 |
Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall either: |
(a) |
submit such Business Combination to its Members for approval; or |
(b) |
provide Members with the opportunity to have their Shares repurchased by means of a tender offer for a per-Share repurchase price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account (net of taxes paid or payable, if any), divided by the number of then issued Public Shares, provided that the Company shall not repurchase Public Shares in an amount that |
39
would cause the Companys net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001 upon consummation of such Business Combination. |
49.3 |
If the Company initiates any tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act in connection with a proposed Business Combination, it shall file tender offer documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to completing such Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about such Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act. If, alternatively, the Company holds a general meeting to approve a proposed Business Combination, the Company will conduct any redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and file proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
49.4 |
At a general meeting called for the purposes of approving a Business Combination pursuant to this Article, in the event that such Business Combination is approved by Ordinary Resolution, the Company shall be authorised to consummate such Business Combination, provided that the Company shall not consummate such Business Combination unless the Company has net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 immediately prior to, or upon such consummation of, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to, such Business Combination. |
49.5 |
Any Member holding Public Shares who is not the Sponsor, a Founder, Officer or Director may, at least two business days prior to any vote on a Business Combination, elect to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided for in the related proxy materials (the IPO Redemption), provided that no such Member acting together with any Affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group for the purposes of acquiring, holding, or disposing of Shares may exercise this redemption right with respect to more than 15 per cent of the Public Shares in the aggregate without the prior consent of the Company and provided further that any beneficial holder of Public Shares on whose behalf a redemption right is being exercised must identify itself to the Company in connection with any redemption election in order to validly redeem such Public Shares. If so demanded, the Company shall pay any such redeeming Member, regardless of whether he is voting for or against such proposed Business Combination, a per-Share redemption price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account (such interest shall be net of taxes payable) and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then issued Public Shares (such redemption price being referred to herein as the Redemption Price), but only in the event that the applicable proposed Business Combination is approved and consummated. The Company shall not redeem Public Shares that would cause the Companys net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001 following such redemptions (the Redemption Limitation). |
40
49.6 |
A Member may not withdraw a Redemption Notice once submitted to the Company unless the Directors determine (in their sole discretion) to permit the withdrawal of such redemption request (which they may do in whole or in part). |
49.7 |
In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the consummation of the IPO, or such later time as the Members may approve in accordance with the Articles, the Company shall: |
(a) |
cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; |
(b) |
as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company (less taxes payable and up to US$100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then Public Shares in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public Members rights as Members (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and |
(c) |
as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Companys remaining Members and the Directors, liquidate and dissolve, |
subject in each case to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of Applicable Law.
49.8 |
In the event that any amendment is made to the Articles: |
(a) |
to modify the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to allow redemption in connection with a Business Combination or redeem 100 per cent of the Public Shares if the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the consummation of the IPO, or such later time as the Members may approve in accordance with the Articles; or |
(b) |
with respect to any other provision relating to Members rights or pre-Business Combination activity, |
each holder of Public Shares who is not the Sponsor, a Founder, Officer or Director shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval or effectiveness of any such amendment at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. The Companys ability to provide such redemption in this Article is subject to the Redemption Limitation.
41
49.9 |
A holder of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account only in the event of an IPO Redemption, a repurchase of Shares by means of a tender offer pursuant to this Article, or a distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to this Article. In no other circumstance shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account. |
49.10 |
After the issue of Public Shares, and prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall not issue additional Shares or any other securities that would entitle the holders thereof to: |
(a) |
receive funds from the Trust Account; or |
(b) |
vote as a class with Public Shares on a Business Combination. |
49.11 |
A Director may vote in respect of a Business Combination in which such Director has a conflict of interest with respect to the evaluation of such Business Combination. Such Director must disclose such interest or conflict to the other Directors. |
49.12 |
As long as the securities of the Company are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Company must complete one or more Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80 per cent of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the Companys signing a definitive agreement in connection with a Business Combination. A Business Combination must not be solely effectuated with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations. |
49.13 |
The Company may enter into a Business Combination with a target business that is Affiliated with the Sponsor, a Founder, a Director or an Officer. In the event the Company seeks to consummate a Business Combination with a target that is Affiliated with the Sponsor, a Founder, a Director or an Officer, the Company, or a committee of Independent Directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another valuation or appraisal firm that regularly renders fairness opinions on the type of target business the Company is seeking to acquire that is a member of the United States Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or an independent accounting firm that such a Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. |
50 |
Business Opportunities |
50.1 |
To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, no individual serving as a Director or an Officer (Management) shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for Management, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other. Except to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, Management shall have |
42
no duty to communicate or offer any such corporate opportunity to the Company and shall not be liable to the Company or its Members for breach of any fiduciary duty as a Member, Director and/or Officer solely by reason of the fact that such party pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, himself or herself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Company. |
50.2 |
Except as provided elsewhere in this Article, the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and Management, about which a Director and/or Officer who is also a member of Management acquires knowledge. |
50.3 |
To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past. |
43
Exhibit 4.1
WARRANT AGREEMENT
between
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II
and
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
Dated March 2, 2021
THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of March 2, 2021, is by and between Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the Warrant Agent, also referred to herein as the Transfer Agent).
WHEREAS, on February 25, 2021, the Company entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, with Cannae Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Cannae Holdings), pursuant to which Cannae Holdings will purchase an aggregate of 17,333,333 warrants (or 19,733,333 warrants in the aggregate if the Over-allotment Option (as defined below) in connection with the Companys Offering (as defined below) is exercised in full) simultaneously with the closing of the Offering (and the closing of the Over-allotment Option, if applicable), bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the Private Placement Warrants) at a purchase price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant. Each Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share (as defined below) at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein; and
WHEREAS, on February 25, 2021, the Company entered into a Forward Purchase Agreement (the Forward Purchase Agreement) with Cannae Holdings pursuant to which Cannae Holdings will be issued Forward Purchase Warrants, bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the Forward Purchase Warrants) in a private placement transaction to occur at or prior to the time of the Companys initial Business Combination (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, in order to finance the Companys transaction costs in connection with an intended initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a Business Combination), Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (the Sponsor) or an affiliate of our Sponsor or certain of the Companys officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 1,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant; and
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in an initial public offering (the Offering) of units of the Companys equity securities, each such unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share (as defined below) and one-fourth of one Public Warrant (as defined below) (the Units) and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 34,500,000 redeemable warrants (including up to 4,500,000 redeemable warrants subject to the Over-allotment Option) to public investors in the Offering (the Public Warrants and, together with the Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants, the Warrants). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (Class A ordinary shares), for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Only whole Warrants are exercisable. A holder of the Public Warrants will not be able to exercise any fraction of a Warrant; and
WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) a registration statement on Form S-1, Nos. 333-252933 and 333-253557 (the Registration Statement) and prospectus (the Prospectus), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), of the Units, the Public Warrants and the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the holders of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. |
Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. |
2. |
Warrants. |
2.1 |
Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only. |
2.2 |
Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a certificated Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof. |
2.3 |
Registration. |
2.3.1 |
Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the Warrant Register), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Public Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by institutions that have accounts with The Depository Trust Company (the Depositary) (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a Participant). |
If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each book-entry Public Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants (Definitive Warrant Certificates) which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.
Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chief Financial Officer, or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.
2.3.2 |
Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the Registered Holder) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on any physical certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. |
2
2.4 |
Detachability of Warrants. The Class A ordinary shares and Public Warrants comprising the Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a Business Day), then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the Detachment Date) with the consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters, but in no event shall the Class A ordinary shares and the Public Warrants comprising the Units be separately traded until (A) the Company has filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including the proceeds then received by the Company from the exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase additional Units in the Offering (the Over-allotment Option), if the Over-allotment Option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (B) the Company issues a press release and files with the Commission a current report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin. |
2.5 |
No Fractional Warrants Other Than as Part of Units. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants other than as part of the Units, each of which is comprised of one Class A ordinary share and one-fourth of one whole Public Warrant. If, upon the detachment of Public Warrants from the Units or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number the number of Warrants to be issued to such holder. Only whole Warrants may be exercised. |
2.6 |
Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants. |
2.6.1 |
Private Placement Warrants. The Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants shall be identical to the Public Warrants, except that so long as they are held by Cannae Holdings or the Sponsor, respectively, or any of their Permitted Transferees (as defined below) the Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants: (i) may be exercised on a cashless basis, pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) hereof, (ii) including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants may not be transferred, assigned or sold until thirty (30) days after the completion by the Company of an initial Business Combination, (iii) shall not be redeemable by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof and (iv) shall only be redeemable by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 if the Reference Value (as defined below) is less than $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof); provided, however, that in the case of clause (ii), the Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants and any Class A ordinary shares held by Cannae Holdings or the Sponsor or any of their Permitted Transferees that are issued upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants may be transferred by the holders thereof: |
(a) |
to the Companys officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Companys officers or directors, any members or partners of the Sponsor or its affiliates, any affiliates of the Sponsor or any employees of such affiliates any members of Cannae Holdings or its affiliates, any affiliates of Cannae Holdings or any employees of such affiliates; |
(b) |
in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individuals immediate family, or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of one 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; |
(d) |
in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; |
3
(e) |
by private sales or transfers made in connection with the completion of the Companys Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities, were originally purchased; |
(f) |
by virtue of (i) the limited partnership agreements or other applicable organizational documents of the Sponsor upon dissolution of the Sponsor or (ii) the organizational documents of Cannae Holdings upon dissolution of Cannae Holdings; |
(g) |
as distributions to limited partners or members of the Sponsor or as distributions to members of Cannae Holdings; |
(h) |
by virtue of (i) the laws of the Cayman Islands or the Sponsors organizational documents upon liquidation or dissolution of our Sponsor or (ii) the laws of the State of Delaware or Cannae Holdings organizational documents upon liquidation or dissolution of Cannae Holdings; |
(i) |
to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the completion of its initial Business Combination; |
(j) |
in the event of the Companys liquidation prior to the Companys completion of its initial Business Combination; |
(k) |
with respect to the Forward Purchase Warrants, such transferees as described in the Forward Purchase Agreement; or |
(l) |
in the event of the Companys completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of the Companys initial Business Combination; provided, however, that in each case (except for clauses (i), (j), (k) or (l) or with the prior written consent of the Company) prior to such registration for transfer, the Warrant Agent shall be presented with written documentation pursuant to which each permitted transferee (the Permitted Transferees) must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions. |
2.6.2 |
Forward Purchase Warrants. Each of the Forward Purchase Warrants shall be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. |
3. |
Terms and Exercise of Warrants. |
3.1 |
Warrant Price. Each whole Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Class A ordinary shares stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term Warrant Price as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a cashless exercise, to the extent permitted hereunder) described in the prior sentence at which Class A ordinary shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price (including by allowed cashless exercise) at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days, provided that the Company shall provide at least three (3) days prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants. |
3.2 |
Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the Exercise Period) (A) commencing on the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes a Business Combination, and (B) terminating at the earliest to occur of (x) 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, (y) the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time, if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination, and (z) other than with respect to the Private |
4
Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants then held by the Sponsor or Cannae Holdings thereof, or their Permitted Transferees with respect to a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof or, if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), Section 6.2 hereof, 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.3 hereof (the Expiration Date); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined below) (other than with respect to a Private Placement Warrant and Forward Purchase Warrant then held by the Sponsor or Cannae Holdings thereof, or their Permitted Transferees in connection with a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof or, if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), Section 6.2 hereof) in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each Warrant (other than a Private Placement Warrant and Forward Purchase Warrant then held by the Sponsor or Cannae Holdings thereof, or their Permitted Transferees in the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof or, if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), Section 6.2 hereof) not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants. |
3.3 |
Exercise of Warrants. |
3.3.1 |
Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, or, in the case of a Warrant represented by a book-entry, the Warrants to be exercised (the Book-Entry Warrants) on the records of the Depositary to an account of the Warrant Agent at the Depositary designated for such purposes in writing by the Warrant Agent to the Depositary from time to time, (ii) an election to purchase (Election to Purchase) any Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant, properly delivered by the Participant in accordance with the Depositarys procedures, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each Class A ordinary share as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Class A ordinary shares and the issuance of such Class A ordinary shares, as follows: |
(a) |
in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent, except that no Private Placement Warrant or Forward Purchase Warrant may be exercised for cash; |
(b) |
[Reserved]; |
(c) |
with respect to any Private Placement Warrant and Forward Purchase Warrant, so long as such Private Placement Warrant and Forward Purchase Warrant is held by the Sponsor or Cannae Holdings, respectively, or their Permitted Transferees, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Class A ordinary shares equal to (i) if in connection with a redemption of Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, as provided in Section 6.2 hereof with respect to a Make-Whole Exercise and (ii) in all other scenarios the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Class A ordinary shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the Sponsor Exercise Fair Market Value (as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(c)) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Sponsor Exercise Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(c), the Sponsor Fair Market Value shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Class A ordinary shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third (3rd) trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Private Placement Warrant and Forward Purchase Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent; |
5
(d) |
on a cashless basis, as provided in Section 6.2 hereof with respect to a Make-Whole Exercise; or |
(e) |
on a cashless basis, as provided in Section 7.4 hereof. |
3.3.2 |
Issuance of Class A Ordinary Shares on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a)), or the surrender of Warrants in connection with a cashless exercise, the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of Class A ordinary shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it on the register of members of the Company, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Companys satisfying its obligations under Section 7.4 or a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Class A ordinary shares upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless, in which case the purchaser of a Unit containing such Public Warrants shall have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the ordinary shares underlying such Unit. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Warrant. Subject to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of Class A ordinary shares. The Company may require holders of Public Warrants to settle the Warrant on a cashless basis pursuant to Section 7.4. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a cashless basis, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a Class A ordinary share, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued to such holder. |
3.3.3 |
Valid Issuance. All Class A ordinary shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
3.3.4 |
Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Class A ordinary shares is issued and who is registered in the register of members of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Class A ordinary shares on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the register of members of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open. |
3.3.5 |
Maximum Percentage. A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holders |
6
Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such persons affiliates), to the Warrant Agents actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (the Maximum Percentage) of the Class A ordinary shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of Class A ordinary shares beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude Class A ordinary shares that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred shares or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding Class A ordinary shares, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding Class A ordinary shares as reflected in (1) the Companys most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as transfer agent (in such capacity, the Transfer Agent), setting forth the number of Class A ordinary shares outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of Class A ordinary shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company. |
4. |
Adjustments. |
4.1 |
Share Capitalizations. |
4.1.1 |
Sub-Divisions. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares is increased by a capitalization or share dividend of Class A ordinary shares, or by a sub-division of Class A ordinary shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, sub-division or similar event, the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares. A rights offering to holders of Class A ordinary shares entitling holders to purchase Class A ordinary shares at a price less than the Historical Fair Market Value (as defined below) shall be deemed a capitalization of a number of Class A ordinary shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Class A ordinary shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Class A ordinary shares) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per Class A ordinary share paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Historical Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A ordinary shares, in determining the price payable for Class A ordinary shares, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) Historical Fair Market Value means the volume weighted average price of the Class A ordinary shares as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Class A ordinary shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights. No Class A ordinary shares shall be issued at less than their par value. |
7
4.1.2 |
Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Class A ordinary shares on account of such Class A ordinary shares (or other shares into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Class A ordinary shares in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Class A ordinary shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Companys initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Companys public shares if the Company does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time period required by the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time, or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, or (e) in connection with the redemption of public shares upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution of its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an Extraordinary Dividend), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Companys board of directors (the Board), in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each Class A ordinary share in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, Ordinary Cash Dividends means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Class A ordinary shares during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant) to the extent it does not exceed $0.50 (being 5% of the offering price of the Units in the Offering). |
4.2 |
Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share split or reclassification of Class A ordinary shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share split, reclassification or similar event, the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares. |
4.3 |
Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of Class A ordinary shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Class A ordinary shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Class A ordinary shares so purchasable immediately thereafter, and the $10.00 and $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described in Section 6.2 and Section 6.1, respectively, will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 100% and 180%, respectively, of the adjusted Warrant Price. |
4.4 |
Raising of the Capital in Connection with the Initial Business Combination. If (x) the Company issues additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Board and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the |
8
Class B ordinary shares) or Class C ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the Class C ordinary shares), held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance (the Newly Issued Price), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the Companys initial Business Combination on the date of the completion of the Companys initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume-weighted average trading price of Class A ordinary shares during the twenty (20) trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination (such price, the Market Value) is below $9.20 per share, the Warrant Price 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 $10.00 and $18.00 per share redemption trigger prices described in Section 6.2 and Section 6.1, respectively, will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 100% and 180%, respectively, of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. |
4.5 |
Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares (other than a change under Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Class A ordinary shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Class A ordinary shares of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the Alternative Issuance); provided, however, that (i) if the holders of the Class A ordinary shares were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Class A ordinary shares in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and (ii) if a tender, exchange or redemption offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of the Class A ordinary shares (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights held by shareholders of the Company as provided for in the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or as a result of the redemption of Class A ordinary shares by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the shareholders of the Company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares, the holder of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a shareholder 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 ordinary shares held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 4; provided further that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Class A ordinary shares in the applicable event is payable in the form of shares 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 |
9
for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event less than zero) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The Black-Scholes Warrant Value means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for a Capped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (assuming zero dividends) (Bloomberg). For purposes of calculating such amount, (i) Section 6 of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (ii) the price of each Class A ordinary share shall be the volume weighted average price of the Class A ordinary shares as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (iii) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event and (iv) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. Per Share Consideration means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Class A ordinary shares consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per Class A ordinary share, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Class A ordinary shares as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Class A ordinary shares covered by subsection 4.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event will the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of such Warrant. |
4.6 |
Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event. |
4.7 |
No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued to such holder. |
4.8 |
Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed. |
4.9 |
Other Events. In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of the preceding subsections of this Section 4 are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid an adverse impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4, then, in each such case, the Company shall appoint |
10
a firm of independent registered public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal firm of recognized national standing, which shall give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented by the Warrants is necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 and, if they determine that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such adjustment; provided, however, that under no circumstances shall the Warrants be adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.9 as a result of any issuance of securities in connection with a Business Combination. The Company shall adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion. |
4.10 |
No Adjustment. For the avoidance of doubt, no adjustment shall be made to the terms of the Warrants solely as a result of an adjustment to the conversion ratio of the Class B ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares or of the Class C ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares, or the conversion of the Class B ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares or of the Class C ordinary shares into Class A ordinary shares, in each case, pursuant to the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time. |
5. |
Transfer and Exchange of Warrants. |
5.1 |
Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated Warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request. |
5.2 |
Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided herein or with respect to any Book-Entry Warrant, each Book-Entry Warrant may be transferred only in whole and only to the Depositary, to another nominee of the Depositary, to a successor depository, or to a nominee of a successor depository; provided further, however that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants), the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend. |
5.3 |
Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a warrant, except as part of the Units. |
5.4 |
Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants. |
5.5 |
Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose. |
5.6 |
Transfer of Warrants. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrant is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on and after the Detachment Date. |
11
6. |
Redemption. |
6.1 |
Redemption of Warrants When the Price per Class A Ordinary Share Equals or Exceeds $18.00. Subject to Section 6.5 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time during the Exercise Period, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.3 below, at a Redemption Price of $0.01 per Warrant, provided that (a) the Reference Value (as defined below) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof) and (b) there is an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.3 below). |
12
6.2 |
Redemption of Warrants When the Price per Class A Ordinary Share Equals or Exceeds $10.00. Subject to Section 6.5 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time during the Exercise Period, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.3 below, at a Redemption Price of $0.10 per Warrant, provided that (i) the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof) and (ii) if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), the Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants are also concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding Public Warrants. During the 30-day Redemption Period in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2, Registered Holders of the Warrants may elect to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1 and receive a number of Class A ordinary shares determined by reference to the table below, based on the Redemption Date (calculated for purposes of the table as the period to expiration of the Warrants) and the Redemption Fair Market Value (as such term is defined in this Section 6.2) (a Make-Whole Exercise). Solely for purposes of this Section 6.2, the Redemption Fair Market Value shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Class A ordinary shares for the ten (10) trading days immediately following the date on which notice of redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2 is sent to the Registered Holders. In connection with any redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2, the Company shall provide the Registered Holders with the Redemption Fair Market Value no later than one (1) Business Day after the ten (10) trading day period described above ends. |
Redemption Date |
Redemption Fair Market Value of Class A ordinary shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(period to expiration of warrants) |
<10.00 | 11.00 | 12.00 | 13.00 | 14.00 | 15.00 | 16.00 | 17.00 | >18.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
60 months |
0.261 | 0.281 | 0.297 | 0.311 | 0.324 | 0.337 | 0.348 | 0.358 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
57 months |
0.257 | 0.277 | 0.294 | 0.310 | 0.324 | 0.337 | 0.348 | 0.358 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
54 months |
0.252 | 0.272 | 0.291 | 0.307 | 0.322 | 0.335 | 0.347 | 0.357 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
51 months |
0.246 | 0.268 | 0.287 | 0.304 | 0.320 | 0.333 | 0.346 | 0.357 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
48 months |
0.241 | 0.263 | 0.283 | 0.301 | 0.317 | 0.332 | 0.344 | 0.356 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
45 months |
0.235 | 0.258 | 0.279 | 0.298 | 0.315 | 0.330 | 0.343 | 0.356 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
42 months |
0.228 | 0.252 | 0.274 | 0.294 | 0.312 | 0.328 | 0.342 | 0.355 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
39 months |
0.221 | 0.246 | 0.269 | 0.290 | 0.309 | 0.325 | 0.340 | 0.354 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
36 months |
0.213 | 0.239 | 0.263 | 0.285 | 0.305 | 0.323 | 0.339 | 0.353 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
33 months |
0.205 | 0.232 | 0.257 | 0.280 | 0.301 | 0.320 | 0.337 | 0.352 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
30 months |
0.196 | 0.224 | 0.250 | 0.274 | 0.297 | 0.316 | 0.335 | 0.351 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27 months |
0.185 | 0.214 | 0.242 | 0.268 | 0.291 | 0.313 | 0.332 | 0.350 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24 months |
0.173 | 0.204 | 0.233 | 0.260 | 0.285 | 0.308 | 0.329 | 0.348 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 months |
0.161 | 0.193 | 0.223 | 0.252 | 0.279 | 0.304 | 0.326 | 0.347 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 months |
0.146 | 0.179 | 0.211 | 0.242 | 0.271 | 0.298 | 0.322 | 0.345 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 months |
0.130 | 0.164 | 0.197 | 0.230 | 0.262 | 0.291 | 0.317 | 0.342 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 months |
0.111 | 0.146 | 0.181 | 0.216 | 0.250 | 0.282 | 0.312 | 0.339 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 months |
0.090 | 0.125 | 0.162 | 0.199 | 0.237 | 0.272 | 0.305 | 0.336 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 months |
0.065 | 0.099 | 0.137 | 0.178 | 0.219 | 0.259 | 0.296 | 0.331 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 months |
0.034 | 0.065 | 0.104 | 0.150 | 0.197 | 0.243 | 0.286 | 0.326 | 0.361 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 months |
| | 0.042 | 0.115 | 0.179 | 0.233 | 0.281 | 0.323 | 0.361 |
The exact Redemption Fair Market Value and Redemption Date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the Redemption Fair Market Value is between two values in the table or the Redemption Date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued for each Warrant exercised in a Make-Whole Exercise will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower Redemption Fair Market Values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable.
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The share prices set forth in the column headings of the table above shall be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant or the Warrant Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 4 hereof. In the event of a Warrant Price adjustment pursuant to Section 4.3, the adjusted share prices in the column headings shall equal the share prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Warrant Price after such adjustment and the denominator of which is the Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment. In such an event, the number of shares in the table above shall be adjusted by multiplying such share amounts by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant as so adjusted. If the Warrant Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 4.4, the adjusted share prices set forth in the column headings of the table above shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price and the denominator of which is $10.00. In no event will the number of shares issued in connection with a Make-Whole Exercise exceed 0.3611 Class A ordinary shares per Warrant (subject to adjustment).
6.3 |
Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption; Redemption Price; Reference Value. In the event that the Company elects to redeem the Warrants pursuant to Sections 6.1 or 6.2, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the Redemption Date). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date (the 30-day Redemption Period) to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice. As used in this Agreement, (a) Redemption Price shall mean the price per Warrant at which any Warrants are redeemed pursuant to Sections 6.1 or 6.2 and (b) Reference Value shall mean the last reported sales price of the Class A ordinary shares for any twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given. |
6.4 |
Exercise After Notice of Redemption. Subject to the provisions of subsection 3.3.1(a), the Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 6.2 of this Agreement) at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price. |
6.5 |
Exclusion of Certain Warrants. The Company agrees that (a) the redemption rights provided in Section 6.1 hereof shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants continue to be held by the Sponsor or Cannae Holdings thereof, or their Permitted Transferees and (b) if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), the redemption rights provided in Section 6.2 hereof shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants continue to be held by the Sponsor or Cannae Holdings thereof, or their Permitted Transferees. However, once such Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants are transferred (other than to Permitted Transferees in accordance with Section 2.6 hereof), the Company may redeem the Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1 or 6.2 hereof, provided that the criteria for redemption are met, including the opportunity of the holder of such Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants to exercise the Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption pursuant to Section 6.4 hereof. Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants that are transferred to persons other than Permitted Transferees shall upon such transfer cease to be Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants and shall become Public Warrants under this Agreement. |
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7. |
Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants. |
7.1 |
No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter. |
7.2 |
Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone. |
7.3 |
Reservation of Class A ordinary shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Class A ordinary shares that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement. |
7.4 |
Registration of Class A ordinary shares; Cashless Exercise at Companys Option. |
7.4.1 |
Registration of the Class A ordinary shares. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than twenty (20) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission a post-effective amendment to the registration statement for the Offering or a new registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration or redemption of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the sixtieth (60th) Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a cashless basis, pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(d), by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption) for that number of Class A ordinary shares equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Class A ordinary shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value and (B) 0.3611 Class A ordinary shares per Warrant (subject to adjustment). Solely for purposes of this subsection 7.4.1, Fair Market Value shall mean the volume-weighted average price of the Class A ordinary shares as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date that notice of redemption is sent to the holder of the warrants. The |
15
date that notice of cashless exercise is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection with the cashless exercise of a Public Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with this subsection 7.4.1 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the Class A ordinary shares issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided in subsection 7.4.2, for the avoidance of doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have expired, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this subsection 7.4.1. |
7.4.2 |
Cashless Exercise at Companys Option. If the Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a Public Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a covered security under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, (i) require holders of Public Warrants who exercise Public Warrants to exercise such Public Warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act as described in subsection 7.4.1 and (ii) in the event the Company so elects, the Company shall (x) not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, and (y) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify for sale the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrant under applicable blue sky laws of the state of the residence of the holder to the extent an exemption is not available. |
8. |
Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters. |
8.1 |
Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Class A ordinary shares upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares. |
8.2 |
Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent. |
8.2.1 |
Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Companys cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations. |
16
8.2.2 |
Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Class A ordinary shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment. |
8.2.3 |
Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act. |
8.3 |
Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent. |
8.3.1 |
Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder. |
8.3.2 |
Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement, all in accordance with a services agreement that may be entered into separately. |
8.4 |
Liability of Warrant Agent. |
8.4.1 |
Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the President or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. |
8.4.2 |
Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own or its representatives gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud, bad faith or material breach of this Agreement. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, out-of-pocket costs and reasonable outside counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agents or its representatives gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud, bad faith or material breach of this Agreement. |
8.4.3 |
Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment, other than making such adjustments as directed by the Company; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Class A ordinary shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any Class A ordinary shares shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable. |
17
8.5 |
Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of Class A ordinary shares through the exercise of the Warrants. |
8.6 |
Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (Claim) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account. |
9. |
Miscellaneous Provisions. |
9.1 |
Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns. |
9.2 |
Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows: |
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89134 Attention: Michael L. Gravelle, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
E-mail: MGravelle@fnf.com
Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attention: Compliance Department
9.3 |
Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction. Subject to applicable law, the Company hereby waives any objection to such jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. |
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 9.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than
18
a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a foreign action) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an enforcement action), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holders counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder. |
9.4 |
Compliance and Confidentiality. The Warrant Agent shall perform its duties under this Agreement in compliance with all applicable laws and keep confidential all information relating to this Agreement and, except as required by applicable law, shall not use such information for any purpose other than the performance of the Warrant Agents obligations under this Agreement. |
9.5 |
Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants. |
9.6 |
Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holders Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent. |
9.7 |
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original, electronic or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. All signatures required or contemplated by this Agreement may be electronic. |
9.8 |
Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof. |
9.9 |
Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or to correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions hereof to the description of the terms of the Warrants and this Agreement set forth in the Prospectus, or defective provision contained herein, (ii) amending the definition of Ordinary Cash Dividend as contemplated by and in accordance with the second sentence of subsection 4.1.2 or (iii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Registered Holders under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, solely with respect to the terms of the Public Warrants, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then outstanding Public Warrants, and solely with respect to the terms of the Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then outstanding Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders. |
9.10 |
Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable. |
19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II | ||
By: | /s/ Michael L. Gravelle | |
Name: Michael L. Gravelle | ||
Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Francis Wolf | |
Name: Francis Wolf | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
Form of Warrant Certificate
[FACE]
Number
Warrants
THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR
IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II
Incorporated Under the Laws of the Cayman Islands
CUSIP []
Warrant Certificate
This Warrant Certificate certifies that , or registered assigns, is the registered holder of warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the Warrants and each, a Warrant) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value (the Class A ordinary shares), of Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable Class A ordinary shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the Exercise Price) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through cashless exercise as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.
Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Class A ordinary share. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a Class A ordinary share, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued to the Warrant holder. The number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
The initial Exercise Price per one Class A ordinary share for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.
This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
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AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
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[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[Reverse]
The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive Class A ordinary shares and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of , 2021 (the Warrant Agreement), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the Warrant Agent), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words holders or holder meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.
Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through cashless exercise as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Class A ordinary shares to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Class A ordinary shares is current, except through cashless exercise as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.
The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a Class A ordinary share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Class A ordinary shares to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.
Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.
Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.
The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.
A-3
Election to Purchase
(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive Class A ordinary shares and herewith tenders payment for such Class A ordinary shares to the order of Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the Company) in the amount of $ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Class A ordinary shares be registered in the name of , whose address is and that such Class A ordinary shares be delivered to whose address is . If said number of Class A ordinary shares is less than all of the Class A ordinary shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Class A ordinary shares be registered in the name of , whose address is and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to , whose address is .
In the event that the Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement and a holder thereof elects to exercise its Warrant pursuant to a Make-Whole Exercise, the number of Class A ordinary shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c) or Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement, as applicable.
In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a cashless basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Class A ordinary shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a cashless basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Class A ordinary shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Class A ordinary shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Class A ordinary shares. If said number of shares is less than all of the Class A ordinary shares purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Class A ordinary shares be registered in the name of , whose address is and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to , whose address is .
[Signature Page Follows]
A-4
Date: , 20[] |
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(Signature) |
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(Address) |
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(Tax Identification Number) |
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Signature Guaranteed: |
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).
A-5
EXHIBIT B
PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS LEGEND
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II (THE COMPANY), AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LP II AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.
SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.
EXHIBIT C
FORWARD PURCHASE WARRANTS LEGEND
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN VIOLATION OF SUCH ACT AND LAWS. THE SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION, OR TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A CERTAIN FORWARD PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE HOLDER AND THE COMPANY. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II (THE COMPANY) AND THE FORWARD PURCHASER PARTY THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.
SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.
Exhibit 10.1
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this Agreement) is made effective as of March 2, 2021 by and between Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the Company) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the Trustee).
WHEREAS, the Companys registration statement on Form S-1, Nos. 333-252933 and 333-253557 (the Registration Statement) and prospectus (the Prospectus), for its initial public offering of the Companys units (the Units), each of which consists of one of the Companys Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the Class A ordinary shares), and one-fourth of one warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the Offering), has been declared effective as of the date hereof (the Effective Date) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Registration Statement);
WHEREAS, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. are acting as the representatives (the Representatives) of the underwriters (the Underwriters) in the Offering pursuant to an underwriting agreement among the Company and the Underwriters (Underwriting Agreement);
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the Offering, Cannae Holdings, LLC will be purchasing 17,333,333 warrants (Private Placement Warrants) from the Company for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $26,000,000 (and additional amounts of Private Placement Warrants from the Company if the Underwriters exercise their over-allotment option, up to 19,733,333 Private Placement Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $29,600,000 if the Underwriters over-allotment option is exercised in full);
WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, and in accordance with the Companys Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time (the Charter), $1,200,000,00 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Warrants ($1,380,000,00 if the Underwriters over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the Trust Account) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Companys Class A ordinary shares issued in the Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee will be referred to herein as the Property; the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the Public Shareholders, and the Public Shareholders and the Company will be referred to together as the Beneficiaries);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $42,000,000, or $48,300,000 if the Underwriters over-allotment option is exercised in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that may become payable by the Company to the Underwriters upon the completion of an initial business combination (as described in the Prospectus, a Business Combination) (the Deferred Discount); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
1. Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee in the United States at JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more) and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company;
(b) Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
(c) In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by the Company; the trustee may not invest in any other securities or assets, it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Companys instructions hereunder and the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration during such periods;
(d) Collect and receive, when due, all principal, interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the Property, as such term is used herein;
(e) Promptly notify the Company and the Representatives of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;
(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Companys preparation of the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account;
(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;
(h) Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;
(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (Termination Letter) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel or other authorized officer of the Company, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest, if any, not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations (and less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses, if applicable), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein; or (y) the later of
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(1) 24 months after the closing of the Offering and (2) such later date as may be approved by the Companys shareholders in accordance with the Companys Charter, if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest, if any, not previously released to the Company pursuant to pay its taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses, if applicable), shall be distributed to the Public Shareholders of record as of such date; provided further, that the Trustee has no obligation to monitor or question the Companys position that an allocation has been made for taxes payable;
(j) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C, withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest, if any, earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any tax obligation owed by the Company, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The Company may only withdraw funds from the Trust Account to cover any tax obligation owed by the Company if such funds are held in an interest-bearing account. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;
(k) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D, the Trustee shall distribute to the remitting brokers on behalf of Public Shareholders redeeming Class A ordinary shares the amount required to pay redeemed Class A ordinary shares from Public Shareholders; and
(l) Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Sections 1(i), (j), or (k) above.
2. Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Companys Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel or other authorized officer of the Company. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), (j), and (k) hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it in good faith and with reasonable care believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;
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(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 4 of this Agreement, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against, any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any claim, potential claim, action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustees gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b), it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the Indemnified Claim). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided, that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;
(c) Pay the Trustee an initial acceptance fee, an annual fee and a transaction processing fee for each disbursement made as set forth on Schedule A hereto, which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees unless the disbursements are made to the Company pursuant to Section 1(i) solely in connection with the completion of a Business Combination. The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and first years fee at the consummation of the Offering and thereafter on the anniversary of the Effective Date. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c), Schedule A and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;
(d) In connection with any vote of the Companys shareholders regarding a Business Combination, provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of a firm regularly engaged in the business of soliciting proxies and/or tabulating shareholder votes (which firm may be the Trustee) verifying the vote of the Companys shareholders regarding such Business Combination;
(e) In connection with the Trustee acting as Paying/Disbursing Agent pursuant to Exhibit B, the Company will not give the Trustee disbursement instructions which would be prohibited under this Agreement;
(f) Within five business days after the Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, exercise the over-allotment option (or any unexercised portion thereof) or such over-allotment option expires, provide the Trustee with a notice in writing (with a copy to the Representatives) of the total amount of the Deferred Discount;
(g) In the event the Company is entitled to receive a tax refund on its tax obligation, and promptly after the amount of such refund is determined on a final basis, provide the Trustee with notice in writing (with a copy to the Representatives) of the amount of such tax refund; and
(h) If the Company seeks to amend any provisions of its Charter that would affect the substance or timing of the Companys Public Shareholders ability to convert or sell their shares to the Company in connection with a Business Combination or with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of holders of the Class A ordinary shares, (in each case, an Amendment), the Company will provide the Trustee with a letter (an Amendment Notification Letter) in the form of Exhibit D providing instructions for the distribution of funds to Public Shareholders who exercise their conversion option in connection with such Amendment.
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3. Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:
(a) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of the Trustees gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;
(b) Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received written instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;
(c) Change the investment of any Property, other than in compliance with Section 1 hereof;
(d) Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;
(e) Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;
(f) To anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustees best judgment, except for the Trustees gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;
(g) Verify the correctness of the information set forth in the Registration Statement or to confirm or assure that any acquisition made by the Company or any other action taken by it is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;
(h) File local, state and/or federal tax returns or information returns with any taxing authority on behalf of the Trust Account and payee statements with the Company documenting the taxes, if any, payable by the Company or the Trust Account, relating to the income earned on the Property;
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(i) Pay any taxes on behalf of the Trust Account (it being expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay any such taxes and that such taxes, if any, shall be paid by the Company from funds not held in the Trust Account, except in accordance with Section 1(j));
(j) Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein; and
(k) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve Companys written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), (j), or (k) hereof.
4. Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (Claim) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Sections 2(b) or (c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.
5. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:
(a) If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee during which time the Trustee shall act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed by the Company and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that, in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or
(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b).
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee will rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including account names, account
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numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a beneficiary, beneficiarys bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustees gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Sections 1(i), (j), (k), and (l) hereof (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of sixty-five percent (65%) or more of the then issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company voting together as a single class; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Shareholder who has properly elected to redeem his Class A ordinary shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend this Agreement that would affect the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to redeem 100% of its Class A ordinary shares if the Company does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time frame specified in the Companys Charter or with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of holders of the Class A ordinary shares), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
(d) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder.
(e) Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or by e-mail:
if to the Trustee, to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
E-mail: fwolf@continentalstock.com;
cgonzalez@continentalstock.com
Office: (212) 845-3233; (212) 845-3248
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if to the Company, to:
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89134
Attn: Michael L. Gravelle, General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary
Email: mgravelle@fnf.com
in either case with a copy to:
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
Attn: Alexander D. Lynch, Esq.
E-mail: alex.lynch@weil.com
and:
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
Attn: ICBM-Legal
E-mail:
and:
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Attn:
Email:
and:
BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
Attn:
Email:
with a copy to:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attn: Derek J. Dostal, Esq.
Deanna L. Kirkpatrick, Esq.
E-mail: derek.dostal@davispolk.com
deanna.kirkpatrick@davispolk.com
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(f) No party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder without the prior consent of the other person or entity.
(g) Each of the Trustee and the Company hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.
(h) This Agreement is the joint product of the Company and the Trustee and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
(i) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
(j) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, are each a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
(k) Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.
[Signature Page Follows]
9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee | ||
By: | /s/ Francis Wolf | |
Name: Francis Wolf | ||
Title: Vice President |
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II | ||
By: | /s/ Michael L. Gravelle | |
Name: Michael L. Gravelle | ||
Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
Fee Item |
Time and method of payment |
Amount | ||||
Initial acceptance fee |
Initial closing of Offering by wire transfer | $ | 3,500.00 | |||
Annual fee |
First year, initial closing of Offering by wire transfer; thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the Offering by wire transfer or check | $ | 10,000.00 | |||
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Sections 1(i), (j), and (k) |
Deduction by Trustee from accumulated income following disbursement made to Company under Section 1 | $ | 250.00 | |||
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k) |
Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k) | Prevailing rates |
EXHIBIT A
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust AccountTermination Letter
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the Company) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (Trustee), dated as of March 2, 2021 (the Trust Agreement), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [] (Target Business) to complete a business combination with Target Business (the Business Combination) on or about []. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date of the completion of the Business Combination (the Completion Date). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate the Trust Account investments and to transfer the proceeds to the above- referenced account at JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to the effect that, on the Completion Date, all of funds held in the trust operating account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on the Completion Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust operating account awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends.
On the Completion Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been completed, (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) a certificate of the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary which verifies the vote of the Companys shareholders in connection with the Business Combination and (b) written instructions with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account (Instruction Letter) and (iii) the Representatives shall deliver to you written instructions for delivery of the Deferred Discount. You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the counsels letter and the Instruction Letter, (x) to the Representatives in an amount equal to the Deferred Discount as directed by the Representatives and (y) the remainder in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Completion Date without penalty, you will notify the Company of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Completion Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms hereof, the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
A-1
EXHIBIT A
In the event that the Business Combination is not completed on the Completion Date described in the notice thereof and the Company has not notified you on or before the original Completion Date EXHIBIT A of a new Completion Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Completion Date as set forth in the notice.
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
cc: |
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
BofA Securities, Inc.
A-2
EXHIBIT C
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust AccountTermination Letter
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the Company) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the Trustee), dated as of March 2, 2021 (the Trust Agreement), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a business combination within the time frame specified in the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as described in the Companys prospectus relating to its initial public offering of securities. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate the Trust Account investments, and to transfer the total proceeds to the trust operating account at JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to await distribution to the Public Shareholders. The Company has selected [] as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. It is acknowledged that no interest will be earned by the Company on the liquidation proceeds while on deposit in the trust operating account. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly to the Companys Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the trust account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
cc: |
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
BofA Securities, Inc.
B-1
EXHIBIT D
[Letterhead of Company]
Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account Tax Payment Withdrawal Instructions
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the Company) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of March 2, 2021 (the Trust Agreement), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $[] of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof.
The Company needs such funds to pay its tax obligations. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Companys operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
cc: |
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
BofA Securities, Inc.
C-1
EXHIBIT D
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account No. Amendment Notification and Redemption Liquidation Request
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Reference is made to the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the Company) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of March 2, 2021 (the Trust Agreement). Capitalized words used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust Agreement.
Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Trust Agreement, this is to advise you that the Company has sought an Amendment. Accordingly, in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate a sufficient portion of the Trust Account and to transfer $[] of the proceeds of the Trust Account to the trust operating account at [JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.] for distribution to the stockholders that have requested conversion of their shares in connection with such Amendment.
D-1
Exhibit 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is entered into as of March 2, 2021, by Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company), Cannae Holdings, Inc., a Delaware limited liability company (Cannae Holdings) and Austerlitz Acquisition Sponsor, LP II, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (the Sponsor, together with Cannae Holdings and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a Holder and collectively the Holders).
WHEREAS, the Company and the Sponsor have entered into that certain Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of January 5, 2021, pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 24,642,857 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the Founder Shares) of the Company and an aggregate of 24,642,857 Class C ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the Alignment Shares) and on February 25, 2021, the Sponsor received a share dividend of 4,928,571 Founder Shares and 4,928,571 Alignment Shares, resulting in there being an aggregate of 29,571,428 Founder Shares and 29,571,428 Alignment Shares outstanding;
WHEREAS, the Sponsor subsequently transferred an aggregate of 75,000 Founder Shares and 75,000 Alignment Shares to the other Holders;
WHEREAS, the Founder Shares and Alignment Shares are convertible into the Companys Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the Class A Ordinary Shares), on the terms and conditions provided in the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be amended from time to time;
WHEREAS, on February 25, 2021, the Company and Cannae Holdings entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which Cannae Holdings agreed to purchase 17,333,333 Warrants (or up to 19,733,333 Warrants if the over-allotment option in connection with the Companys initial public offering is exercised in full) (the Private Placement Warrants) in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Companys initial public offering; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms used herein, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the following meanings:
Adverse Disclosure is defined in Section 3.6.
Agreement means this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.
Alignment Shares shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto and shall be deemed to include the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion thereof.
Alignment Shares Lock-Up Period shall mean, with respect to the Alignment Shares, the period ending the earlier of (A) the time in which the Alignment Shares convert into shares of Class A Ordinary Shares, as provided in the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association; and (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, the date on which we complete a merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in both a change of control and all of our public shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property.
Board is defined in Section 3.1.1.
Business Combination means the acquisition of direct or indirect ownership through a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar type of transaction, of one or more businesses or entities.
Commission means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
Company is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
Demand Registration is defined in Section 2.1.1.
Demanding Holder is defined in Section 2.1.1.
Demanding Sponsor is defined in Section 2.1.1.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
Form S-1 is defined in subsection 2.1.1.
Form S-3 is defined in Section 2.3.
Founder Shares is defined in the preamble to this Agreement and include the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion thereof.
Founder Shares Lock-up Period means, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period ending on the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Companys initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) if the closing price of the Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Companys initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property.
Holders shall have the meaning given in the preamble.
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Holder Indemnified Party is defined in Section 4.1.
Indemnified Party is defined in Section 4.3.
Indemnifying Party is defined in Section 4.3.
Insider Letter shall mean those certain letter agreements, dated as of March 2, 2021, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and each of the Companys officers, directors and director nominees.
majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders shall mean, if there is a Demanding Sponsor, the Demanding Sponsor and, otherwise, a majority in interest of the Demanding Holders.
Maximum Number of Securities is defined in Section 2.1.4.
Misstatement is defined in Section 3.1.12.
Notices is defined in Section 5.3.
Class A Ordinary Shares is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
Permitted Transferees means a person or entity to whom a Holder is permitted to transfer Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the Alignment Shares Lock-Up Period or Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letter and any other applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter.
Piggy-Back Registration is defined in Section 2.2.1.
Private Placement Lock-up Period means, with respect to Private Placement Warrants that are held by the initial purchasers of such Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees, and any of the Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants and that are held by the initial purchasers of such Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the period ending 30 days after the completion of the Companys initial Business Combination.
Private Placement Warrants is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
Pro Rata is defined in Section 2.1.4.
Register, Registered and Registration mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such Registration Statement becoming effective.
Registrable Securities mean (i) all of the Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the conversion of any Founder Shares or Alignment Shares, (ii) all of the Private Placement Warrants (and Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise thereof) and (iii) all of the Working Capital Warrants (and Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise thereof). Registrable Securities
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include any warrants, shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of such Registrable Securities. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (a) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with and pursuant to such Registration Statement; (b) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require Registration under the Securities Act; or (c) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
Registration Statement means a registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of Class A Ordinary Shares (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity).
Requesting Holder is defined in subsection 2.1.1.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
Sponsor is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
Underwriter means a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an underwritten offering and not as part of such dealers market-making activities.
Working Capital Warrants means the warrants held by the Sponsor, the officers or directors of the Company or their respective affiliates which may be issued in repayment of working capital loans made to the Company.
2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
2.1 Demand Registration.
2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the date that the Company completes a Business Combination, either Sponsor (the Demanding Sponsor) or the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the then issued and outstanding number of Registrable Securities (such Demanding Sponsor or Holders, as the case may be, the Demanding Holders) may make a written demand for Registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities (a Demand Registration). Any demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Company will within ten (10) days of the Companys receipt of the Demand Registration, notify in writing, all other Holders of the demand, and each Holder who wishes to include all or a portion of such Holders Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder including shares of Registrable Securities in such Registration, a Requesting Holder) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within ten
4
(10) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.1.4 and the provisos set forth in Section 3.1.1. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Demand Registrations under this Section 2.1.1 with respect to any or all Registrable Securities; provided, however, that a Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (Form S-1) has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
2.1.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration will not count as a Demand Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court, or any other governmental agency or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration will be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days of such election; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file a second Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.
2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so elect and such Holders so advise the Company as part of their written demand for a Demand Registration that the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering, then the right of any such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holders participation in such underwritten offering and the inclusion of such Holders Registrable Securities in such underwritten offering to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an underwritten offering under this subsection 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such underwritten offering by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.
2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an underwritten offering pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Class A Ordinary Shares
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or other equity securities which the Company desires to sell and the Class A Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by other shareholders of the Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in such underwritten offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the Maximum Number of Securities), then the Company shall include in such underwritten offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities as to which Demand Registration has been requested by the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of shares that each such Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such underwritten offering, regardless of the number of Registrable Securities that such Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) have requested be included in such underwritten offering (such proportion is referred to herein as Pro Rata)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Class A Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell for its own account that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Class A Ordinary Shares or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwritten offering or are not entitled to include all of their Registrable Securities in any underwritten offering, such majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders (if any), pursuant to a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 shall have the right to withdraw from such Registration by giving written notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their request to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed underwritten offering relating to a Demand Registration, then such Registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in this Section 2.1.
2.2 Piggy-Back Registration.
2.2.1 Piggy-Back Rights. If at any time on or after the date the Company completes a Business Combination the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, by the Company for its own account or for the account of shareholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Companys existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders as soon as practicable but in no event less than seven (7) days
6
before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (y) offer to all of the Holders in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days following receipt of such notice (such Registration, a Piggy-Back Registration). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggy-Back Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this Subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.
2.2.2 Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of Class A Ordinary Shares which the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the Class A Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which Registration has been requested under this Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the Class A Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to the separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration:
(a) If the Registration is undertaken for the Companys account, the Company shall include in any such Registration: (A) first, the Class A Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Class A Ordinary Shares or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Class A Ordinary Shares or other equity securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
(b) If the Registration is a demand registration undertaken at the demand of persons or entities other than the Holders ,then the Company shall include in any such Registration: (A) first, the Class A Ordinary Shares or other equity securities, if any, for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), collectively the Class A Ordinary Shares or other equity securities
7
comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, as applicable, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Class A Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell for its own account that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Class A Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.2.3 Withdrawal. Any Holder may elect to withdraw such Holders request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggy-Back Registration. The Company (whether on its own determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggy-Back Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the Holders in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.3.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggy-Back Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.
2.3 Registrations on Form S-3. The Holders of at least 50% of the number of Registrable Securities may at any time and from time to time, request in writing that the Company register the resale of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form Registration Statement which may be available at such time (Form S-3), or if the Company is ineligible to use Form S-3, on Form S-1; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect such request through an underwritten offering. Within five (5) days of the Companys receipt of such written request from a Holder, the Company will promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration on Form S-3 to all other Holders, and each Holder who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holders Registrable Securities in such Registration shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company, and, as soon as practicable thereafter but not more than ten (10) days after the Companys initial receipt of such written request for a registration on Form S-3, effect the registration of all or such portion of such Holders or Holders Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities or other securities of the Company, if any, of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request, as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 2.3 hereof, if: the Holders, together with the holders of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $20,000,000. The Company shall maintain each registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.3 (a Shelf) in
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accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep such Shelf continuously effective, available for use and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities included on such Shelf. In the event the Company files a Shelf on Form S-1, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 to a Form S-3 as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1.
2.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Companys good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, the Company initiated a Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or Corporate Secretary of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12-month period.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
3.1 Filings; Information. Whenever the Company is required to effect a Registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection with any such request:
3.1.1 Filing Registration Statement. The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible and in any event within 60 days after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become and remain effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3; provided, however, that the Company shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for up to 90 days, and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period as may be applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such Piggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors
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of the Company (the Board), it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time; provided further, however, that the Company shall not have the right to exercise the right set forth in the immediately preceding proviso more than once in any 365-day period in respect of a Demand Registration hereunder.
3.1.2 Copies. The Company shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration, and such Holders legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus), and such other documents as such Holders or legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders.
3.1.3 Amendments and Supplements. The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement (which period shall not exceed the sum of one hundred eighty (180) days plus any period during which any such disposition is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any governmental agency or court) or such securities have been withdrawn.
3.1.4 Notification. After the filing of a Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no event more than two business days after such filing, notify the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement of such filing, and shall further notify such Holders promptly and confirm such advice in writing in all events within two business days of the occurrence of any of the following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and the Company shall take all actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and promptly make available to the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment; except that before filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, the Company shall furnish to the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement and to the legal counsel for any such Holders, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed sufficiently in advance of filing to provide such Holders and legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such documents and comment thereon, and the Company shall not file any Registration Statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, to which such Holders or their legal counsel shall reasonably object.
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3.1.5 Securities Laws Compliance. Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities or securities exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange, as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject.
3.1.6 Agreements for Disposition. The Company shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Company in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement. No Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement shall be required to make any representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement except, if applicable, with respect to such Holders organization, good standing, authority, title to Registrable Securities, lack of conflict of such sale with such Holders material agreements and organizational documents, and with respect to written information relating to such Holder that such Holder has furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement.
3.1.7 Cooperation. The principal executive officer of the Company, the principal financial officer of the Company, the principal accounting officer of the Company and all other officers and members of the management of the Company shall cooperate fully in any offering of Registrable Securities hereunder, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the Registration Statement with respect to such offering and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential investors.
3.1.8 Records. The Company shall make available for inspection by the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement or any Underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent
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corporate documents and properties of the Company, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Companys officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any of them in connection with such Registration Statement.
3.1.9 Opinions and Comfort Letters. (i) The Company shall, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to a Registration, obtain an opinion and negative assurance letter, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders thereof, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as such Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders. (ii) The Company shall obtain a cold comfort letter from the Companys independent registered public accountants in the event that a Registration is an underwritten offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders.
3.1.10 Listing. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities included in any Registration to be listed on such exchanges or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or designated or, if no such similar securities are then listed or designated, in a manner satisfactory to the Holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration.
3.1.11 Transfer Agent. The Company shall provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of the Registration Statement.
3.1.12 Misstatements. The Company shall notify the Holders at any time when a prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or prospectus, or necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading (a Misstatement), and then to correct such Misstatement.
3.1.13 Road Show. If the Registration involves Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary road show and analyst or investor presentations and such other selling or other informational meetings organized by the Underwriter that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any underwritten offering, with all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Company or such officers in connection with such attendance and participation to be paid by the Company.
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3.1.14 FINRA. The Company shall cooperate with each Underwriter participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and Underwriters counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., including using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain pre-clearance and pre-approval of the Registration Statement and applicable prospectus upon filing with the Commission.
3.1.15 Certificated Securities. The Company shall, in the case of certificated Registrable Securities, cooperate with the Holders and the managing Underwriters to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legends) representing Registrable Securities to be sold after receiving written representations from the Holders participating in such offering that the Registrable Securities represented by the certificates so delivered by such Holders will be transferred in accordance with the Registration Statement, and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as such Holders or managing Underwriters may reasonably request at least two business days prior to any sale of such Registrable Securities.
3.1.16 Further Assurances. The Company shall otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.
3.2 Obligation to Suspend Distribution. Upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.1.4(iv), or, in the case of a resale Registration on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, upon any suspension by the Company, pursuant to a written insider trading compliance program adopted by the Board, of the ability of all insiders covered by such program to transact in the Companys securities because of the existence of material non-public information, each Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration shall immediately discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Holder receives the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3.1.4(iv) or the restriction on the ability of insiders to transact in the Companys securities is removed, as applicable, and, if so directed by the Company, each such Holder will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holders possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.
3.3 Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, any Piggy-Back Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, and any Registration on Form S-3 or Form S-1, effected pursuant to Section 2.3, and all expenses incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all Registration and filing fees and fees of any securities exchange on which Registrable Securities are then listed; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities); (iii) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses; (iv) the Companys internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees); (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities as required by Section 3.1.10; (vi) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees; (vii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses or costs associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters requested pursuant
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to Section 3.1.9); (viii) the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such Registration; and (ix) the fees and expenses of one legal counsel selected by the Holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration. The Company shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable Securities being sold by the Holders thereof, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such Holders. Additionally, in an underwritten offering, all selling shareholders and the Company shall bear the expenses of the Underwriter pro rata in proportion to the respective amount of shares each is selling in such offering.
3.4 Information. The Holders shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the Registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 and in connection with the Companys obligation to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws.
3.5 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any underwritten offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such persons securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, stock powers, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
3.6 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure (as defined below) or would require the inclusion in such Registration the statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Companys control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than 30 days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.6. Adverse Disclosure shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
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necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
3.7 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Class A Ordinary Shares held by such Holder without Registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (to the extent such exemptions are applicable to the Company), as such rules may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission, including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
4. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
4.1 Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, and each of their respective officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners, members, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any, who controls such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, a Holder Indemnified Party), from and against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such Registration; and the Company shall promptly reimburse the Holder Indemnified Party for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred by such Holder Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and defending any such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or summary prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company, in writing, by such selling Holder expressly for use therein. The Company also shall indemnify any Underwriter of the Registrable Securities, their officers, affiliates, directors, partners, members and agents and each person who controls such Underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification provided above in this Section 4.1.
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4.2 Indemnification by Holders. Each selling Holder will, in the event that any Registration is being effected under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement of any Registrable Securities held by such selling Holder, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers and each Underwriter (if any), and each other selling Holder and each other person, if any, who controls another selling Holder or such Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as such losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling Holder expressly for use therein, and shall reimburse the Company, its directors and officers, and each other selling Holder or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. Each selling Holders indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling Holder. Each selling Holder shall indemnify any Underwriter of the Registrable Securities, their officers, affiliates, directors, partners, members and agents and each person who controls such Underwriter to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any person of any notice of any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the Indemnified Party) shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the Indemnifying Party) in writing of the loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which the Indemnifying Party may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure. If the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party, then the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such claim or action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that in any action in which both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party are named as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (but no more than one such separate counsel) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect
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of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based upon the written opinion of counsel of such Indemnified Party, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of judgment or effect any settlement of any claim or pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such judgment or settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim or proceeding.
4.4 Contribution.
4.4.1 If the indemnification provided for in the foregoing Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 is unavailable to any Indemnified Party in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties in connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of any Indemnified Party and any Indemnifying Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such Indemnified Party or such Indemnifying Party and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
4.4.2 The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding Section 4.4.1. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4, no Holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after payment of any underwriting fees, discounts, commissions or taxes) actually received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities which gave rise to such contribution obligation. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
4.5 Survival. The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party or any officer, director or controlling person of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of securities.
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5. MISCELLANEOUS.
5.1 No Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder and the purchaser pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreement, between the Company and Cannae Holdings, Inc., dated as of February 25, 2021, has any right to require the Company to register any shares of the Companys capital stock for sale or to include shares of the Companys capital stock in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of shares of capital stock for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part, other than with the written consent of Holders representing at least 50% of the Registrable Securities. Prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, Alignment Shares Lock-Up Period or the Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holders rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and the permitted assigns of the Holder or of any assignee of the Holder, which shall include Permitted Transferees. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4 and this Section 5.2. No assignment by any party hereto of such partys rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.
5.3 Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, Notices) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served; provided, that if such service or transmission is not on a business day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next business day. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given on the next business day following timely delivery of such notice to a reputable air courier service with an order for next-day delivery.
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To the Company:
Austerlitz Acquisition Corp. II
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, Nevada 89134
To the Sponsor:
Austerlitz Acquisition Sponsor, LP II
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, Nevada 89134
To any other Holder, to such Holders address as set forth in the books and records of the Company.
5.4 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible that is valid and enforceable.
5.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written.
5.7 Modifications and Amendments. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in its capacity as a Holder, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holders or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
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5.8 Titles and Headings. Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.
5.9 Waivers and Extensions. Any party to this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement. Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred. Any waiver may be conditional. No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.
5.10 Remedies Cumulative. In the event that the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, the Holders may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or action at law, whether for specific performance of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions, without being required to post a bond. None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy, whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.
5.11 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed within the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.
5.12 Waiver of Trial by Jury. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to a trial by jury in any action, suit, counterclaim or other proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of, connected with or relating to this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby, or the actions of the Sponsor in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement hereof.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORP. II | ||
By: | /s/ Michael L. Gravelle | |
Name: Michael L. Gravelle | ||
Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
CANNAE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Michael L. Gravelle | |
Name: Michael L. Gravelle | ||
Title: Managing Director, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
SPONSOR | ||
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LP II | ||
By: | /s/ Michael L. Gravelle | |
Name: Michael L. Gravelle | ||
Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
/s/ Mark D. Linehan |
MARK D. LINEHAN |
/s/ Erika Meinhardt |
ERIKA MEINHARDT |
/s/ Hugh R. Harris |
HUGH R. HARRIS |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit 10.3
PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of February 25, 2021 (as it may from time to time be amended and including all exhibits referenced herein, this Agreement), is entered into by and between Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company) and Cannae Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Cannae Holdings) (the Purchaser).
WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an initial public offering of the Companys units (the Public Offering), each unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (each, a Class A ordinary share), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant;
WHEREAS, each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per ordinary share, as set forth in the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), File Numbers 333-252933 and 333-253557 (the Registration Statement), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act); and
WHEREAS, the Purchaser has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 17,333,333 warrants (or 19,733,333 warrants in the aggregate if the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full) (the Private Placement Warrants), each Private Placement Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Class A ordinary share, at a price of $1.50 per warrant.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
Section 1. Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.
A. |
Authorization of the Private Placement Warrants. The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants to the Purchaser. |
B. |
Purchase and Sale of the Private Placement Warrants. |
(i) |
On the date of the consummation of the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (the IPO Closing Date), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, 17,333,333 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $26,000,000 (the Purchase Price). The Purchaser shall pay the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, to the trust account, at a financial institution to be chosen by the Company, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, in accordance with the Companys wiring instructions (the Trust Account), at least one (1) business day prior to the IPO Closing Date. On the IPO Closing Date, upon the payment by the Purchaser of the Purchase Price, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, the Company, at its option, shall deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased by the Purchaser on such date duly registered in the Purchasers name to the Purchaser or effect such delivery in book-entry form. |
(ii) |
On the date of any closing of the over-allotment option, if any, in connection with the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (each such date, an Over-allotment Closing Date, and each Over-allotment Closing Date (if any) and the IPO Closing Date, being sometimes referred to herein as a Closing Date), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, up to an aggregate of 2,000,000 Private Placement Warrants, in the same proportion as the amount of the option that is then so exercised, at a price of $1.50 per warrant for an aggregate |
purchase price of up to $3,000,000 (if the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full) (the Over-allotment Purchase Price). The Purchaser shall pay the Over-allotment Purchase Price in accordance with the Companys wire instruction by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Trust Account at least one (1) business day prior to such Over-allotment Closing Date. On the Over-allotment Closing Date, following the payment by the Purchaser of the Over-allotment Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, the Company, at its option, shall deliver a certificate evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased by the Purchaser on such date duly registered in the Purchasers name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form. |
C. |
Terms of the Private Placement Warrants. |
(i) |
Each Private Placement Warrant shall have the terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent on the IPO Closing Date, in connection with the Public Offering (the Warrant Agreement). |
(ii) |
At the time of, or prior to, the closing of the Public Offering, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration rights agreement (the Registration Rights Agreement) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to the Private Placement Warrants and the Class A ordinary shares underlying the Private Placement Warrants. |
Section 2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Private Placement Warrants, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:
A. |
Incorporation and Corporate Power. The Company is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement. |
B. |
Authorization; No Breach. |
(i) |
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company as of the IPO Closing Date. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law). Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms as of each Closing Date. |
(ii) |
The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance of the Class A ordinary shares upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the fulfillment, of and compliance with, the respective terms hereof and thereof by the Company, do not and will not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Companys share capital or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to, the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company (in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws. |
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C. |
Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, and registration in the register of members of the Company, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, and upon registration in the Companys register of members, the Purchaser will have good title to the Private Placement Warrants purchased by it and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of such Private Placement Warrants, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of the Purchaser. |
D. |
Governmental Consents. No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions contemplated hereby. |
E. |
Regulation D Qualification. Neither the Company nor, to its actual knowledge, any of its affiliates, members, officers, directors or beneficial shareholders of 20% or more of its outstanding securities, has experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act. |
Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:
A. |
Organization and Requisite Authority. The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. |
B. |
Authorization; No Breach. |
(i) |
This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law). |
(ii) |
The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Purchasers equity or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to the Purchasers organizational documents in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering, or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws. |
C. |
Investment Representations. |
(i) |
The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Placement Warrants and, upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the Securities), for the Purchasers own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof. |
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(ii) |
The Purchaser is an accredited investor as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D, and the Purchaser has not experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act. |
(iii) |
The Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchasers compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities. |
(iv) |
The Purchaser did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act. |
(v) |
The Purchaser has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by the Purchaser. The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Company. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of the Securities. |
(vi) |
The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities. |
(vii) |
The Purchaser understands that: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. In this regard, the Purchaser understands that the SEC has taken the position that promoters or affiliates of a blank check company and their transferees, both before and after an initial Business Combination, are deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act when reselling the securities of a blank check company. Based on that position, Rule 144 adopted pursuant to the Securities Act would not be available for resale transactions of the Securities despite technical compliance with the requirements of such Rule, and the Securities can be resold only through a registered offering or in reliance upon another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. |
(viii) |
The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities. The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investments in the Securities. |
(ix) |
The Purchaser understands that the Private Placement Warrants shall bear the legend substantially in the form set forth in the Warrant Agreement. |
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Section 4. Conditions of the Purchasers Obligations. The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Private Placement Warrants are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A. |
Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made. |
B. |
Performance. The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before such Closing Date. |
C. |
No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement. |
D. |
Warrant Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement, in the form of Exhibit A hereto, and the Registration Rights Agreement, in the form of Exhibit B hereto, in each case on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser. |
Section 5. Conditions of the Companys Obligations. The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A. |
Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made. |
B. |
Performance. The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date. |
C. |
Corporate Consents. The Company shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder. |
D. |
No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement. |
E. |
Warrant Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent on terms satisfactory to the Company. |
Section 6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time after December 31, 2021 upon the election by either the Company or the Purchaser upon written notice to the other party if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date.
Section 7. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive each Closing Date.
Section 8. Definitions. Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 that the Company has filed with the SEC, under the Securities Act.
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Section 9. Miscellaneous.
A. |
Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, other than assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof. |
B. |
Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement. |
C. |
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. |
D. |
Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. The use of the word including in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation. |
E. |
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. |
F. |
Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto. |
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
COMPANY: | ||
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II | ||
By: | /s/ Michael L. Gravelle | |
Name: Michael L. Gravelle Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
PURCHASER: | ||
CANNAE HOLDINGS, LLC |
||
By: | /s/ Michael L. Gravelle | |
Name: Michael L. Gravelle Title: Managing Director, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
[Signature Page to Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit A
Warrant Agreement
A-1
Exhibit B
Registration Rights Agreement
B-1
Exhibit 10.4
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89134
March 2, 2021
Cannae Holdings, Inc.
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89134
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter will confirm our agreement that, commencing on the effective date (the Effective Date) of the registration statement (the Registration Statement) for the initial public offering (the IPO) of the securities of Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the Company) and continuing until the earlier of (i) the completion by the Company of an initial business combination or (ii) the Companys liquidation (in each case as described in the Registration Statement) (such earlier date hereinafter referred to as the Termination Date), Cannae Holdings, Inc. (Cannae Holdings) or an affiliate thereof shall take steps, directly or indirectly, to make available to the Company certain office space, secretarial and administrative services as may be required by the Company from time to time, situated at 1701 Village Center Circle, Las Vegas, NV 89134 (or any successor location). In exchange therefore, the Company shall pay Cannae Holdings a sum of $5,000 per month, respectively, on the Effective Date and continuing monthly thereafter until the Termination Date. Cannae Holdings hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies that may be set aside in a trust account (the Trust Account) that may be established upon the consummation of the IPO (the Claim) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
[Signature Page Follows]
Very truly yours, | ||
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II | ||
By: | /s/ Michael L. Gravelle | |
Name: Michael L. Gravelle | ||
Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY: | ||
CANNAE HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Michael L. Gravelle | |
Name: Michael L. Gravelle | ||
Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
[Signature Page to Administrative Services Agreement]
Exhibit 10.5
March 2, 2021
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89134
Re: |
Initial Public Offering |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (the Letter Agreement) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) entered into by and among Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company) and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representatives (the Representatives) of the several underwriters listed on Schedule I thereto (the Underwriters), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the IPO) of the Companys units (the Units), each unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the Class A Ordinary Shares), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant exercisable for one Class A Ordinary Share (each, a Warrant). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 10 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the IPO, and in recognition of the benefit that such IPO will confer upon the undersigned as a shareholder of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
1. If the Company solicits approval of its shareholders of a Business Combination, the undersigned will vote all shares beneficially owned by the undersigned, whether acquired before, in or after the IPO, in favor of such Business Combination.
2. In the event that the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be further amended from time to time (the Charter), the undersigned will, as promptly as possible, take all necessary actions to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible, but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem the IPO Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations, if any (less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding IPO Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Companys remaining shareholders and the Companys board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the cases of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Companys obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. The undersigned
hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distribution of the Trust Account and any remaining net assets of the Company as a result of such liquidation with respect to the Founder Shares or Alignment Shares owned by the undersigned. However, if the undersigned has acquired IPO Shares in or after the IPO, the undersigned will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such IPO Shares in the event that the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that there will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to any Warrants, all rights of which will terminate on the Companys liquidation.
3. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with the undersigned or any other Insiders of the Company or their affiliates, such transaction must be approved by a majority of the Companys disinterested independent directors and the Company must obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or an independent accounting firm that such Business Combination is fair to the Companys unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.
4. There will be no restrictions on payments made to the undersigned, including, but not limited to, the payments set forth in the Registration Statement adjacent to the caption Prospectus SummaryThe OfferingPayments to insiders. However, prior to the completion of the Business Combination, the Company shall not make any payments to the undersigned from the funds in the Trust Account.
5. (a) The undersigned agrees not to transfer, assign or sell (except to certain permitted transferees as described in the Registration Statement or herein) (the Lockup) any of its (1) Founder Shares until (a) one year after the completion of a Business Combination, or (b) the date following the completion of the Companys initial Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property, and (2) Alignment Shares and any Class A Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion thereof until the earlier of: (a) their conversion into Class A Ordinary Shares; and (b) subsequent to the Companys initial Business Combination, the date on which the Company completes a merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in both a change in control and all of the Companys public shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the last reported sale price of the Companys Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the completion of the Companys initial Business Combination, the converted Class A Ordinary Shares will be released from the Lockup.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 5(a) and 5(c), during the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, hedge or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of (or enter into any transaction that is
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designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned or any person in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the Exchange Act) and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder with respect to, any other Units, Class A Ordinary Shares, Founder Shares, Alignment Shares or Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Class A Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, Class A Ordinary Shares, Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Class A Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction, including the filing of a registration statement, specified in clause (i) or (ii). The provisions of this paragraph will not apply (i) to the transfer of Founder Shares or Alignment Shares to any independent director appointed or elected to the Companys board of directors before or after the IPO or (ii) if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and, in each case the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
(c) The undersigned agrees that until the Company completes an initial Business Combination, the undersigneds Private Placement Warrants will be subject to the transfer restrictions described in the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement relating to the undersigneds Private Placement Warrants.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 5(a) and (c), transfers, assignments and sales by the undersigned of the Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or conversion of the Founder Shares or Alignment Shares are permitted (i) to the Companys officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Companys officers or directors, to Austerlitz Acquisition Sponsor, LP II, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (the Sponsor), any members or partners of the Sponsor or its affiliates, any affiliates of the Sponsor, or any employees of such affiliates; (ii) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individuals immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of one of the individuals immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (iii) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (iv) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (v) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the completion of the Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Private Placement Warrants or Class A Ordinary Shares, as applicable, were originally purchased; (vi) by virtue of the Sponsors organizational documents upon liquidation or dissolution of the Sponsor; (vii) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the completion of the Business Combination; (viii) in the event of the Companys liquidation prior to the completion of a Business Combination; or (ix) in the event of completion of a liquidation,
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merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) through (vi) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by the restrictions herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the transfers of Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or conversion of the Founder Shares or Alignment Shares shall be permitted regardless of whether a filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made with respect to such transfers.
(e) The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that if, in order to complete any Business Combination, the holders of Founder Shares, Alignment Shares or Private Placement Warrants are required to contribute back to the capital of the Company a portion of any such securities to be cancelled by the Company or transfer any such securities to third parties, the undersigned will contribute back to the capital of the Company or transfer to such third parties, at no cost, a proportionate number of Founder Shares, Alignment Shares or Private Placement Warrants, as applicable, pro rata with the other holders of Founder Shares, Alignment Shares or Private Placement Warrants, as applicable.
6. (a) In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest that may arise from multiple corporate affiliations, and subject to any existing or future fiduciary or contractual obligations the undersigned might have, the undersigned hereby agrees that until the earliest of the Companys initial Business Combination or liquidation, the undersigned shall present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any target business that has a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting discounts held in trust and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account); provided that such target business is expressly presented to the undersigned solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company and is an opportunity that the Company is able to complete on a reasonable basis.
(b) The undersigned hereby agrees and acknowledges that (i) each of the Underwriter and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach of the obligations under paragraph 6(a) above, (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.
7. The undersigned agrees to be a director or officer of the Company, as applicable, until the earlier of the completion by the Company of an initial Business Combination, the liquidation of the Company, or his or her removal, death or incapacity. In the event of the removal or resignation of the undersigned as a director or officer (as applicable), the undersigned agrees that he or she will not, prior to the completion of the Business Combination, without the prior express written consent of the Company, (i) use for the benefit of the undersigned or to the detriment of the Company or (ii) disclose to any third party (unless required by law or governmental authority), any information regarding a potential target of the Company that is not generally known by persons outside of the Company, the Sponsor or their respective affiliates. The undersigneds biographical information previously furnished to the Company and the Representative is true and accurate in
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all material respects, does not omit any material information with respect to the undersigneds background and contains all of the information required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The undersigneds FINRA Questionnaire previously furnished to the Company and the Representative is true and accurate in all material respects. The undersigned represents and warrants that:
(a) He or she is not subject to, or a respondent in, any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction;
(b) He or she has never been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any crime (i) involving any fraud or (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and he is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding; and
(c) He or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked.
8. The undersigned has full right and power, without violating any agreement by which he or she is bound, to enter into this Letter Agreement and to serve as a director or officer of the Company, as applicable.
9. The undersigned hereby waives any right to exercise redemption rights with respect to any of the Companys ordinary shares owned or to be owned by the undersigned, directly or indirectly, whether such shares be part of the Founder Shares, Alignment Shares or IPO Shares, and agrees not to seek redemption with respect to such shares (or sell such shares to the Company in any tender offer) in connection with any shareholder vote to approve (x) a Business Combination or (y) an amendment to the Charter that would affect the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Class A Ordinary Shares if the Company has not completed a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO.
10. The undersigned hereby agrees to not propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to Article 49.7 of the Charter prior to the completion of a Business Combination unless the Company provides public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A Ordinary Shares upon such approval in accordance with such Article 49.7 thereof.
11. This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The undersigned hereby (i) agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against him arising out of or relating in any way to this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive and (ii) waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
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12. Each of the Sponsor and each Insider agree to return to the Company for cancellation any Alignment Shares that it, he or she holds if such Alignment Shares have not converted into Class A Ordinary Shares nine years after the initial Business Combination.
13. As used herein, (i) a Business Combination shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities; (ii) Insiders shall mean all officers and directors, and the sponsor of the Company immediately prior to the IPO; (iii) Founder Shares shall mean all of the Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, acquired by an Insider prior to the IPO; (iv) Alignment Shares shall mean all of the Class C ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, acquired by an Insider prior to the IPO; (v) IPO Shares shall mean the Class A Ordinary Shares issued in the Companys IPO; (vi) Private Placement Warrants shall mean the warrants that are being sold privately by the Company simultaneously with the completion of the IPO; (vii) Trust Account shall mean the trust account into which the net proceeds of the Companys IPO and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will be deposited; and (viii) Registration Statement means the Companys registration statement on Form S-1 (SEC File Nos. 333-252933 and 333-253557) filed with the SEC, as amended.
14. This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
15. The undersigned acknowledges and understands that the Underwriter and the Company will rely upon the agreements, representations and warranties set forth herein in proceeding with the IPO. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to render any Underwriter a representative of, or a fiduciary with respect to, the Company, its shareholders or any creditor or vendor of the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof.
16. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and such persons respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, that such termination shall not relieve the undersigned from liability for any breach of this agreement prior to its termination. The parties hereto may not assign either this Letter Agreement or any of their rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Letter Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
By: |
Name of Insider | ||
Acknowledged and Agreed: | ||
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]
***
Not Part of Form of Letter Agreement
***
The following officers and directors of the Company separately executed the foregoing Form of Letter Agreement on March 2, 2021:
Bryan D. Coy
David W. Ducommun
Ryan R. Caswell
Michael L. Gravelle
William P. Foley, II
Richard N. Massey
Erika Meinhardt
Mark D. Linehan
Hugh R. Harris
Exhibit 10.6
March 2, 2021
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89134
Re: |
Initial Public Offering |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (the Letter Agreement) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) entered into by and among Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company), and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representatives (the Representatives) of the several underwriters listed on Schedule I thereto (the Underwriters), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the IPO) of the Companys units (the Units), each unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the Class A Ordinary Shares), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant exercisable for one Class A Ordinary Share (each, a Warrant). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 10 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the IPO, and in recognition of the benefit that such IPO will confer upon the undersigned as a shareholder of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
1. If the Company solicits approval of its shareholders of a Business Combination, the undersigned will vote all shares beneficially owned by the undersigned, whether acquired before, in or after the IPO, in favor of such Business Combination.
2. In the event that the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be further amended from time to time (the Charter), the undersigned will, as promptly as possible, take all necessary actions to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible, but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem the IPO Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations, if any (less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding IPO Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Companys remaining shareholders and the Companys board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the cases of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Companys obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. The undersigned
hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distribution of the Trust Account and any remaining net assets of the Company as a result of such liquidation with respect to the Founder Shares or Alignment Shares owned by the undersigned. However, if the undersigned has acquired IPO Shares in or after the IPO, the undersigned will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such IPO Shares in the event that the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter. In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account, the undersigned agrees that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than the Companys independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per IPO Share and (ii) the actual amount per IPO Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per IPO Share due to reductions in the value of the assets in the Trust Account, in each case less interest that may be withdrawn to pay the Companys tax obligations, if the funds in the Trust Account are held in an interest-bearing account; provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under the Companys obligation to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that there will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to any Warrants, all rights of which will terminate on the Companys liquidation.
3. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with the undersigned or any other Insiders of the Company or their affiliates, such transaction must be approved by a majority of the Companys disinterested independent directors and the Company must obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or an independent accounting firm that such Business Combination is fair to the Companys unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.
4. There will be no restrictions on payments made to the undersigned, including, but not limited to, the payments set forth in the Registration Statement adjacent to the caption Prospectus SummaryThe OfferingPayments to insiders. However, prior to the completion of the Business Combination, the Company shall not make any payments to the undersigned from the funds in the Trust Account.
(a) The undersigned agrees not to transfer, assign or sell (except to certain permitted transferees as described in the Registration Statement or herein) (the Lockup) any of its (1) Founder Shares until (a) one year after the completion of a Business Combination, or (b) the date following the completion of the Companys initial Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property, and (2) Alignment Shares and any Class A Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion thereof until the earlier of: (a) their conversion into Class A Ordinary Shares; and (b) subsequent to the Companys initial Business Combination, the date on which the Company completes a merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that
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results in both a change in control and all of the Companys public shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the last reported sale price of the Companys Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the completion of the Companys initial Business Combination, the converted Class A Ordinary Shares will be released from the Lockup.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 5(a) and 5(c), during the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, hedge or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of (or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned or any person in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the Exchange Act) and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder with respect to, any other Units, Class A Ordinary Shares, Founder Shares, Alignment Shares or Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Class A Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, Class A Ordinary Shares, Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Class A Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction, including the filing of a registration statement, specified in clause (i) or (ii). The provisions of this paragraph will not apply (i) to the transfer of Founder Shares or Alignment Shares to any independent director appointed or elected to the Companys board of directors before or after the IPO or (ii) if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and, in each case the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
(c) The undersigned agrees that until the Company completes an initial Business Combination, the undersigneds Private Placement Warrants will be subject to the transfer restrictions described in the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement relating to the undersigneds Private Placement Warrants.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 5(a) and (c), transfers, assignments and sales by the undersigned of the Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or conversion of the Founder Shares or Alignment Shares are permitted (i) to the Companys officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Companys officers or directors, any members or partners of the undersigned or its affiliates, any
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affiliates of the undersigned, or any employees of such affiliates; (ii) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individuals immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of one of the individuals immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (iii) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (iv) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (v) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the completion of the Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Private Placement Warrants or Class A Ordinary Shares, as applicable, were originally purchased; (vi) by virtue of the undersigneds organizational documents or limited partnership agreements upon liquidation or dissolution of the undersigned; (vii) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the completion of the Business Combination; (viii) in the event of the Companys liquidation prior to the completion of a Business Combination; or (ix) in the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) through (vi) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by the restrictions herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the transfers of Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or conversion of the Founder Shares or Alignment Shares shall be permitted regardless of whether a filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made with respect to such transfers.
5. The undersigned has full right and power, without violating any agreement by which it is bound, to enter into this Letter Agreement.
6. The undersigned hereby waives any right to exercise redemption rights with respect to any of the Companys ordinary shares owned or to be owned by the undersigned, directly or indirectly, whether such shares be part of the Founder Shares, Alignment Shares or IPO Shares, and agrees not to seek redemption with respect to such shares (or sell such shares to the Company in any tender offer) in connection with any shareholder vote to approve (x) a Business Combination or (y) an amendment to the Charter that would affect the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Class A Ordinary Shares if the Company has not completed a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO.
7. The undersigned hereby agrees to not propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to Article 49.7 of the Charter prior to the completion of a Business Combination unless the Company provides public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A Ordinary Shares upon such approval in accordance with such Article 49.7 thereof.
This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The undersigned hereby (i) agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against him arising out of or relating in any way to this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive and (ii) waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
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8. Each of the Sponsor and each Insider agree to return to the Company for cancellation any Alignment Shares that it, he or she holds if such Alignment Shares have not converted into Class A Ordinary Shares nine years after the initial Business Combination.
9. As used herein, (i) a Business Combination shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities; (ii) Insiders shall mean all officers and directors, and the sponsor of the Company immediately prior to the IPO; (iii) Founder Shares shall mean all of the Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, acquired by an Insider prior to the IPO; (iv) Alignment Shares shall mean all of the Class C ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, acquired by an Insider prior to the IPO; (v) IPO Shares shall mean the Class A Ordinary Shares issued in the Companys IPO; (vi) Private Placement Warrants shall mean the warrants that are being sold privately by the Company simultaneously with the completion of the IPO; (vii) Trust Account shall mean the trust account into which the net proceeds of the Companys IPO and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will be deposited; and (viii) Registration Statement means the Companys registration statement on Form S-1 (SEC File Nos. 333-252933 and 333-253557) filed with the SEC, as amended.
10. This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
11. The undersigned acknowledges and understands that the Underwriters and the Company will rely upon the agreements, representations and warranties set forth herein in proceeding with the IPO. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to render any Underwriters a representative of, or a fiduciary with respect to, the Company, its shareholders or any creditor or vendor of the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof.
12. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and such persons respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, that such termination shall not relieve the undersigned from liability for any breach of this agreement prior to its termination. The parties hereto may not assign either this Letter Agreement or any of their rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Letter Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LP II |
||
By: |
Trasimene Capital AU, LP I, its general partner |
By: |
/s/ Michael L. Gravelle |
Name: | Michael L. Gravelle | |
Title: | General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Acknowledged and Agreed: |
||
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II |
By: |
/s/ Michael L. Gravelle |
Name: | Michael L. Gravelle | |
Title: | General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]
Exhibit 10.7
March 2, 2021
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89134
Re: Initial Public Offering
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (the Letter Agreement) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) entered into by and among Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company), and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representatives (the Representatives) of the several underwriters listed on Schedule I thereto (the Underwriters), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the IPO) of the Companys units (the Units), each unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the Class A Ordinary Shares), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant exercisable for one Class A Ordinary Share (each, a Warrant). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 10 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the IPO, and in recognition of the benefit that such IPO will confer upon the undersigned as a shareholder of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
1. If the Company solicits approval of its shareholders of a Business Combination, the undersigned will vote all shares beneficially owned by the undersigned, whether acquired before, in or after the IPO, in favor of such Business Combination.
2. In the event that the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Companys amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be further amended from time to time (the Charter), the undersigned will, as promptly as possible, take all necessary actions to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible, but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem the IPO Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations, if any (less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding IPO Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Companys remaining shareholders and the Companys board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the cases of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Companys obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. The undersigned hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distribution of the Trust Account and any remaining net assets of the Company as a result of such liquidation with respect to the Founder Shares or Alignment Shares owned by the undersigned. However, if the undersigned has acquired IPO Shares in or after the IPO, the undersigned will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such IPO Shares in the event that the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that there will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to any Warrants, all rights of which will terminate on the Companys liquidation.
3. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with the undersigned or any other Insiders of the Company or their affiliates, such transaction must be approved by a majority of the Companys disinterested independent directors and the Company must obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or an independent accounting firm that such Business Combination is fair to the Companys unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.
4. There will be no restrictions on payments made to the undersigned, including, but not limited to, the payments set forth in the Registration Statement adjacent to the caption Prospectus SummaryThe OfferingPayments to insiders. However, prior to the completion of the Business Combination, the Company shall not make any payments to the undersigned from the funds in the Trust Account.
(a) The undersigned agrees not to transfer, assign or sell (except to certain permitted transferees as described in the Registration Statement or herein) (the Lockup) any of its (1) Founder Shares until (a) one year after the completion of a Business Combination, or (b) the date following the completion of the Companys initial Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property, and (2) Alignment Shares and any Class A Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion thereof until the earlier of: (a) their conversion into Class A Ordinary Shares; and (b) subsequent to the Companys initial Business Combination, the date on which the Company completes a merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in both a change in control and all of the Companys public shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the last reported sale price of the Companys Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the completion of the Companys initial Business Combination, the converted Class A Ordinary Shares will be released from the Lockup.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 5(a) and 5(c), during the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, hedge or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of (or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned or any person in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the Exchange Act) and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder with respect to, any other Units, Class A Ordinary Shares, Founder Shares, Alignment Shares or Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Class A Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, Class A Ordinary Shares, Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Class A Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction, including the filing of a registration statement, specified in clause (i) or (ii). The provisions of this paragraph will not apply (i) to the transfer of Founder Shares or Alignment Shares to any independent director appointed or elected to the Companys board of directors before or after the IPO or (ii) if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and, in each case the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
(c) The undersigned agrees that until the Company completes an initial Business Combination, the undersigneds Private Placement Warrants will be subject to the transfer restrictions described in the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement relating to the undersigneds Private Placement Warrants.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 5(a) and (c), transfers, assignments and sales by the undersigned of the Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement
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Warrants or conversion of the Founder Shares or Alignment Shares are permitted (i) to the Companys officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Companys officers or directors, any members or partners of the undersigned or its affiliates, any affiliates of the undersigned, or any employees of such affiliates; (ii) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individuals immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of one of the individuals immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (iii) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (iv) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (v) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the completion of the Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Private Placement Warrants or Class A Ordinary Shares, as applicable, were originally purchased; (vi) by virtue of the undersigneds organizational documents or limited partnership agreements upon liquidation or dissolution of the undersigned; (vii) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the completion of the Business Combination; (viii) in the event of the Companys liquidation prior to the completion of a Business Combination; or (ix) in the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) through (vi) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by the restrictions herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the transfers of Founder Shares, Alignment Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Class A Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or conversion of the Founder Shares or Alignment Shares shall be permitted regardless of whether a filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made with respect to such transfers.
5. The undersigned has full right and power, without violating any agreement by which it is bound, to enter into this Letter Agreement.
6. The undersigned hereby waives any right to exercise redemption rights with respect to any of the Companys ordinary shares owned or to be owned by the undersigned, directly or indirectly, whether such shares be part of the Founder Shares, Alignment Shares or IPO Shares, and agrees not to seek redemption with respect to such shares (or sell such shares to the Company in any tender offer) in connection with any shareholder vote to approve (x) a Business Combination or (y) an amendment to the Charter that would affect the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Class A Ordinary Shares if the Company has not completed a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO.
7. The undersigned hereby agrees to not propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to Article 49.7 of the Charter prior to the completion of a Business Combination unless the Company provides public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A Ordinary Shares upon such approval in accordance with such Article 49.7 thereof.
This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The undersigned hereby (i) agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against him arising out of or relating in any way to this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive and (ii) waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
8. Each of the Sponsor and each Insider agree to return to the Company for cancellation any Alignment Shares that it, he or she holds if such Alignment Shares have not converted into Class A Ordinary Shares nine years after the initial Business Combination.
9. As used herein, (i) a Business Combination shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities; (ii) Insiders shall mean all officers and directors, and the sponsor of the Company
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immediately prior to the IPO; (iii) Founder Shares shall mean all of the Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, acquired by an Insider prior to the IPO; (iv) Alignment Shares shall mean all of the Class C ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, acquired by an Insider prior to the IPO; (v) IPO Shares shall mean the Class A Ordinary Shares issued in the Companys IPO; (vi) Private Placement Warrants shall mean the warrants that are being sold privately by the Company simultaneously with the completion of the IPO; (vii) Trust Account shall mean the trust account into which the net proceeds of the Companys IPO and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will be deposited; and (viii) Registration Statement means the Companys registration statement on Form S-1 (SEC File Nos. 333-252933 and 333-253557) filed with the SEC, as amended.
10. This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
11. The undersigned acknowledges and understands that the Underwriters and the Company will rely upon the agreements, representations and warranties set forth herein in proceeding with the IPO. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to render any Underwriters a representative of, or a fiduciary with respect to, the Company, its shareholders or any creditor or vendor of the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof.
12. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and such persons respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, that such termination shall not relieve the undersigned from liability for any breach of this agreement prior to its termination. The parties hereto may not assign either this Letter Agreement or any of their rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Letter Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
CANNAE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||
By: |
/s/ Michael L. Gravelle |
|||
Name: Michael L. Gravelle | ||||
Title: Managing Director, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||||
Acknowledged and Agreed: | ||||
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II | ||||
By: |
/s/ Michael L. Gravelle |
|||
Name: Michael L. Gravelle | ||||
Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]
Exhibit 10.8
INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made as of March 2, 2021, by and between Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company), and the undersigned (the Indemnitee).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of such corporations;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among publicly traded corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company (the Articles) provide for the indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable Cayman Islands law. The Articles provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement and reimbursement rights;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Companys shareholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so protected against liabilities;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Articles of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as an officer or director, advisor or in another capacity without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he or she be so indemnified.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein and subject to the provisions of the letter agreement dated as of March 2, 2021 between the Company and Indemnitee pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement among the Company and the Underwriters in connection with the Companys initial public offering, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. |
SERVICES TO THE COMPANY |
Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as an officer, director, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as applicable, for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or retained or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation or until Indemnitee is removed. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, officer, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as provided in Section 17. This Agreement, however, shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitees service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.
2. |
DEFINITIONS |
As used in this Agreement:
(a) |
References to agent shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, advisor, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company. |
(b) |
The terms Beneficial Owner and Beneficial Ownership shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof. |
(c) |
Cayman Court shall mean the courts of the Cayman Islands. |
(d) |
A Change in Control shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events: |
(i) |
Acquisition of Shares by Third Party. Other than an affiliate of Austerlitz Acquisition Sponsor, LP II (the Sponsor), any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Companys securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition; |
(ii) |
Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors on the date hereof or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the Continuing Directors), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; |
(iii) |
Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a Business Combination), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding |
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securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Companys assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) other than an affiliate of the Sponsor, no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; |
(iv) |
Liquidation. The approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets, other than factoring the Companys current receivables or escrows due (or, if such approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or |
(v) |
Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement. |
(e) |
Corporate Status describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company. |
(f) |
Disinterested Director shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee. |
(g) |
Enterprise shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent. |
(h) |
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
(i) |
Expenses shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding, including reasonable compensation for time spent by the Indemnitee for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedes a bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee. |
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(j) |
References to fines shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan. |
(k) |
References to serving at the request of the Company shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of the Company as referred to in this Agreement. |
(l) |
Independent Counsel shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience in matters of corporate law and that neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Independent Counsel shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitees rights under this Agreement. |
(m) |
The term Person shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that Person shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiaries of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company or of any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company. |
(n) |
The term Proceeding shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative or related nature, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by him or her or of any action (or failure to act) on his or her part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement. |
(o) |
The term Subsidiary, with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person. |
3. |
INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS |
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement
4
(including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually, and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
4. |
INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY |
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Cayman Court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, to be held harmless or to exoneration.
5. |
INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL |
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of Indemnitees Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
6. |
INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness or deponent in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party or threatened to be made a party, he or she shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith.
7. |
ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION, HOLD HARMLESS AND EXONERATION RIGHTS |
Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, except for Section 27, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or
5
in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights shall be available under this Section 7 on account of Indemnitees conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitees duty of loyalty to the Company or its shareholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.
8. |
CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY |
(a) |
To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying, holding harmless or exonerating Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee. |
(b) |
The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee. |
(c) |
The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee. |
9. |
EXCLUSIONS |
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement (except section 27), the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification, advance Expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) |
for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity or advancement provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise; |
(b) |
for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or |
(c) |
except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(f) and (g) hereof, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law. |
10. |
ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM |
(a) |
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 27, and to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall pay the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company |
6
of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, prior to the final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be made without regard to Indemnitees ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitees ultimate entitlement to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. To the fullest extent required by applicable law, such payments of Expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon the Companys receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to repay the advanced amounts to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Articles, applicable law or otherwise. |
This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which an indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment is excluded pursuant to Section 9, but shall apply to any Proceeding referenced in Section 9(b) prior to a final determination that Indemnitee is liable therefor.
(b) |
The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense. |
(c) |
The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitees prior written consent. |
11. |
PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION |
(a) |
Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding, claim, issue or matter therein which may be subject to indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights, or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise. |
(b) |
Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his or her sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement. |
12. |
PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION |
(a) |
A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, (iii) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if such directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (iv) by vote of the shareholders. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such |
7
determination. Any costs or Expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. |
(b) |
In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of Independent Counsel as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of Independent Counsel as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of Independent Counsel as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Cayman Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the others selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Cayman Court, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing). |
(c) |
The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto. |
13. |
PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS |
(a) |
In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct. |
8
(b) |
If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitees statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto. |
(c) |
The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. |
(d) |
For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitees action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, manager, or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. |
(e) |
The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. |
14. |
REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE |
(a) |
In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 5, 6, 7 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vii) payment to Indemnitee pursuant to any hold harmless or exoneration rights under this Agreement or otherwise is not made in accordance with this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Cayman Court to such indemnification, hold |
9
harmless, exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Cayman Islands law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitees right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration. |
(b) |
In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. |
(c) |
In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitees entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed). |
(d) |
If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitees statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law. |
(e) |
The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. |
(f) |
The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Companys receipt of such written request) pay to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee: (i) to enforce his or her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Articles now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of the outcome and whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration right, advancement, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be (unless such judicial proceeding or arbitration was not brought by Indemnitee in good faith). |
(g) |
Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the legal rate under New York law for amounts which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless or exonerates, or advances, or is obliged to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate or advance for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee requests indemnification, to be held harmless, exonerated, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company. |
10
15. |
SECURITY |
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except for Section 27, to the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Companys obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.
16. |
NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION; PRIORITY OF OBLIGATIONS |
(a) |
The rights of Indemnitee as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Articles, any agreement, a vote of shareholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any Proceeding (regardless of when such Proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) or claim, issue or matter therein arising out of, or related to, any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Articles or this Agreement, then this Agreement (without any further action by the parties hereto) shall automatically be deemed to be amended to require that the Company indemnifies the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy. |
(b) |
The Companies Law (2020 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and the Articles permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (Indemnification Arrangements) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against him or her or incurred by or on behalf of him or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the Companies Law (2020 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement. |
(c) |
To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managers, managing members, fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, managers, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies. |
11
(d) |
In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights. No such payment by the Company shall be deemed to relieve any insurer of its obligations. |
(e) |
The Companys obligation to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payments or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 27, (i) Indemnitee shall have no obligation to reduce, offset, allocate, pursue or apportion any indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement, contribution or insurance coverage among multiple parties possessing such duties to Indemnitee prior to the Companys satisfaction and performance of all its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the Company shall perform fully its obligations under this Agreement without regard to whether Indemnitee holds, may pursue or has pursued any indemnification, advancement, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or insurance coverage rights against any person or entity other than the Company. |
(f) |
Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the Company is the primary indemnitor, and any indemnification or advancement obligation of the Sponsor, its affiliates or any other Person is secondary. |
17. |
DURATION OF AGREEMENT |
All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of his or her Corporate Status, whether or not he or she is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.
18. |
SEVERABILITY |
If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
19. |
ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT |
(a) |
The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company. |
12
(b) |
Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Articles of the Company as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. |
(c) |
The indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise at the Companys request, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his or her spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. |
(d) |
The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. |
(e) |
The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, enforce this Agreement by seeking, among other things, injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he or she may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court of competent jurisdiction, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking to the fullest extent permitted by law. |
20. |
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER |
No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
21. |
NOTICES |
All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, on such delivery or (ii) if mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) |
If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company. |
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(b) |
If to the Company, to: |
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
1701 Village Center Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89134
Attn: Michael L. Gravelle
With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
Attn: Alexander D. Lynch, Esq.
or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.
22. |
APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION |
This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Cayman Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Cayman Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Cayman Court; and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Cayman Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial.
23. |
IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS |
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
24. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
25. |
PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS |
No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitees spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.
26. |
ADDITIONAL ACTS |
If for the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
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27. |
WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO TRUST ACCOUNT |
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Indemnitee hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (each, a Claim) in or to any monies in the trust account established in connection with the Companys initial public offering for the benefit of the Company and holders of shares issued in such offering, and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, Indemnitee acknowledges and agrees that any indemnification provided hereto will only be able to be satisfied by the Company if (i) the Company has sufficient funds outside of the Trust Account to satisfy its obligations hereunder or (ii) the Company completes a Business Combination.
28. |
MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE |
The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect during the entire period for which the Company is obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement, one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the officers/directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Companys performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. The Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director or officer under such policy or policies. In all such insurance policies, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide the Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Companys directors and officers.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indemnity Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.
AUSTERLITZ ACQUISITION CORPORATION II | ||
By: |
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Name: |
||
Title: |
INDEMNITEE | ||
By: |
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Name: |
||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Indemnity Agreement]
***
Not Part of Form of Indemnity Agreement
***
The following officers and directors of the Company separately executed the foregoing Form of Indemnity Agreement on March 2, 2021:
Bryan D. Coy
David W. Ducommun
Ryan R. Caswell
Michael L. Gravelle
William P. Foley, II
Richard N. Massey
Erika Meinhardt
Mark D. Linehan
Hugh R. Harris
Exhibit 99.1
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II Announces Pricing of Upsized $1.2 Billion Initial Public Offering
Las Vegas, February 25, 2021 Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the Company) today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 120,000,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit. The Company has granted the underwriters of the offering a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 18,000,000 units at the public offering price. The units will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) and trade under the ticker symbol ASZ.U beginning February 26, 2021. Each unit consists of one of the Companys Class A ordinary shares and one-fourth of one warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to one of the Companys Class A ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and warrants are expected to be listed on the NYSE under the symbols ASZ and ASZ WS, respectively.
The Sponsor of the Company is Austerlitz Acquisition Sponsor, LP II, an affiliate of Trasimene Capital Management, LLC, led by William P. Foley, II. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.
The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus may be obtained, for free by visiting EDGAR on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus, when available, may be obtained for free from the offices of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 6933 Louis Stephens Drive, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560, telephone: (800) 221-1037 or by emailing: usa.prospectus@credit-suisse.com; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204, or by emailing: prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; or BofA Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001 or by emailing: dg.prospectus_request@bofa.com.
The registration statement relating to the securities became effective on February 25, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II is a newly incorporated blank check company whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. All of these statements are based on managements expectations as well as estimates and assumptions prepared by management that, although they believe to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of Companys control that may cause its business, industry, strategy, financing activities or actual results to differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Source: Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
Contacts
Shannon Devine, SVP, Solebury Trout, 203-428-3228, sdevine@soleburytrout.com
Exhibit 99.2
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering and Exercise of Underwriters Over-Allotment Option
Las Vegas, March 2, 2021 -- Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the Company) today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 138,000,000 units, which includes 18,000,000 units issued upon the exercise of the underwriters over-allotment option, which was exercised in full, at a public offering price of $10.00 per unit. Each unit consists of one of the Companys Class A ordinary shares and one-fourth of one warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to one of the Companys Class A ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share. The units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) under the symbol ASZ.U. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and warrants are expected to be listed on the NYSE under the symbols ASZ and ASZ WS, respectively.
The Sponsor of the Company is Austerlitz Acquisition Sponsor, LP II, an affiliate of Trasimene Capital Management, LLC, led by William P. Foley, II. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.
The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained, for free by visiting EDGAR on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus may be obtained for free from the offices of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 6933 Louis Stephens Drive, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560, telephone: (800) 221-1037 or by emailing: usa.prospectus@credit-suisse.com; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204, or by emailing: prospectus- eq_fi@jpmchase.com; or BofA Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001 or by emailing: dg.prospectus_request@bofa.com.
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II is a newly incorporated blank check company whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. All of these statements are based on managements expectations as well as estimates and assumptions prepared by management that, although they believe to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of Companys control that may cause its business, industry, strategy, financing activities or actual results to differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Source: Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II
Contacts
Shannon Devine, SVP, Solebury Trout, 203-428-3228, sdevine@soleburytrout.com