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As filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2021

Registration No. 333-252910

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   6770   86-1759669

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

2503 S. Hanley Road

St. Louis, Missouri 63144

(314) 644-7600

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Robert V. Vitale

President and Chief Investment Officer

2503 S. Hanley Road

St. Louis, Missouri 63144

(314) 644-7600

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Christian Nagler

Wayne Williams

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Tel: (212) 446-4800

 

Derek Dostal

Deanna Kirkpatrick

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Tel: (212) 450-4000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box.  

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
Emerging growth company       

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Security Being Registered

 

Amount

Being

Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

per Security(1)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering
Price(1)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee

Units, each consisting of one share of Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one-third of one redeemable warrant(2)

  34,500,000 Units   $10.00   $345,000,000   $37,639

Shares of Series A common stock included as part of the Units(3)

  34,500,000 Shares       (4)

Redeemable warrants included as part of the Units(3)

  11,500,000 Warrants       (4)

Total

          $345,000,000   $37,639(5)

 

 

(1)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.

(2)

Includes 4,500,000 Units, consisting of 4,500,000 shares of Series A common stock and 1,500,000 redeemable warrants, which may be issued upon exercise of a 45-day option granted to the underwriters to cover over-allotments, if any.

(3)

Pursuant to Rule 416, there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(4)

No fee pursuant to Rule 457(g).

(5)

The registrant previously paid $50,186.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information in this prospectus may change. We may not complete the exchange offer and issue these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 8, 2021

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

$300,000,000

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

30,000,000 Units

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation is a newly organized company, incorporated as a Delaware corporation, established for the purpose of identifying a company to partner with in order to effectuate a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as a “partnering transaction.” We have not selected any company to partner with and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any company to partner with regarding a partnering transaction. We may pursue a partnering transaction with any company in any industry. While we will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region, given the experience of our management team, our partnering transaction and value creation strategy will be to identify and build a company in partnership with a company, its management team and existing owners.

(Prospectus cover continued on the following page.)

We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 45. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.

 

     Price to Public      Underwriting
Discounts and
Commissions(1)(2)
     Proceeds,
before
expenses, to us
 

Per Unit

   $ 10.00      $ 0.55      $ 9.45  

Total

   $ 300,000,000      $ 16,500,000      $ 283,500,000  

 

(1)

$0.20 per unit, or $6,000,000 in the aggregate (or $6,900,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), is payable upon the closing of this offering. Includes $0.35 per unit, or $10,500,000 in the aggregate (or up to $12,075,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States and released to the underwriters only upon the completion of a partnering transaction. See also “Underwriting” for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters.

(2)

Assumes our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering. Public units purchased by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor in this offering, if any, will not be subject to underwriting discounts and commissions. See above and “Principal Stockholders — Indication of Interest” for additional information.

Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement units described in this prospectus, $300.0 million, or $345.0 million if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit), will be deposited into a United States-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, the funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of: (1) the completion of our partnering transaction; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months from the closing of this offering if we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for a partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering, which we refer to as an “agreement in principle event” throughout this prospectus, or such later date as approved by holders of a majority of the voting power of shares of our outstanding common stock that are voted at the meeting to extend such date, voting together as a single class) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), subject to applicable law. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders.

The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. Delivery of the units will be made on or about                      , 2021.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Joint Book-running Managers

 

Evercore ISI   Barclays

The date of this prospectus is                 , 2021


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(Prospectus cover continued from preceding page.)

This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one share of our Series A common stock and one-third of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Series A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus, and only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. The warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction and 12 months from the closing of this offering, and will expire five years after the completion of our partnering transaction or earlier upon redemption or liquidation, as described in this prospectus. Subject to the terms and conditions described in this prospectus, we may redeem the warrants once the warrants become exercisable. We have also granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 4,500,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any.

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of our Series A common stock upon the completion of our partnering transaction at a per-share price described in this prospectus, payable in cash, subject to the limitations described herein. If we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or 27 months following an agreement in principle event, as such period may be extended, we will redeem 100% of the public shares at a per-share price described in this prospectus, payable in cash, subject to applicable law.

Our sponsor, PHPC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (which we refer to as our “sponsor” throughout this prospectus), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Post Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (which we refer to as “Post” throughout this prospectus). Our sponsor will commit to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 units (or 1,090,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit ($10,000,000 in the aggregate, or $10,900,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The private placement units are identical to the units sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus.

Our sponsor has also indicated that it or one of its affiliates has an interest in purchasing, directly or indirectly, up to 4,000,000 units in this offering at the public offering price. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discounts or commissions (including, without limitation, deferred underwriting commissions) on public units purchased by our sponsor or its affiliate. However, indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase and our sponsor or its affiliate may decide not to purchase any public units in this offering. In addition, the underwriters could determine to sell fewer public units to our sponsor or its affiliate than it indicated an interest in purchasing or could determine not to sell any public units to our sponsor or its affiliate.

In connection with the consummation of this offering, we will enter into a forward purchase agreement with our sponsor pursuant to which our sponsor will commit to purchase from us up to 10,000,000 forward purchase units, consisting of one share of Series B common stock, or a “forward purchase share,” and one-third of one warrant to purchase one share of Series A common stock, or a “forward purchase warrant,” for $10.00 per forward purchase unit, in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of our partnering transaction. The proceeds from the sale of these forward purchase units, together with the amounts available to us from the trust account (after giving effect to any redemptions of public shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by us in connection with the partnering transaction, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the partnering transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining specified amounts to be used by the post-partnering transaction company for working capital or other purposes. To the extent that the amounts available from the trust account and other financing are sufficient for such cash requirements, our sponsor may purchase less than 10,000,000 forward purchase units. The terms of the forward purchase warrants will generally be identical to the terms of the redeemable warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.

As of the date of this prospectus, our sponsor holds 8,625,000 shares of Series F common stock (which we refer to as our “founder shares” throughout this prospectus), up to 1,125,000 of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. The shares of Series F common stock will automatically convert into shares of Series B common stock at the time of our partnering transaction, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis. Prior to and following our partnering transaction, each share of Series B common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of our Series A common stock.

Prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, only holders of our Series F common stock will have the right to elect our directors. On any vote to approve our partnering transaction or on any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders prior to our partnering transaction, holders of our Series A common stock, holders of our Series B common stock, if any, and holders of our Series F common stock will generally vote together as a single class, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, with each share of our common stock entitling the holder to one vote. Following our partnering transaction, holders of our Series A common stock and holders of our Series B common stock will generally vote together as a single class on all matters presented for a stockholder vote, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, with each share of Series A common stock entitling the holder to one vote per share and each share of Series B common stock entitling the holder to ten votes per share. This high vote feature of our Series B common stock differs from the typical capital structure of many other special purpose acquisition companies, in which the number of votes for founder shares and public shares remain the same after the partnering transaction.

In addition, certain members of our management team, and officers and directors of Post and their affiliates, may purchase our securities in the open market following the IPO and enter into an agreement in accordance with the guidelines of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), to place limit orders, through an independent broker-dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act which is not affiliated with us nor part of the underwriting or selling group, to purchase our securities in the open market at market prices, subject to certain conditions.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our units, Series A common stock or warrants. We intend to apply to list our units on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “PSPC.U” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on the NYSE. The Series A common stock and warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus, unless Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. inform us of their decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to certain conditions. Once the securities constituting the units begin separate trading, we expect that the Series A common stock and warrants will be listed on the NYSE under the symbols “PSPC” and “PSPC WS” respectively.

We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the units offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SUMMARY

     1  

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTOR SUMMARY

     43  

RISK FACTORS

     45  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     84  

DIVIDEND POLICY

     89  

DILUTION

     90  

CAPITALIZATION

     92  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     94  

PROPOSED BUSINESS

     100  

MANAGEMENT

     139  

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     148  

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     152  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     156  

UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     174  

UNDERWRITING

     184  

LEGAL MATTERS

     192  

EXPERTS

     192  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     192  

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1  

Trademarks

This prospectus contains references to trademarks and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

 

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SUMMARY

This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. As this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information under “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before investing.

Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus or the context otherwise requires, references to:

 

   

“agreement in principle event” are to when we have executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for a partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering but have not completed the partnering transaction within such 24-month period;

 

   

“amended and restated bylaws” are to our bylaws to be in effect upon the completion of this offering;

 

   

“amended and restated certificate of incorporation” are to our certificate of incorporation to be in effect upon the completion of this offering;

 

   

“common stock” are to our Series A common stock, our Series B common stock, our Series C common stock and our Series F common stock;

 

   

“company,” “our company” or “PHPC” are to Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation;

 

   

“directors” are to our current directors and director nominees;

 

   

“equity-linked securities” are to any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock issued in a financing transaction in connection with our partnering transaction, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt;

 

   

“forward purchase agreement” are to the agreement providing for the purchase of 10,000,000 forward purchase units at a price of $10.00 per unit, each consisting of one forward purchase share and one-third of a forward purchase warrant, by our sponsor in a private placement that will close substantially concurrently with the consummation of our partnering transaction;

 

   

“forward purchase shares” are to the Series B shares of common stock included in the forward purchase units;

 

   

“forward purchase units” are to the units to be acquired by our sponsor in connection with our partnering transaction;

 

   

“forward purchase warrants” are to the warrants to purchase our shares of Series A common stock included in the forward purchase units;

 

   

“founder shares” are to shares of our Series F common stock initially purchased by our sponsor in a private placement prior to this offering, shares of our Series B common stock issued upon the conversion of such shares of Series F common stock and shares of our Series A common stock issued upon the conversion of such shares of Series B common stock;

 

   

“initial stockholders” are to holders of our founder shares prior to this offering;

 

   

“management” or our “management team” are to our officers and directors;

 

   

“Post” are to Post Holdings, Inc., the parent of our sponsor;

 

   

“private placement shares” are to the shares of Series A common stock sold as part of the private placement units;

 

   

“private placement units” are to the units to be issued to our sponsor in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering and upon conversion of working capital loans, if any;



 

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“private placement warrants” are to the warrants sold as part of the private placement units or as a part of private placement units that are issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any;

 

   

“public shares” are to shares of our Series A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);

 

   

“public stockholders” are to the holders of our public shares, including our sponsor, officers and directors to the extent our sponsor, officers or directors purchase public shares, provided that each of their status as a “public stockholder” shall only exist with respect to such public shares;

 

   

“public warrants” are to our warrants sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market) and to any private placement warrants sold to our sponsor that are subsequently resold to third parties following the consummation of our partnering transaction;

 

   

“related companies” are to Post, 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc., BellRing Brands, Inc., Lewis & Clark Partners, and their subsidiaries and certain other entities with an executive management team that may from time to time include one or more members of our management team;

 

   

“sponsor” are to PHPC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Post;

 

   

“warrants” are to the public warrants, the forward purchase warrants and the private placement warrants; and

 

   

“we,” “us” and “our” are to Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or, where applicable, members of its management team.

Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option and the forfeiture by our sponsor of an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares. The information in this prospectus also assumes that neither our sponsor nor any of its affiliates purchases, directly or indirectly, any units sold in this offering.

General

PHPC is a newly incorporated blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our “partnering transaction.” To date, our efforts have been limited to organizational activities as well as activities related to this offering. We have no specific business plan other than to enter into a partnering transaction. We have not selected any business with which to partner and have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any candidate with respect to a partnering transaction with us. Although we may pursue a partnering transaction in any industry, we intend to capitalize on the ability of our management team and our sponsor to partner with a business that has the potential to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns in the consumer packaged goods (“CPG”) industry.

Post and Our Sponsor

An affiliate of Post will act as our sponsor. Post is a consumer packaged goods holding company with a long history of value creation via strategic corporate actions and efficient capital allocation. None of Post’s business will directly be a source of returns for investors in our offering. While we expect Post to provide expertise, it is not obligated to and there is no guarantee it will source a partnering transaction. Post will not receive any additional compensation or finder’s fees from sourcing or providing financing for our partnering transaction. However, as a result of Post’s indirect ownership of our founder shares, private placement units and forward purchase units, it may derive economic benefits from such securities. The amount of such economic benefits to Post cannot yet be determined. Any financing, whether provided by Post or third parties, may negatively impact



 

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the value of our stockholders’ investment in us. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Partnering Transaction  —  We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a partnering transaction, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.” Any financing provided by Post is expected to be on terms, taken as a whole, that would be at least as favorable to us as could be obtained from a third party.

Post generated 279% in total shareholder return since its spin-off from Ralcorp Holdings in 2012 until the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020 – the highest among Post’s packaged food industry peers. From Post’s spin-off through December 31, 2020, Post generated 278% in total shareholder return, still among the highest of its peers, despite being impacted by the pandemic’s effect on its foodservice business. To achieve these results, Post has transformed from a single-product participant in a secularly declining category into a growing, diversified enterprise across multiple categories.

 

 

LOGO

 

1.

Fiscal year ended 9/30/2011. Reflects Net Sales for Post.

2.

Fiscal year ended 9/30/2020. Reflects Net Sales for Post and its equity investments, comprised of Post consolidated Net Sales of $5.7bn, which includes 100% of BellRing Brands, Inc. (“BellRing”), plus $924 million in Net Sales for 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc. (“8th Avenue”).

This transformation was accomplished by utilizing the following strategic guiding principles:

 

   

Long-tenured management team. We believe Post has the longest-tenured management team among its publicly-traded packaged food industry peers, with its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and General Counsel having joined Post in various capacities in 2011. This continuity and cohesive team structure has created a strong, collaborative culture with significant accumulated institutional knowledge and transaction expertise.



 

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De-centralized operating structure. Post’s corporate management recognizes that the “operator” skill set is often different than the “capital allocation” or mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) skill set. As such, Post retains an operationally-focused management team to run each of its business units and centralizes the capital allocation function. This structure allows each of Post’s business units to achieve operational excellence and be agile and nimble, while remaining autonomous from, but accountable to, the corporate management team at Post. This also enables corporate management to focus on efficient capital allocation and accretive M&A and structured transactions on a holistic basis across the portfolio.

 

   

Creative and pragmatic approach to M&A. Post’s corporate management possesses a deep M&A proficiency, employing leverage and transaction structure to enhance returns. Unlike some corporations with M&A in their DNA, Post is not solely an asset accumulator, but rather seeks to monetize assets opportunistically to unlock shareholder value.

 

   

Broad access to deal flow. Given Post’s extensive M&A track-record and heavy use of the capital markets, corporate management has regular direct contact with various management teams, board members, and sell-side bankers. The Post team is well suited to transact in situations that require creativity, complexity, or structuring expertise.

 

   

Appropriate use of leverage to enhance equity returns. Post’s corporate management actively manages its balance sheet and has a sophisticated understanding of the capital markets. Since its spin-off, Post has undertaken over 30 capital markets transactions and maintained leverage in a range of 4.0x to 6.0x for most of that time.

Post intends to apply these primary strategic principles to capitalize on the substantial deal flow and opportunity that management sees across the consumer sector. As such, we are seeking to partner with a business in an attractive category, with growth potential organically or through consolidation opportunities, margin upside potential, portfolio optionality, and an experienced management team. Post management believes that PHPC’s formation, and its position outside of the immediate Post corporate structure, greatly expands the potential universe of targets and target financial profiles that could potentially generate attractive returns for shareholders. We are open to assessing high-growth partners, yet prioritize other criteria, as outlined in Our Investment Criteria. The partnering transaction would provide the candidate business an efficient path to become public, backed by Post’s experience managing consumer products businesses, allocating capital, and building a foundation for future acquisitions and value creation. As a long-term partner, Post will enhance the potential candidate’s ability to generate risk-adjusted returns for stockholders.

Capitalizing on Post’s History

Post’s history is rooted in M&A as a lever for value-creation against an ever-evolving CPG category backdrop.

Post’s legacy dates back to 1895, when C. W. Post incorporated Postum Cereals Company and developed one of the first ready-to-eat (“RTE”) cereals, Grape-Nuts, in 1897. The company became the first packaged food consolidator, as Postum Cereals Company acquired over a dozen companies between 1925 and 1929, expanding its product line to more than 60 products and eventually changing its name to General Foods Corporation.

Philip Morris Companies (“Philip Morris”) acquired the business in 1985 and subsequently merged the business with Kraft Foods Inc. (“Kraft”) in 1989. In 2007, Kraft was separated from Philip Morris, and in 2008, the Post cereals business was split-off from Kraft and combined with Ralcorp Holdings (“Ralcorp”), a manufacturer of private label packaged food. Ultimately, Post was spun-off from Ralcorp and became a separate, standalone company, effective February 3, 2012.



 

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Post’s character as an early food industry consolidator re-emerged when it once again became a standalone public company. A component of management’s initial mandate was to consolidate the RTE cereal category. At the same time, the category began to experience a more pronounced shift in consumption, after decades of low-to-mid single digit growth. Consumers began to exhibit a preference for low-carbohydrate diets, natural ingredients, or non-processed foods, and were substituting protein-based options for cereals. In the face of enhanced competition in a growth-constrained environment, Post developed a diversification strategy that prioritized performance stability and free cash flow generation. Management recognized early and positioned its portfolio accordingly around long-term consumer trends. To diversify its cereal offerings, some of management’s first acquisitions were focused on building a foothold in protein products relevant to the breakfast daypart, both for at-home and on-the-go eating occasions. The acquisitions of Michael Foods and Premier Protein allowed Post to unlock desired strategic diversity. Post later was able to translate those early actions into future value creation when it carved out BellRing, which held Post’s active nutrition businesses including Premier Protein, highlighting that Post is not an asset accumulator, and instead seeks to crystallize value when possible to maximize long-term returns for shareholders. In total, Post has acquired 16 businesses since 2012, growing net sales nearly six times and Adjusted EBITDA over five times.

 

 

LOGO

 

1.

Post’s fiscal year end is September 30.

Central to Post’s value creation strategy is the simple notion of accessing capital at a reasonable cost and investing the capital in consumer assets with appropriate risk-adjusted return potential. Over its history, Post has been an active issuer in different capital markets including high-yield debt (both term loans and bonds), convertible preferred equity, mandatory convertible equity, and common equity. In addition, Post has also partnered with private equity capital providers (via its formation of 8th Avenue), as well as the public equity markets (via its BellRing carve-out initial public offering, “IPO”). Post management views the market for blank check companies as a natural extension of this strategy of leveraging its capital base through creative financial structures.

Post management believes that the current combination of macro, market, and contextual opportunity have combined to make the present moment the right time to explore value-accretive transactions where Post can apply its core M&A skill set outside of the immediate Post corporate structure. Both Post shareholders and PHPC stockholders have the opportunity to benefit from the formation of PHPC and the complementary, aligned objectives that will guide its pursuit of value creation.

Differentiated Sponsor

Our sponsor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Post. Post operates as a holding company for six distinct businesses today. Four of the businesses are wholly-owned, including Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Foodservice, and Refrigerated Retail. Two of the businesses are held as investments in non-wholly owned



 

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subsidiaries. BellRing is Post’s historical active nutrition business. Post completed an IPO of a minority interest in BellRing in October 2019, monetizing a 28.8% stake in the business while retaining 71.2% for upside in the public markets. 8th Avenue is Post’s historical private brand business, which Post capitalized separately with investments from third parties in October 2018, retaining a 60.5% stake for future upside potential and optionality. Post is familiar with operating as a public company with a complex organizational structure, making it an ideal partner to PHPC.

Post’s operating model with its existing subsidiaries is similar to the expected relationship with our ultimate partner, making Post uniquely qualified to sponsor our business. Each of Post’s six businesses has its own management and operating structure, while capital allocation and M&A are centrally-managed by Post. The subsidiary businesses are unified, but not operationally integrated, by select shared services across the portfolio related to food safety, regulatory and compliance oversight; treasury; finance; investor relations; tax; select information technology; human resources; and corporate legal. De-centralization allows each business to flexibly and quickly respond to market movements, and enables them to be separated in the future without significant disintegration effects or stranded costs.

Stemming from its own strategic principles, Post intends to provide the following support to the ultimate partner as sponsor:

 

   

Consumer products industry expertise and relationships. Post’s management team has a collective 100+ years of industry experience in consumer products. Rob Vitale additionally serves on the board of directors of Energizer Holdings, Inc., a publicly-traded company operating in the household products category. The management team’s relationships with business managers and operators across all corporate functions, as well as among the financial communities that invest in CPG businesses, provides the partnering candidate access to best-in-class leadership and strategic acumen.

 

   

M&A experience and capabilities, including access to deal flow. Post has completed 16 acquisitions since 2012, building the relationships that place it at the nexus of deal flow between strategic and sponsor transactions, while developing the resources and experience to move quickly and decisively. Since future M&A opportunity is a major consideration in our selection of an ultimate partner, Post would be a valuable resource.

 

 

LOGO

 

1.

Transformative acquisitions are defined as transactions with a purchase price >$1,000 million.

 

   

Tax and structuring expertise and resources. Post’s own corporate organization and transaction experience provide administrative resources and third party relationships that will help optimize corporate and deal structure.

 

   

Capitalization formation and ongoing balance sheet management. Post already provides treasury services to its business units as well as to its affiliate investments under master services agreements, so an extension of its guidance to our business would be a natural step to leverage its expertise. Post takes a thoughtful, appropriately aggressive, and proactive approach to balance sheet management, having flexed up and down leverage for acquisitions since its spin-off.



 

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Experienced manager of a public company. Post management has deep expertise in leading a public company. Post intends to leverage its experience to support the partnering candidate as it enters the public markets for the first time.

 

   

Potential shared services. While we will not be integrated into Post as a wholly-owned subsidiary, we expect to have a similar relationship to the sponsor as Post’s current subsidiaries. Post and management will take into account potential revenue and cost synergies that might be available based on common capabilities, customers, operations, or distribution channels in evaluating potential partnering opportunities; Post may be able to offer certain administrative services to leverage costs across a larger portfolio.

Post aims to help build a foundation for our long-term success, and will lend its expertise, resources, and guidance, backed by its initial financial commitment, to start our journey as a public company.

Immediately prior to this proposed public offering our sponsor owned 100% of our capital stock, consisting of shares of Series F common stock which will automatically convert at the time of our partnering transaction, or earlier at the option of the holder, into shares of Series B common stock on a one-for-one basis. In connection with our partnering transaction, our sponsor has agreed to purchase 10,000,000 forward purchase units consisting of one share of Series B common stock and one-third of a forward purchase warrant. Following our partnering transaction, each share of Series B common stock entitles the holder to ten votes per share which differs from the typical capital structure of many other special purpose acquisition companies. Assuming that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that our sponsor forfeits an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares, that there are 38,500,000 shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering, that the issuance of 10,000,000 forward purchase units to our sponsor pursuant to the forward purchase agreement are the only additional equity securities issued in connection with our partnering transaction and that our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering, our sponsor is expected to own approximately 38% of the outstanding shares of our common stock and approximately 85% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock immediately following the closing of our partnering transaction. We anticipate that our sponsor’s voting power and equity ownership may be substantially diluted in connection with our partnering transaction, either from the issuance of new shares of common stock in exchange for the capital stock of the target, the issuance of our capital stock to third party investors providing additional funding to our company in connection with the partnering transaction, or both. However, until such time, our sponsor and Post will have the ability to exercise control over our affairs, policies and operations, such as the appointment of management, the issuance of additional shares of our common stock or other securities, the payment of dividends on our common stock, the incurrence of debt by us and over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, amendments of our organizational documents and any change of control of our company. Our sponsor may have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interests.

Post’s Investment Track Record Is Highly Relevant Across the Consumer Landscape

When Post became a standalone public company in 2012, it was a single-category business operating in the highly-competitive RTE cereal category with concentrated distribution channels in food, drug, mass, and club, offering only center-of-store products. Since then, Post has transformed into a dynamic, multi-category food company with diversified income streams and portfolio optionality. Post’s experience is relevant across the CPG industry as many categories face similar dynamics.

A core element of Post’s strategy relates to empowering management teams to operate toward a model that prioritizes top-line stability, margin enhancement, free cash flow generation, and agile responses to consumer preferences. The de-centralized model is intentionally designed to increase each individual unit’s flexibility, accountability, and entrepreneurship. Post’s performance demonstrates management’s ability to effectively incentivize and guide capital allocation decisions without crafting or developing each unit’s specific operating or go-to-market strategy.



 

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Layered on top of organic growth is a discerning approach to inorganic expansion. Management has acquired 16 companies ranging from sub-$100 million to ~$2.45 billion in size since 2012. Despite the broad diversity in size, category, geography, and other business characteristics, Post’s strategy has been consistent. That is, to build leadership positions in categories with attractive dynamics and to diversify the total portfolio by expanding into new categories and channels, while addressing secular themes in food to insulate the portfolio from potential dietary, lifestyle or economic shifts. Post utilizes tax benefits (as appropriate and available) and aims to extract synergies where possible, using integration expertise to buy down the effective purchase multiple and enhance value creation. However, given Post’s de-centralized operating structure and diversified portfolio approach, synergies are not a pre-requisite for pursuing an acquisition that makes strategic sense or unlocks long-term strategic value.

Adherence to its upfront acquisition criteria, combined with effective integration that does not prioritize extreme cost-focused synergy extraction, has enhanced the return of Post’s portfolio and resulted in a strong track record of nearly all M&A targets performing ahead of the acquisition case under Post’s stewardship.

Post’s results with its own business are a clear indicator of its track record. Post has driven attractive total returns for its shareholders and has delivered returns in excess of its peers since its formation.

 

 

LOGO

Post has also monetized assets opportunistically, using structured M&A to generate return while simultaneously retaining potential future upside. On October 1, 2018, Post completed an independent capitalization of 8th Avenue, providing gross proceeds to Post of $875 million while allowing Post to retain 60.5% in common equity post-closing. 8th Avenue is now a deconsolidated equity investment that is owned jointly with third party investors. On October 21, 2019, BellRing completed an initial public offering, providing net proceeds to Post of $524 million while allowing Post to retain a 71.2% ownership stake. BellRing remains fully-consolidated in Post’s financial results. Based on its current valuation in the public equity markets as of December 31, 2020, BellRing has achieved a more than six times increase in the entity’s enterprise value since the businesses were acquired and combined by Post in 2014. Post is therefore positioned to continue to realize



 

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value from growth in these investments, while still having recovered nearly all of its initial cash investment in both assets, providing ongoing strategic and portfolio optionality.

 

 

LOGO

 

Note: Entry enterprise value represents the cumulative headline purchase price paid for the assets that comprise the ultimate company

 

1.

Current market data per FactSet as of 12/31/2020. Compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) is calculated between the closing date of the final asset acquired at entry through current market data as of 12/31/2020.

 

2.

2018 enterprise value per Lender Presentation published in connection with the 8th Avenue capitalization in October 2018.

As the sole member of our sponsor, Post will be providing us with differentiated expertise as a result of its track record of identifying high potential businesses as well as its differentiated access to a deep network of investors worldwide. Additionally, Post’s franchise strength brings capital, credibility, and institutional know-how to execute the partnering transaction quickly.

Our Business Strategy

Our strategy is to identify, partner with and, after our partnering transaction, fundamentally enhance a company in the public markets. We intend to partner with a company in the consumer products industry that complements the experience and expertise of our management team and is a business to which we believe we can add value.

Our management team is deeply familiar with the trends of our target industries and brings an investing approach that offers multiple competitive advantages in sourcing, evaluating and executing on opportunities, including:

 

   

Long-term investment horizon. We take a long-term, strategic view when evaluating our various operating businesses and are less concerned with seeking profits based on near-term volatility or temporary market disruptions.

 

   

Attractive risk-adjusted returns. We believe we can create significant value through efficient capital allocation, appropriately aggressive balance sheet management and a business model that focuses on outsized growth prospects and free cash flow generation.

 

   

Sophisticated transaction structuring to enhance value. We will be creative in our deal structures in order to maximize value creation for our prospective investors and shareholders.

 

   

Differentiated partner sourcing across consumer sectors. Post management is at the nexus of deal flow for both strategics and sponsors. We believe that the capabilities and connections of our management team, in combination with those of Post, will provide us with a differentiated pipeline of



 

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partnering opportunities that would be difficult for other participants in the M&A markets to replicate.

 

   

Speed and agility to consummate a partnering transaction. Our team has proven managerial expertise in deal execution having previously acquired and divested a number of businesses. We believe that we will be able to conduct candidate sourcing, screening, diligence and execution thoughtfully and efficiently as opportunities arise.

Our Investment Criteria

We have identified general criteria and guidelines for selecting an appropriate target, which we believe are important in evaluating prospective partnering businesses:

 

   

Fundamental business value. We look for businesses with consumer utility, strong brand awareness, and unique value propositions anchored by effective distribution and solid household penetration. We are also looking for businesses that are future-forward and disruptive in the way that they operate and/or the value proposition that they offer to consumers.

 

   

Attractive categories within the consumer products industry broadly. Categories where competitive dynamics remain supportive of growth opportunities, there are pockets of growth or pent-up demand, adjacency opportunities, multiple routes to market, or consolidation potential.

 

   

Well-established strategic moat. Entrenched, defensible leadership positions in core growth categories.

 

   

Strong margin potential. Attractive gross margin and adjusted EBITDA margin performance with identifiable opportunities for organic growth and operating leverage through increased scale.

 

   

Strong free cash flow capability. Limited capital expenditure needs and modest working capital requirements to drive strong cash generation.

 

   

Portfolio optionality. Our goal is to build multiple paths to value creation, either with in-bound or out-bound M&A. We favor businesses with platform opportunities, where the structure of a candidate enables building or disaggregating consumer products businesses over time.

 

   

Experienced management team. We will seek to partner with deep, experienced and talented management teams to lead the business and have responsibility for driving operating results.

 

   

Desire to become a standalone public company. We will seek to partner with a business that has a desire to become a standalone public company and retain its economic autonomy.

These criteria and guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive. Further, we intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our partnering transaction with a candidate that does not meet these criteria and guidelines. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular partnering transaction may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general criteria and guidelines, as well as other considerations, factors and criteria deemed relevant by our management in effecting our partnering transaction consistent with our business objectives. In the event that we decide to enter into our partnering transaction with a candidate that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the candidate does not meet the above criteria in our shareholder communications related to our partnering transaction, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials that we would file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).



 

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Our Competitive Strengths

The sourcing, valuation, diligence, and execution capabilities of our management team and Post will provide us with a significant pipeline of opportunities from which to evaluate and select a business that will benefit from our expertise. Our competitive strengths include the following core principles by which we govern ourselves:

 

   

Long-term orientation. Closing our partnering transaction is important but we are intensely focused on long-term share price performance and the interests of common stockholders post-closing.

 

   

Partnership model. We are not reliant on finding a company which needs operational improvement, cost cutting or replacing senior management. We are not activist investors. We are not buyout specialists. We are not short-term promoters. We have a long-term partnership mentality and collaborative investment model which is grounded and driven by our belief in fairness and alignment of interests.

 

   

Committed co-investment capital. Post intends to utilize its balance sheet to co-invest alongside public market investors. We believe that our initial committed capital in conjunction with our aligned economic interests will allow us to partner with a high quality company.

 

   

Continued ownership. We are focused on partnering with management teams who are focused on long-term compounded growth and existing owners who may want to continue ownership in a high quality asset but need to provide liquidity to existing stockholders and/or limited partners. PHPC provides an ability to transition ownership to the public market, which is deeper and more liquid than the private market, in a disciplined fashion and for existing owners to share in the future upside potential over the long term.

 

   

Deep experience of our sponsor and our management team. We believe that our ability to leverage the operational experience of Post, which has completed over 16 acquisitions since 2012 across a wide spectrum of size, subsector, and ownership structure, will provide us with a distinct advantage in being able to source, diligence, and add value post-closing of the partnering transaction.

 

   

Differentiated sourcing channels with leading industry, private equity, and venture capital relationships. Our management team and sponsor believe the capabilities and connections associated with our management team will provide us with a differentiated pipeline of partnering opportunities that would be difficult for other participants in the market to replicate. We expect these sourcing capabilities will be further bolstered by our management team’s reputation and deep industry, private equity, and venture capital relationships.

 

   

Investing experience. Our management team and sponsor believe that our management’s track record of identifying and sourcing transactions in the consumer sector positions us well to appropriately evaluate potential partnering candidates and select one that will be well received by the public markets and our stockholders.

 

   

Post-closing value-add capabilities and requirements. Our management team and sponsor believe that our combined expertise and reputation will allow us to drive meaningful value post-closing with the partner company. If our value-add is not readily identifiable, then we will choose not to execute that partnering transaction.

We believe our ability to complete a partnering transaction will be enhanced by our having entered into a forward purchase agreement with our sponsor pursuant to which our sponsor will commit that it will purchase from us up to 10,000,000 forward purchase units, each consisting of one forward purchase share and one-third of one forward purchase warrant, for $10.00 per forward purchase unit, in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of our partnering transaction.



 

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The proceeds from the sale of these forward purchase units, together with the amounts available to us from the trust account (after giving effect to any redemptions of public shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by us in connection with the partnering transaction, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the partnering transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining specified amounts to be used by the post-partnering transaction company for working capital or other purposes. To the extent that the amounts available from the trust account and other financing are sufficient for such cash requirements, our sponsor may purchase less than 10,000,000 forward purchase units. The terms of the forward purchase warrants will generally be identical to the terms of the redeemable warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.

Our Process

In evaluating a prospective partnering candidate, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees and inspection of physical assets, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information that will be made available to us. We will employ third party diligence to support our internal efforts where appropriate.

We are not prohibited from pursuing a partnering transaction with a business that is owned by our sponsor or any of the related companies, or making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with any of them. In the event we seek to complete our partnering transaction with a target that is owned by one of the related companies, a committee of our independent and disinterested directors will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another accounting, valuation or appraisal firm that such partnering transaction is fair to our company from a financial point of view. However, we are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.

Members of our management team may directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular candidate is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our partnering transaction. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular partnering transaction if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a candidate business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our partnering transaction.

As described under “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors has, and any of them in the future may have, additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to one or more other entities, including, in certain cases, to Post, pursuant to which such officer or director may be required to present a partnering transaction opportunity to such entities before he or she presents such opportunity to us. Also, none of our sponsor or any of our directors and officers is prohibited from sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with any other blank check companies, including in connection with their partnering transactions. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a partnering transaction opportunity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to another entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, he or she may only present such opportunity to us if such other entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, rejects the opportunity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company, such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and such person has no fiduciary or contractual obligation to present the opportunity to any other person or entity, including, in certain cases, to Post. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our partnering transaction. We believe that potential conflicts with



 

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Post are naturally mitigated by the differing nature of the investments Post would typically consider most synergistic to the existing Post businesses and the types of transactions we expect to find most attractive based, in part, on transaction size and ability to operate as a standalone public company. Notwithstanding our belief regarding natural mitigation, Post and its subsidiaries may compete with us for acquisition opportunities that fall within Post’s investment objectives or strategies. A decision by Post to pursue an opportunity would preclude us from pursuing it and could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our partnering transaction.

Our sponsor has also indicated that it or one of its affiliates has an interest in purchasing, directly or indirectly, up to 4,000,000 units in this offering at the public offering price. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discounts or commissions (including, without limitation, deferred underwriting commissions) on public units purchased by our sponsor or its affiliate. However, indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase and our sponsor or its affiliate may decide not to purchase any public units in this offering. In addition, the underwriters could determine to sell fewer public units to our sponsor or its affiliate than it indicated an interest in purchasing or could determine not to sell any public units to our sponsor or its affiliate.

You should not rely on the historical record or performance of Post or our management team as indicative of the future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. See “Risk Factors — General Risk Factors — Past performance by Post and members of our management team may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.”

Our Management Team

Our experienced management team is well suited to identify and execute an attractive partnering transaction for our shareholders. Our management team is led by Robert V. Vitale as President and Chief Investment Officer, Bradly A. Harper as Chief Financial Officer, Jeff A. Zadoks as a member of our board of directors, and Jim Dwyer, Jennifer Kuperman, Dave Peacock and David Taiclet who will become members of our board of directors upon the completion of this offering.

 

   

Robert V. Vitale – President and Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Vitale has served as our President and Chief Investment Officer since January 2021. Mr. Vitale has also served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Post since November 2014. He joined Post during the time of its spinoff from Ralcorp and was Post’s Chief Financial Officer from 2011 to 2014. Mr. Vitale is the Executive Chairman of BellRing, of which Post is the majority stockholder. Mr. Vitale previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AHM Financial Group, LLC, a diversified provider of insurance brokerage and wealth management services, from 2006 to 2011. Prior to AHM Financial Group, LLC, Mr. Vitale was a Partner of Westgate Equity Partners, LLC, a consumer-oriented private equity firm, and started his career at Boatmen’s Bancshares and KPMG. Mr. Vitale also serves on the board of directors of 8th Avenue and Energizer Holdings, Inc.

 

   

Bradly A. Harper – Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Harper has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2021. Mr. Harper has also served as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Accounting Officer of Post since December 1, 2018. Mr. Harper served as the Vice President and Corporate Controller of Post from November 2014 to December 2018 and the Director of Corporate Accounting and Reporting of Post from December 2011 until November 2014. Prior to joining Post, Mr. Harper served as Assistant Controller of Savvis, Inc., a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprises.

 

   

Jeff A. Zadoks – Director. Mr. Zadoks has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2021. Mr. Zadoks has also served as Executive Vice President of Post since November 2017 and Chief Financial Officer of Post since 2014. He joined Post in 2011 as Corporate Controller. Mr. Zadoks



 

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previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of RehabCare Group, a national rehabilitation services company. Prior to RehabCare, Mr. Zadoks was the Corporate Controller at MEMC Electronic Materials (SunEdison), and started his career in the audit practice at KPMG.

 

   

Jim Dwyer – Director Nominee. Mr. Dwyer will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Mr. Dwyer has been the Chairman of the board of directors of 8th Avenue since May 2020 and served as its Chief Executive Officer from January 2018 until May 2020. Mr. Dwyer served as the President and CEO of Michael Foods, an operating company of Post, from October 2009 until February 2018.

 

   

Jennifer Kuperman – Director Nominee. Ms. Kuperman will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Ms. Kuperman was Head of International Corporate Affairs at Alibaba Group Holding Limited, a multinational conglomerate holding company specializing in eCommerce, retail, internet and technology, from April 2016 until January 2021 and served as Vice President, International Corporate Affairs at Alibaba Group Holding Limited from August 2014 to April 2016. Prior to joining Alibaba Group Holding Limited, Ms. Kuperman was Senior Vice President of Corporate Brand and Reputation at Visa Inc., a global payments technology company, from April 2013 to August 2014 and Chief of Staff, Office of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Visa Inc. from August 2010 to April 2013. Ms. Kuperman also served as Head of Global Corporate Communications and Citizenship at Visa Inc. from August 2008 to July 2010 and Head of Employee and Client Communication at Visa Inc. from August 2004 to June 2008. Ms. Kuperman serves on the board of directors of BellRing. Ms. Kuperman also serves on the board of directors of CoachArt, a nonprofit organization that provides arts and recreational opportunities to youth with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

 

   

Dave Peacock – Director Nominee. Mr. Peacock will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Mr. Peacock has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Schnucks Markets since May 2017. Prior to joining Schnucks’ management team, he was on the board of advisors for the firm as well as founder and Chairman of Vitaligent, LLC, a multi-unit restaurant franchisee. Mr. Peacock served as Senior Advisor to Anheuser-Busch from February 2012 until June 2012, President of Anheuser-Busch from November 2008 until January 2012, Vice President of Marketing at Anheuser-Busch from October 2007 until November 2008, and Vice President of Business Operations, Anheuser-Busch Incorporated from December 2004 until September 2007.

 

   

David L. Taiclet – Director Nominee. Mr. Taiclet will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Mr. Taiclet has served as General Partner and Managing Director of the Lewis & Clark Partners AgriFood Investment Group since November 2018. Mr. Taiclet served in several leadership positions for 1800Flowers.com from May 2006 until May 2017, as CEO of Fannie May Confections Brands from May 2006 until October 2008 and, ultimately, as President of the Gourmet Food Group from October 2008 until May 2017. Mr. Taiclet held numerous positions in the Strategy and Business Development Group of Cargill, Inc., an international marketer, processor and distributor of food, financial and industrial products.

Partnering Transaction

NYSE listing rules require that our partnering transaction must be with one or more target businesses that have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our partnering transaction. We refer to this as the 80% of net assets test. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our partnering transaction, although there is no assurance that will be the case.



 

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We anticipate structuring our partnering transaction so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own or acquire shares will own or acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our partnering transaction such that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such partnering transaction if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the target, our stockholders prior to our partnering transaction may collectively own a minority interest (economic and/or voting) in the post-partnering transaction company, depending on, among other things, valuations ascribed to the target and us in our partnering transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests of a target business, issue a substantial number of new shares to third parties in connection with financing our partnering transaction or our sponsor could convert some or all of its Series B common stock into Series A common stock. In such cases, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock or other changes to our capital structure, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction (including our sponsor) could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock subsequent to such transaction and therefore a minority interest (economic and/or voting) in the post-transaction company. If less than 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired by us is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. If our partnering transaction involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we are not then listed on the NYSE for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% of net assets test.

Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the completion of our partnering transaction.

Corporate Information

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.



 

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We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter; and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.

Our executive offices are located at 2503 S. Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63144 and our telephone number is (314) 644-7600. Upon completion of this offering, our corporate website address will be www.postpspc.com. Our website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and is not considered part of, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You should not rely on any such information in making your decision whether to invest in our securities.



 

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The Offering

In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the identity of our sponsor and the experience of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section below entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.

 

Securities offered

30,000,000 units (or 34,500,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of:

 

   

one share of Series A common stock; and

 

   

one-third of one redeemable warrant to purchase one share of Series A common stock.

 

Proposed NYSE symbols

Units: “PSPC.U”

 

  Series A Common Stock: “PSPC”

 

  Warrants: “PSPC WS”

 

Trading commencement and separation of Series A common stock and warrants

The units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The Series A common stock and warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus, unless Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. inform us of their decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of Series A common stock and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of Series A common stock and warrants. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you are separating a multiple of three units, the number of warrants issuable to you upon separation of the units will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of warrants.

 

  Additionally, the units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our partnering transaction.

 

Separate trading of the Series A common stock and warrants is prohibited until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K

In no event will the Series A common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K,



 

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which includes an audited balance sheet of our company reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

Units:

 

Number outstanding before this offering

0

 

Number of private placement units to be sold in a private placement simultaneously with this offering

1,000,000(1)

 

Number outstanding after this offering and the sale of the private placement units

31,000,000(1)

Common stock:

 

Number outstanding before this offering

8,625,000(2)(4)

 

Number outstanding after this offering

38,500,000(1)(3)(4)

Warrants:

 

Number of private placement warrants to be sold in a private placement simultaneously with this offering

333,333(1)

 

Number of warrants to be outstanding after this offering and the sale of private placement units

10,333,333(1)

 

(1) 

Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the forfeiture by our sponsor of an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares.

(2) 

Consists solely of founder shares and includes up to an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares that are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.

(3) 

Includes 30,000,000 public shares, 7,500,000 founder shares and 1,000,000 private placement shares. No shares of Series B common stock or Series C common stock will be issued or outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering.

(4) 

Founder shares are classified as shares of Series F common stock. Shares of Series F common stock will automatically convert into shares of Series B common stock at the time of our partnering transaction, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, as described below adjacent to the caption “Founder shares conversion.” Prior to and following our partnering transaction, each share of Series B common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of our Series A common stock. No shares of Series B common stock or Series C common stock will be issued or outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering.



 

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Exercisability

Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Series A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein, and only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.

 

  We structured each unit to contain one-third of one warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Series A common stock, as compared to units issued by some other similar blank check companies which contain whole warrants exercisable for one whole share, in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of our partnering transaction as compared to units that each contain a warrant to purchase one whole share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive partnering transaction partner for target businesses.

 

Exercise price

$11.50 per share of Series A common stock, subject to adjustment as described herein.

 

  In addition, if (x) we issue additional shares of common stock or equity-linked securities, excluding forward purchase units, for capital raising purposes in connection with the consummation of our partnering transaction at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of common stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to our sponsor or Post or its other subsidiaries, without taking into account any founder shares held by our sponsor or Post or its other subsidiaries, as applicable) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances, excluding the forward purchase units, represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our partnering transaction on the date of the completion of our partnering transaction (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our Series A common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which we consummate our partnering transaction (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described below under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

 

Exercise period

The warrants will become exercisable on the later of:

 

   

30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction; and

 

   

12 months from the closing of this offering;



 

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  provided in each case that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky, laws of the state of residence of the holder (or we permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement).

 

  We are not registering the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants at this time. However, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the consummation of our partnering transaction, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC, and within 60 business days following our partnering transaction to have declared effective, a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Series A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed; provided that, if our Series A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

 

  The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, five years after the completion of our partnering transaction or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. On the exercise of any warrant, the warrant exercise price will be paid directly to us and not placed in the trust account.

 

Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00

Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (except as described herein with respect to the private placement warrants):

 

   

in whole and not in part;

 

   

at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

 

   

upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, which we refer to as the 30-day redemption period; and

 

   

if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted



 

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for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

 

  We will not redeem the warrants for cash unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

 

  If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Series A common stock issuable upon the exercise of our warrants. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Series A common stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Series A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of our Series A common stock (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.361 shares of Series A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment). See “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants” for additional information.

 

  The “fair market value” of our Series A common stock for this purpose shall mean the volume weighted average price of our Series A common stock during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. We will provide our warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the 10-trading day period described above ends.

 

Forward Purchase Agreement

In connection with the consummation of this offering, we will enter into a forward purchase agreement with our sponsor pursuant to



 

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which our sponsor will commit to purchase from us up to 10,000,000 forward purchase units, consisting of one forward purchase share and one-third of one forward purchase warrant, for $10.00 per forward purchase unit, in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of our partnering transaction. The proceeds from the sale of these forward purchase units, together with the amounts available to us from the trust account (after giving effect to any redemptions of public shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by us in connection with the partnering transaction, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the partnering transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining specified amounts to be used by the post-partnering transaction company for working capital or other purposes. To the extent that the amounts available from the trust account and other financing are sufficient for such cash requirements, our sponsor may purchase less than 10,000,000 forward purchase units.

 

  The forward purchase shares will be subject to registration rights. The forward purchase warrants will generally be identical to the term of the redeemable warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.

 

Election of directors; voting rights

Prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, only holders of our Series F common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. Holders of our Series A common stock and holders of our Series B common stock, if any, will not be entitled to vote on the election of directors during such time. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon as well as more than 50% of the outstanding Series F common stock. On any vote to approve our partnering transaction or any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders prior to our partnering transaction other than the matters addressed above in this paragraph, holders of our Series A common stock, holders of our Series B common stock, if any, and holders of our Series F common stock will generally vote together as a single class, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, with each share of our common stock entitling the holder to one vote.

 

 

Following our partnering transaction, holders of our Series A common stock and holders of our Series B common stock will generally vote together as a single class on matters presented for a stockholder vote, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, with each share of Series A common stock entitling the holder to one vote per share and each share of Series B common stock entitling the holder to ten votes per share. Holders of our Series C common stock will not be entitled to any voting powers,



 

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except as (and then only to the extent) otherwise required by Delaware law. The high-vote nature of our Series B common stock differs from the typical capital structure of many other special purpose acquisition companies and will significantly dilute the voting power of the investors in this offering following our partnering transaction and may make completing our partnering transaction more difficult or costly.

 

Founder shares

In January 2021, our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 11,500,000 shares of Series F common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, with a purchase price of approximately $0.002 per share. On April 8, 2021, our sponsor surrendered 2,875,000 founder shares to us for no consideration resulting in an aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares outstanding (up to 1,125,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised). As a result of such surrender, the per share purchase price increased to approximately $0.003 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon the completion of this offering. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by our sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Series F common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon the consummation of this offering. Up to an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.

 

  The founder shares are identical to the shares of Series A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that:

 

   

prior to our partnering transaction, only holders of the Series F common stock have the right to vote on the election of directors. Such rights as provided by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon as well as more than 50% of the outstanding Series F common stock;

 

   

prior to our partnering transaction and so long as any shares of Series F common stock remain outstanding, the rights, powers and preferences provided by our amended and restated



 

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certificate of incorporation to the Series B common stock may be amended only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Series F common stock;

 

   

on any vote to approve our partnering transaction or any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders prior to our partnering transaction other than the matters set forth in the previous bullets, holders of our Series A common stock, holders of our Series B common stock, if any, and holders of our Series F common stock will generally vote together as a single class, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, with each share of our common stock entitling the holder to one vote;

 

   

following our partnering transaction, holders of our Series A common stock and holders of our Series B common stock will generally vote together as a single class on matters presented for a stockholder vote, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, with each share of Series A common stock entitling the holder to one vote per share and each share of Series B common stock entitling the holder to ten votes per share;

 

   

the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below;

 

   

our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive: (1) their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction; (2) their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (3) their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any extended time that we have to consummate a partnering transaction beyond 24 months (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) as a result of a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (an “Extension Period”) (although our sponsor, officers and directors will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering



 

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transaction within the prescribed time frame). If we submit our partnering transaction to our public stockholders for a vote, our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree to vote all shares of our common stock held by them in favor of our partnering transaction. As a result, in addition to our sponsor’s founder shares and private placement shares (assuming our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering), we would need 10,750,001, or 35.8% (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,125,002, or 3.8% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 30,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of a partnering transaction in order to have such partnering transaction approved;

 

   

shares of our Series F common stock are automatically convertible into shares of our Series B common stock at the time of our partnering transaction, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, as described in more detail below, and, prior to and following our partnering transaction, each share of Series B common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of our Series A common stock; and

 

   

the holders of founder shares are entitled to registration rights.

 

Transfer restrictions on founder shares and private placement units

Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree not to transfer, assign or sell (i) any founder shares held by them until the earlier to occur of: (1) one year after the completion of our partnering transaction; and (2) subsequent to our partnering transaction, (x) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property or (y) if the last reported sale price of our Series A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations, and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our partnering transaction, or (ii) any of their private placement units, private placement shares, private placement warrants and Series A common stock issued upon conversion or exercise thereof until 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction, subject to certain exceptions described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units.” Any permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units” would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements as our sponsor with respect to any founder shares, private placement units, private placement shares, private



 

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placement warrants and shares of Series A common stock issued upon conversion or exercise thereof. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the lock-up.

 

Founder shares conversion

We have 8,625,000 shares of Series F common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, issued and outstanding. Shares of Series F common stock will automatically convert into shares of Series B common stock at the time of our partnering transaction, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis.

 

  Prior to and following our partnering transaction, each share of Series B common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of our Series A common stock.

 

Private placement units

Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 private placement units (or 1,090,000 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per unit in a private placement to occur concurrently with the closing of this offering for an aggregate purchase price of $10,000,000 (or $10,900,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). The private placement units are identical to the units sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus. If we do not consummate a partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds from the sale of the private placement units held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the private placement units (and the underlying securities) will expire worthless. The private placement warrants included in the private placement units will be non-redeemable by us and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees (see “Description of Securities — Warrants — Private Placement Warrants”). If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than our sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us in all redemption scenarios and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering.

 

Cashless exercise of private placement warrants

If holders of private placement warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, except as described under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00,” they would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Series A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Series A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Sponsor fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the Sponsor fair market value. The “Sponsor fair market value” shall mean the



 

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average reported closing price of the shares of Series A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of warrant exercise is sent to the warrant agent. The reason that we have agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the sponsor or its permitted transferees is because it is not known at this time whether they will be affiliated with us following a partnering transaction. If they remain affiliated with us, their ability to sell our securities in the open market will be significantly limited. We expect to have policies in place that restrict insiders from selling our securities except during specific periods.

 

Transfer restrictions on private placement warrants

The private placement warrants (including the Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction, except as described below under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units.”

 

Indication of Interest

Our sponsor has also indicated that it or one of its affiliates has an interest in purchasing, directly or indirectly, up to 4,000,000 units in this offering at the public offering price. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discounts or commissions (including, without limitation, deferred underwriting commissions) on public units purchased by our sponsor or its affiliate. However, indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase and our sponsor or its affiliate may decide not to purchase any public units in this offering. In addition, the underwriters could determine to sell fewer public units to our sponsor or its affiliate than it indicated an interest in purchasing or could determine not to sell any public units to our sponsor or its affiliate.

 

Proceeds to be held in trust account

NYSE listing rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement units be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds we will receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement units described in this prospectus, $300.0 million ($10.00 per unit), or $345.0 million ($10.00 per unit) if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full (including $10,500,000 (or up to $12,075,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions), will be deposited into a United States-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and $1,500,000 will be used to pay expenses in connection with the closing of this offering and for working capital following this offering. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in United States Treasuries.


 

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  Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, the funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of: (1) the completion of our partnering transaction; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), subject to applicable law. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders.

 

Anticipated expenses and funding sources

Unless and until we complete our partnering transaction, no proceeds held in the trust account will be available for our use, except the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes or to redeem our public shares in connection with an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as described above. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in United States Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. Based upon current interest rates, we expect the trust account to generate approximately $300,000 of interest annually (assuming an interest rate of 0.1% per year). Unless and until we complete our partnering transaction, we may pay our expenses only from:

 

   

the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units not held in the trust account, which will be approximately $2,500,000 in working capital after the payment of approximately $1,500,000 in expenses relating to this offering; and

 

   

any loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or Post or any of its subsidiaries or other third parties, although they are under no obligation or other duty to loan funds to, or invest in, us, and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account unless such proceeds are released to us upon completion of our partnering transaction. If we complete our partnering transaction, we expect to repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to



 

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us. In the event that our partnering transaction does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $2,500,000 of such loans made to us may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units issued to our sponsor.

 

Conditions to completing our partnering transaction

There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our partnering transaction. NYSE listing rules require that our partnering transaction must be with one or more target businesses that have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our partnering transaction. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our partnering transaction, although there is no assurance that will be the case.

 

  If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We will complete our partnering transaction only if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the target, our stockholders prior to our partnering transaction may collectively own a minority interest (economic and/or voting) in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in our partnering transaction. If less than 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired by us is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test; provided that in the event that our partnering transaction involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.


 

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Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities by our sponsor, insiders and the related companies

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies and their directors, officers and advisors may purchase public shares or public warrants or a combination thereof in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market, either prior to or following the completion of our partnering transaction, although they are under no obligation or other duty to do so. There is no limit on the number of securities such persons may purchase, or any restriction on the price that they may pay. Any such price per share may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our partnering transaction. Additionally, at any time at or prior to our partnering transaction, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies and their directors, officers and advisors may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our partnering transaction or not redeem their public shares. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such purchases or other transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such purchases or other transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. Such persons will be subject to restrictions in making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. See “Proposed Business — Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities” for a description of how such persons will determine from which stockholders to enter into transactions with.

 

  We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will be required to comply with such rules. Our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies and their directors, officers and advisors will be restricted from making purchases if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.


 

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  We expect that any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used in such transactions prior to completion of our partnering transaction.

 

  The purpose of any such transaction could be to (1) vote such shares in favor of the partnering transaction and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the partnering transaction, (2) reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our partnering transaction or (3) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the consummation of our partnering transaction, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such transactions may result in the completion of our partnering transaction that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of Series A common stock or warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.

 

  Certain members of our management team, and officers and directors of Post and their affiliates, may purchase our securities in the open market following the IPO and enter into an agreement in accordance with the guidelines of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act to place limit orders, through an independent broker-dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act which is not affiliated with us nor part of the underwriting or selling group, to purchase our securities in the open market at market prices, subject to certain conditions.

 

Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our partnering transaction

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our partnering transaction at a per-share 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 completion of our partnering transaction, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. There



 

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will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our partnering transaction with respect to our warrants. Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction.

 

Manner of conducting redemptions

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our partnering transaction either: (1) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the partnering transaction; or (2) by means of a tender offer. At completion of the partnering transaction, we will be required to purchase any public shares properly delivered for redemption and not withdrawn. Except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed partnering transaction or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would typically require stockholder approval. We intend to conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange rule or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons.

 

  If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

 

   

conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and

 

   

file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our partnering transaction which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the partnering transaction and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.

 

  Upon the public announcement of our partnering transaction, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we and our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our Series A common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.


 

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  In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our partnering transaction until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our partnering transaction. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such partnering transaction, and we instead may search for an alternate partnering transaction (including, potentially, with the same target).

 

  If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange rule or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will:

 

   

conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and

 

   

file proxy materials with the SEC.

 

  We expect that a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least 10 days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Although we are not required to do so, we currently intend to comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A in connection with any stockholder vote even if we are not able to maintain our NYSE listing or Exchange Act registration.

 

 

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction, holders of our common stock will vote together as a single class with each share entitling the holder to one vote and we will complete our partnering transaction only if a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the partnering transaction, subject to any other vote required by applicable law. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of our outstanding capital stock representing a majority of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Shares of common stock held by our sponsor, officers and directors will count towards this quorum and they have agreed to vote our common stock held by



 

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them in favor of our partnering transaction. We expect that at the time of any stockholder vote relating to our partnering transaction, our sponsor and its permitted transferees will own at least 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) entitled to vote thereon. As a result, in addition to our sponsor’s founder shares and private placement shares (assuming our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering), we would need 10,750,001, or 35.8% (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,125,002, or 3.8% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 30,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of a partnering transaction in order to have such partnering transaction approved. These quorum and voting thresholds and agreements may make it more likely that we will consummate our partnering transaction. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting, and if it does vote, irrespective of whether it votes for or against the proposed transaction.

 

  Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions. Redemptions of our public shares may also be subject to a higher net tangible asset test or cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to our partnering transaction. For example, the proposed partnering transaction may require: (1) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners; (2) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes; or (3) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed partnering transaction. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed partnering transaction exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the partnering transaction or redeem any shares, all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate partnering transaction (including, potentially, with the same target).

 

Tendering share certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights

We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two



 

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business days prior to the scheduled vote on the proposal to approve our partnering transaction in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, rather than simply voting against the partnering transaction. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our partnering transaction will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares.

 

Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a stockholder vote

Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, without our prior consent. We believe the restriction described above will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to redeem their shares as a means to force us or our sponsor to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against a partnering transaction if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our sponsor at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our partnering transaction, particularly in connection with a partnering transaction with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those stockholders that hold more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our partnering transaction.


 

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Redemption rights in connection with proposed amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation

Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter which prohibits the amendment of certain charter provisions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that any of its provisions (other than amendments relating to the appointment of directors prior to our partnering transaction, which require the approval of holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon as well as more than 50% of the outstanding Series F common stock) related to pre-partnering transaction activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock, subject to applicable law or stock exchange rule, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock. Our sponsor, who will beneficially own 20% of our outstanding common stock upon the closing of this offering (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units and assuming our sponsor does not purchase any units in this offering), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner it may choose. Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with (x) amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described above and (y) the completion of our partnering transaction. Any permitted transferees as



 

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described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants” would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements as our sponsor with respect to any founder shares.

 

Release of funds in trust account on consummation of our partnering transaction

On the completion of our partnering transaction, all amounts held in the trust account will be disbursed directly by the trustee or released to us to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights as described above under “Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our partnering transaction,” to pay the underwriters their deferred underwriting commissions, to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our partnering transaction and to pay other expenses associated with our partnering transaction. If our partnering transaction is paid for using equity or debt or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our partnering transaction or used for redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our partnering transaction, to fund the purchase of other businesses, for share repurchases or for working capital.

 

Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no partnering transaction

Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our partnering transaction (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event). If we have not completed our partnering transaction within such 24-month period (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other



 

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applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within such 24-month period (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event).

 

  Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period (although our sponsor, officers and directors will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within the prescribed time frame). The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission held in the trust account in the event we do not complete our partnering transaction and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the trust account that will be available to fund the redemption of our public shares.

 

  Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Series A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. However, we may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions.


 

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Limited payments to insiders

There will be no finder’s fees, reimbursements or cash payments made by us to our sponsor, Post or its other subsidiaries, or their officers or directors, for services rendered to us prior to or in

connection with the completion of our partnering transaction, other than the following payments, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units held in the trust account prior to the completion of our partnering transaction:

 

   

repayment of an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;

 

   

payment to certain subsidiaries of Post of a total of $40,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services;

 

   

payments of fees in cash to each of our non-employee directors for service on our board of directors in the amounts of $50,000 on each of the closing of this offering, the one-year anniversary of the closing of this offering, and the earlier of (x) the two-year anniversary of the closing of this offering and (y) the closing of our partnering transaction;

 

   

reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing a partnering transaction; and

 

   

repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or Post or its other subsidiaries or certain of our officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended partnering transaction, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $2,500,000 of such loans made to us may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units.

 

  These payments may be funded using the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, in each case to the extent not held in the trust account or, upon the consummation of the partnering transaction, from any amounts remaining from the proceeds of the trust account released to us in connection therewith.

 

  Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors or Post or its other subsidiaries.

 

Audit committee

We will establish and maintain an audit committee. Among its responsibilities, the audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates and monitor compliance with the other terms relating to this offering. If any noncompliance is identified, then the audit committee will be charged with the



 

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responsibility to promptly take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of this offering. See “Management — Committees of the Board of Directors — Audit Committee.”

 

Conflicts of interest

As described under “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors has, and any of them in the future may have, additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director may be required to present a partnering transaction opportunity to such entities before he or she presents such opportunity to us. Also, none of Post, our sponsor or any of our directors and officers is prohibited from sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their partnering transactions. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a partnering transaction opportunity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to another entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, he or she may only present such opportunity to us if such other entity including, in certain cases, to Post, rejects the opportunity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company, such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and such person has no fiduciary or contractual obligation to present the opportunity to any other person or entity including, in certain cases, to Post. Additionally, none of Post, our sponsor or any other entity currently has any obligation or duty to provide us with any potential partnering transaction opportunity.

 

  For more information, including a list of our executive officers and directors and entities for which a conflict of interest may or does exist between such officers and the company, see “Management —Conflicts of Interest.”

 

 

We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our partnering transaction. We believe that potential conflicts with Post are naturally mitigated by the differing nature of the investments Post would typically consider most synergistic to the existing Post businesses and the types of transactions we expect to find most attractive based, in part, on transaction size and ability to operate as a standalone public company. Notwithstanding our belief regarding natural mitigation, Post and its subsidiaries may compete with us for acquisition opportunities that fall within Post’s investment objectives or



 

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strategies. A decision by Post to pursue an opportunity would preclude us from pursuing it and could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our partnering transaction.

 

Indemnity

Our sponsor will agree that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of: (1) $10.00 per public share; and (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

  Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor, which is a newly formed entity, has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our partnering transaction and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our partnering transaction, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

Risks

We are a newly incorporated company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our partnering transaction, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company. This offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, see “Proposed Business — Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.” You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.



 

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Summary Financial Data

The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data is presented.

 

     January 27, 2021  
     Actual      As Adjusted  

Balance Sheet Data:

     

Working capital (deficiency)(1)

   $ (20,000    $  292,020,000  

Total assets(2)

   $ 40,000      $ 302,520,000  

Total liabilities(3)

   $ 20,000      $ 10,500,000  

Value of Series A common stock subject to possible redemption(4)

   $ —        $ 287,019,990  

Stockholders’ equity(5)

   $ 20,000      $ 5,000,010  

 

(1)

The “as adjusted” calculation includes $300,000,000 of cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, plus $2,500,000 in cash held outside the trust account, plus $20,000 of actual stockholder’s equity as of January 27, 2021, less $10,500,000 of deferred underwriting commissions.

(2)

The “as adjusted” calculation equals $300,000,000 of cash held in trust from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, plus $2,500,000 in cash held outside the trust account plus $20,000 of actual stockholder’s equity as of January 27, 2021.

(3)

The “as adjusted” calculation includes $10,500,000 of deferred underwriting commissions.

(4)

The “as adjusted” calculation equals the “as adjusted” total assets, less the “as adjusted” total liabilities, less the “as adjusted” stockholder’s equity, which is set to approximate the minimum net tangible assets threshold of at least $5,000,001.

(5)

Excludes 28,701,999 public shares which are subject to redemption in connection with our partnering transaction. The “as adjusted” calculation equals the “as adjusted” total assets, less the “as adjusted” total liabilities, less the value of shares of Series A common stock that may be redeemed in connection with our partnering transaction (initially $10.00 per share). The actual number of public shares that may be redeemed may exceed this amount as long as we satisfy the $5,000,001 minimum net tangible asset threshold.



 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTOR SUMMARY

Some statements contained in this prospectus are forward-looking in nature. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following risks, uncertainties and other factors:

 

   

our being a newly incorporated company with no operating history and no revenues;

 

   

our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses;

 

   

our ability to complete our partnering transaction;

 

   

our expectations around the performance of a prospective target business or businesses;

 

   

our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our partnering transaction;

 

   

our directors and officers allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our partnering transaction;

 

   

actual and potential conflicts of interest relating to Post and its subsidiaries, our sponsor and other entities in which members of our management team are involved;

 

   

our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our partnering transaction including from our sponsor, Post or other third parties;

 

   

our pool of prospective target businesses, including the location and industry of such target businesses;

 

   

our ability to consummate a partnering transaction due to the uncertainty resulting from the recent COVID-19 pandemic and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases);

 

   

the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential partnering transaction opportunities;

 

   

the voting structure of our common stock including any potential adverse effect on our ability to complete our partnering transaction timely or cost effectively, and, following our partnering transaction, our status as a controlled company and the ability of our sponsor and Post to exercise control over our policies and operations, each as a result of the high vote feature of our Series B common stock;

 

   

our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;

 

   

the lack of a market for our securities;

 

   

the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance;

 

   

the trust account not being subject to claims of third parties;

 

   

our financial performance following this offering; and

 

   

the other risks and uncertainties discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Relating to Our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Partnering Transaction

Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed partnering transaction, which means we may complete our partnering transaction even though a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.

We may not hold a stockholder vote to approve our partnering transaction unless the partnering transaction would require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements or if we decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons. For example, the NYSE rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a stockholder meeting but would still require us to obtain stockholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares to a target business as consideration in any partnering transaction. Therefore, if we were structuring a partnering transaction that required us to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares, we would seek stockholder approval of such partnering transaction. However, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed partnering transaction or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction. Accordingly, we may consummate our partnering transaction even if holders of a majority of our outstanding public shares, or if holders of a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote, do not approve of the partnering transaction we consummate. See “Proposed Business — Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Partnering Transaction” for additional information.

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction, our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree to vote in favor of such partnering transaction, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.

Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree (and their permitted transferees will agree) to vote our common stock held by them in favor of our partnering transaction. As a result, in addition to our sponsor’s founder shares and private placement shares (assuming our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering), we would need 10,750,001, or 35.8% (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,125,002, or 3.8% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 30,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of a partnering transaction in order to have such partnering transaction approved. We expect that our sponsor and its permitted transferees will own at least 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) at the time of any such stockholder vote. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction, it is more likely that the necessary stockholder approval will be received than would be the case if our sponsor agreed to vote its founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public stockholders. In addition, Post and our sponsor reserve the right but are not required to provide incremental funding to us in connection with our partnering transaction by purchasing additional shares of Series B common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share, which shares will also be sold in a private placement substantially concurrently with the consummation of our partnering transaction.

 

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In evaluating a prospective target business for our partnering transaction, our management will rely on the availability of all of the funds from the sale of the forward purchase units to be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in the partnering transaction. If the sale of some or all of the forward purchase units fails to close, for any reason, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our partnering transaction.

In connection with the consummation of this offering, we will enter into a forward purchase agreement with our sponsor pursuant to which our sponsor will commit to purchase from us up to 10,000,000 forward purchase units for an aggregate purchase price of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of our partnering transaction. The proceeds from the sale of these forward purchase units, together with the amounts available to us from the trust account (after giving effect to any redemptions of public shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by us in connection with the partnering transaction, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the partnering transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining specified amounts to be used by the post-partnering transaction company for working capital or other purposes. To the extent that the amounts available from the trust account and other financing are sufficient for such cash requirements, fewer than 10,000,000 forward purchase units may be purchased.

Our sponsor’s obligation to purchase the forward purchase units will be subject to fulfillment of customary closing conditions, including that our partnering transaction must be consummated substantially concurrently with the purchase of the forward purchase units. If the sale of the forward purchase units does not close for any reason, including by reason of the failure to fund the purchase price, for example, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our partnering transaction.

Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential partnering transaction will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek stockholder approval of such partnering transaction.

At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any target businesses. Additionally, since our board of directors may complete a partnering transaction without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the partnering transaction. Accordingly, if we do not seek stockholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential partnering transaction may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our partnering transaction.

The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential partnering transaction targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a partnering transaction with a target.

We may seek to enter into a partnering transaction agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with the partnering transaction. The amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriters will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with a partnering transaction and such amount of deferred underwriting discount is not available for us to use as consideration in a partnering transaction. Furthermore, in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our partnering transaction. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 or such greater amount necessary to satisfy a closing condition as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related partnering transaction and may instead search for an alternate partnering transaction (including, potentially, with the same target). Prospective

 

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targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into a partnering transaction with us. If we are able to consummate a partnering transaction, the per-share value of shares held by non-redeeming stockholders will reflect our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting commissions.

The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable partnering transaction or optimize our capital structure.

At the time we enter into an agreement for our partnering transaction, we will not know how many stockholders may exercise their redemption rights and, therefore, we will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our partnering transaction agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements or arrange for third-party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares is submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third-party financing. Raising additional third-party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable partnering transaction available to us or optimize our capital structure.

The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our partnering transaction would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your stock.

If our partnering transaction agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our partnering transaction would be unsuccessful increases. If our partnering transaction is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your stock in the open market; however, at such time our stock may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your stock in the open market.

The requirement that we complete our partnering transaction within the prescribed time frame (or such later date as approved by holders of a majority of the voting power of shares of our outstanding common stock that are voted at the meeting to extend such date, voting together as a single class) may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a partnering transaction and may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential partnering transaction targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our partnering transaction on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.

Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a partnering transaction will be aware that we must complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event). Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a partnering transaction, knowing that if we do not complete our partnering transaction with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our partnering transaction with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the end of the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our partnering transaction on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.

 

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We may not be able to complete our partnering transaction within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.

Our sponsor will agree that we must complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event). We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our partnering transaction within such time period. Our ability to complete our partnering transaction may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein, including as a result of terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of infectious diseases. For example, the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) continues to grow both in the United States and globally and, while the extent of the impact of the outbreak on us will depend on future developments, it could limit our ability to complete our partnering transaction, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all. Additionally, the outbreak of COVID-19 and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) may negatively impact businesses we may seek to acquire. It may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, such as those related to the market for our securities and cross-border transactions.

If we have not completed our partnering transaction within such time period or during any Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less than $10.00 per share, on the redemption of their shares, and our warrants will expire worthless. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.

Our search for a partnering transaction, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a partnering transaction, may be materially adversely affected by COVID-19 outbreak and other events and the status of debt and equity markets.

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus was reported to have surfaced, which has and is continuing to spread throughout parts of the world, including the United States. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” On January 31, 2020, United States Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the United States healthcare community in responding to COVID-19, and on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak as a “pandemic.” The COVID-19 outbreak has adversely affected, and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) could adversely affect, economies and financial markets worldwide, business operations and the conduct of commerce generally, and the business of any potential target business with which we consummate a partnering transaction could be, or may already have been, materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a partnering transaction if concerns relating to COVID-19 continue to restrict travel or limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors, or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our search for a

 

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partnering transaction will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. While vaccines for COVID-19 are being, and have been, developed, there is no guarantee that any such vaccine will be durable and effective consistent with current expectations and we expect it will take significant time before the vaccines are available and accepted on a significant scale. If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate a partnering transaction, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a partnering transaction, may be materially adversely affected.

In addition, our ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by COVID-19 and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases), including as a result of increased market volatility and decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all.

Finally, the outbreak of COVID-19 may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, such as those related to the market for our securities and cross border transactions.

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction, our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies or their directors, officers or advisors may enter into certain transactions, including purchasing shares or warrants from the public, which may influence the outcome of our proposed partnering transaction and reduce the public “float” of our securities.

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies or their directors, officers, or advisors may purchase public shares or public warrants or a combination thereof in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our partnering transaction, although they are under no obligation or other duty to do so. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such public stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies or their directors, officers, or advisors purchase public shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling public stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our partnering transaction. Additionally, at any time at or prior to our partnering transaction, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies or their directors, officers, or advisors may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our partnering transaction or not redeem their public shares. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. See “Proposed Business — Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities” for a description of how such persons will determine with which stockholders to enter into transactions. The purpose of any such transaction could be to (1) vote such shares in favor of the partnering transaction and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the partnering transaction, (2) reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our partnering transaction or (3) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the consummation of our partnering transaction, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such transactions may result in the completion of our partnering transaction that may not otherwise have been possible.

 

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In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Series A common stock or warrants and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.

If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our partnering transaction, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.

We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the tender offer documents or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our partnering transaction will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares. For example, we may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the partnering transaction in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these procedures, its shares may not be redeemed. See “Proposed Business — Tendering stock certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights.”

You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.

Since the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units are intended to be used to complete a partnering transaction with a business that has not been selected, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, because we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the successful completion of this offering and the sale of the private placement units and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet of our company demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our partnering transaction than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if this offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our completion of our partnering transaction. For a more detailed comparison of our offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, see “Proposed Business —  Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.”

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Series A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Series A common stock.

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not restrict our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our partnering transaction. Your inability

 

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to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our partnering transaction and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our partnering transaction. And as a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.

Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for partnering transaction opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our partnering transaction. If we are unable to complete our partnering transaction, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on our redemption of their stock, and our warrants will expire worthless.

We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment partnerships), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well-established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources or more local industry knowledge than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. Furthermore, our high vote capital structure differs from the typical capital structure of many other special purpose acquisition company competitors and may make us less attractive to an acquisition target or make an acquisition more costly to complete. While we believe there will be numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our partnering transaction and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by target businesses. Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating and completing a partnering transaction. If we are unable to complete our partnering transaction, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.

If the funds not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 24 months following the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), we may be unable to complete our partnering transaction.

The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the 24 months following the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), assuming that our partnering transaction is not completed during that time. We expect to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this need for capital through this offering and potential loans from certain entities are discussed in the section of this prospectus titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” However, those entities, including Post, are not obligated to make loans to us in the future, and we may not be able to raise additional financing from other parties necessary to fund our expenses. Any such event in the future may negatively impact the analysis regarding our ability to continue as a going concern at such time. If we are unable to complete our partnering transaction, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.

 

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If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our partnering transaction and we will depend on loans from our sponsor or management team to fund our search, to pay our taxes and to complete our partnering transaction. If we are unable to obtain such loans, we may be unable to complete our partnering transaction.

Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, only approximately $2,500,000 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $1,500,000, we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $1,500,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. None of our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries is under any obligation or other duty to loan funds to, or invest in, us in such circumstances. Any such loans may be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our partnering transaction. Up to $2,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units. If we are unable to complete our partnering transaction because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. In such case, our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein. Subsequent to our completion of our partnering transaction, we may be required to subsequently take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and the price of our securities, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.

Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will identify all material issues that may be present with a particular target business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant holder following our partnering transaction could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.

If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.

Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if

 

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they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management team will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Making such a request of potential target businesses may make our acquisition proposal less attractive to them and, to the extent prospective target businesses refuse to execute such a waiver, it may limit the field of potential target businesses that we might pursue.

Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where we are unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we have not completed our partnering transaction within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our partnering transaction, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors.

Our sponsor will agree that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of: (1) $10.00 per public share; and (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor, which is a newly formed entity, has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our partnering transaction and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our partnering transaction, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

Our independent directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.

In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of: (1) $10.00 per public share; and (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest

 

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which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in certain instances. For example, the cost of such legal action may be deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or the independent directors may determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.

The securities in which we invest the funds held in the trust account could bear a negative rate of interest, which could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.

The net proceeds of this offering and certain proceeds from the sale of the private placement units, in the amount of $300,000,000, will be held in the trust account and will be invested only in United States government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act that invest only in direct United States government treasury obligations. While short-term United States government treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event that we do not complete our partnering transaction within the allotted time frame or make certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our public stockholders are entitled to receive their pro-rata share of the proceeds held in the trust account, plus any interest income, net of taxes paid or payable (less, in the case we are unable to complete our partnering transaction, $100,000 of interest). Negative interest rates could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.

If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.

If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages.

If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with any liquidation may be reduced.

If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the

 

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trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our public stockholders in connection with any liquidation would be reduced.

If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our partnering transaction.

If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:

 

   

restrictions on the nature of our investments; and

 

   

restrictions on the issuance of securities;

each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our partnering transaction.

In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:

 

   

registration as an investment company with the SEC;

 

   

adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and

 

   

reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and compliance with other rules and regulations that we are currently not subject to.

In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading of securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of United States government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business will be to identify and complete a partnering transaction and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resell or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.

We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act that invest only in direct United States government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. This offering is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The trust account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our primary business objective, which is a partnering transaction; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (iii) absent a partnering transaction, our return of

 

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the funds held in the trust account to our public stockholders as part of our redemption of the public shares. If we do not invest the proceeds as discussed above, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to consummate our partnering transaction. If we are unable to complete our partnering transaction, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.

Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our partnering transaction, and results of operations.

We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our partnering transaction, and results of operations.

If we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months of the closing of this offering or during any subsequent Extension Period, our public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond such 24 months before redemption from our trust account.

If we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), we will distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable), pro rata to our public stockholders by way of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs, as further described herein. Any redemption of public stockholders from the trust account shall be effected automatically by function of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation prior to any voluntary winding up. If we are required to wind up, liquidate the trust account and distribute such amount therein, pro rata, to our public stockholders, as part of any liquidation process, such winding up, liquidation and distribution must comply with the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). In that case, investors may be forced to wait beyond the initial 24 months (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) before the redemption proceeds of our trust account become available to them and they receive the return of their pro rata portion of the proceeds from our trust account. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to the date of our redemption or liquidation unless, prior thereto, we consummate our partnering transaction or amend certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and then only in cases where investors have properly sought to redeem their shares of Series A common stock. Only upon our redemption or any liquidation will public stockholders be entitled to distributions if we have not completed our partnering transaction within the required time period or do not amend certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation prior thereto.

Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.

Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to

 

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our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our partnering transaction within the required time period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. However, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the 24th month (or 27th month following an agreement in principle event) from the closing of this offering (or the end of any Extension Period) in the event we do not complete our partnering transaction and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the foregoing procedures.

Because we do not intend to comply with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time, that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, consultants, etc.) or prospective target businesses. If our plan of distribution complies with Section 281(b) of the DGCL, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend beyond the third anniversary of such date. Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our partnering transaction within the required time period is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution.

We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after the completion of our partnering transaction and you will not be entitled to any of the corporate protections provided by such a meeting.

We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our partnering transaction (unless required by NYSE) and thus may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting of stockholders be held for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with a company’s bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to our completion of our partnering transaction, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL. Until we hold an annual meeting of stockholders, public stockholders may not be afforded the opportunity to discuss company affairs with management.

The grant of registration rights to our sponsor and its permitted transferees may make it more difficult to complete our partnering transaction, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Series A common stock.

Pursuant to an investor rights agreement and a forward purchase agreement to be entered into on or prior to the closing of this offering, at or after the time of our partnering transaction, our sponsor and/or its permitted transferees can demand that we register the resale of the private placement shares, the private

 

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placement warrants, the forward purchase shares, the forward purchase warrants, shares and warrants underlying the units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and shares of Series A common stock issuable upon (1) conversion of the founder shares, (2) exercise of the private placement units, (3) conversion of the forward purchase shares, (4) exercise of the forward purchase units and forward purchase warrants and (5) exercise of private placement warrants underlying the private placement units issued upon conversion of working capital loans (if any). We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Series A common stock.

The existence of the registration rights may make our partnering transaction more costly or difficult to complete. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Series A common stock that is expected when the securities owned by our sponsor or its permitted transferees are registered for resale.

Because we are neither limited to evaluating target businesses in a particular industry, sector or geographic area nor have we selected any specific target businesses with which to pursue our partnering transaction, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations.

Although we expect to focus on the consumer packaged goods industry, we may seek to complete a partnering transaction with an operating company in any industry, sector or geographic area. However, we will not, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, be permitted to effectuate our partnering transaction solely with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet selected or approached any specific target business with respect to a partnering transaction, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our partnering transaction, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a partnering transaction target. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant holder following our partnering transaction could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.

We may seek acquisition opportunities in industries or sectors that may be outside of our management team’s areas of expertise.

We will consider a partnering transaction outside of our management team’s areas of expertise if such partnering transaction candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our company. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition outside of the areas of our management team’s expertise, our management team’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this prospectus regarding the areas of our management team’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors relevant to such acquisition. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a

 

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stockholder or warrant holder following our partnering transaction could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.

Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our partnering transaction with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our partnering transaction may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.

Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our partnering transaction will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our partnering transaction with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria and guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective partnering transaction with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange rule, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our partnering transaction if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our partnering transaction, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.

We may seek acquisition opportunities with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings, which could subject us to volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel.

To the extent we complete our partnering transaction with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.

As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our partnering transaction and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate a partnering transaction.

In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into a partnering transaction, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies preparing for an initial public offering, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available to consummate a partnering transaction.

In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into a partnering transaction with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause targets companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns,

 

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geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close partnering transactions or operate targets post-partnering transaction. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate a partnering transaction, and may result in our inability to consummate a partnering transaction on terms favorable to our investors altogether.

We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm regarding fairness, and consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our company from a financial point of view.

Unless we complete our partnering transaction with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another accounting, valuation or appraisal firm that such partnering transaction is fair to our company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to our partnering transaction.

We may issue additional shares of common stock or preferred stock to complete our partnering transaction or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our partnering transaction. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the issuance of up to 500,000,000 shares of Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 80,000,000 shares of Series B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 40,000,000 shares of Series C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 40,000,000 shares of Series F common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Immediately after this offering, there will be 458,666,667 and 32,500,000 (assuming in each case, that the underwriters have not exercised their over-allotment option) authorized but unissued shares of Series A and Series F common stock available, respectively, for issuance, which amount takes into account shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants but not upon the issuance of Series B common stock upon the conversion of the Series F common stock or the issuance of Series A common stock upon the conversion of such Series B common stock or any securities issuable pursuant to the forward purchase agreement (including shares issuable upon exercise of forward purchase warrants). Shares of Series F common stock will automatically convert at the time of our partnering transaction, or earlier at the option of the holder, into shares of Series B common stock on a one-for-one basis and following our partnering transaction each share of Series B common stock entitles the holder to ten votes per share. Prior to and following our partnering transaction, each share of Series B common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of our Series A common stock. Immediately after this offering, there will be no shares of Series B common stock, Series C common stock or preferred stock outstanding.

In connection with our partnering transaction, we have agreed to issue to our sponsor 10,000,000 forward purchase units consisting of one share of Series B common stock and one-third of a forward purchase warrant. We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common stock or preferred stock in order to complete our partnering transaction or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our partnering transaction. We may also issue shares of Series A common stock in connection with the redemption of warrants as described in “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00.” However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, among other things, that prior to our partnering transaction, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (1) receive funds from the trust account or (2) vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any partnering transaction. The issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock, including pursuant to the forward purchase agreement:

 

   

may significantly dilute the equity interest and voting power of investors in this offering;

 

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may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;

 

   

could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;

 

   

may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us;

 

   

may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Series A common stock and/or warrants; and

 

   

may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.

Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our partnering transaction, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.

We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific partnering transaction, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our partnering transaction for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our partnering transaction, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.

Our company has overlapping directors and management with multiple entities, each of which may lead to conflicting interests. Additionally, certain of our officers and directors have, and in the future may have, additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to one or more other entities, including, in certain cases, to Post, which may lead to additional conflicting interests.

All of our officers also serve as officers of one or more of the related companies, and there are overlapping directors with such entities. Our officers and members of our board of directors have fiduciary duties to our stockholders. Likewise, any such persons who serve in similar capacities at any of the related companies have fiduciary duties to that company’s stockholders. Therefore, such persons may have conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest with respect to matters involving or affecting us and one or more of the related companies to which they owe fiduciary duties.

As described under “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors has, and any of them in the future may have, additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director may be required to present a partnering transaction opportunity to such entities before he or she presents such opportunity to us. Also, none of Post, our sponsor or any of our directors and officers is prohibited from sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their partnering transactions. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a partnering transaction opportunity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to another entity, including, in certain cases to

 

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Post, he or she may only present such opportunity to us if such other entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, rejects the opportunity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company, such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and such person has no fiduciary or contractual obligation to present the opportunity to any other person or entity, including, in certain cases, to Post. Additionally, none of Post, our sponsor or any other entity currently has any obligation or duty to provide us with any potential partnering transaction opportunity.

One or more of the related companies may compete with us for acquisition opportunities. If these entities decide to pursue any such opportunities, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunities. In addition, investment ideas generated within Post may be suitable for both us and for one or more other entities and may be directed to such entity rather than to us.

Post is a consumer packaged goods holding company operating in the center-of-the-store, refrigerated, foodservice, food ingredient and convenient nutrition food categories. Post also participates in the private brand food category. Conflicts may arise from Post’s indirect ownership of our company, as well as from actions undertaken by any its subsidiaries. Post and its subsidiaries may compete with us for acquisition opportunities that fall within Post’s investment objectives or strategies. A decision by Post to pursue an opportunity would preclude us from pursuing it and could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our partnering transaction. Additionally, Post may take commercial steps which may have an adverse effect on us, including with respect to any target we acquire in the partnering transaction.

Moreover, most of our directors and officers continue to own stock and options to purchase stock in one or more of the related companies. These ownership interests and/or such disparity could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when the applicable individuals are faced with decisions that could have different implications for our company and the related companies.

Furthermore, we may enter into transactions with one or more of the related companies. While any potential conflict that qualifies as a “related party transaction” (as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act) is subject to review by an independent committee of the applicable issuer’s board of directors in accordance with its corporate governance guidelines, there can be no assurance that the terms of any such transactions will be as favorable to us as would be the case where there is no overlapping officer or director. See “— We may engage in a partnering transaction with one or more target businesses that may be owned by our sponsor or one or more of the related companies, or its or their officers or directors, which may raise potential conflicts of interest.”

We are dependent upon our executive officers and directors who must allocate their time among our business and other businesses. The departure of our executive officers or directors or conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our partnering transaction.

Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers and directors, at least until we have completed our partnering transaction. Our officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations, including our search for a partnering transaction, and these other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, nor do we have any employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.

In addition, certain of our officers and directors are employed by or otherwise provide services to Post or other companies that may make investments in, or operate in, industries we may target for our partnering

 

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transaction. Our independent directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our partnering transaction. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, see “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”

From time to time, we and members of our management team may be subject to legal proceedings, regulatory disputes, and governmental inquiries that could cause us to incur significant expenses, divert our management’s attention, and materially harm our financial condition.

From time to time, we may be subject to claims, lawsuits, government investigations, and other proceedings involving competition and antitrust, securities, tax, commercial disputes, and other matters that could adversely affect our financial condition. Litigation and regulatory proceedings may be protracted and expensive, and the results are difficult to predict. Additionally, such litigation and regulatory proceedings require a great deal of financial resources and attention from us and our management team. Adverse outcomes with respect to litigation or any of these legal proceedings may result in significant settlement costs or judgments, or penalties and fines, and could negatively affect our ability to identify and complete a partnering transaction and may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.

Members of our management team have been involved in a wide variety of businesses. Such involvement has, and may lead to, media coverage and public awareness. As a result, members of our management team and the related companies may from time to time be involved in civil disputes or governmental investigations unrelated to our business. Any such claims or investigations may be detrimental to our reputation and could negatively affect our ability to identify and complete a partnering transaction and may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.

Our officers, directors and security holders may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.

We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, security holders or any other entities from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into a partnering transaction with a business that is owned by our sponsor or any of the related companies, or its or their officers or directors, or make the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor or any of the related companies, or its or their officers or directors, although we do not intend to do so. Nor do we have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.

In particular, the related companies have invested, and may in the future invest, in a broad array of industries, including the consumer packaged goods industry. As a result, there may be substantial overlap between companies that would be a suitable partnering transaction for us and companies that would make an attractive target for such entities.

We may engage in a partnering transaction with one or more target businesses that may be owned by our sponsor or one or more of the related companies, or its or their officers or directors, which may raise potential conflicts of interest.

In light of the involvement of our sponsor, officers and directors with other businesses, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses owned by our sponsor or any of the related companies, or its or their officers or directors, or make the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor or any of the related companies, or its or their officers or directors. Any such parties may co-invest with us in the

 

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target business at the time of our partnering transaction, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the acquisition by making a future issuance to any such parties, which may give rise to certain conflicts of interest. Our officers and directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under “Management — Conflicts of Interest.” Such entities may compete with us for partnering transaction opportunities. Our sponsor is not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our partnering transaction with any such entities, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any such entity or entities with respect to a partnering transaction with us. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any such entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such an entity met our criteria for a partnering transaction as set forth in “Proposed Business — Effecting our Partnering Transaction — Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of our Partnering Transaction” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors. While we are not required to obtain an opinion regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of a partnering transaction with one or more domestic or international businesses owned by the related companies, or any of their subsidiaries, or our sponsor, or its or their officers or directors, in the event we do not obtain such an opinion, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the partnering transaction may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.

Since our sponsor will lose its entire investment in us if our partnering transaction is not completed (other than with respect to any public shares it may hold), a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular partnering transaction target is appropriate for our partnering transaction.

In January 2021, our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 11,500,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, with a purchase price of approximately $0.002 per share. On April 8, 2021, our sponsor surrendered 2,875,000 founder shares to us for no consideration resulting in an aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares outstanding (up to 1,125,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). As a result of such surrender, the per-share purchase price increased to approximately $0.003 per share. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Series F common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon the consummation of this offering. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete a partnering transaction.

Our sponsor will commit, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 private placement units (or 1,090,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit ($10,000,000 in the aggregate or $10,900,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering.

Members of our management team may directly or indirectly own securities following this offering, including founder shares, and the personal and financial interests of our officers and directors may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target partnering transaction, completing a partnering transaction and influencing the operation of the business following the partnering transaction. This risk may become more acute as the deadline for completing our partnering transaction nears.

We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a partnering transaction, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.

Although we have no commitments as of the date of this prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following this offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our partnering transaction. We have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held

 

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in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per-share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:

 

   

default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a partnering transaction are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;

 

   

acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;

 

   

our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;

 

   

our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding;

 

   

our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;

 

   

using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

   

limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;

 

   

increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and

 

   

limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.

We may only be able to complete one partnering transaction with the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units and forward purchase units, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operations and profitability.

The net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement units and the sale of the forward purchase units for a purchase price of $100,000,000 will provide us with $402,500,000 (or $447,500,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) that we may use to complete our partnering transaction (which includes $10,500,000, or up to $12,075,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, of deferred underwriting commissions being held in the trust account and estimated post-IPO working capital expenses of $2,500,000, and excludes estimated offering expenses of $1,500,000).

We may effectuate our partnering transaction with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able to effectuate our partnering transaction with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our partnering transaction with only a single entity our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several partnering transactions in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:

 

   

solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset; or

 

   

dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.

 

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This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our partnering transaction.

We may attempt to simultaneously complete partnering transactions with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our partnering transaction and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.

If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other partnering transactions, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our partnering transaction. With multiple partnering transactions, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.

We may attempt to complete our partnering transaction with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a partnering transaction with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.

In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to effectuate our partnering transaction with a privately held company. Very little public information generally exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential partnering transaction on the basis of limited information, which may result in a partnering transaction with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.

We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete our partnering transaction with which a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold, except that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to our partnering transaction. As a result, we may be able to complete our partnering transaction even though a substantial majority of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our sponsor or any of the related companies. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed partnering transaction exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the partnering transaction or redeem any shares, all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate partnering transaction (including, potentially, with the same target).

The exercise price for the public warrants is higher than in some other blank check company offerings, and, accordingly, the warrants are more likely to expire worthless.

The exercise price of the public warrants is higher than in some other blank check companies. For example, historically, the exercise price of a warrant was often a fraction of the purchase price of the units in the initial public offering. The exercise price for our public warrants is $11.50 per share, subject to adjustments as provided herein. As a result, the warrants are less likely to ever be in the money and more likely to expire worthless.

 

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In order to effectuate a partnering transaction, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or governing instruments, including our warrant agreement, in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our partnering transaction that some of our stockholders or warrant holders may not support.

In order to effectuate a partnering transaction, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of partnering transaction, increased redemption thresholds, extended the time to consummate a partnering transaction and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our charter or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate a partnering transaction in order to effectuate our partnering transaction.

Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-partnering transaction activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account) may be amended with the approval of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of a partnering transaction that some of our stockholders may not support.

Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter which prohibits the amendment of certain of its provisions, including those which relate to a company’s pre-partnering transaction activity, without approval by holders of a certain percentage of the company’s stockholders. In those companies, amendment of these provisions typically requires approval by holders holding between 90% and 100% of the company’s public shares. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that any of its provisions (other than amendments relating to the appointment of directors prior to our partnering transaction, which require the approval of holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon as well as more than 50% of the outstanding Series F common stock) related to pre-partnering transaction activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock. Prior to our partnering transaction, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Series F common stock is required to approve the election of directors. Our sponsor, who will beneficially own 20% of our outstanding capital stock upon the closing of this offering (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units and assuming our sponsor does not purchase any units in this offering), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner it chooses. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which will govern our pre-partnering transaction behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete our partnering transaction with which you do not agree.

Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree, pursuant to a letter agreement, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity, unless we provide our public

 

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stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Series A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. These agreements are contained in a letter agreement that we will enter into with our sponsor, executive officers and directors. Our public stockholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, these agreements and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our sponsor for any breach of these agreements.

Certain agreements related to this offering may be amended without stockholder approval.

The underwriting agreement relating to this offering, the letter agreement between us and our sponsor, executive officers and directors, the investor rights agreement among us, our sponsor and Post, the forward purchase agreement between us and our sponsor and the services agreement between us and Post, may be amended without stockholder approval. For example, we may amend the services agreement upon mutual written agreement with Post. These agreements contain various provisions, including transfer restrictions on our founder shares held by our sponsor, that our public stockholders might deem to be material.

While we do not expect our board of directors to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our partnering transaction, it may be possible that our board of directors, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of our partnering transaction that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.

We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our partnering transaction or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular partnering transaction.

Although we believe that the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units and forward purchase units will be sufficient to allow us to complete our partnering transaction, because we have not yet selected any target business we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units and forward purchase units prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of our partnering transaction, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to redeem for cash a significant number of shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our partnering transaction or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our partnering transaction, we may be required to seek additional financing or to abandon the proposed partnering transaction. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our partnering transaction, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular partnering transaction and seek an alternative target business candidate. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our partnering transaction, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. Other than in connection with the forward purchase agreement, none of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our partnering transaction. If we are unable to complete our partnering transaction, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account, and our warrants will expire worthless.

 

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Our sponsor controls the election of our board of directors and hold a substantial interest in us. Additionally, holders of our Series A common stock will have limited voting rights following our partnering transaction. As a result, the sponsor will elect all of our directors prior to our partnering transaction and may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.

Upon the closing of this offering, our sponsor will own 20% of the voting power of our common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units and assuming our sponsor does not purchase units in this offering). In addition, prior to our partnering transaction, only holders of our Series F common stock will have the right to appoint and elect our board of directors. Holders of our public shares will have no right to vote on the election of directors during such time. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended by holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon as well as more than 50% of the outstanding Series F common stock. Additionally, following our partnering transaction, holders of our Series A common stock and holders of our Series B common stock will generally vote together as a single class on matters presented for a stockholder vote, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, with each share of Series A common stock entitling the holder to one vote per share and each share of Series B common stock entitling the holder to ten votes per share. As a result, you will not have any influence over the election of directors prior to our partnering transaction, and will have limited voting rights following our partnering transaction.

Our sponsor has no current intention to purchase additional securities, other than as disclosed in this prospectus, which may include participation in a private placement of securities or exercise of warrants. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include whether our sponsor will have majority voting power following our partnering transaction without such a purchase and consideration of the current trading price of our Series A common stock. For a discussion of risks relating to our capital structure following our partnering transaction, see — “The voting structure of our common stock will have the effect of concentrating voting power with our sponsor, which limits an investor’s ability to influence our policies and the outcome of important transactions, including a change in control.” As a result of its substantial ownership in our company, our sponsor may exert a substantial influence on other actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of major corporate transactions.

Our warrants and founder shares (including the voting rights thereof) of our sponsor may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Series A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our partnering transaction.

We will be issuing warrants to purchase 10,000,000 shares of our Series A common stock (or up to 11,500,000 shares of our Series A common stock if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $11.50 per whole share (subject to adjustment as provided herein), as part of the units offered by this prospectus and, simultaneously with the closing of this offering, we will be issuing in a private placement an aggregate of 1,000,000 (or 1,090,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement units, which will have underlying warrants, each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Series A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, and subject to adjustment as provided herein. In addition, if our sponsor, any of the related companies or certain of our officers and directors make any working capital loans, up to $2,500,000 of such loans may be converted into units, at the price of $10.000 per unit at the option of the lender. Such units would be identical to the private placement units. Any issuance of Series A common stock upon exercise of these units will increase the number of outstanding shares of our common stock and reduce the value of any common stock we may issue to complete the partnering transaction.

Furthermore, our sponsor currently holds 8,625,000 founder shares (up to 1,125,000 of which are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is

 

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exercised). The founder shares are convertible into shares of Series B common stock on a one-for-one basis. In connection with our partnering transaction, we have also agreed to issue to our sponsor 10,000,000 forward purchase units consisting of one share of Series B common stock and one-third of a forward purchase warrant. The issuance of shares of Series B common stock upon exercise of these conversion rights and the voting rights related to our Series B common stock could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Therefore, our units and founder shares may make it more difficult to effectuate a partnering transaction or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.

Shares of Series A common stock issued pursuant to the private placement units and shares of Series B common stock issued upon conversion of the founder shares pursuant to the forward purchase agreement may significantly dilute the value and/or the voting power of the shares of Series A common stock and may make effectuating our partnering transaction more difficult.

The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees: (1) they will not be redeemable by us; (2) they (including the Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction, except as described herein under “Principal Stockholders—Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units”, (3) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (4) the holders thereof (including with respect to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights.

To the extent we issue shares of our common stock to effectuate our partnering transaction, including those underlying the forward purchase units, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of our common stock upon exercise of these warrants or conversion rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of outstanding shares of our common stock and reduce the value of our common stock issued to complete the partnering transaction. Therefore, our public warrants, founder shares, private placement units and forward purchase units may make it more difficult to effectuate a partnering transaction or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.

Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous partnering transaction with some prospective target businesses.

The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a partnering transaction meeting certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our partnering transaction within the prescribed time frame.

Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our partnering transaction, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an acquisition.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2022. Only in the

 

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event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target business with which we seek to complete our partnering transaction may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

Risks Relating to the Post-Partnering Transaction Company

If our management team pursues a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our partnering transaction, we may face additional burdens in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing such combination, and if we effect such partnering transaction, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.

If our management team pursues a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our partnering transaction, we would be subject to risks associated with cross-border partnering transactions, including in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing our partnering transaction, conducting due diligence in a foreign market, having such transaction approved by any local governments, regulators or agencies and changes in the purchase price based on fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

If we effect our partnering transaction with such a company, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:

 

   

costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets;

 

   

rules and regulations regarding currency redemption;

 

   

complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals;

 

   

laws governing the manner in which future partnering transactions may be effected;

 

   

tariffs and trade barriers;

 

   

regulations related to customs and import/export matters;

 

   

longer payment cycles;

 

   

changes in local regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 outbreak or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases;

 

   

tax consequences;

 

   

currency fluctuations and exchange controls;

 

   

rates of inflation;

 

   

challenges in collecting accounts receivable;

 

   

cultural and language differences;

 

   

employment regulations;

 

   

crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks and wars;

 

   

deterioration of political relations with the United States;

 

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obligatory military service by personnel; and

 

   

government appropriation of assets.

We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, we may be unable to complete such partnering transaction or, if we complete such partnering transaction, our operations might suffer, either of which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our partnering transaction. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.

We may structure our partnering transaction so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own or acquire shares will own less than 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such partnering transaction if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target business sufficient for us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the target, our stockholders prior to our partnering transaction (including our sponsor) may collectively own a minority interest (economic and/or voting) in the post-partnering transaction company, depending on, among other things, valuations ascribed to the target and us in our partnering transaction and any changes in our post-partnering transaction capital structure. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests of a target business, issue a substantial number of new shares to third parties in connection with financing our partnering transaction or our sponsor could convert some or all of its Series B common stock into Series A common stock. In such cases, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock or other changes in our capital structure, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction (including our sponsor) could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock subsequent to such transaction, and therefore a minority interest (economic and/or voting) in the post-partnering transaction company. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain our control of the target business.

If our management team, following our partnering transaction, is unfamiliar with United States securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws, which could lead to various regulatory issues.

Following our partnering transaction, any or all of our management team could resign from their positions as officers of the post-partnering transaction company, and the management of the target business at the time of the partnering transaction could remain in place. Management of the target business may not be familiar with United States securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with United States securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues, which may adversely affect our operations.

The officers and directors of a prospective target business may resign upon the completion of our partnering transaction, which could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.

The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our partnering transaction. The departure of a partnering transaction target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key

 

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personnel upon the completion of our partnering transaction cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our partnering transaction, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place.

Risks Relating to our Securities

You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.

Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (1) the completion of our partnering transaction, and then only in connection with those shares of Series A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if we have not completed a partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) for any reason, compliance with Delaware law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing stockholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our trust account. In that case, public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond the end of such period before they receive funds from our trust account. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.

We are not registering the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time, and such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise its warrants except on a “cashless basis” and potentially causing such warrants to expire worthless.

We are not registering the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time. However, under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the consummation of our partnering transaction, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC, and within 60 business days following our partnering transaction to have declared effective, a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Series A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so if, for example, any facts or events arise which represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement or prospectus, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current, complete or correct or the SEC issues a stop order. If the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, we will be required to permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, in which case, the number of shares of Series A common stock that you will receive upon cashless exercise will be based on a formula subject to a maximum amount of shares equal to 0.361 shares of Series A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment). However, no warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder or an exemption from registration is available. Notwithstanding the above, if our Series A common stock

 

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is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws and no exemption is available. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of Series A common stock included in the units. There may be a circumstance where an exemption from registration exists for holders of our private placement warrants to exercise their warrants while a corresponding exemption does not exist for holders of the public warrants included as part of units sold in this offering. In such an instance, our sponsor and its permitted transferees (which may include our directors and officers) would be able to exercise their warrants and sell the shares of Series A common stock underlying their warrants while holders of our public warrants would not be able to exercise their warrants and sell the underlying shares of Series A common stock. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying shares of Series A common stock for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem warrants even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise their warrants.

NYSE may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.

We intend to apply to have our units listed on the NYSE on or promptly after the date of this prospectus and our Series A common stock and warrants listed on or promptly after their date of separation. Although after giving effect to this offering we expect to meet the minimum initial listing standards set forth in the NYSE listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on the NYSE prior to our partnering transaction. Additionally, in connection with our partnering transaction, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with NYSE’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than the NYSE’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on the NYSE. For example, in order for our Series A common stock to be listed upon the consummation of our partnering transaction, among other things, we would be required to have at least 300 round lot holders at such time. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time. The NYSE will also have discretionary authority to not approve our listing if it determines that the listing of the company to be acquired is against public policy at that time.

If NYSE delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

 

   

a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;

 

   

reduced liquidity for our securities;

 

   

a determination that our Series A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Series A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;

 

   

a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and

 

   

a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.

 

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The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because we expect that our units and eventually our Series A common stock and warrants will be listed on the NYSE, our units, Series A common stock and warrants will qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of covered securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by special purpose acquisition companies, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on the NYSE, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.

Our sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our Series A common stock.

The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the common stock and none to the warrant included in the unit) and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Series A common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our sponsor acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon the closing of this offering, and assuming no value is ascribed to the warrants included in the units, you and the other public stockholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 94.9 % (or $9.49 per share, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option), the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $0. 51 and the initial offering price of $10.00 per unit. This dilution would become exacerbated to the extent that public stockholders seek redemptions from the trust.

We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the warrants could be converted into cash or stock, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of our Series A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.

Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that (a) the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or correcting any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the warrant agreement to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in this prospectus, or defective provision or (ii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem to not materially adversely affect the rights of the registered holders of the warrants and (b) all other modifications or amendments require the vote or written consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants; provided that any amendment that solely affects the terms of the private placement warrants or forward purchase warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement solely with respect to the private placement warrants or forward purchase warrants will also require the vote or written consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding private placement warrants or forward purchase warrants, respectively. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or stock (at a ratio different than initially provided), shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.

 

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Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.

Our warrant agreement will provide that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of Delaware located in Wilmington or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and (ii) we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant agreement 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 any of our warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of Delaware located in Wilmington or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of our warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state courts located in the State of Delaware and the federal courts 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 holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our warrant agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.

A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate a partnering transaction.

Unlike some blank check companies, if

 

  (i)

we issue additional shares of common stock or equity-linked securities, excluding forward purchase units, for capital raising purposes in connection with the consummation of our partnering transaction at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share of common stock,

 

  (ii)

the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances, excluding the forward purchase units, represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our partnering transaction on the date of the completion of our partnering transaction (net of redemptions), and

 

  (iii)

the Market Value is below $9.20 per share,

then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described below under “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate a partnering transaction with a target business.

 

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We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants worthless.

We have the ability to redeem outstanding public warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant if, among other things, the last reported sales price of our Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem the public warrants as set forth above even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise the warrants. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you to: (1) exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so; (2) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants; or (3) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, we expect would be substantially less than the market value of your warrants.

None of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees.

Because each unit contains one-third of one redeemable warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other blank check companies.

Each unit contains one-third of one redeemable warrant. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, no fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units, and only whole units will trade. This is different from some other offerings similar to ours whose units include one share of Series A common stock and one whole warrant to purchase one share. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of a partnering transaction since the warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate for a third of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a whole warrant to purchase one share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive partnering transaction partner for target businesses. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if they included a warrant to purchase one whole share.

The determination of the offering price of our units and the size of this offering is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size of an offering of an operating company in a particular industry. You may have less assurance, therefore, that the offering price of our units properly reflects the value of such units than you would have in a typical offering of an operating company.

Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the warrants were negotiated between us and the underwriters. In determining the size of this offering, management held customary organizational meetings with representatives of the underwriters with respect to the state of capital markets, generally, and the amount the underwriters believed they reasonably could raise on our behalf. Factors considered in determining the size of this offering, prices and terms of the units, including the Series A common stock and warrants underlying the units, include:

 

   

the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies;

 

   

prior offerings of those companies;

 

   

our prospects for acquiring an operating business at attractive values;

 

   

a review of debt to equity ratios in leveraged transactions;

 

   

our capital structure;

 

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an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying suitable partnering transaction opportunities;

 

   

general conditions of the securities markets at the time of this offering; and

 

   

other factors as were deemed relevant.

Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities of an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results.

The voting structure of our common stock will have the effect of concentrating voting power with our sponsor, which will limit an investor’s ability to influence our policies and the outcome of important transactions, including a change in control.

Following our partnering transaction, we expect our authorized capital stock will consist of Series A common stock, entitling the holder to one vote per share, Series B common stock, entitling the holder to ten votes per share, and Series C common stock, the holder of which will not be entitled to any voting powers except to the extent required by Delaware law. Following our partnering transaction, we anticipate the holders of Series A common stock and Series B common stock will generally vote together as a single class on matters presented for a stockholder vote, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule. In connection with our partnering transaction (or earlier at our sponsor’s election), the outstanding shares of Series F common stock held by our sponsor will be converted on a one-for-one basis into shares of Series B common stock, and we have agreed to issue to our sponsor 10,000,000 forward purchase units consisting of one share of Series B common stock and one-third of a forward purchase warrant. The high-vote nature of our Series B common stock differs from the typical capital structure of many other special purpose acquisition companies and will significantly dilute the voting power of the investors in this offering following our partnering transaction. Assuming that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that our sponsor forfeits an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares, that there are 38,500,000 shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering, that the issuance of 10,000,000 forward purchase units to our sponsor pursuant to the forward purchase agreement are the only additional equity securities issued in connection with our partnering transaction and that our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering, our sponsor is expected to hold approximately 38% of the outstanding shares of our common stock representing approximately 85% of the outstanding voting power of our outstanding common stock immediately following the closing of our partnering transaction. We anticipate that our sponsor’s voting power and equity ownership may be substantially diluted in connection with our partnering transaction, either from the issuance of new shares of common stock in exchange for the capital stock of the target, the issuance of our capital stock to third party investors providing additional funding to our company in connection with the partnering transaction, or both. Until such time, our sponsor and Post would have the ability to exercise control over our affairs, policies and operations, such as the appointment of management, the issuance of additional shares of our common stock or other securities, the payment of dividends on our common stock, the incurrence of debt by us and over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, amendments of our organizational documents and any change of control of our company. Our sponsor may have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interests.

Our sponsor’s equity ownership may create or appear to create conflicts of interest.

Our sponsor’s ownership, and our officers’ and certain of our directors’ indirect ownership through Post’s ownership of our sponsor, of our Series B common stock may create or appear to create conflicts of interest when they are faced with decisions that could have different implications for the holders of Series A common stock, including the structure of our partnering transaction, any financing or private placement in connection with our partnering transaction, the election of directors, amendments of our organizational documents and any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

 

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Since only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors, upon the listing of our shares on the NYSE, the NYSE may consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE rules and, as a result, we may qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.

After completion of this offering, only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors until our partnering transaction. Additionally, following our partnering transaction, we expect that the Series B common stock will have ten votes per share and Series A common stock will have one vote per share, concentrating voting power with the holders of our founder shares which may at such time exceed 50% of the voting power of the company. As a result, NYSE may consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance standards. Under the NYSE corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that:

 

   

we have a board that includes a majority of “independent directors,” as defined under the rules of NYSE; and

 

   

we have a corporate governance and compensation committee of our board that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities.

We do not intend to utilize these exemptions and intend to comply with the corporate governance requirements of NYSE, subject to applicable phase-in rules. However, if we determine in the future to utilize some or all of these exemptions, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements.

Our governance structure and the adoption of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may negatively affect the decision by certain institutional investors to purchase or hold shares of our Series A common stock.

The holding of low-voting stock, such as our Series A common stock, or if it is issued in the future, our non-voting Series C common stock, may not be permitted by the investment policies of certain institutional investors or may be less attractive to the portfolio managers of certain institutional investors. In addition, in July 2017, FTSE Russell and Standard & Poor’s announced that they would cease to allow most newly public companies utilizing dual- or multi-class capital structures to be included in their indices. Affected indices include the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, and S&P SmallCap 600, which together make up the S&P Composite 1500. Our multi-class capital structure may make us ineligible for inclusion in any of these and certain other indices following our partnering transaction, and as a result, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and other investment vehicles that attempt to passively track these indices would not invest in our stock. These policies may depress our valuation compared to those of other similar companies that are included in such indices.

There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.

There is currently no market for our securities. Stockholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential partnering transactions and general market or economic conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases). Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.

 

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Holders of a single series of our common stock may not have any remedies if an action by our directors has an adverse effect on only that series of our common stock.

Principles of Delaware law and the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may protect decisions of our board of directors that have a disparate impact upon holders of any single series of our common stock. Under Delaware law, the board of directors has a duty to act with due care and in the best interests of all of our stockholders, including the holders of all series of our common stock. Principles of Delaware law established in cases involving differing treatment of multiple classes or series of stock provide that a board of directors owes an equal duty to all common stockholders regardless of class or series and does not have separate or additional duties to any group of stockholders. As a result, in some circumstances, our directors may be required to make a decision that is viewed as adverse to the holders of one series of our common stock. Under the principles of Delaware law and the business judgment rule, holders may not be able to successfully challenge decisions that they believe have a disparate impact upon the holders of one series of our stock if our board of directors is disinterested and independent with respect to the action taken, is adequately informed with respect to the action taken and acts in good faith and in the honest belief that the board is acting in the best interest of all of our stockholders.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, and also provide that the federal district courts will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each of which could limit our stockholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with our company or our company’s directors, officers or employees.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, another state court within the State of Delaware or, if no state court in Delaware has subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district courts of the United States of America) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) to bring (1) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought or purportedly brought on behalf of our company, (2) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, stockholder, officer, employee or agent of our company to our company or our stockholders, or any claim of aiding and abetting such breach, (3) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim arising pursuant to, or seeking to enforce any right, obligation, or remedy under, any provision of the DGCL or the amended and restated certificate of incorporation or the amended and restated bylaws, (4) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation or the amended and restated bylaws, (5) any action asserting a claim against our company or any director or officer of our company governed by the internal affairs doctrine, (6) any action, suit, or proceeding as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery, or (7) any action, suit or proceeding asserting an “internal corporate claim” as defined in Section 115 of the DGCL; in all cases, subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to any actions arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or otherwise arising under federal securities laws, for which the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum.

Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that the federal district courts of the United States of America will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.

 

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Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “foreign action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state courts located within the State of Delaware and the federal courts 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 stockholder in any such enforcement action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such stockholder.

Although we believe these exclusive forum provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law and federal securities laws in the types of lawsuits to which each applies, the exclusive forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum of its choosing for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, stockholders, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims against us and our current and former directors, officers, stockholders, or other employees and may result in additional costs for a stockholder seeking to bring a claim. Our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder as a result of our exclusive forum provisions. While we believe the risk of a court declining to enforce this forum selection clause is low, if a court were to determine the forum selection clause to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs in conjunction with our efforts to resolve the dispute in an alternative jurisdiction, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition and result in a diversion of time and resources of our management team and board of directors.

We will adopt certain provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that we intend to retain following the partnering transaction that may make difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so may be beneficial to our stockholders.

We will adopt certain provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that we intend to retain following the partnering transaction that may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company that a stockholder may consider favorable. These provisions include:

 

   

authorizing a capital structure with multiple series of common stock, including Series A common stock that entitles the holder to one vote per share, Series B common stock that entitles the holders to initially one vote per share or, following our partnering transaction, ten votes per share, Series C common stock that except as otherwise required by applicable law, entitles the holder to no voting rights and Series F common stock that, prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, will be the only shares entitled to vote on the election of directors;

 

   

from and after our partnering transaction, classifying our board of directors with staggered three-year terms, which may lengthen the time required to gain control of our board of directors;

 

   

limiting who may call special meetings of stockholders;

 

   

establishing advance notice requirements for nominations of candidates for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings;

 

   

requiring stockholder approval by holders of at least 66 2/3% of our total voting power of our outstanding capital stock or approval by at least 75% of our board of directors with respect to certain extraordinary matters, such as a merger or consolidation of our company, a sale of all or substantially all of our assets or an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (except for any stockholder approval in connection with our partnering transaction);

 

   

the existence of authorized and unissued stock, including “blank check” preferred stock, which could be issued by our board of directors to persons friendly to our then current management, thereby protecting the continuity of our management, or which could be used to dilute the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of our company;

 

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following the completion of our partnering transaction, prohibiting stockholders from filling vacancies on our board of directors, which will only be able to be filled by our board of directors; and

 

   

following the completion of our partnering transaction, providing that any or all of our directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Together these provisions could also make it more difficult for stockholders to elect directors of their choosing and to cause us to take other corporate actions they desire, any of which, under certain circumstances, could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock. These provisions may also affect a target’s desire to enter into a partnering transaction with us.

General Risk Factors

We are a newly incorporated company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.

We are a newly incorporated company with no operating results, and we will not commence operations until obtaining funding through this offering. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our partnering transaction with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning a partnering transaction and may be unable to complete our partnering transaction. If we fail to complete our partnering transaction, we will never generate any operating revenues.

Past performance by Post and members of our management team may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.

Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, our management team or Post is presented for informational purposes only. Past experience and performance, including related to acquisitions, of our management team or Post is not a guarantee either: (1) that we will be able to successfully identify a suitable candidate for our partnering transaction; or (2) of any results with respect to any partnering transaction we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record or performance of Post or any members of our management team or any related investment’s performance as indicative of the future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. An investment in us is not an investment in Post.

We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.

We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of any second fiscal

 

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quarter of a fiscal year, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the end of such fiscal year. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.

We will depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.

An investment in this offering may result in uncertain or adverse United States federal income tax consequences.

An investment in this offering may result in uncertain United States federal income tax consequences. For instance, because there are no authorities that directly address instruments similar to the units we are issuing in this offering, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of a unit between the share of Series A common stock and the one-third of one redeemable warrant to purchase one share of our Series A common stock included in each unit could be challenged by the United States Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, or the courts. Furthermore, the United States federal income tax consequences of a cashless exercise of warrants included in the units we are issuing in this offering are unclear under current law, and the adjustment to the exercise price and/or redemption price of the warrants could give rise to dividend income to investors without a corresponding payment of cash. Finally, it is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to our shares of common stock suspend the running of a United States Holder’s holding period for purposes of determining whether any dividend we pay would be considered a “qualified dividend” for United States federal income tax purposes. See the section of this prospectus titled “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a summary of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to an investment in our securities. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences applicable to their specific circumstances when purchasing, holding or disposing of our securities.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We are offering 30,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit. We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering together with the funds we will receive from the sale of the private placement units will be used as set forth in the following table. The amounts shown in the table and discussed in the notes below assumes that our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in the offering.

 

     Without Over-
Allotment
    With Over-
Allotment
Option
Exercised in Full
 

Gross proceeds

    

Gross proceeds from units offered to public(1)

   $ 300,000,000     $ 345,000,000  

Gross proceeds from private placement units

     10,000,000       10,900,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total gross proceeds

   $ 310,000,000     $ 355,900,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Estimated offering expenses(2)

    

Underwriting commissions (2.0% of gross proceeds from units offered to public, excluding deferred portion)(3)

   $ 6,000,000     $ 6,900,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     350,000       350,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

     40,000       40,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

     47,000       47,000  

SEC/FINRA Expenses

     119,686       119,686  

Travel and road show

     10,000       10,000  

Directors and officers insurance premiums

     500,000       500,000  

NYSE listing and filing fees

     85,000       85,000  

Miscellaneous expenses(4)

     348,314       348,314  

Total estimated offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions)

     1,500,000       1,500,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Proceeds after estimated offering expenses

   $ 302,500,000     $ 347,500,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Held in trust account

   $ 300,000,000     $ 345,000,000  

% of public offering size

     100     100

Not held in trust account

     2,500,000       2,500,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table shows the use of the approximately $2,500,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account:(5)

 

     Amount      % of Total  

Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, consulting and other expenses in connection with any potential partnering transaction

   $ 550,000        22.0

Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations

     150,000        6.0

Payment for office space, administrative and support services

     960,000        38.4

Reserve for liquidation expenses

     100,000        4.0

Non-employee director cash compensation

     600,000        24.0

NYSE continued listing fees

     75,000        3.0

Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses

     65,000        2.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,500,000        100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes amounts payable to public stockholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our partnering transaction.

(2)

A portion of the offering expenses have been paid from the proceeds of loans from our sponsor of up to $300,000 as described in this prospectus. To date, we borrowed approximately $172,000 under the promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans will be repaid upon

 

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  completion of this offering out of the $1,500,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) not held in the trust account. These expenses are estimates only. In the event that offering expenses are less than as set forth in this table, any such amounts will be used for post-closing working capital expenses. In the event that the offering expenses are more than as set forth in this table, we may fund such excess with funds not held in the trust account.
(3)

The underwriters have agreed to defer underwriting commissions equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering. Upon completion of our partnering transaction, $10,500,000, which constitutes the underwriters’ deferred commissions (or up to $12,075,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be paid to the underwriters or third parties as described below from the funds held in the trust account and the remaining funds, less amounts used to pay redeeming stockholders, will be released to us and can be used to pay all or a portion of the purchase price of the business or businesses with which our partnering transaction occurs or for general corporate purposes, including payment of principal or interest on indebtedness incurred in connection with our partnering transaction, to fund the purchases of other companies or for working capital. The underwriters will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions.

(4)

Includes organizational and administrative expenses and may include amounts related to above-listed expenses in the event actual amounts exceed estimates.

(5)

These expenses are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth herein. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring a partnering transaction based upon the level of complexity of such partnering transaction. In the event we identify an acquisition target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal counsel. In addition, our staffing needs may vary and as a result, we may engage a number of consultants to assist with legal and financial due diligence. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would not be available for our expenses. The amount in the table above does not include interest available to us from the trust account to pay our taxes. Based on current interest rates, we would expect approximately $300,000 to be available to us annually from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account; however, we can provide no assurances regarding this amount. This estimate assumes an interest rate of 0.1% per annum based upon current yields of securities in which the trust account may be invested. In addition, in order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended partnering transaction, our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our partnering transaction, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our partnering transaction does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $2,500,000 of such loans made to us may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per units at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units issued to our sponsor. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries, if any, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.

NYSE listing rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement units be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, $300,000,000 (or $345,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), including $10,500,000 (or up to $12,075,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of deferred underwriting commissions, will, upon the consummation of this offering, be placed in a United States-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less

 

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or in money market funds investing solely in United States Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. Based on current interest rates, we estimate that the interest earned on the trust account will be approximately $300,000 per year, assuming an interest rate of 0.1% per year. We will not be permitted to withdraw any of the principal or interest held in the trust account except for the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes, if any. The funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of: (1) the completion of our partnering transaction; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance and timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), subject to applicable law. Based on current interest rates, we expect that interest earned on the trust account will be sufficient to pay taxes.

The net proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we ultimately complete our partnering transaction. If our partnering transaction is paid for using equity or debt or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our partnering transaction or used for redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our partnering transaction, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our partnering transaction.

Amounts not held in trust are intended to cover estimated costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. In order to limit expenses, while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective acquisition, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of a partnering transaction. We may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. If we are required to seek additional capital, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries, but such persons are not under any obligation or other duty to loan funds to, or invest in, us.

We will enter into a services agreement pursuant to which we will pay Post and certain of its subsidiaries a total of $40,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services. Upon completion of our partnering transaction or any liquidation, we may cease paying some or all of these monthly fees. Pursuant to such agreement we will indemnify Post and its affiliates for (i) any claims made by us or a third party and resulting liabilities in respect of any investment opportunities sourced by them, (ii) any liability arising with respect to their activities in connection with our affairs and (iii) any services that are provided without a separate written agreement between us and Post or an affiliate of Post. Such indemnity will provide that the indemnified parties cannot access the funds held in our trust account.

Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. To date, we borrowed approximately $172,000 under the promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of December 31, 2021 and the closing of this offering. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $1,500,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) not held in the trust account.

 

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In addition, in order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended partnering transaction, our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our partnering transaction, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our partnering transaction does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $2,500,000 of such loans made to us may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries, if any, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.

In connection with the consummation of this offering, we will enter into a forward purchase agreement with our sponsor pursuant to which our sponsor will commit to purchase from us up to 10,000,000 forward purchase units, consisting of one forward purchase share and one-third of one forward purchase warrant, for $10.00 per forward purchase unit, in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of our partnering transaction. The proceeds from the sale of these forward purchase units, together with the amounts available to us from the trust account (after giving effect to any redemptions of public shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by us in connection with the partnering transaction, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the partnering transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining specified amounts to be used by the post-partnering transaction company for working capital or other purposes. To the extent that the amounts available from the trust account and other financing are sufficient for such cash requirements, our sponsor may purchase less than 10,000,000 forward purchase units.

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers or advisors or any of the related companies or their directors, officers or advisors may also purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our partnering transaction. See “Proposed Business — Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities” for a description of how such persons will determine from which stockholders to seek to acquire shares. The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our partnering transaction. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. If such persons engage in such transactions, they will be subject to restrictions in making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will be required to comply with such rules.

We may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions and the agreement for our partnering transaction may require as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement or any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares or the partnering transaction, and instead may search for an alternate partnering transaction (including, potentially, with the same target).

A public stockholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (1) the completion of our partnering transaction and then, only in connection with those public shares that

 

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such stockholder has properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. Holders of warrants will not have any rights to proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants.

Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive: (1) their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction; (2) their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (3) their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any extended time that we have to consummate a partnering transaction beyond 24 months (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) during an Extension Period (although our sponsor, officers and directors will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within the prescribed time frame).

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our partnering transaction. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our partnering transaction. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our partnering transaction will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of this offering, in which case we will effect a stock dividend or other appropriate mechanism with respect to our Series F common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon the consummation of this offering. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our partnering transaction, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

 

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DILUTION

The difference between the public offering price per share of Series A common stock, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus or the private placement units, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Series A common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated with the sale and exercise of warrants, including the private placement units, which would cause the actual dilution to the public stockholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of Series A common stock which may be redeemed for cash), by the number of outstanding shares of our Series A common stock.

At January 27, 2021, our net tangible book deficit was negative $20,000 or approximately $0.00 per share of Series F common stock. After giving effect to the sale of 30,000,000 shares of Series A common stock included in the units we are offering by this prospectus, the sale of the private placement units and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value at January 27, 2021 would have been $5,000,010 or $0.51 per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value (as decreased by the value of the approximately 28,701,999 shares of Series A common stock that may be redeemed for cash and assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) of $0.51 per share to our sponsor as of the date of this prospectus and an immediate dilution of $9.49 per share or 94.9% to our public stockholders not exercising their redemption rights. The dilution to new investors if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full would be an immediate dilution of $9.55 per share or 95.5%

The following table illustrates the dilution to the public stockholders on a per share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units or the private placement units:

 

     Without Over-Allotment     With Over-Allotment  

Public offering price

   $ 10.00     $ 10.00  

Net tangible book deficit before this offering

     (0.00     (0.00

Increase attributable to public stockholders

     0.51       0.45  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants

     0.51       0.45  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dilution to public stockholders

   $ 9.49     $ 9.55  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Percentage of dilution to public stockholders

     94.9     95.5

For purposes of presentation, we have reduced our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) by $287,019,990 because holders of up to approximately 95.7% of our public shares may redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account at a per-share redemption price equal to the amount in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our partnering transaction, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) divided by the number of shares of Series A common stock sold in this offering.

The following table sets forth information with respect to our sponsor and the public stockholders:

 

     Shares Purchased     Total Consideration     Average Price
Per Share
 
     Number      Percentage     Amount      Percentage  

Initial Stockholders(1)(2)

     7,500,000        19.5   $ 25,000        0.008   $ 0.003  

Private placement

     1,000,000        2.6     10,000,000        3.226   $ 10.00  

Public Stockholders(3)

     30,000,000        77.9     300,000,000        96.766   $ 10.00  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   
     38,500,000        100   $ 310,025,000        100.00  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

(1)

Assumes the full forfeiture of an aggregate of 1,125,000 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.

 

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(2)

Reflects a surrender of 2,875,000 shares of Series F common stock by our sponsor effected on April 8, 2021

(3)

Assumes our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering.

The pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering (assuming that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option) is calculated as follows:

 

     Without  Over-
Allotment
    With  Over-
Allotment
 

Numerator:

    

Net tangible book value before this offering

   $ (20,000   $ (20,000

Proceeds from this offering and sale of the private placement units(1)

     302,500,000       347,500,000  

Plus: Offering costs paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value

     40,000       40,000  

Less: Deferred underwriters’ commissions

     (10,500,000     (12,075,000

Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption

     (287,019,990     (330,444,990
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 5,000,010     $ 5,000,010  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator:

    

Series F common stock outstanding prior to this offering

     8,625,000       8,625,000  

Series F common stock forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised

     (1,125,000     —    

Series A common stock included in the units offered

     30,000,000       34,500,000  

Series A common stock included in units sold to our sponsor in a private placement

     1,000,000       1,090,000  

Less: shares subject to redemption

     (28,701,999     (33,044,499
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     9,798,001       11,170,501  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses of $1,500,000 and underwriting commissions of $6,000,000 or $6,900,000 if the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option (excluding deferred underwriting fees). See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of January 27, 2021 on a historical basis and as adjusted to give effect to the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the sale of 30,000,000 units in this offering for $300,000,000 (or $10.00 per unit) and the sale of 1,000,000 private placement units for $10,000,000 (or $10.00 per unit), the surrender of shares of Series F common stock that occurred on April 8, 2021 and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities (and excludes gross proceeds from the sale of forward purchase units that may close substantially simultaneously with the consummation of our partnering transaction), assuming our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering:

 

     As of January 27, 2021  
     Actual     As Adjusted(2)  

Notes payable to related party(1)

   $ —       $ —    

Deferred underwriting commissions

       10,500,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Series A common stock, subject to redemption, -0- shares actual and 28,701,999 shares as adjusted(3)

     —         287,019,990  

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, actual — 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding; as adjusted — 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding

     —         —    

Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value; actual — 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding; as adjusted — 500,000,000 shares authorized; 2,298,001 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 28,701,999 shares subject to possible redemption)

     —         230  

Series B common stock, $0.0001 par value; actual — 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding; as adjusted — 80,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

    

Series C common stock, $0.0001 par value; actual — 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding; as adjusted — 40,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding

     —         —    

Series F common stock, $0.0001 par value; actual — 20,000,000 shares authorized, 8,625,000 shares issued and outstanding; as adjusted — 40,000,000 shares authorized, 7,500,000 shares issued and outstanding(4)

     863       750  

Additional paid-in capital(5)

     24,137       5,004,030  

Accumulated deficit

     (5,000     (5,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

   $ 20,000     $ 5,000,010  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 20,000     $ 302,520,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. To date, we borrowed approximately $172,000 under the promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering.

(2)

Assumes the full forfeiture of an aggregate of 1,125,000 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. The proceeds of the sale of such shares will not be deposited into the trust account, the shares will not be eligible for redemption from the trust account nor will they be eligible to vote upon the partnering transaction.

(3)

Upon the completion of our partnering transaction, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the partnering transaction, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), subject to the limitations described herein whereby our net tangible assets will be maintained at a minimum of

 

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  $5,000,001 and any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed partnering transaction. The value of Series A common stock that may be redeemed is equal to $10.00 per share (which is the assumed redemption price) multiplied by 28,701,999 shares of Series A common stock, which is the maximum number of shares of Series A common stock that may be redeemed for a $10.00 purchase price per share and still maintain at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets.
(4)

Actual share amount is prior to any forfeiture of founder shares by our sponsor. The “as adjusted” share amount assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the forfeiture of 1,125,000 founder shares by our sponsor.

(5)

The “as adjusted” additional paid-in capital calculation is equal to the “as adjusted” total stockholders’ equity of $5,000,010, less common stock (par value) of $980, plus the accumulated deficit of $5,000.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

We are a newly incorporated blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction with one or more businesses. We have not selected any partnering transaction target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any partnering transaction target. We intend to effectuate our partnering transaction using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units and forward purchase units, our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, stock and debt.

The issuance of additional shares of our stock in a partnering transaction, including pursuant to the forward purchase agreement:

 

   

may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering;

 

   

may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;

 

   

could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;

 

   

may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us;

 

   

may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Series A common stock and/or warrants; and

 

   

may not result in adjustment to the exercise price of our warrants.

Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant indebtedness, it could result in:

 

   

default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a partnering transaction are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;

 

   

acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;

 

   

our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;

 

   

our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding;

 

   

our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;

 

   

using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

   

limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;

 

   

increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and

 

   

limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.

 

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As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, as of January 27, 2021, we had no cash, a working capital deficit of $20,000 and deferred offering costs of $40,000. Further, we expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our partnering transaction will be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events

We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our partnering transaction. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our liquidity needs have been satisfied prior to the completion of this offering through receipt of $25,000 from the sale of the founder shares to our sponsor and up to $300,000 in loans from our sponsor under an unsecured promissory note. To date, we borrowed approximately $172,000 under the promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. We estimate that the net proceeds from (1) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $1,500,000 and underwriting commissions of $6,000,000 ($6,900,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (excluding deferred underwriting commissions of $10,500,000 (or up to $12,075,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full)), and (2) the sale of the private placement units for a purchase price of $10,000,000 (or $10,900,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be $302,500,000 (or $347,500,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). Of this amount, $300,000,000, or $345,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, including $10,500,000 (or up to $12,075,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions, will be deposited into the trust account. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in United States Treasuries. The remaining $2,500,000 will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $2,500,000, we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $1,500,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.

We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and excluding deferred underwriting commissions) and the proceeds from the sale of the forward purchase units to complete our partnering transaction. We may withdraw interest to pay taxes. We estimate our annual franchise tax obligations, based on the number of shares of our common stock authorized and outstanding after the completion of this offering, to be $200,000 per year, which is currently the maximum amount of annual franchise taxes payable by us as a Delaware corporation. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account. We expect the only taxes payable by us out of the funds in the trust account will be income and franchise taxes. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our taxes. To the extent that our

 

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capital stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our partnering transaction, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.

Prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, we will have available to us $2,500,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account. We will use these funds primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, structure, negotiate and complete a partnering transaction, and to pay taxes to the extent the interest earned on the trust account is not sufficient to pay our taxes.

In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended partnering transaction, our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our partnering transaction, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our partnering transaction does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $2,500,000 of such loans made to us may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units issued to our sponsor. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries, if any, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.

We expect our primary liquidity requirements during that period to include approximately $550,000 for legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, consulting and other expenses in connection with any partnering transactions; $150,000 for legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations; $600,000 for fees paid to the non-employee directors on our board for their service on the board; $75,000 for NYSE continued listing fees; $960,000 for office space, administrative and support services; and approximately $65,000 for general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses.

We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a partnering transaction are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our partnering transaction. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our partnering transaction or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of our partnering transaction, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such partnering transaction.

Controls and Procedures

We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control reporting requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.

 

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Prior to the closing of this offering, we have not completed an assessment, nor has our independent registered accounting firm tested our systems, of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our partnering transaction and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Many small and mid-sized target businesses we may consider for our partnering transaction may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:

 

   

staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;

 

   

reconciliation of accounts;

 

   

proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;

 

   

evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;

 

   

documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and

 

   

documentation of accounting policies and procedures.

Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expenses in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively may also take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.

Once our management’s report on internal controls is complete, we will retain an independent auditor to audit and render an opinion on such report when required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The registered public accounting firm may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal controls while performing its audit of internal control over financial reporting.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units held in the trust account will be invested in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in United States Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results

As of January 27, 2021, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus as we have conducted no operations to date.

Related Party Transactions

In January 2021, our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 11,500,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, with a purchase price of approximately $0.002 per share. On April 8, 2021, our sponsor surrendered 2,875,000 founder shares to us for no consideration resulting in an aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares outstanding (up to 1,125,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). As a result of such surrender, the per-share purchase price increased to approximately $0.003 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon the completion of this offering. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock

 

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dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Series F common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon the consummation of this offering. As such, our sponsor will collectively beneficially own 20% of our issued and outstanding capital stock immediately after this offering (assuming our sponsor does not purchase units in this offering). Our sponsor does not intend to purchase any units in this offering. Up to 1,125,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.

We will enter into a services agreement pursuant to which we will pay Post and certain of its subsidiaries a total of $40,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services. Upon completion of our partnering transaction or any liquidation, we may cease paying some or all of these monthly fees. Pursuant to such agreement we will indemnify Post and its affiliates for (i) any claims made by us or a third party and resulting liabilities in respect of any investment opportunities sourced by them, (ii) any liability arising with respect to their activities in connection with our affairs and (iii) any services that are provided without a separate written agreement between us and Post or an affiliate of Post. Such indemnity will provide that the indemnified parties cannot access the funds held in our trust account.

Our sponsor, officers and directors or Post or its other subsidiaries will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable partnering transactions. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors or Post or its other subsidiaries and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.

Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. To date, we borrowed approximately $172,000 under the promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of December 31, 2021 and the closing of this offering. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $1,500,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) not held in the trust account.

In addition, in order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended partnering transaction, our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our partnering transaction, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our partnering transaction does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $2,500,000 of such loans made to us may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private placement units issued to our sponsor. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries, if any, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.

Our sponsor will commit, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 private placement units (or 1,090,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit ($10,000,000 in the aggregate or $10,900,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Series A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. The private placement units are identical to the units sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus.

In addition, certain members of our management team, and officers and directors of Post and their affiliates, may purchase our securities in the open market following the IPO and enter into an agreement in

 

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accordance with the guidelines of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act to place limit orders, through an independent broker-dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act which is not affiliated with us nor part of the underwriting or selling group, to purchase our securities in the open market at market prices, subject to certain conditions.

In connection with the consummation of this offering, we will enter into a forward purchase agreement with our sponsor pursuant to which our sponsor will commit to purchase from us up to 10,000,000 forward purchase units, consisting of one share of Series B common stock, or a “forward purchase share,” and one-third of one warrant to purchase one share of Series A common stock, or a “forward purchase warrant,” for $10.00 per forward purchase unit, in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of our partnering transaction. The proceeds from the sale of these forward purchase units, together with the amounts available to us from the trust account (after giving effect to any redemptions of public shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by us in connection with the partnering transaction, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the partnering transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining specified amounts to be used by the post-partnering transaction company for working capital or other purposes. To the extent that the amounts available from the trust account and other financing are sufficient for such cash requirements, our sponsor may purchase less than 10,000,000 forward purchase units. Pursuant to an investor rights agreement that we will enter into with our sponsor and Post and a forward purchase agreement that we will enter into with our sponsor on or prior to the closing of this offering, we may be required to register certain securities for sale under the Securities Act. These holders, and holders of warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, will be entitled under each of the investor rights agreement and the forward purchase agreement to make up to three demands in any 12-month period that we register certain of our securities held by them for sale under the Securities Act and to have the securities covered thereby registered for resale pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In addition, our sponsor will have the right to include certain of its securities in other registration statements filed by us. However, the investor rights agreement and the forward purchase agreement will provide that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until the securities covered thereby are released from their lock-up restrictions, as described herein. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing any such registration statements.

JOBS Act

On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things: (1) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; (2) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; (3) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis); and (4) disclose certain executive compensation-related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of this offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.

 

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PROPOSED BUSINESS

Company

PHPC is a newly incorporated blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our “partnering transaction.” To date, our efforts have been limited to organizational activities as well as activities related to this offering. We have no specific business plan other than to enter into a partnering transaction. We have not selected any business with which to partner and have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any candidate with respect to a partnering transaction with us. Although we may pursue a partnering transaction in any industry, we intend to capitalize on the ability of our management team and our sponsor to partner with a business that has the potential to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns in the CPG industry.

Post and Our Sponsor

An affiliate of Post will act as our sponsor. Post is a consumer packaged goods holding company with a long history of value creation via strategic corporate actions and efficient capital allocation. None of Post’s business will directly be a source of returns for investors in our offering. While we expect Post to provide expertise, it is not obligated to and there is no guarantee it will source a partnering transaction. Post will not receive any additional compensation or finder’s fees from sourcing or providing financing for our partnering transaction. However, as a result of Post’s indirect ownership of our founder shares, private placement units and forward purchase units, it may derive economic benefits from such securities. The amount of such economic benefits to Post cannot yet be determined. Any financing, whether provided by Post or third parties, may negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us. See “Risk Factors —  Risks Relating to Our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Partnering Transaction —  We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a partnering transaction, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.” Any financing provided by Post is expected to be on terms, taken as a whole, that would be at least as favorable to us as could be obtained from a third party.

Post generated 279% in total shareholder return since its spin-off from Ralcorp in 2012 until the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020 – the highest among Post’s packaged food industry peers. From Post’s spin-off through December 31, 2020, Post generated 278% in total shareholder return, still among the highest of its peers, despite being impacted by the pandemic’s effect on its foodservice business. To achieve these results, Post has transformed from a single-product participant in a secularly declining category into a growing, diversified enterprise across multiple categories.

 

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LOGO

 

1.

Fiscal year ended 9/30/2011. Reflects Net Sales for Post.

2.

Fiscal year ended 9/30/2020. Reflects Net Sales for Post and its equity investments, comprised of Post consolidated Net Sales of $5.7bn, which includes 100% of BellRing, plus $924 million in Net Sales for 8th Avenue.

This transformation was accomplished by utilizing the following strategic guiding principles:

 

   

Long-tenured management team. We believe Post has the longest-tenured management team among its publicly-traded packaged food industry peers, with its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and General Counsel having joined Post in various capacities in 2011. This continuity and cohesive team structure has created a strong, collaborative culture with significant accumulated institutional knowledge and transaction expertise.

 

   

De-centralized operating structure. Post’s corporate management recognizes that the “operator” skill set is often different than the “capital allocation” or “M&A” skill set. As such, Post retains an operationally-focused management team to run each of its business units and centralizes the capital allocation function. This structure allows each of Post’s business units to achieve operational excellence and be agile and nimble, while remaining autonomous from, but accountable to, the corporate management team at Post. This also enables corporate management to focus on efficient capital allocation and accretive M&A and structured transactions on a holistic basis across the portfolio.

 

   

Creative and pragmatic approach to M&A. Post’s corporate management possesses a deep M&A proficiency, employing leverage and transaction structure to enhance returns. Unlike some corporations with M&A in their DNA, Post is not solely an asset accumulator, but rather seeks to monetize assets opportunistically to unlock shareholder value.

 

   

Broad access to deal flow. Given Post’s extensive M&A track-record and heavy use of the capital markets, corporate management has regular direct contact with various management teams, board members, and sell-side bankers. The Post team is well suited to transact in situations that require creativity, complexity, or structuring expertise.

 

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Appropriate use of leverage to enhance equity returns. Post’s corporate management actively manages its balance sheet and has a sophisticated understanding of the capital markets. Since its spin-off, Post has undertaken over 30 capital markets transactions and maintained leverage in a range of 4.0x to 6.0x for most of that time.

Post intends to apply these primary strategic principles to capitalize on the substantial deal flow and opportunity that management sees across the consumer sector. As such, we are seeking to partner with a business in an attractive category, with growth potential organically or through consolidation opportunities, margin upside potential, portfolio optionality, and an experienced management team. Post management believes that PHPC’s formation, and its position outside of the immediate Post corporate structure, greatly expands the potential universe of targets and target financial profiles that could potentially generate attractive returns for shareholders. We are open to assessing high-growth partners, yet prioritize other criteria, as outlined in Our Investment Criteria. The partnering transaction would provide the candidate business an efficient path to become public, backed by Post’s experience managing consumer products businesses, allocating capital, and building a foundation for future acquisitions and value creation. As a long-term partner, Post will enhance the potential candidate’s ability to generate risk-adjusted returns for stockholders.

Capitalizing on Post’s History

Post’s history is rooted in M&A as a lever for value-creation against an ever-evolving CPG category backdrop.

Post’s legacy dates back to 1895, when C. W. Post incorporated Postum Cereals Company and developed one of the first RTE cereals, Grape-Nuts, in 1897. The company became the first packaged food consolidator, as Postum Cereals Company acquired over a dozen companies between 1925 and 1929, expanding its product line to more than 60 products and eventually changing its name to General Foods Corporation.

Philip Morris acquired the business in 1985 and subsequently merged the business with Kraft in 1989. In 2007, Kraft was separated from Philip Morris, and in 2008, the Post cereals business was split-off from Kraft and combined with Ralcorp, a manufacturer of private label packaged food. Ultimately, Post was spun-off from Ralcorp and became a separate, standalone company, effective February 3, 2012.

Post’s character as an early food industry consolidator re-emerged when it once again became a standalone public company. A component of management’s initial mandate was to consolidate the RTE cereal category. At the same time, the category began to experience a more pronounced shift in consumption, after decades of low-to-mid single digit growth. Consumers began to exhibit a preference for low-carbohydrate diets, natural ingredients, or non-processed foods, and were substituting protein-based options for cereals. In the face of enhanced competition in a growth-constrained environment, Post developed a diversification strategy that prioritized performance stability and free cash flow generation. Management recognized early and positioned its portfolio accordingly around long-term consumer trends. To diversify its cereal offerings, some of management’s first acquisitions were focused on building a foothold in protein products relevant to the breakfast daypart, both for at-home and on-the-go eating occasions. The acquisitions of Michael Foods and Premier Protein allowed Post to unlock desired strategic diversity. Post later was able to translate those early actions into future value creation when it carved out BellRing, which held Post’s active nutrition businesses including Premier Protein, highlighting that Post is not an asset accumulator, and instead seeks to crystallize value when possible to maximize long-term returns for shareholders. In total, Post has acquired 16 businesses since 2012, growing net sales nearly six times and Adjusted EBITDA over five times.

 

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LOGO

 

1.

Post’s fiscal year end is September 30.

Central to Post’s value creation strategy is the simple notion of accessing capital at a reasonable cost and investing the capital in consumer assets with appropriate risk-adjusted return potential. Over its history, Post has been an active issuer in different capital markets including high-yield debt (both term loans and bonds), convertible preferred equity, mandatory convertible equity, and common equity. In addition, Post has also partnered with private equity capital providers (via its formation of 8th Avenue), as well as the public equity markets (via its BellRing carve-out IPO). Post management views the market for blank check companies as a natural extension of this strategy of leveraging its capital base through creative financial structures.

Post management believes that the current combination of macro, market, and contextual opportunity have combined to make the present moment the right time to explore value-accretive transactions where Post can apply its core M&A skill set outside of the immediate Post corporate structure. Both Post shareholders and PHPC stockholders have the opportunity to benefit from the formation of PHPC and the complementary, aligned objectives that will guide its pursuit of value creation.

Differentiated Sponsor

Our sponsor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Post. Post operates as a holding company for six distinct businesses today. Four of the businesses are wholly-owned, including Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Foodservice, and Refrigerated Retail. Two of the businesses are held as investments in non-wholly owned subsidiaries. BellRing is Post’s historical active nutrition business. Post completed an IPO of a minority interest in BellRing in October 2019, monetizing a 28.8% stake in the business while retaining 71.2% for upside in the public markets. 8th Avenue is Post’s historical private brand business, which Post capitalized separately with investments from third parties in October 2018, retaining a 60.5% stake for future upside potential and optionality. Post is familiar with operating as a public company with a complex organizational structure, making it an ideal partner to PHPC.

Post’s operating model with its existing subsidiaries is similar to the expected relationship with our ultimate partner, making Post uniquely qualified to sponsor our business. Each of Post’s six businesses has its own management and operating structure, while capital allocation and M&A are centrally-managed by Post. The subsidiary businesses are unified, but not operationally integrated, by select shared services across the portfolio related to food safety, regulatory and compliance oversight; treasury; finance; investor relations; tax; select information technology; human resources; and corporate legal. De-centralization allows each business to flexibly and quickly respond to market movements, and enables them to be separated in the future without significant disintegration effects or stranded costs.

 

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Stemming from its own strategic principles, Post intends to provide the following support to the ultimate partner as sponsor:

 

   

Consumer products industry expertise and relationships. Post’s management team has a collective 100+ years of industry experience in consumer products. Rob Vitale additionally serves on the board of directors of Energizer Holdings, Inc., a publicly-traded company operating in the household products category. The management team’s relationships with business managers and operators across all corporate functions, as well as among the financial communities that invest in CPG businesses, provides the partnering candidate access to best-in-class leadership and strategic acumen.

 

   

M&A experience and capabilities, including access to deal flow. Post has completed 16 acquisitions since 2012, building the relationships that place it at the nexus of deal flow between strategic and sponsor transactions, while developing the resources and experience to move quickly and decisively. Since future M&A opportunity is a major consideration in our selection of an ultimate partner, Post would be a valuable resource.

 

 

LOGO

 

1.

Transformative acquisitions are defined as transactions with a purchase price >$1,000 million.

 

   

Tax and structuring expertise and resources. Post’s own corporate organization and transaction experience provide administrative resources and third party relationships that will help optimize corporate and deal structure.

 

   

Capitalization formation and ongoing balance sheet management. Post already provides treasury services to its business units as well as to its affiliate investments under master services agreements, so an extension of its guidance to our business would be a natural step to leverage its expertise. Post takes a thoughtful, appropriately aggressive, and proactive approach to balance sheet management, having flexed up and down leverage for acquisitions since its spin-off.

 

   

Experienced manager of a public company. Post management has deep expertise in leading a public company. Post intends to leverage its experience to support the partnering candidate as it enters the public markets for the first time.

 

   

Potential shared services. While we will not be integrated into Post as a wholly-owned subsidiary, we expect to have a similar relationship to the sponsor as Post’s current subsidiaries. Post and management will take into account potential revenue and cost synergies that might be available based on common capabilities, customers, operations, or distribution channels in evaluating potential partnering opportunities; Post may be able to offer certain administrative services to leverage costs across a larger portfolio.

Post aims to help build a foundation for our long-term success, and will lend its expertise, resources, and guidance, backed by its initial financial commitment, to start our journey as a public company.

Immediately prior to this proposed public offering our sponsor owned 100% of our capital stock, consisting of shares of Series F common stock which will automatically convert at the time of our partnering transaction, or earlier at the option of the holder, into shares of Series B common stock on a one-for-one basis. In

 

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connection with our partnering transaction, our sponsor has agreed to purchase 10,000,000 forward purchase units consisting of one share of Series B common stock and one-third of a forward purchase warrant. Following our partnering transaction, each share of Series B common stock entitles the holder to ten votes per share which differs from the typical capital structure of many other special purpose acquisition companies. Assuming that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that our sponsor forfeits an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares, that there are 38,500,000 shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering, that the issuance of 10,000,000 forward purchase units to our sponsor pursuant to the forward purchase agreement and that our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering are the only additional equity securities issued in connection with our partnering transaction, our sponsor is expected to own approximately 38% of the outstanding shares of our common stock and approximately 85% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock immediately following the closing of our partnering transaction. We anticipate that our sponsor’s voting power and equity ownership may be substantially diluted in connection with our partnering transaction, either from the issuance of new shares of common stock in exchange for the capital stock of the target, the issuance of our capital stock to third party investors providing additional funding to our company in connection with the partnering transaction, or both. However, until such time, our sponsor and Post will have the ability to exercise control over our affairs, policies and operations, such as the appointment of management, the issuance of additional shares of our common stock or other securities, the payment of dividends on our common stock, the incurrence of debt by us and over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, amendments of our organizational documents and any change of control of our company. Our sponsor may have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interests.

Post’s Investment Track Record Is Highly Relevant Across the Consumer Landscape

When Post became a standalone public company in 2012, it was a single-category business operating in the highly-competitive RTE cereal category with concentrated distribution channels in food, drug, mass, and club, offering only center-of-store products. Since then, Post has transformed into a dynamic, multi-category food company with diversified income streams and portfolio optionality. Post’s experience is relevant across the CPG industry as many categories face similar dynamics.

A core element of Post’s strategy relates to empowering management teams to operate toward a model that prioritizes top-line stability, margin enhancement, free cash flow generation, and agile responses to consumer preferences. The de-centralized model is intentionally designed to increase each individual unit’s flexibility, accountability, and entrepreneurship. Post’s performance demonstrates management’s ability to effectively incentivize and guide capital allocation decisions without crafting or developing each unit’s specific operating or go-to-market strategy.

Layered on top of organic growth is a discerning approach to inorganic expansion. Management has acquired 16 companies ranging from sub-$100 million to ~$2.45 billion in size since 2012. Despite the broad diversity in size, category, geography, and other business characteristics, Post’s strategy has been consistent. That is, to build leadership positions in categories with attractive dynamics and to diversify the total portfolio by expanding into new categories and channels, while addressing secular themes in food to insulate the portfolio from potential dietary, lifestyle or economic shifts. Post utilizes tax benefits (as appropriate and available) and aims to extract synergies where possible, using integration expertise to buy down the effective purchase multiple and enhance value creation. However, given Post’s de-centralized operating structure and diversified portfolio approach, synergies are not a pre-requisite for pursuing an acquisition that makes strategic sense or unlocks long-term strategic value.

Adherence to its upfront acquisition criteria, combined with effective integration that does not prioritize extreme cost-focused synergy extraction, has enhanced the return of Post’s portfolio and resulted in a strong track record of nearly all M&A targets performing ahead of the acquisition case under Post’s stewardship.

 

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Post’s results with its own business are a clear indicator of its track record. Post has driven attractive total returns for its shareholders and has delivered returns in excess of its peers since its formation.

 

 

LOGO

Post has also monetized assets opportunistically, using structured M&A to generate return while simultaneously retaining potential future upside. On October 1, 2018, Post completed an independent capitalization of 8th Avenue, providing gross proceeds to Post of $875 million while allowing Post to retain 60.5% in common equity post-closing. 8th Avenue is now a deconsolidated equity investment that is owned jointly with third party investors. On October 21, 2019, BellRing completed an initial public offering, providing net proceeds to Post of $524 million while allowing Post to retain a 71.2% ownership stake. BellRing remains fully-consolidated in Post’s financial results. Based on its current valuation in the public equity markets as of December 31, 2020, BellRing has achieved a more than six times increase in the entity’s enterprise value since the businesses were acquired and combined by Post in 2014. Post is therefore positioned to continue to realize value from growth in these investments, while still having recovered nearly all of its initial cash investment in both assets, providing ongoing strategic and portfolio optionality.

 

 

 

LOGO

 

Note: Entry enterprise value represents the cumulative headline purchase price paid for the assets that comprise the ultimate company

 

1.

Current market data per FactSet as of 12/31/2020. CAGR is calculated between the closing date of the final asset acquired at entry through current market data as of 12/31/2020.

2.

2018 enterprise value per Lender Presentation published in connection with the 8th Avenue capitalization in October 2018.

 

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As the sole member of our sponsor, Post will be providing us with differentiated expertise as a result of its track record of identifying high potential businesses as well as its differentiated access to a deep network of investors worldwide. Additionally, Post’s franchise strength brings capital, credibility, and institutional know-how to execute the partnering transaction quickly.

Our Business Strategy

Our strategy is to identify, partner with and, after our partnering transaction, fundamentally enhance a company in the public markets. We intend to partner with a company in the consumer products industry that complements the experience and expertise of our management team and is a business to which we believe we can add value.

Our management team is deeply familiar with the trends of our target industries and brings an investing approach that offers multiple competitive advantages in sourcing, evaluating and executing on opportunities, including:

 

   

Long-term investment horizon. We take a long-term, strategic view when evaluating our various operating businesses and are less concerned with seeking profits based on near-term volatility or temporary market disruptions.

 

   

Attractive risk-adjusted returns. We believe we can create significant value through efficient capital allocation, appropriately aggressive balance sheet management and a business model that focuses on outsized growth prospects and free cash flow generation.

 

   

Sophisticated transaction structuring to enhance value. We will be creative in our deal structures in order to maximize value creation for our prospective investors and shareholders.

 

   

Differentiated partner sourcing across consumer sectors. Post management is at the nexus of deal flow for both strategics and sponsors. We believe that the capabilities and connections of our management team, in combination with those of Post, will provide us with a differentiated pipeline of partnering opportunities that would be difficult for other participants in the M&A markets to replicate.

 

   

Speed and agility to consummate a partnering transaction. Our team has proven managerial expertise in deal execution having previously acquired and divested a number of businesses. We believe that we will be able to conduct candidate sourcing, screening, diligence and execution thoughtfully and efficiently as opportunities arise.

Our Investment Criteria

We have identified general criteria and guidelines for selecting an appropriate target, which we believe are important in evaluating prospective partnering businesses:

 

   

Fundamental business value. We look for businesses with consumer utility, strong brand awareness, and unique value propositions anchored by effective distribution and solid household penetration. We are also looking for businesses that are future-forward and disruptive in the way that they operate and/or the value proposition that they offer to consumers.

 

   

Attractive categories within the consumer products industry broadly. Categories where competitive dynamics remain supportive of growth opportunities, there are pockets of growth or pent-up demand, adjacency opportunities, multiple routes to market, or consolidation potential.

 

   

Well-established strategic moat. Entrenched, defensible leadership positions in core growth categories.

 

   

Strong margin potential. Attractive gross margin and adjusted EBITDA margin performance with identifiable opportunities for organic growth and operating leverage through increased scale.

 

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Strong free cash flow capability. Limited capital expenditure needs and modest working capital requirements to drive strong cash generation.

 

   

Portfolio optionality. Our goal is to build multiple paths to value creation, either with in-bound or out-bound M&A. We favor businesses with platform opportunities, where the structure of a candidate enables building or disaggregating consumer products businesses over time.

 

   

Experienced management team. We will seek to partner with deep, experienced and talented management teams to lead the business and have responsibility for driving operating results.

 

   

Desire to become a standalone public company. We will seek to partner with a business that has a desire to become a standalone public company and retain its economic autonomy.

These criteria and guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive. Further, we intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our partnering transaction with a candidate that does not meet these criteria and guidelines. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular partnering transaction may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general criteria and guidelines, as well as other considerations, factors and criteria deemed relevant by our management in effecting our partnering transaction consistent with our business objectives. In the event that we decide to enter into our partnering transaction with a candidate that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the candidate does not meet the above criteria in our shareholder communications related to our partnering transaction, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials that we would file with the SEC.

While our Series A, Series B and Series C common stock capital structure with its low vote, high vote and no vote, respectively, features differs from the typical capital structure of many other special purpose acquisition companies we expect to maintain this capital structure following our partnering transaction. However, maintenance of this capital structure is not a condition for us to evaluate acquisition opportunities. Although we are not aware of and are unable to determine at this time the criteria on which we would base our decision regarding whether to engage in a partnering transaction that would eliminate our Series B common stock or its high vote feature we may, in our sole discretion, seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to change this feature.

Our Competitive Strengths

The sourcing, valuation, diligence, and execution capabilities of our management team and Post will provide us with a significant pipeline of opportunities from which to evaluate and select a business that will benefit from our expertise. Our competitive strengths include the following core principles by which we govern ourselves:

 

   

Long-term orientation. Closing our partnering transaction is important but we are intensely focused on long-term share price performance and the interests of common stockholders post-closing.

 

   

Partnership model. We are not reliant on finding a company which needs operational improvement, cost cutting or replacing senior management. We are not activist investors. We are not buyout specialists. We are not short-term promoters. We have a long-term partnership mentality and collaborative investment model which is grounded and driven by our belief in fairness and alignment of interests.

 

   

Committed co-investment capital. Post intends to utilize its balance sheet to co-invest alongside public market investors. We believe that our initial committed capital in conjunction with our aligned economic interests will allow us to partner with a high quality company.

 

   

Continued ownership. We are focused on partnering with management teams who are focused on long- term compounded growth and existing owners who may want to continue ownership in a high

 

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quality asset but need to provide liquidity to existing stockholders and/or limited partners. PHPC provides an ability to transition ownership to the public market, which is deeper and more liquid than the private market, in a disciplined fashion and for existing owners to share in the future upside potential over the long term.

 

   

Deep experience of our sponsor and our management team. We believe that our ability to leverage the operational experience of Post, which has completed over 16 acquisitions since 2012 across a wide spectrum of size, subsector, and ownership structure, will provide us with a distinct advantage in being able to source, diligence, and add value post-closing of the partnering transaction.

 

   

Differentiated sourcing channels with leading industry, private equity, and venture capital relationships. Our management team and sponsor believe the capabilities and connections associated with our management team will provide us with a differentiated pipeline of partnering opportunities that would be difficult for other participants in the market to replicate. We expect these sourcing capabilities will be further bolstered by our management team’s reputation and deep industry, private equity, and venture capital relationships.

 

   

Investing experience. Our management team and sponsor believe that our management’s track record of identifying and sourcing transactions in the consumer sector positions us well to appropriately evaluate potential partnering candidates and select one that will be well received by the public markets and our stockholders.

 

   

Post-closing value-add capabilities and requirements. Our management team and sponsor believe that our combined expertise and reputation will allow us to drive meaningful value post-closing with the partner company. If our value-add is not readily identifiable, then we will choose not to execute that partnering transaction.

We believe our ability to complete a partnering transaction will be enhanced by our having entered into a forward purchase agreement with our sponsor pursuant to which our sponsor will commit to purchase from us up to 10,000,000 forward purchase units, each consisting of one forward purchase share and one-third of one forward purchase warrant, for $10.00 per forward purchase unit, in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of our partnering transaction. The proceeds from the sale of these forward purchase units, together with the amounts available to us from the trust account (after giving effect to any redemptions of public shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by us in connection with the partnering transaction, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the partnering transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining specified amounts to be used by the post-partnering transaction company for working capital or other purposes. To the extent that the amounts available from the trust account and other financing are sufficient for such cash requirements, our sponsor may purchase less than 10,000,000 forward purchase units. The terms of the forward purchase warrants will generally be identical to the terms of the redeemable warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.

Our Process

In evaluating a prospective partnering candidate, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees and inspection of physical assets, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information that will be made available to us. We will employ third party diligence to support our internal efforts where appropriate.

We are not prohibited from pursuing a partnering transaction with a business that is owned by our sponsor or any of the related companies, or making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with any of them. In the event we seek to complete our partnering transaction with a target that is owned by one of the related companies, a committee of our independent and disinterested directors will obtain

 

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an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another accounting, valuation or appraisal firm that such partnering transaction is fair to our company from a financial point of view. However, we are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.

Members of our management team may directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular candidate is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our partnering transaction. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular partnering transaction if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a candidate business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our partnering transaction.

As described under “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors has, and any of them in the future may have, additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to one or more other entities, including, in certain cases, to Post, pursuant to which such officer or director may be required to present a partnering transaction opportunity to such entities before he or she presents such opportunity to us. Also, none of our sponsor or any of our directors and officers is prohibited from sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with any other blank check companies, including in connection with their partnering transactions. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a partnering transaction opportunity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to another entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, he or she may only present such opportunity to us if such other entity including, in certain cases, to Post, rejects the opportunity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company, such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and such person has no fiduciary or contractual obligation to present the opportunity to any other person or entity, including, in certain cases, to Post. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our partnering transaction. We believe that potential conflicts with Post are naturally mitigated by the differing nature of the investments Post would typically consider most synergistic to the existing Post businesses and the types of transactions we expect to find most attractive based, in part, on transaction size and ability to operate as a standalone public company. Notwithstanding our belief regarding natural mitigation, Post and its subsidiaries may compete with us for acquisition opportunities that fall within Post’s investment objectives or strategies. A decision by Post to pursue an opportunity would preclude us from pursuing it and could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our partnering transaction.

You should not rely on the historical record or performance of Post or our management team as indicative of the future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. See “Risk Factors — General Risk Factors — Past performance by Post and members of our management team may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.”

 

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Our Management Team

Our experienced management team is well suited to identify and execute an attractive partnering transaction for our shareholders. Our management team is led by Robert V. Vitale as President and Chief Investment Officer, Bradly A. Harper as Chief Financial Officer, Jeff A. Zadoks as a member of our board of directors, and Jim Dwyer, Jennifer Kuperman, Dave Peacock and David Taiclet who will become members of our board of directors upon the completion of this offering.

 

   

Robert V. Vitale – President and Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Vitale has served as our President and Chief Investment Officer since January 2021. Mr. Vitale has also served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Post since November 2014. He joined Post during the time of its spinoff from Ralcorp and was Post’s Chief Financial Officer from 2011 to 2014. Mr. Vitale is the Executive Chairman of BellRing, of which Post is the majority stockholder. Mr. Vitale previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AHM Financial Group, LLC, a diversified provider of insurance brokerage and wealth management services, from 2006 to 2011. Prior to AHM Financial Group, LLC, Mr. Vitale was a Partner of Westgate Equity Partners, LLC, a consumer-oriented private equity firm, and started his career at Boatmen’s Bancshares and KPMG. Mr. Vitale also serves on the board of directors of 8th Avenue and Energizer Holdings, Inc.

 

   

Bradly A. Harper – Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Harper has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2021. Mr. Harper has also served as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Accounting Officer of Post since December 1, 2018. Mr. Harper served as the Vice President and Corporate Controller of Post from November 2014 to December 2018 and the Director of Corporate Accounting and Reporting of Post from December 2011 until November 2014. Prior to joining Post, Mr. Harper served as Assistant Controller of Savvis, Inc., a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprises.

 

   

Jeff A. Zadoks – Director. Mr. Zadoks has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2021. Mr. Zadoks has also served as Executive Vice President of Post since November 2017 and Chief Financial Officer of Post since 2014. He joined Post in 2011 as Corporate Controller. Mr. Zadoks previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of RehabCare Group, a national rehabilitation services company. Prior to RehabCare, Mr. Zadoks was the Corporate Controller at MEMC Electronic Materials (SunEdison), and started his career in the audit practice at KPMG.

 

   

Jim Dwyer – Director Nominee. Mr. Dwyer will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Mr. Dwyer has been the Chairman of the board of directors of 8th Avenue since May 2020 and served as its Chief Executive Officer from January 2018 until May 2020. Mr. Dwyer served as the President and CEO of Michael Foods, an operating company of Post, from October 2009 until February 2018.

 

   

Jennifer Kuperman – Director Nominee. Ms. Kuperman will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Ms. Kuperman was Head of International Corporate Affairs at Alibaba Group Holding Limited, a multinational conglomerate holding company specializing in eCommerce, retail, internet and technology, from April 2016 until January 2021 and served as Vice President, International Corporate Affairs at Alibaba Group Holding Limited from August 2014 to April 2016. Prior to joining Alibaba Group Holding Limited, Ms. Kuperman was Senior Vice President of Corporate Brand and Reputation at Visa Inc., a global payments technology company, from April 2013 to August 2014 and Chief of Staff, Officer of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Visa Inc. from August 2010 to April 2013. Ms. Kuperman also served as Head of Global Corporate Communications and Citizenship at Visa Inc. from August 2008 to July 2010 and Head of Employee and Client Communication at Visa Inc. from August 2004 to June 2008. Ms. Kuperman serves on the board of directors of BellRing. Ms. Kuperman also serves on the board of directors of CoachArt, a nonprofit organization that provides arts and recreational opportunities to youth with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

 

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Dave Peacock – Director Nominee. Mr. Peacock will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Mr. Peacock has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Schnucks Markets since May 2017. Prior to joining Schnucks’ management team, he was on the board of advisors for the firm as well as founder and Chairman of Vitaligent, LLC, a multi-unit restaurant franchisee. Mr. Peacock served as Senior Advisor to Anheuser-Busch from February 2012 until June 2012, President of Anheuser-Busch from November 2008 until January 2012, Vice President of Marketing at Anheuser-Busch from October 2007 until November 2008, and Vice President of Business Operations, Anheuser-Busch Incorporated from December 2004 until September 2007.

 

   

David L. Taiclet – Director Nominee. Mr. Taiclet will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Mr. Taiclet has served as General Partner and Managing Director of the Lewis & Clark Partners AgriFood Investment Group since November 2018. Mr. Taiclet served in several leadership positions for 1800Flowers.com from May 2006 until May 2017 as CEO of Fannie May Confections Brands from May 2006 until October 2008 and, ultimately, as President of the Gourmet Food Group from October 2008 until May 2017. Mr. Taiclet held numerous positions in the Strategy and Business Development Group of Cargill, Inc., an international marketer, processor and distributor of food, financial and industrial products.

Partnering Transaction

NYSE listing rules require that our partnering transaction must be with one or more target businesses that have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our partnering transaction. We refer to this as the 80% of net assets test. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our partnering transaction, although there is no assurance that will be the case.

We anticipate structuring our partnering transaction so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own or acquire shares will own or acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our partnering transaction such that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such partnering transaction if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the target, our stockholders prior to our partnering transaction may collectively own a minority interest (economic and/or voting) in the post-partnering transaction company, depending on, among other things, valuations ascribed to the target and us in our partnering transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock, shares or other equity interests of a target business, issue a substantial number of new shares to third parties in connection with financing our partnering transaction or our sponsor could convert some or all of its Series B common stock into Series A common stock. In such cases, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock or other changes to our capital structure, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction (including our sponsor) could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock subsequent to such transaction and therefore a minority interest (economic and/or voting) in the post-transaction company. If less than 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the

 

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portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired by us is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. If our partnering transaction involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we are not then listed on the NYSE for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% of net assets test.

Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the completion of our partnering transaction.

Sourcing of Potential Partnering Transaction Targets

We believe our management team’s significant transaction experience and industry relationships with companies will provide us with a substantial number of potential partnering transaction targets. Over the course of their careers, the members of our management team have developed a broad network of contacts and corporate relationships. This network has grown through the activities of our management team sourcing, acquiring, financing and selling businesses, our management team’s relationships with sellers, financing sources and target management teams and the experience of our management team in executing transactions under varying economic and financial market conditions.

We believe this network provides our management team with a robust and consistent flow of acquisition opportunities which were proprietary or where a limited group of investors were invited to participate in the sale process. We believe that the network of contacts and relationships of our management team will provide us with important sources of acquisition opportunities. In addition, we anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity funds and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.

We are not prohibited from pursuing a partnering transaction with a business that is owned by our sponsor or any of the related companies, or making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with any of them. In the event we seek to complete our partnering transaction with a target that is owned by the related companies, our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another accounting, valuation or appraisal firm that such partnering transaction is fair to our company from a financial point of view. However, we are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.

See “Management —  Conflicts of Interest” for information regarding limitations on our access to investment opportunities sourced by members of our management team, Post and other entities in which members of our management team are involved, including a list of our executive officers and directors and entities for which a conflict of interest may or does exist between such officers and our company.

Status as a Public Company

We believe our structure will make us an attractive partnering transaction partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we will offer target businesses an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction. In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their shares of stock in the target business for shares of our stock or for a combination of shares of our stock and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers. Although there are various costs and obligations associated with being a public company, we believe target businesses will find this method a more certain and

 

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cost-effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. In a typical initial public offering, there are additional expenses incurred in marketing, road show and public reporting efforts that may not be present to the same extent in connection with a partnering transaction with us.

Furthermore, once a proposed partnering transaction is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay or prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with stockholders’ interests. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.

Financial Position

With funds available for a partnering transaction initially in the amount of $392,000,000 (which includes $100,000,000 that may be received pursuant to the forward purchase agreement) assuming no redemptions and after payment of $10,500,000 of deferred underwriting fees (or $435,425,000 (which includes the $100,000,000 that may be received pursuant to the forward purchase agreement) assuming no redemptions and after payment of up to $12,075,000 of deferred underwriting fees if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), after estimated offering expenses of $1,500,000 (and prior to any estimated post-IPO working capital expenses of $2,500,000), we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to complete our partnering transaction using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third-party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.

Effecting our Partnering Transaction

We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to effectuate our partnering transaction using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units and forward purchase units, our capital stock, debt or a combination of these as the consideration to be paid in our partnering transaction. We may seek to complete our partnering transaction with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.

If our partnering transaction is paid for using equity or debt or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our partnering transaction or used for redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our partnering transaction, to fund the purchase of other businesses or for working capital.

 

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We have not selected any specific partnering candidate and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions directly or indirectly with any partnering candidate with respect to a partnering transaction with us. The members of our management team and Post and other entities in which members of our management team are involved are from time to time made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue, for a partnering transaction, but we have not selected any partnering transaction target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any partnering transaction target with respect to a partnering transaction with us. See “— Sourcing of Potential Partnering Transaction Targets,” “— Conflicts of Interest” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest” for additional information regarding limitations on our access to investment opportunities sourced by members of our management team, Post and other entities in which members of our management team are involved.

In addition to the forward purchase agreement, we may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction, and we may effectuate our partnering transaction using the proceeds of such offerings or loans rather than using the amounts held in the trust account.

In the case of a partnering transaction funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our tender offer documents or proxy materials disclosing the partnering transaction would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by applicable law or we decide to do so for business or other reasons, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our partnering transaction. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.

Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of our Partnering Transaction

NYSE listing rules require that our partnering transaction must be with one or more target businesses that have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our partnering transaction. The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as discounted cash flow valuation or value of comparable businesses. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our partnering transaction, although there is no assurance that will be the case. Subject to this requirement, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our partnering transaction solely with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.

In any case, we will only complete a partnering transaction if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. If less than 100% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired by us is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. There is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our partnering transaction.

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such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors.

In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews and inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information that will be made available to us.

The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our partnering transaction, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our partnering transaction is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another partnering transaction.

Lack of Business Diversification

For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our partnering transaction, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business.

By completing our partnering transaction with only a single entity our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several partnering transactions in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:

 

   

solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset; or

 

   

dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.

This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our partnering transaction.

Potential Management Concerns Post-Partnering Transaction

Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our partnering transaction with that business, our assessment of the target business’s management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our partnering transaction, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place and it is highly unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our partnering transaction. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.

We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the post-partnering transaction company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our partnering transaction.

 

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Following our partnering transaction, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management team of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management team.

Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve our Partnering Transaction

We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons. Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of partnering transactions we may consider and whether stockholder approval is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.

 

Type of Transaction

  

Whether Stockholder Approval is Required

Purchase of assets    No
Purchase of stock of target not involving a merger with the company    No
Merger of target into a subsidiary of the company    No
Merger of the company with a target    Yes

Under NYSE’s listing rules, stockholder approval would be required for our partnering transaction if, for example:

 

   

we issue (other than in a public offering for cash) shares of common stock that will either (a) be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of shares of common stock (other than in a public offering) then outstanding or (b) have voting power equal to or in excess of 20% of the voting power then outstanding;

 

   

any of our directors, officers or substantial security holders (as defined by the NYSE rules) has a 5% or greater interest, directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise and the present or potential issuance of shares of common stock could result in an increase in issued and outstanding shares of common stock or voting power of 1% or more (or 5% or more if the related party involved is classified as such solely because such person is a substantial security holder); or

 

   

the issuance or potential issuance will result in our undergoing a change of control.

The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed partnering transaction in those instances in which stockholder approval is not required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and other reasons, which include a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

 

   

the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine stockholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek stockholder approval or doing so would place the company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the company;

 

   

the expected cost of holding a stockholder vote;

 

   

the risk that the stockholders would fail to approve the proposed partnering transaction;

 

   

other time and budget constraints of the company; and

 

   

additional legal complexities of a proposed partnering transaction that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to stockholders.

 

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Permitted purchases and other transactions with respect to our securities

In the event we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies and their directors, officers or advisors may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our partnering transaction. There is no limit on the number of securities such persons may purchase. Additionally, at any time at or prior to our partnering transaction, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies and their directors, officers or advisors may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our partnering transaction or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such purchases or other transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such purchases or other transactions. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or warrants in such transactions. Such persons will be subject to restrictions in making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. We will adopt an insider trading policy which will require insiders to refrain from purchasing securities during certain blackout periods and when they are in possession of any material non-public information. We cannot currently determine whether our insiders will make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, as it will be dependent upon several factors, including, but not limited to, the timing and size of such purchases. Depending on such circumstances, our insiders may either make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or determine that such a plan is not necessary.

In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies and their directors, officers or advisors purchase public shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights or submitted a proxy to vote against our partnering transaction, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares and any proxy to vote against our partnering transaction. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will be required to comply with such rules.

The purpose of any such transaction could be to (1) vote such shares in favor of the partnering transaction and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the partnering transaction, (2) reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our partnering transaction or (3) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the consummation of our partnering transaction, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such transactions may result in the completion of our partnering transaction that may not otherwise have been possible.

In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of Series A common stock or warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.

Our sponsor, officers, directors, and advisors anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, officers, directors, or advisors or any of the related companies or their officers, directors or

 

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advisors may pursue privately negotiated transactions by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders (in the case of public shares) following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our partnering transaction. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors, or advisors or any of the related companies or their officers, directors or advisors enter into a private transaction, they would identify and contact only potential selling or redeeming stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our partnering transaction. Such persons would select the stockholders from whom to acquire shares based on the number of shares available, the negotiated price per share and such other factors as any such person may deem relevant at the time of purchase. The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our partnering transaction. Our sponsor, officers, directors, or advisors or any of the related companies or their officers, directors or advisors will be restricted from purchasing shares if such purchases do not comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.

Any purchases by any person who is an affiliated purchaser under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act will be restricted unless such purchases are made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our sponsor, officers, and directors and any of the related companies and their officers and directors will be restricted from making purchases of common stock if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.

Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of our Partnering Transaction

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock upon the completion of our partnering transaction at a per-share 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 partnering transaction, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. At completion of the partnering transaction, we will be required to purchase any public shares properly delivered for redemption and not withdrawn. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our partnering transaction with respect to our warrants. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction.

Manner of Conducting Redemptions

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Series A common stock upon the completion of our partnering transaction either: (1) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the partnering transaction; or (2) by means of a tender offer. At completion of the partnering transaction, we will be required to purchase any public shares properly delivered for redemption and not withdrawn. Except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed partnering transaction or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would typically require stockholder approval. If we structure a partnering transaction with a target company in

 

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a manner that requires stockholder approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed partnering transaction. We intend to conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law or stock exchange rule or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons.

If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

 

   

conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and

 

   

file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our partnering transaction which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the partnering transaction and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.

Upon the public announcement of our partnering transaction, we and our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our Series A common stock in the open market if we elect to redeem our public shares through a tender offer, to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.

In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our partnering transaction until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our partnering transaction. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such partnering transaction, and we instead may search for an alternate partnering transaction (including, potentially, with the same target).

If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange rule, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

 

   

conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and

 

   

file proxy materials with the SEC.

We expect that a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least 10 days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Although we are not required to do so, we currently intend to comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A in connection with any stockholder vote even if we are not able to maintain our NYSE listing or Exchange Act registration.

In the event that we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon the consummation of the partnering transaction.

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction, we will complete our partnering transaction only if a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the partnering transaction, subject to any other vote required by applicable law. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the

 

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holders present in person or by proxy of shares of our outstanding capital stock representing a majority of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will count towards this quorum and will agree to vote any shares held by them in favor of our partnering transaction. We expect that at the time of any stockholder vote relating to our partnering transaction, our sponsor and its permitted transferees will own at least 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) entitled to vote thereon. These quorum and voting thresholds and agreements may make it more likely that we will consummate our partnering transaction. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting and, if it does vote, irrespective of whether it votes for or against the proposed transaction. In addition, our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with the completion of a partnering transaction.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions. Redemptions of our public shares may also be subject to a higher net tangible asset test or cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to our partnering transaction. For example, the proposed partnering transaction may require: (1) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners; (2) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes; or (3) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed partnering transaction. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Series A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed partnering transaction exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the partnering transaction or redeem any shares, and all shares of Series A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate partnering transaction (including, potentially, with the same target).

Limitation on Redemption upon Completion of our Partnering Transaction if we Seek Stockholder Approval

Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to Excess Shares, without our prior consent. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed partnering transaction as a means to force us or our sponsor to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our sponsor at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our partnering transaction, particularly in connection with a partnering transaction with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our partnering transaction.

 

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Tendering Stock Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights

We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the partnering transaction in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, rather than simply voting against the partnering transaction at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our partnering transaction will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the partnering transaction if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Pursuant to the tender offer rules, the tender offer period will be not less than 20 business days and, in the case of a stockholder vote, a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least 10 days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.

There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker a fee of approximately $80 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.

The foregoing is different from the procedures used by some blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their partnering transactions, some blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders’ vote on a partnering transaction, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed partnering transaction and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the partnering transaction was approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an “option window” after the completion of the partnering transaction during which he or she could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he or she could sell his or her shares in the open market before actually delivering his or her shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become “option” rights surviving past the completion of the partnering transaction until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election to redeem is irrevocable once the partnering transaction is approved.

Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the tender offer materials or two business days prior to the scheduled date of the stockholder meeting set forth in our proxy materials, as applicable (unless we elect to allow additional withdrawal rights). Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our partnering transaction.

 

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If our partnering transaction is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.

If our proposed partnering transaction is not completed, we may continue to try to complete a partnering transaction until 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period.

Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if no Partnering Transaction

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) to complete our partnering transaction. If we have not completed our partnering transaction within such period or during any Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within the 24-month (or 27-month, as applicable) time period.

Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period (although our sponsor, officers and directors will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within the prescribed time frame).

Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Series A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. However, we may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions.

We expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the estimated $2,500,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. However, if those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay taxes, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.

 

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If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account and any tax payments or expenses for the dissolution of the trust, the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution would be $10.00. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than $10.00. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Partnering Transaction — If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors described above. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.

Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management team will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative.

Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where we are unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. In order to protect the amounts held in the trust account, our sponsor will agree that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of: (1) $10.00 per public share; and (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor, which is a newly formed entity, has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our partnering transaction and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event,

 

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we may not be able to complete our partnering transaction, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses. We believe the likelihood of our sponsor having to indemnify the trust account is limited because we will endeavor to have all vendors and prospective target businesses as well as other entities execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account.

In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of: (1) $10.00 per public share; and (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in certain instances. For example, the cost of such legal action may be deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or the independent directors may determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be substantially less than $10.00 per public share. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Partnering Transaction — If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors described above.

We will seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to an estimated $1,500,000 from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with any liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $1,500,000, we may fund such excess with funds from the funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $1,500,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.

Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our partnering transaction within the required time period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.

 

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Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our partnering transaction within the required time period is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution. If we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the end of our acquisition period and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.

Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time, that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent ten years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account.

As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the trust account is remote. Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the trust account are not reduced below the lesser of: (1) $10.00 per public share; and (2) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims.

If we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.00 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached

 

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its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons. See “Risk Factors — If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.”

A public stockholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (1) the completion of our partnering transaction and then, only in connection with those public shares that such stockholder has properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek stockholder approval in connection with our partnering transaction, a stockholder’s voting in connection with our partnering transaction alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights described above. Holders of warrants will not have any rights to proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our partnering transaction. If we seek to amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity, we will provide public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such vote. Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree to waive any redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, among other things, that:

 

   

prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, we shall either: (1) seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction at a meeting called for such purpose, in connection with which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed partnering transaction, for their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable); or (2) provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to tender their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein;

 

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we will consummate our partnering transaction only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely if we seek stockholder approval, a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock voted are voted in favor of the partnering transaction at a duly held stockholders meeting, subject to any other vote required by applicable law;

 

   

if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) from the closing of this offering, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law; and

 

   

prior to our partnering transaction, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (1) receive funds from the trust account or (2) vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any partnering transaction.

These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of holders of 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock.

Additionally, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, prior to our partnering transaction, only holders of our Series F common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon as well as more than 50% of the outstanding Series F common stock. In addition, prior to our partnering transaction and so long as any shares of Series F common stock remain outstanding, the rights, powers and preferences provided by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to the Series B common stock may be amended only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Series F common stock.

See “Description of Securities” for additional information.

 

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Comparison of Redemption or Purchase Prices in Connection with our Partnering Transaction and if we Fail to Complete our Partnering Transaction

The following table compares the redemptions and other permitted purchases of public shares that may take place in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction and if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period.

 

   

Redemptions in
Connection with our
Partnering Transaction

 

Other Permitted
Purchases of Public
Shares by our Sponsor,
Insiders or Related Companies

 

Redemptions if we Fail to
Complete a Partnering
Transaction

Calculation of redemption price or other permitted purchases

  Redemptions at the time of our partnering transaction may be made pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. The redemption price will be the same whether we conduct redemptions pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. In either case, our public stockholders may redeem their public shares for cash
equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the partnering transaction (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share), including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitation that no redemptions will take place if all of the redemptions would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions, and any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) agreed to in connection with the negotiation of terms of a proposed partnering transaction.
 

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction, our sponsor, directors, officers, or advisors or any of the related companies or their directors, officers or advisors may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our partnering transaction. Such purchases will be

restricted except to the extent such purchases are able to be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase shares in such transactions.

 

If we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period, we will redeem all public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00

per public share), including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.

 

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Redemptions in
Connection with our
Partnering Transaction

 

Other Permitted
Purchases of Public
Shares by our Sponsor,
Insiders or Related Companies

 

Redemptions if we Fail to
Complete a Partnering
Transaction

Impact to remaining stockholders

  The redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction will reduce the book value per share for our remaining stockholders, who will bear the burden of the deferred underwriting commissions and interest withdrawn in order to pay taxes (to the extent not paid from amounts accrued as interest on the funds held in the trust account).   If the permitted purchases described above are made, there will be no impact to our remaining stockholders because the purchase price would not be paid by us.   The redemption of our public shares if we fail to complete our partnering transaction will reduce the book value per share for the shares held by our sponsor, who will be our only remaining stockholder after such redemptions.

Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419

The following table compares the terms of this offering to the terms of an offering by a blank check company subject to the provisions of Rule 419. This comparison assumes that the gross proceeds, underwriting commissions and underwriting expenses of our offering would be identical to those of an offering undertaken by a company subject to Rule 419, and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the provisions of Rule 419 apply to our offering.

 

    

Terms of Our Offering

  

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Escrow of offering proceeds

   NYSE listing rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement units be deposited in a trust account. $300,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units will be deposited into a United States-based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.    Approximately $255,150,000 of the offering proceeds, representing the gross proceeds of this offering less allowable underwriting commissions, expenses and company deductions under Rule 419, would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account.

Investment of net proceeds

   $300,000,000 of the net offering proceeds and the sale of the private placement units held in trust will be invested only in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in United States Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act.    Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States.

 

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Terms of Our Offering

  

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Receipt of interest on escrowed funds

   Interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to stockholders is reduced by: (1) any taxes paid or payable; and (2) in the event of any liquidation for failure to complete our partnering transaction within the allotted time, up to $100,000 of net interest that may be released to us should we have no or insufficient working capital to fund the costs and expenses of our dissolution and liquidation.    Interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our completion of a partnering transaction.

Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business

   NYSE listing rules require that our partnering transaction must be with one or more target businesses that have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our partnering transaction.    The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds.

Trading of securities issued

   The units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The Series A common stock and warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus, unless Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. inform us of their decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide    No trading of the units or the underlying common stock and warrants would be permitted until the completion of a partnering transaction. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account.

 

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Terms of Our Offering

  

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

   updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.   

Exercise of the warrants

   The warrants cannot be exercised until the later of 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction and 12 months from the closing of this offering.    The warrants could be exercised prior to the completion of a partnering transaction, but securities received and cash paid in connection with the exercise would be deposited in the escrow or trust account.

Election to remain an investor

   We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, including interest, which interest shall be net of taxes payable, upon the completion of our partnering transaction, subject to the limitations described herein. We may not be required by applicable law or stock exchange rule to hold a stockholder vote. If we are not required by applicable law or stock exchange rule and do not otherwise decide to hold a stockholder vote, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the partnering transaction and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, we hold a stockholder vote, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the    A prospectus containing information pertaining to the partnering transaction required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of a post-effective amendment to the company’s registration statement, to decide if he, she or it elects to remain a stockholder of the company or require the return of his, her or its investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all funds on deposit in the escrow account must be returned to all of the investors and none of the securities are issued.

 

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Terms of Our Offering

  

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

   tender offer rules. Pursuant to the tender offer rules, the tender offer period will be not less than 20 business days and, in the case of a stockholder vote, a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least 10 days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our partnering transaction only if the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the partnering transaction, subject to any other vote required by applicable law. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting and, if it does vote, irrespective of whether it votes for or against the proposed transaction.   

Partnering transaction deadline

   If we have not completed a partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period, we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share    If an acquisition has not been completed within 18 months after the effective date of the company’s registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors.

 

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Terms of Our Offering

  

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

   price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.   

Release of funds

   Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, the funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of: (1) the completion of our partnering transaction; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’    The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion of a partnering transaction and the failure to effect a partnering transaction within the allotted time.

 

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Terms of Our Offering

  

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

   rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), subject to applicable law.   

Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a stockholder vote

   If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to Excess Shares (more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering), without our prior consent. Our public stockholders’ inability to redeem Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our partnering transaction and they could suffer a material loss on their investment in us if they sell Excess Shares in open market transactions.    Most blank check companies provide no restrictions on the ability of stockholders to redeem shares based on the number of shares held by such stockholders in connection with a partnering transaction.

Tendering stock certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights

   We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders or up to two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the proposal to    In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their partnering transactions, holders could vote against a proposed partnering transaction and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holders were seeking to exercise their redemption rights. After the partnering transaction was approved, the company would contact such stockholders to arrange for them to deliver

 

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Terms of Our Offering

  

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

   approve the partnering transaction in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we
   their certificates to verify ownership.
   will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our partnering transaction will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the partnering transaction if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights.   

Competition

We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment partnerships), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well-established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources or more local industry knowledge than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. Furthermore, our high vote capital structure differs from the typical capital structure of many other special purpose acquisition company competitors and may make us less attractive to an acquisition target or may make an acquisition more costly to complete. While we believe there will be numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our partnering transaction and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by target businesses. Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating and completing a partnering transaction.

 

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Facilities

We currently maintain our executive offices at 2503 S. Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63144. The cost for this space is included in the $40,000 per month fee that we will pay Post and certain of its subsidiaries for office space, administrative and support services. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.

Employees

We currently have 2 officers and do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our partnering transaction. Such officers are all employees of Post and receive their compensation directly from Post. Members of our management team are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our partnering transaction. The amount of time that any such person will devote in any time period to our company will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our partnering transaction and the current stage of the partnering transaction process.

Periodic Reporting and Financial Information

We will register our units, Series A common stock and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accounting firm.

We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, GAAP or IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with PCAOB standards. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our partnering transaction within the prescribed time frame. While this may limit the pool of potential partnering transaction candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.

We will be required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements on our internal control over financial reporting. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the completion of our partnering transaction.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not

 

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limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.

Legal Proceedings

There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such, and we and the members of our management team have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 12 months preceding the date of this prospectus.

 

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MANAGEMENT

Directors, Director Nominees and Executive Officers

Our directors, director nominees and executive officers are as follows:

 

Name

  

Age

  

Title

Robert V. Vitale

   55    President and Chief Investment Officer

Bradly A. Harper

   47    Chief Financial Officer

Jeff A. Zadoks

   55    Director

Jim Dwyer

   63    Director nominee

Jennifer Kuperman

   47    Director nominee

Dave Peacock

   52    Director nominee

David L. Taiclet

   57    Director nominee

Robert V. Vitale, age 55, has served as our President and Chief Investment Officer since January 27, 2021. Mr. Vitale has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Post, and a member of Post’s board of directors, since November 2014. Mr. Vitale is the Executive Chairman of BellRing, of which Post is the majority stockholder. Mr. Vitale also serves on the board of directors of 8th Avenue. Previously, Mr. Vitale served as Chief Financial Officer of Post from October 2011 until November 2014. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AHM Financial Group, LLC, a diversified provider of insurance brokerage and wealth management services, from 2006 until 2011 and previously was a partner of Westgate Equity Partners, LLC, a consumer-oriented private equity firm. Mr. Vitale also has served on the board of directors of Energizer Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded manufacturer and distributor of primary batteries, portable lighting products and automotive, appearance, performance, refrigerant and fragrance products, since August 2017. Mr. Vitale earned his undergraduate degree from St. Louis University and his MBA from Washington University.

Bradly A. Harper, age 47, has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 27, 2021. Mr. Harper has served as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Accounting Officer of Post since December 1, 2018. Mr. Harper served as the Vice President and Corporate Controller of Post from November 2014 to December 2018 and the Director of Corporate Accounting and Reporting of Post from December 2011 until November 2014. Prior to joining Post, Mr. Harper served as Assistant Controller of Savvis, Inc., a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprises. Mr. Harper earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Jeff A. Zadoks, age 55, has served as a Director since January 27, 2021. Mr. Zadoks has served as Post’s Executive Vice President since November 2017 and as Post’s Chief Financial Officer since November 2014. Mr. Zadoks previously served as Post’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from November 2014 until November 2017. Mr. Zadoks served as Post’s Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer from January 2014 until November 2014, and Post’s Corporate Controller from October 2011 until November 2014. Prior to joining Post, Mr. Zadoks served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at RehabCare Group, Inc., a leading provider of post-acute care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, from February 2010 to September 2011, and as Vice President and Corporate Controller of RehabCare Group from December 2003 until January 2010. Mr. Zadoks was selected to serve on our board of directors based on his significant leadership positions and roles in industries relevant to our business. Mr. Zadoks earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois.

Jim Dwyer, age 62, will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Mr. Dwyer has been the Chairman of the board of directors of 8th Avenue since May 2020. Mr. Dwyer also served as the Chief Executive Officer of 8th Avenue from January 2018 until May 2020. Mr. Dwyer served as the President and CEO of Michael Foods, an operating company of Post, from October 2009 until February 2018. Mr. Dwyer was selected to serve on our board of directors based on his experience in significant leadership positions and roles in industries relevant to our business. Mr. Dwyer earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Virginia and his MBA from The Darden School at The University of Virginia.

 

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Jennifer Kuperman, age 47, will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Ms. Kuperman was Head of International Corporate Affairs at Alibaba Group Holding Limited, a multinational conglomerate holding company specializing in eCommerce, retail, internet and technology, from April 2016 until January 2021 and served as Vice President, International Corporate Affairs at Alibaba Group Holding Limited from August 2014 to April 2016. Prior to joining Alibaba Group Holding Limited, Ms. Kuperman was Senior Vice President of Corporate Brand and Reputation at Visa Inc., a global payments technology company, from April 2013 to August 2014 and Chief of Staff, Office of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Visa Inc. from August 2010 to April 2013. Ms. Kuperman also served as Head of Global Corporate Communications and Citizenship at Visa Inc. from August 2008 to July 2010 and Head of Employee and Client Communication at Visa Inc. from August 2004 to June 2008. Ms. Kuperman serves on the board of directors of BellRing. Ms. Kuperman also serves on the board of directors of CoachArt, a nonprofit organization that provides arts and recreational opportunities to youth with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Ms. Kuperman was selected to serve on our board of directors based on her experience in significant leadership positions and her international experience. Ms. Kuperman received her undergraduate degree from Middlebury College and her master’s of arts degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University in the City of New York.

Dave Peacock, age 52, will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Mr. Peacock has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Schnucks Markets since May 2017. Prior to joining Schnucks’ management team, he was on the board of advisors for the firm as well as founder and Chairman of Vitaligent, LLC, a multi-unit restaurant franchisee. Mr. Peacock served as Senior Advisor to Anheuser-Busch from February 2012 until June 2012, President of Anheuser-Busch from November 2008 until January 2012, Vice President of Marketing of Anheuser-Busch from October 2007 until November 2008, and Vice President of Business Operations, Anheuser-Busch Incorporated from December 2004 until September 2007. Mr. Peacock was selected to serve on our board of directors based on his experience in significant leadership positions and roles in industries relevant to our business. Mr. Peacock earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and his MBA from Washington University.

David L. Taiclet, age 57, will serve as a member of our board of directors upon completion of this offering. Mr. Taiclet has served as General Partner and Managing Director of the Lewis & Clark Partners AgriFood Investment Group since November 2018. Mr. Taiclet served in several leadership positions for 1800Flowers.com from May 2006 until May 2017 as CEO of Fannie May Confections Brands from May 2006 until October 2008 and, ultimately, as President of the Gourmet Food Group from October 2008 until May 2017. Mr. Taiclet held numerous positions in the Strategy and Business Development Group of Cargill, Inc., an international marketer, processor and distributor of food, financial and industrial products. Mr. Taiclet was selected to serve on our board of directors based on his experience in significant leadership positions. Mr. Taiclet earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA from Harvard University.

Number, Terms of Office and Election of Officers and Directors

Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we expect that our board of directors will consist of five members. Following the consummation of our partnering transaction, our board of directors will be divided into three classes, with only one class of directors being elected in each year, and with each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a three-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of David Taiclet and Dave Peacock, will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders following our partnering transaction. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Jim Dwyer and Jennifer Kuperman, will expire at our second annual meeting of stockholders following our partnering transaction. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Jeff Zadoks, will expire at our third annual meeting of stockholders following our partnering transaction.

 

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Prior to consummation of our partnering transaction, holders of our Series F common stock will have the right to elect all of our directors. Holders of our public shares will not have the right to vote on the election of directors during such time. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon as well as more than 50% of the outstanding Series F common stock. Approval of our partnering transaction will require the affirmative vote of a majority of our board directors, which must include a majority of our independent directors. Subject to any other special rights applicable to the stockholders, prior to our partnering transaction, any vacancies on our board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present and voting at the meeting of our board of directors that includes any directors representing our sponsor then on our board of directors, or by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Series F common stock.

Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our amended and restated bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our amended and restated bylaws will provide that our officers may consist of a President, a Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as may be determined by the board of directors.

Director Independence

NYSE listing rules require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an executive officer or employee of the company or any of its parents or subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. We intend to add “independent directors” as defined in NYSE listing rules and applicable SEC rules prior to completion of this offering. Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we expect to have three “independent directors” as defined in the NYSE listing rules and applicable SEC rules prior to completion of this offering. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.

Executive Officer and Director Compensation

Our executive officers are all employees of Post and receive their compensation directly from Post. Upon completion of this offering, we will execute a services agreement with Post pursuant to which Post will cause our management team and other Post personnel to provide us with the services we need to conduct our business in exchange for a flat monthly fee of $40,000.

We will pay fees in cash to each of our non-employee directors for service on our board of directors in the amounts of $50,000 on each of the closing of this offering, the one-year anniversary of the closing of this offering, and the earlier of (x) the two-year anniversary of the closing of this offering and (y) the closing of our partnering transaction.

In addition, our sponsor, Post and its subsidiaries, and their officers and directors will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable partnering transactions. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors or Post or its other subsidiaries.

After the completion of our partnering transaction, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other compensation from the combined company. All compensation paid by us to our directors and executive officers will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed partnering transaction. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be

 

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known at the time such materials are distributed, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining executive officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our executive officers after the completion of our partnering transaction will be determined by a corporate governance and compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors.

We are not party to any agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment, although certain of the related companies are. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business, and we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the completion of our partnering transaction should be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential partnering transaction.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Upon the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our board of directors will have two standing committees: an audit committee and a corporate governance and compensation committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of NYSE and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of NYSE require that the corporate governance and compensation committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Both our audit committee and our corporate governance and compensation committee will be composed solely of independent directors.

Audit Committee

Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish an audit committee of the board of directors. David Taiclet, Dave Peacock and Jennifer Kuperman will serve as members of our audit committee. We expect that David Taiclet, Dave Peacock and Jennifer Kuperman will meet the independent director standard under NYSE listing rules and under Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, and Dave Peacock will serve as chairperson of the audit committee.

Each member of the audit committee will be financially literate and our board of directors may determine that an independent director qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.

We will adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the scope and principal functions of the audit committee, including:

 

   

assisting board oversight of (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) our registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, and (4) the performance of our internal audit function and registered public accounting firm;

 

   

the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the registered public accounting firm and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;

 

   

reviewing and approving the services to be provided by the registered public accounting firm for the coming year, including the scope of audits, audit plan and fees therefor;

 

   

reviewing and discussing with the registered public accounting firm all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence;

 

   

setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the registered public accounting firm;

 

   

setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

 

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obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the registered public accounting firm describing (1) the registered public accounting firm’s internal quality-control procedures and (2) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues;

 

   

meeting to review and discuss our annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent auditor, including reviewing our specific disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”;

 

   

reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC; and

 

   

reviewing with management, the registered public accounting firm, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.

Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee

Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish a corporate governance and compensation committee of the board of directors, consisting of David Taiclet, Dave Peacock and Jennifer Kuperman. We expect that David Taiclet, Dave Peacock and Jennifer Kuperman will meet the independent director standard under NYSE listing rules, and Jennifer Kuperman will serve as chairperson of the corporate governance and compensation committee. We will adopt a corporate governance and compensation committee charter, which will detail the purpose, responsibilities, scope and principal functions of the corporate governance and compensation committee, including:

 

   

reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our President’s compensation, evaluating our President’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our President based on such evaluation;

 

   

reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers;

 

   

reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;

 

   

implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;

 

   

assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;

 

   

approve direct and indirect remuneration of all non-President Section 16 executive officers and other executives as may be determined;

 

   

producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement;

 

   

reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors;

 

   

identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors, consistent with criteria approved by the board, and recommending to the board of directors candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill vacancies on the board of directors;

 

   

developing and recommending to the board of directors and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines;

 

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coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the management in the governance of the company; and

 

   

reviewing our overall corporate governance from time to time and recommending improvements as and when necessary.

The charter will also provide that the corporate governance and compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the corporate governance and compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by NYSE and the SEC. The corporate governance and compensation committee may also, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of, and terminate, any search firm to be used to identify director candidates, and will be directly responsible for approving the search firm’s fees and other retention terms.

We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders. Prior to our partnering transaction, holders of our public shares will not have the right to recommend director candidates for nomination to our board of directors.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our executive officers currently serves, and in the past year has not served, (i) as a member of the compensation committee or board of directors of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our corporate governance and compensation committee, or (ii) as a member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our board of directors.

Code of Ethics

Prior to the closing of this offering, we will have adopted a code of ethics and business conduct (our “Code of Ethics”) applicable to our directors, officers and employees. A copy of our Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

Conflicts of Interest

All of our officers also serve as officers of one or more of the related companies, and there are overlapping directors with such entities. Our officers and members of our board of directors have fiduciary duties to our stockholders. Likewise, any such persons who serve in similar capacities at any of the related companies have fiduciary duties to that company’s stockholders. Therefore, such persons may have conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest with respect to matters involving or affecting us and one or more of the related companies to which they owe fiduciary duties.

Each of our officers and directors has, and any of them in the future may have, additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to one or more other entities (including, without limitation, to one or more of the entities listed in this section) pursuant to which such officer or director may be required to present a partnering transaction opportunity to such entities before he or she presents such opportunity to us. Also, none of Post, our sponsor or any of our directors and officers is prohibited from sponsoring, investing or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies, including in connection with their partnering transactions.

 

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Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a partnering transaction opportunity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to another entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, he or she may only present such opportunity to us if such other entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, rejects the opportunity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company, such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and such person has no fiduciary or contractual obligation to present the opportunity to any other person or entity, including, in certain cases, to Post.

We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our partnering transaction. We believe that potential conflicts with Post are naturally mitigated by the differing nature of the investments Post would typically consider most synergistic to the existing Post businesses and the types of transactions we expect to find most attractive based, in part, on transaction size and ability to operate as a standalone public company. Notwithstanding our belief regarding natural mitigation, Post and its subsidiaries may compete with us for acquisition opportunities that fall within Post’s investment objectives or strategies. A decision by Post to pursue an opportunity would preclude us from pursuing it and could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our partnering transaction.

Moreover, most of our directors and officers continue to own stock and options to purchase stock in one or more of the related companies. These ownership interests and/or such disparity could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when the applicable individuals are faced with decisions that could have different implications for our company and the related companies.

Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:

 

   

None of our officers or directors is required to, nor will he or she, commit his or her full time to our affairs and, accordingly, each of our officers may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among our operations, including our search for a partnering transaction, and these other businesses.

 

   

In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities that may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities of which they are also officers or directors. Our management may be required to present such business opportunities to such entities before presenting such opportunities to us.

 

   

Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction. Additionally, our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them if we fail to consummate our partnering transaction within 24 months (or 27 months upon an agreement in principle event) after the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period. However, if our sponsor, officers or directors then hold any public shares, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within the allotted time frame to complete our partnering transaction. If we do not complete our partnering transaction within such applicable time period, the proceeds of the sale of the private placement units held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, and the private placement warrants will expire worthless. With certain exceptions as described under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants,” the founder shares will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our sponsor until the earlier of: (1) one year after the completion of our partnering transaction; and (2) subsequent to our partnering transaction, (x) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property or (y) if the last reported sale price of our Series A common stock

 

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equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our partnering transaction. With certain exceptions, the private placement warrants and the shares of our common stock underlying such warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction. Since our sponsor, officers and directors may directly or indirectly own our common stock and warrants following this offering, our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our partnering transaction.

 

   

Our key personnel may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular partnering transaction if the retention or resignation of any such key personnel was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our partnering transaction.

The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.

In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:

 

   

the corporation is financially able to exploit the opportunity;

 

   

the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business;

 

   

the corporation has an interest or expectancy in the opportunity; and

 

   

by taking the opportunity for his or her own, the corporate fiduciary will thereby be placed in a position inimical to his or her duties to the corporation.

Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors have similar legal obligations or duties relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our officers, directors and director nominees currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may present a conflict of interest:

 

Name of Individual

 

Entity Name

 

Entity’s Business

 

Affiliation

Robert V. Vitale

  Post Holdings, Inc.   Consumer Packaged Goods   President/CEO/Director
  BellRing Brands, Inc.   Consumer Packaged Goods   Executive Chairman
  Energizer Holdings, Inc.   Batteries, Lights and Auto Care   Director
  8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc.   Consumer Packaged Goods   Director

Bradly A. Harper

  Post Holdings, Inc.   Consumer Packaged Goods   Senior Vice President/Chief Accounting Officer/Principal Accounting Officer

Jeff A. Zadoks

  Post Holdings, Inc.   Consumer Packaged Goods   Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

Jim Dwyer

  8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc.   Consumer Packaged Goods   Chairman

Jennifer Kuperman

  BellRing Brands, Inc.   Consumer Packaged Goods   Director

Dave Peacock

  Schnucks Markets, Inc.   Consumer Packaged Goods   President and Chief Operating Officer
  Stifel Financial Corp.   Full-Service Retail and Institutional Wealth Management   Director

David L. Taiclet

  Lewis & Clark Partners   Investments and Venture Capital   General Partner and Managing Director of Agrifood Growth Fund

 

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Accordingly, if any of the above officers or directors become aware of a partnering transaction opportunity which is suitable for any of the above entities to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such partnering transaction opportunity to such entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, and only present it to us if such entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, rejects the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us.

We do not believe, however, that any of the foregoing fiduciary duties or contractual obligations described above will materially affect our ability to complete our partnering transaction. As noted above, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company; such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue; and such person has no fiduciary or contractual obligation to present the opportunity to any other person or entity.

In the event that we submit our partnering transaction to our public stockholders for a vote, our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree, and their permitted transferees will agree, to vote our common stock held by them in favor of our partnering transaction.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted by the DGCL.

We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our amended and restated bylaws also permit us to maintain insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We will obtain a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.

A stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our common stock included in the units offered by this prospectus, and assuming no purchase of units in this offering by our sponsor or by an affiliate of our sponsor, by:

 

   

each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;

 

   

each of our executive officers, directors and director nominees; and

 

   

all our executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group.

Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the private placement warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.

The after-offering percentages in the following table assumes that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that our sponsor forfeits an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares and that there are 38,500,000 shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering.

 

     Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)
     Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding Common
Stock
 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)

   Before
Offering
    After
Offering(3)
 

PHPC Sponsor, LLC (our sponsor)(4)

     8,625,000        100     22.1

Robert V. Vitale

     —          —         —    

Jeff A. Zadoks

     —          —         —    

Bradly A. Harper

     —          —         —    

Jim Dwyer

     —          —         —    

Jennifer Kuperman

     —          —         —    

Dave Peacock

     —          —         —    

David L. Taiclet

     —          —         —    

All directors and executive officers as a group (7 individuals)

     —          —         —    

 

(1)

Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is 2503 S. Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63144.

(2)

Interests shown consist solely of shares of Series F common stock which are referred to herein as founder shares, and excludes the shares of Series A common stock underlying the private placement units. Such founder shares will automatically convert into shares of Series B common stock at the time of our partnering transaction, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, as described under “Description of Securities.” Prior to and following our partnering transaction, each share of Series B common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of our Series A common stock. Excludes forward purchase securities that will only be issued, if at all, at the time of our partnering transaction.

(3)

Interests shown include the shares of Series A common stock to be issued as a part of the sale of the private placement units.

(4)

Post is the sole member of our sponsor. Post may be deemed to beneficially own the shares held by our sponsor by virtue of its direct ownership over our sponsor.

Upon the completion of this offering, our sponsor will beneficially own 20% of the then issued and outstanding shares of our common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private

 

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placement units and assuming our sponsor does not purchase any units in this offering). As a result of holding substantially all of the founder shares, our sponsor will have the right, prior to our partnering transaction, to elect all of our directors. Holders of our public shares will not have the right to appoint any directors to our board of directors prior to our partnering transaction. In addition, because of this ownership block, our sponsor may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all other matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Series F common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon the consummation of this offering.

In connection with the consummation of this offering, we will enter into a forward purchase agreement with our sponsor pursuant to which our sponsor will commit to purchase from us up to 10,000,000 forward purchase units, consisting of one share of Series B common stock, or a “forward purchase share,” and one-third of one warrant to purchase one share of Series A common stock, or a “forward purchase warrant,” for $10.00 per forward purchase unit, in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of our partnering transaction. The proceeds from the sale of these forward purchase units, together with the amounts available to us from the trust account (after giving effect to any redemptions of public shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by us in connection with the partnering transaction, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the partnering transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining specified amounts to be used by the post-partnering transaction company for working capital or other purposes. To the extent that the amounts available from the trust account and other financing are sufficient for such cash requirements, our sponsor may purchase less than 10,000,000 forward purchase units. Our sponsor has agreed (a) to vote any founder shares, private placement shares and public shares held by it in favor of any proposed partnering transaction and (b) not to redeem any founder shares or public shares held by it in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed partnering transaction.

In addition, certain members of our management team, and officers and directors of Post and their affiliates, may purchase our securities in the open market following the IPO and enter into an agreement in accordance with the guidelines of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, to place limit orders, through an independent broker-dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act which is not affiliated with us nor part of the underwriting or selling group, to purchase our securities in the open market at market prices. Certain members of our management team, and officers and directors of Post and their affiliates, will not have any discretion or influence with respect to such purchases. It is intended that the broker’s purchase obligation will be subject to applicable law, including Regulation M under the Exchange Act, which may prohibit or limit purchases pursuant to the limit order agreement in certain circumstances.

Our sponsor and our officers and directors are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” for additional information regarding our relationships with our promoters.

Indication of Interest

Our sponsor has also indicated that it or one of its affiliates has an interest in purchasing, directly or indirectly, up to 4,000,000 units in this offering at the public offering price. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discounts or commissions (including, without limitation, deferred underwriting commissions) on public units purchased by our sponsor or its affiliate. However, indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase and our sponsor or its affiliate may decide not to purchase any public units in this offering. In addition, the underwriters could determine to sell fewer public units to our sponsor or its affiliate than it indicated an interest in purchasing or could determine not to sell any public units to our sponsor or its affiliate.

 

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Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units

The founder shares, private placement units, private placement shares and private placement warrants (and any shares of Series A common stock issued upon exercise thereof) are each subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions in the letter agreement with us to be entered into by our sponsor, executive officers and directors. Those lock-up provisions will provide that such securities are not transferable, assignable or salable (1) in the case of the founder shares, until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of our partnering transaction and (B) subsequent to our partnering transaction, (x) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property or (y) if the last reported sale price of our Series A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after completion of our partnering transaction, and (2) in the case of the private placement units, private placement shares, private placement warrants and the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof, until 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction. Notwithstanding the above, during the applicable lock-up period our sponsor will be able to transfer founder shares, private placement units, private placement shares and private placement warrants (and any shares of Series A common stock issued upon exercise thereof) (a) to our officers, Post’s directors or officers, their respective family members and entities formed by such persons for investment or estate planning purposes which are controlled by such persons or formed for their benefit or for charitable purposes, (b) to Post or any entity in which Post or the officers and directors of Post hold, in the aggregate, securities representing no less than 25% of the outstanding voting power of such entity (so long as no other holder or group holds a higher percentage of the voting power of such entity), and the subsidiaries of each of the foregoing, (c) to any corporation or other entity which, as a result of any spinoff, splitoff or other distribution transaction, becomes the beneficial owner of the founder shares and private placement warrants (and shares issuable upon the exercise of such warrants), (d) by bona fide gift to a member of the holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the holder’s immediate family, for estate planning purposes, (e) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death or (f) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of a partnering transaction at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) such permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions. In addition, our sponsor or its permitted transferees will be permitted to pledge or grant a security interest in such securities to secure bona fide indebtedness or engage in certain hedging transactions; provided, that the holder thereof retains voting control over such securities prior to delivery of shares upon foreclosure or upon satisfaction of the hedge. In the event of any liquidation prior to our completion of our partnering transaction or our completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Series A common stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to our completion of our partnering transaction, the lockup period will be deemed terminated. In no event will any such transfer restrictions prohibit or otherwise restrict Post’s ability to reattribute its interest in our sponsor or us between or among its tracking stock groups, combine such tracking stock groups or otherwise take actions with respect to its tracking stock groups provided for or permitted by Post’s organizational documents or its policies.

Registration Rights

The holders of the founder shares, forward purchase shares, forward purchase warrants, private placement shares, private placement warrants and shares and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants, forward purchase warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares and the forward purchase shares) will be entitled to registration rights with respect to private placement shares, private placement warrants, forward purchase warrants, shares and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans, warrants purchased by them in the open

 

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market and shares of Series A common stock purchased by them in the open market or issuable upon (1) conversion of the founder shares, (2) exercise of the private placement warrants, (3) conversion of the forward purchase shares and shares of Series B common stock purchased in connection with our partnering transaction (if any), (4) exercise of the forward purchase warrants and (5) exercise of warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans (if any), pursuant to an investor rights agreement and forward purchase agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering requiring us to register such securities for resale. The holder of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands in any 12-month period under each agreement, excluding short form registration demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders will have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our partnering transaction and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. However, both the investor rights agreement and the forward purchase agreement will provide that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until the securities covered thereby are released from their lock-up restrictions, as described herein. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In January 2021, our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 11,500,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, with a purchase price of approximately $0.002 per share. On April 8, 2020, our sponsor surrendered 2,875,000 founder shares to us for no consideration resulting in an aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares outstanding (up to 1,125,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). As a result of such surrender, the per-share purchase price increased to approximately $0.003 per share. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Series F common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon the consummation of this offering. As such, our sponsor will collectively beneficially own 20% of our issued and outstanding capital stock immediately after this offering (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units and assuming our sponsor does not purchase units in this offering). Our sponsor does not intend to purchase any units in this offering. Up to 1,125,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.

Our sponsor will commit, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 private placement units (or 1,090,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit ($10,000,000 in the aggregate or $10,900,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The private placement units are identical to the units sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus. Each whole private placement warrant underlying the private placement units entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Series A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. The private placement warrants (including the Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction.

Our sponsor has also indicated that it or one of its affiliates has an interest in purchasing, directly or indirectly, up to 4,000,000 units in this offering at the public offering price. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discounts or commissions including, without limitation, deferred underwriting commissions) on public units purchased by our sponsor or its affiliate. However, indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase and our sponsor or its affiliate may decide not to purchase any public units in this offering. In addition, the underwriters could determine to sell fewer public units to our sponsor or its affiliate than it indicated an interest in purchasing or could determine not to sell any public units to our sponsor or its affiliate.

In connection with the consummation of this offering, we will enter into a forward purchase agreement with our sponsor pursuant to which our sponsor will commit to purchase from us up to 10,000,000 forward purchase units, consisting of one share of Series B common stock, or a “forward purchase share,” and one-third of one warrant to purchase one share of Series A common stock, or a “forward purchase warrant,” for $10.00 per forward purchase unit, in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of our partnering transaction. The proceeds from the sale of these forward purchase units, together with the amounts available to us from the trust account (after giving effect to any redemptions of public shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by us in connection with the partnering transaction, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the partnering transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining specified amounts to be used by the post-partnering transaction company for working capital or other purposes. To the extent that the amounts available from the trust account and other financing are sufficient for such cash requirements, our sponsor may purchase less than 10,000,000 forward purchase units. As described under “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors has, and any of them in the future may have, additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to one or more entities pursuant to which such officer or director may be required to present a

 

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partnering transaction opportunity to such entities before he or she presents such opportunity to us. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a partnering transaction opportunity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to another entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, he or she may only present such opportunity to us if such other entity, including, in certain cases, to Post, rejects the opportunity. For more information, see “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”

We will enter into a services agreement pursuant to which we will also pay Post and certain of its subsidiaries a total of $40,000 per month for office space and administrative and support services. Upon completion of our partnering transaction or any liquidation, we may cease paying some or all of these monthly fees. Accordingly, in the event the completion of our partnering transaction takes up to 24 months, subsidiaries of Post will be paid a total of $960,000 ($40,000 per month) for office space and administrative and support services and will be entitled to be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses. Pursuant to such agreement we will indemnify Post and its affiliates for (i) any claims made by us or a third party and resulting liabilities in respect of any investment opportunities sourced by them, (ii) any liability arising with respect to their activities in connection with our affairs and (iii) any services that are provided without a separate written agreement between us and Post or an affiliate of Post. Such indemnity will provide that the indemnified parties cannot access the funds held in our trust account.

Our sponsor, officers and directors or Post or its other subsidiaries will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable partnering transactions. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors or Post or its other subsidiaries and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.

Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. To date, we borrowed approximately $172,000 under the promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of December 31, 2021 and the closing of this offering. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $1,500,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) not held in the trust account.

In addition, certain members of our management team, and officers and directors of Post and their affiliates, may purchase our securities in the open market following the IPO and enter into an agreement in accordance with the guidelines of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, to place limit orders, through an independent broker-dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act which is not affiliated with us nor part of the underwriting or selling group, to purchase our securities in the open market at market prices. Certain members of our management team, and officers and directors of Post and their affiliates, will not have any discretion or influence with respect to such purchases. It is intended that the broker’s purchase obligation will be subject to applicable law, including Regulation M under the Exchange Act, which may prohibit or limit purchases pursuant to the limit order agreement in certain circumstances.

In addition, in order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended partnering transaction, our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our partnering transaction, we may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our partnering transaction does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $2,500,000 of such loans made to us may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units

 

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would be identical to the private placement units issued to our sponsor. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, Post or its subsidiaries, if any, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.

After our partnering transaction, members of our management team who remain with us, if any, may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to our stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our partnering transaction, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive officer and director compensation.

Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive: (a) their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction; (b) their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (c) their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period (although our sponsor, officers and directors will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within the prescribed time frame). Additionally, if we seek stockholder approval in connection with our partnering transaction, our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree, pursuant to the terms of the letter agreement, and their permitted transferees will agree, to vote any of our common stock held by them in favor of our partnering transaction.

We will enter into an investor rights agreement providing for registration rights with respect to private placement shares, private placement warrants, forward purchase shares and forward purchase warrants, shares and warrants underlying units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and shares of Series A common stock issuable upon (1) conversion of the founder shares, (2) exercise of private placement warrants, (3) conversion of the forward purchase shares and shares of Series B common stock purchased in connection with our partnering transaction (if any), (4) exercise of the forward purchase warrants and (5) exercise of warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans (if any). The investor rights agreement will also provide that our sponsor will be entitled, upon consummation of our partnering transaction, to nominate three individuals for appointment to our board of directors, as long as the sponsor holds any securities covered by the registration rights described in the paragraph above.

Related Party Policy

We have not yet adopted a formal policy for the review, approval or ratification of related party transactions. Accordingly, the transactions discussed above were not reviewed, approved or ratified in accordance with any such policy.

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt our Code of Ethics requiring us to avoid, wherever possible, all conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by our board of directors (or the appropriate committee of our board of directors) or as disclosed in our public filings with the

 

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SEC. Under our Code of Ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the company.

In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to a written charter that we will adopt prior to the consummation of this offering, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be required in order to approve a related party transaction. A majority of the members of the entire audit committee will constitute a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the audit committee will be required to approve a related party transaction. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors or Post or its other subsidiaries.

These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.

To further minimize conflicts of interest, we expect not to consummate a partnering transaction with a business that is owned by any of the related companies, or our sponsor, or its or their officers or directors unless we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another accounting, valuation or appraisal firm that such partnering transaction is fair to our company from a financial point of view. There will be no finder’s fees, reimbursements or cash payments made by us to our sponsor, Post or its other subsidiaries, or their officers or directors, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction, other than the following payments, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units held in the trust account prior to the completion of our partnering transaction:

 

   

repayment of an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;

 

   

payment to certain subsidiaries of Post of a total of $40,000 per month for office space and administrative and support services;

 

   

payments of fees in cash to each of our non-employee directors for service on our board of directors in the amounts of $50,000 on each of the closing of this offering, the one-year anniversary of the closing of this offering, and the earlier of (x) the two-year anniversary of the closing of this offering and (y) the closing of our partnering transaction;

 

   

reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing a partnering transaction; and

 

   

repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or Post or its other subsidiaries to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended partnering transaction, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $2,500,000 of such loans made to us may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender.

These payments may be funded using the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement units, in each case to the extent not held in the trust account or, upon the consummation of the partnering transaction, from any amounts remaining from the proceeds of the trust account released to us in connection therewith.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which will be adopted upon the consummation of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of 500,000,000 shares of Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 80,000,000 shares of Series B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 40,000,000 shares of Series C common stock, $0.0001 par value, 40,000,000 shares of Series F common stock, $0.0001 par value, and 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value. The following description summarizes the material terms of our capital stock. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.

Units

Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one share of Series A common stock and one-third of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Series A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of the company’s Series A common stock. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at by a warrant holder following the consummation of our partnering transaction as described below.

The common stock and warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus, unless Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. inform us of their decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of Series A common stock and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of Series A common stock and warrants. Additionally, the units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our partnering transaction. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you are separating at least three units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant.

In no event will the Series A common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet of our company reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering and the sale of the private placement units. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering which will include this audited balance sheet. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

Additionally, the units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our partnering transaction.

In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended partnering transaction, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. Up to $2,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Such units would be identical to the private placement units issued to our sponsor.

 

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Common Stock

Upon the closing of this offering, 38,500,000 shares of our common stock will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares by our sponsor), including:

 

   

30,000,000 shares of our Series A common stock underlying the units being offered in this offering;

 

   

7,500,000 shares of Series F common stock held by our sponsor; and

 

   

1,000,000 private placement shares held by our sponsor.

If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Series F common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon the consummation of this offering.

Prior to our partnering transaction, holders of the Series A common stock, holders of our Series B common stock, if any, and holders of the Series F common stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters to be voted on by stockholders, including any vote in connection with our partnering transaction, and vote together as a single class; provided that, prior to our partnering transaction, only holders of our Series F common stock will have the right to elect our directors. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon as well as more than 50% of the outstanding Series F common stock. In addition, prior to our partnering transaction and so long as any shares of Series F common stock remain outstanding, the rights, powers and preferences provided by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to the Series B common stock may be amended only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Series F common stock.

Following our partnering transaction, holders of our Series A common stock and holders of our Series B common stock will generally vote together as a single class on matters presented for a stockholder vote, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, with each share of Series A common stock entitling the holder to one vote per share and each share of Series B common stock entitling the holder to ten votes per share.

Holders of the Series C common stock will not be entitled to any voting powers, except as otherwise required by applicable law or stock exchange rule. When so required, holders of Series C common stock will be entitled to 1/100th of a vote for each share of such stock held.

While our Series A, Series B and Series C common stock capital structure with its low vote, high vote and no vote features differs from the typical capital structure of many other special purpose acquisition companies, we expect to maintain this capital structure following our partnering transaction. Any change to these voting features would require an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

Prior to our partnering transaction, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Series F common stock is required to approve the election of directors. Following the consummation of our partnering transaction, our board of directors will be divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that, prior to our partnering transaction, the holders of more than 50% of the Series F common stock voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors. Our stockholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.

 

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Because our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the issuance of up to 500,000,000 shares of Series A common stock, if we were to enter into a partnering transaction, we may (depending on the terms of such a partnering transaction) be required to increase the number of shares of common stock which we are authorized to issue at the same time as our stockholders vote on the partnering transaction to the extent we seek stockholder approval in connection with our partnering transaction.

In accordance with NYSE corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on the NYSE. Under Section 211(b) of the DGCL, we are, however, required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with our amended and restated bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, and thus we may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to the completion of our partnering transaction, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.

We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares upon the completion of our partnering transaction at a per-share 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 completion of our partnering transaction, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial owner must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction or certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Permitted transferees of our sponsor, executive officers and directors will be subject to the same obligations.

Unlike some blank check companies that hold stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their partnering transactions and provide for related redemptions of public shares for cash upon completion of such partnering transactions even when a vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rule, if a stockholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rule and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our partnering transaction. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about the partnering transaction and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, a stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange rule, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our partnering transaction only if a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock voted are voted in favor of the partnering transaction, subject to any other vote required by applicable law. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of our outstanding capital stock representing a majority of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. However, the participation of our sponsor, officers, directors or advisors in privately-negotiated transactions (as described in this prospectus), if any, could result in the approval of our partnering transaction even if a majority of our public stockholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such partnering transaction. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock for the purposes of our partnering transaction, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our partnering

 

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transaction once a quorum is obtained. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our partnering transaction. These quorum and voting thresholds, and agreements, may make it more likely that we will consummate our partnering transaction.

If we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming Excess Shares, without our prior consent. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our partnering transaction. Our stockholders’ inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our partnering transaction, and such stockholders could suffer a material loss in their investment if they sell such Excess Shares on the open market. Additionally, such stockholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete the partnering transaction. And, as a result, such stockholders will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell their stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.

If we seek stockholder approval in connection with our partnering transaction, our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree, pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, and their permitted transferees will agree, to vote their founder shares, private placement shares and our common stock held by them in favor of our partnering transaction. As a result, in addition to our sponsor’s founder shares and private placement shares (assuming our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering), we would need 10,750,001, or 35.8% (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,125,002, or 3.8% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 30,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of a partnering transaction in order to have such partnering transaction approved. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting and, if it does vote, irrespective of whether it votes for or against the proposed transaction.

Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event, or such later date as approved by holders of a majority of the voting power of shares of our outstanding common stock that are voted at the meeting to extend such date, voting together as a single class), we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) (although our sponsor, executive officers and directors will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within the prescribed time frame).

 

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In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after a partnering transaction, our stockholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of stock, if any, having preference over the common stock. Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock, except that we will provide our stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), upon the completion of our partnering transaction, subject to the limitations described herein.

Founder Shares

The founder shares are identical to the shares of Series A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that: (1) prior to our partnering transaction, only holders of the Series F common stock have the right to vote on the election of directors; (2) following our partnering transaction, holders of the Series B common stock and holders of the Series A common stock will vote together as a single class, with each share of Series B common stock having ten votes per share and each share of Series A common stock having one vote per share except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule; (3) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below; (4) our sponsor, executive officers and directors will enter into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they will agree to waive: (a) their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with the completion of our partnering transaction; (b) their redemption rights with respect to our common stock held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity; and (c) their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period (although our sponsor, officers and directors will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our partnering transaction within the prescribed time frame); (5) shares of our Series F common stock are automatically convertible into shares of our Series B common stock at the time of our partnering transaction, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, and, prior to and following our partnering transaction, each share of Series B common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of our Series A common stock; and (6) the holders of founder shares are entitled to registration rights. If we submit our partnering transaction to our public stockholders for a vote, our sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree (and their permitted transferees will agree), pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement entered into with us, to vote all founder shares, private placement shares, and public shares held by them purchased during or after this offering in favor of our partnering transaction.

Prior to and following our partnering transaction, each share of Series B common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of our Series A common stock.

With certain exceptions as described under “Principal Stockholders - Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants,” the founder shares are not transferable, assignable or salable until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of our partnering transaction; and (B) subsequent to our partnering transaction, (x) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property or (y) if the last reported sale price of our Series A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our partnering transaction.

 

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Preferred Stock

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock and will provide that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Our board of directors will be authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. Our board of directors will be able to, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the common stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management. We have no preferred stock outstanding at the date hereof. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future. No shares of preferred stock are being issued or registered in this offering.

Warrants

Public Stockholders’ Warrants

Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of Series A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of this offering and 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction, except as described below. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of Series A common stock. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at a given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you are separating a multiple of three units, the number of warrants issuable to you upon separation of the units will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of warrants. The warrants will expire five years after the completion of our partnering transaction, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

We will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Series A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Series A common stock is available, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration is available. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the share of Series A common stock underlying such unit.

We have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the consummation of our partnering transaction, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC, and within 60 business days following our partnering transaction to have declared effective, a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Series A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed. Notwithstanding the above, if our Series A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities

 

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Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00. Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (except as described herein with respect to the private placement warrants):

 

   

in whole and not in part;

 

   

at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

 

   

upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each warrant holder; and

 

   

if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “Description of Securities - Warrants - Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

We will not redeem the warrants for cash unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. As a result, we may redeem warrants even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise their warrants.

We have established the $18.00 per share (as adjusted) redemption criteria discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Series A common stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “Description of Securities - Warrants - Public Stockholders’ Warrants - Anti-dilution Adjustments”) as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.

No fractional shares of Series A common stock will be issued upon exercise. If, upon exercise, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of shares of Series A common stock to be issued to the holder. If, at the time of redemption, the warrants are exercisable for a security other than the shares of Series A common stock pursuant to the warrant agreement (for instance, if we are not the surviving company in our partnering transaction), the warrants may be exercised for such security.

Redemption procedures and cashless exercise. If we call the warrants for redemption as described above under “— Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00,” our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” (such option, the “Cashless Exercise Option”). In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Series A common stock issuable upon the exercise of our warrants. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of

 

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Series A common stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Series A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.361 shares of Series A common stock per warrant. The “fair market value” for this purpose shall mean the volume weighted average price of our Series A common stock during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. If our management takes advantage of this Cashless Exercise Option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Series A common stock to be received upon exercise of the warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a warrant redemption. We believe this Cashless Exercise Option feature is an attractive option to us if we do not need the cash from the exercise of the warrants after our partnering transaction. If we call our warrants for redemption and our management does not take advantage of this Cashless Exercise Option, our sponsor and its permitted transferees would still be entitled to exercise their private placement warrants for cash or on a cashless basis using the same formula described above that other warrant holders would have been required to use had management taken advantage of this Cashless Exercise Option, as described in more detail below.

A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Series A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.

Anti-dilution Adjustments. If the number of outstanding shares of Series A common stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Series A common stock to all or substantially all holders of our Series A common stock, or by a split-up of shares of Series A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Series A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Series A common stock. A rights offering to holders of Series A common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Series A common stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Series A common stock equal to the product of (1) the number of shares of Series A common stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Series A common stock) multiplied by (2) one minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Series A common stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (1) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Series A common stock, in determining the price payable for Series A common stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (2) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of Series A common stock as reported during the ten trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Series A common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.

In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Series A common stock on account of such shares of Series A common stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends, (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Series A common stock in connection with a proposed partnering transaction, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Series A common stock in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (I) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our Series A common stock if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (II) with respect to any other

 

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provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity, or (e) in connection with the redemption of our public shares upon our failure to complete our partnering transaction, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Series A common stock in respect of such event.

If the number of outstanding shares of our Series A common stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Series A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Series A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Series A common stock.

Whenever the number of shares of Series A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Series A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Series A common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

In addition, if (x) we issue additional shares of common stock or equity-linked securities, excluding forward purchase units, for capital raising purposes in connection with the consummation of our partnering transaction at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of common stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to our sponsor or Post or its other subsidiaries, without taking into account any founder shares held by our sponsor or Post or its other subsidiaries, as applicable) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances, excluding the forward purchase units, represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our partnering transaction on the date of the completion of our partnering transaction (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our Series A common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which we consummate our partnering transaction (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described below under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Series A common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Series A common stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a merger or consolidation in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding shares of Series A common stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of our Series A common stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such merger or consolidation, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets for which each warrant will become exercisable will be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such merger or consolidation that affirmatively make such election, and if a tender, exchange or redemption offer has been made to and accepted by such holders (other than a tender, exchange or

 

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redemption offer made by the company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the company as provided for in the company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as a result of the redemption of shares of Series A common stock by the company if a proposed partnering transaction is presented to the stockholders of the company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) 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 outstanding shares of Series A common stock, the holder of a warrant will be entitled to receive the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such warrant holder had exercised the warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Series A common stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in the warrant agreement. Additionally, if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Series A common stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of Series A common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the per share consideration minus Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant.

The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants. The warrant agreement provides that (a) the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or correcting any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the warrant agreement to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in this prospectus, or defective provision or (ii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem to not materially adversely affect the rights of the registered holders of the warrants and (b) all other modifications or amendments require the vote or written consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants; provided that any amendment that solely affects the terms of the private placement warrants or forward purchase warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement solely with respect to the private placement warrants or forward purchase warrants will also require the vote or written consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding private placement warrants or forward purchase warrants, respectively. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment.

The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Series A common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of Series A common stock. After the issuance of shares of Series A common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.

No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.

We have agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Securities — Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of

 

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Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.” This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.

Private Placement Warrants

The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees: (1) they will not be redeemable by us; (2) they (including the Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction (except as described herein under “Principal Stockholders - Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units”); (3) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (4) the holders thereof (including with respect to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than our sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering.

If holders of the private placement warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering his, her or its warrants for that number of shares of Series A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Series A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “sponsor fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the sponsor fair market value. The “sponsor fair market value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Series A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is sent to the warrant agent. The reason that we have agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by our sponsor and its permitted transferees is because it is not known at this time whether our sponsor will cease to be affiliated with us following a partnering transaction. If our sponsor remains affiliated with us its ability to sell our securities in the open market will be significantly limited. We expect to have policies in place that prohibit insiders from selling our securities except during specific periods of time.

Forward Purchase Units

Prior to this offering, we will enter into a forward purchase agreement pursuant to which our sponsor will agree to acquire forward purchase units for $100,000,000, in the aggregate, in connection with our partnering transaction. Each forward purchase unit will consist of one share of Series B common stock, or a forward purchase share, and one-third of one warrant to purchase one share of Series B common stock, or a forward purchase warrant, at a purchase price of $10.00 per unit, and will be sold in a private placement that will close substantially concurrently with the consummation of our partnering transaction. The terms of the forward purchase warrants will generally be identical to the terms of the redeemable warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.

Dividends

We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our partnering transaction. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our partnering transaction. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our partnering transaction will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of this offering, in which case we will effect a stock dividend or other appropriate mechanism with respect to our Series F common stock immediately prior to the

 

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consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares at 20% of the outstanding shares of our common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon the consummation of this offering. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our partnering transaction, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent

The transfer agent for our common stock and warrant agent for our warrants will be Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We will agree to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent and warrant agent, its agents and each of its stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the indemnified person or entity.

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our partnering transaction. These provisions (other than amendments relating to the appointment of directors prior to our partnering transaction, which require the approval of holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon as well as more than 50% of the outstanding Series F common stock) cannot be amended without the approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock except in limited circumstances described under “— Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws — Actions Requiring Supermajority Stockholder Vote.” Our sponsor, who will beneficially own 20% of the shares of our common stock outstanding upon the closing of this offering (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units and assuming our sponsor does not purchase any units in this offering), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have the discretion to vote in any manner it chooses. Prior to our partnering transaction, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Series F common stock is required to approve the election of directors. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, among other things, that:

 

   

if we have not completed our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event), we will: (1) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law;

 

   

prior to our partnering transaction, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to: (1) receive funds from the trust account; or (2) vote pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation on any partnering transaction;

 

   

if a stockholder vote on our partnering transaction is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rule and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our partnering transaction which contain

 

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substantially the same financial and other information about our partnering transaction and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act;

 

   

as long as our securities are listed on the NYSE, our partnering transaction must occur with one or more target businesses that have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our partnering transaction;

 

   

if our stockholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemptions in connection with our partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares; and

 

   

we will not effectuate our partnering transaction solely with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.

In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that under no circumstances will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions.

Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

DGCL 203 Opt Out

Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we have opted out of the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers. This statute prevents certain Delaware corporations, under certain circumstances, from engaging in a “business combination” with:

 

   

a stockholder who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock (otherwise known as an “interested stockholder”);

 

   

an affiliate of an interested stockholder; or

 

   

an associate of an interested stockholder, for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder.

A “business combination” includes a merger or sale of more than 10% of our assets. However, the above provisions of Section 203 do not apply if:

 

   

our board of directors approves the transaction that made the stockholder an “interested stockholder,” prior to the date of the transaction;

 

   

after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, other than statutorily excluded shares of common stock; or

 

   

on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at a meeting of our stockholders, and not by written consent, by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

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We have opted out of the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL because we believe this statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other change in control attempts, and thus may discourage attempts to acquire us.

Authorized Shares

Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Special Meeting of Stockholders

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called (i) upon the written request of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock and preferred stock, (ii) prior to the consummation of the partnering transaction, upon the written request of the holders of not less than a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series F common stock or (iii) by an affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the members of the board of directors then in office.

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Our amended and restated bylaws will provide for advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors or a committee of our board of directors. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice requirements and provide us with certain information. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. Our amended and restated bylaws will also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. Our amended and restated bylaws will allow the chairperson of the meeting at a meeting of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of us.

Action by Written Consent

After the date on which our sponsor, Post or its other subsidiaries beneficially own, in the aggregate, less than 50% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing in lieu of a meeting of such stockholders, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock with respect to such series.

Classified Board of Directors

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that prior to our partnering transaction, only holders of our Series F common stock will have the right to elect our directors. Upon the consummation of our partnering transaction, our board of directors will initially be divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with members of each class serving staggered three-year terms. As a result, in most circumstances, a person other than our sponsor can gain control of our board only by successfully engaging in a proxy contest at two or more annual stockholder meetings following our partnering transaction.

 

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Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Subject to the terms of any preferred stock, following the consummation of our partnering transaction, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Prior to our partnering transaction, any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of our Series F common stock, or for vacancies not resulting from removal, by the remaining directors then in office or by the sole remaining director. Following the consummation of our partnering transaction, any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office (even though less than a quorum) or by the sole remaining director.

No Cumulative Voting

The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not provide for cumulative voting.

Actions Requiring Supermajority Stockholder Vote

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the rights of the holders of any series of our preferred stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3 % of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class at a meeting specifically called for such purpose, will be required in order for us to take any action to authorize (i) the amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or the addition or insertion of other provisions thereto, except (a) for those as to which the laws of the State of Delaware, as then in effect, do not require stockholder consent or (b) where at least 75% of the members of the board of directors then in office have approved such change; (ii) the adoption, amendment or repeal of any provision of our amended and restated bylaws, except by the board of directors in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation; (iii) the merger or consolidation of us with or into any other corporation (including pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL) unless (a) the laws of the State of Delaware, as then in effect, do not require consent by our stockholders (other than Section 251(h) of the DGCL) or (b) at least 75% of the members of the board of directors then in office have approved; (iv) the sale, lease or exchange of all, or substantially all, of our property or assets, unless at least 75% of the members of the board of directors then in office have approved; or (v) our dissolution, unless approved by at least 75% of the members of the board of directors then in office. However, if we seek stockholder approval of our partnering transaction such stockholder approval will not be subject to the foregoing.

Supermajority of Board of Directors Permitted to Amend Bylaws

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws authorize our board of directors to adopt, amend or repeal our amended and restated bylaws by the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the members of the board of directors then in office.

Series F Common Stock Consent Right

Prior to the consummation of our partnering transaction, for so long as any shares of our Series F common stock remain outstanding, we will not have the power, without the prior vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of voting power of the shares of our Series F common stock then outstanding, voting separately as

 

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a single class to amend, alter or repeal any provision of our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change the powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the Series B common stock. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders of our Series F common stock may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of the outstanding shares of Series F common stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of our Series F common stock were present and voted.

Exclusive Forum for Certain Lawsuits

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, another state court within the State of Delaware or, if no state court in Delaware has subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district courts of the United Stated States of America) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) to bring (1) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought or purportedly brought on behalf of our company, (2) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, stockholder, officer, employee or agent of our company to our company or our stockholders, or any claim of aiding and abetting such breach, (3) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim arising pursuant to, or seeking to enforce any right, obligation, or remedy under, any provision of the DGCL or the amended and restated certificate of incorporation or the amended and restated bylaws, (4) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation or the amended and restated bylaws, (5) any action asserting a claim against our company or any director or officer of our company governed by the internal affairs doctrine, (6) any action, suit, or proceeding as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery, or (7) any action, suit or proceeding asserting an “internal corporate claim” as defined in Section 115 of the DGCL; in all cases, subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to any actions arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or otherwise arising under federal securities laws, for which the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum.

Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also will provide that the federal district courts of the United States of America will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for resolving the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding or owning (or continuing to hold or own) any interest in any of our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing amended and restated certificate of incorporation provisions. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law and federal securities laws in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum of its choosing for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, stockholders, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims against us and our current and former directors, officers, stockholders, or other employees. Furthermore, the enforceability of choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find these types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable. See “Risk Factors —  Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, and also provide that the

 

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federal district courts will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each of which could limit our stockholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with our company or our company’s directors, officers or employees.”

Securities Eligible for Future Sale

Immediately after this offering we will have 38,500,000 (or 44,215,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares of common stock outstanding. Of these shares, the 30,000,000 shares (or 34,500,000 shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the outstanding founder shares (7,500,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and 8,625,000 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) and all of the outstanding private placement units (1,000,000 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised and 1,090,000 private placement units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering.

Upon the closing of the sale of the forward purchase units, all forward purchase shares and forward purchase warrants will be restricted securities under Rule 144. Otherwise, the forward purchase units will not be subject to any transfer restrictions.

Rule 144

Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock or warrants for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that: (1) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale; and (2) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.

Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock or warrants for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:

 

   

1% of the total number of shares of common stock then outstanding, which will equal 385,000 shares immediately after this offering (or 442,150 if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full); or

 

   

the average weekly reported trading volume of the common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.

Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies

Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than a partnering transaction related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:

 

   

the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;

 

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the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

 

   

the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Current Reports on Form 8-K; and

 

   

at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.

As a result, our sponsor will be able to sell its founder shares and its private placement warrants, as applicable, pursuant to Rule 144 without registration one year after we have completed our partnering transaction.

Registration Rights

The holders of the founder shares, forward purchase shares, forward purchase warrants, private placement shares, private placement warrants and shares and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants, forward purchase warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares and the forward purchase shares) will be entitled to registration rights with respect to private placement shares, private placement warrants, forward purchase warrants, shares and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans, warrants purchased by them in the open market and shares of Series A common stock purchased by them in the open market or issuable upon (1) conversion of the founder shares, (2) exercise of the private placement warrants, (3) conversion of the forward purchase shares and shares of Series B common stock purchased in connection with our partnering transaction (if any), (4) exercise of the forward purchase warrants and (5) exercise of warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans (if any), pursuant to an investor rights agreement and forward purchase agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering requiring us to register such securities for resale. The holder of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands in any 12-month period under each agreement, excluding short form registration demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders will have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our partnering transaction and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. However, both the investor rights agreement and the forward purchase agreement will provide that we will not be required to effect or permit any registration or cause any registration statement to become effective until the securities covered thereby are released from their lock-up restrictions, as described under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants.” We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

The investor rights agreement will also provide that our sponsor will be entitled, upon consummation of our partnering transaction, to nominate three individuals for appointment to our board of directors, as long as our sponsor holds any securities covered by the registration rights described in the paragraph above.

Listing of Securities

We intend to apply to list our units, Series A common stock and warrants on the NYSE under the symbols “PSPC.U,” “PSPC” and “PSPC WS,” respectively. We expect that our units will be listed on the NYSE on or promptly after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Following the date the shares of our Series A common stock and warrants are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that the shares of our common stock and warrants will be listed separately and as a unit on the NYSE. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on the NYSE.

 

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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following discussion is a summary of the United States federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the ownership and disposition of our units, Series A common stock and warrants, which we refer to collectively as our securities. This summary is based upon United States federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, which is subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary does not discuss all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances, including investors subject to special tax rules (e.g., our sponsor, financial institutions, insurance companies, broker-dealers, tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations), taxpayers that have elected mark-to-market accounting for United States federal income tax purposes, S corporations, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, investors that will hold Series A common stock or warrants as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, or other integrated transaction for United States federal income tax purposes, persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more of the total combined voting power or value of our securities or United States Holders (as defined below) that have a functional currency other than the United States dollar), all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ materially from those summarized below. Furthermore, this summary does not discuss other United States federal tax consequences (e.g., estate or gift tax), any state, local, or non-United States tax considerations or the Medicare tax or alternative minimum tax nor does this summary address any person who beneficially holds both shares or our common stock and shares of Post. In addition, this summary is limited to investors that will hold our securities as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and that acquired the securities pursuant to this offering (or, in the case of Series A common stock, upon exercise of warrants so acquired). No ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has been or will be sought regarding any matter discussed herein. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax aspects set forth below.

For purposes of this summary, a “United States Holder” is a beneficial holder of securities who or that for United States federal income tax purposes is:

 

   

an individual who is a United States citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes created in, or organized under the law of, the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof;

 

   

an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and which has one or more United States persons (within the meaning of the Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has in effect a valid election under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

A “non-United States Holder” is a beneficial holder of shares who or that is neither a United States Holder nor a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holds our securities, the tax treatment of a partner, member or other beneficial owner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner, member or other beneficial owner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner, member or other beneficial owner level. If you are a partnership or a partner, member or other beneficial owner of a partnership holding our securities, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our securities.

THIS DISCUSSION OF UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. WE URGE PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS

 

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CONCERNING THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR SECURITIES, AS WELL AS THE APPLICATION OF ANY STATE, LOCAL AND NON-UNITED STATES INCOME, ESTATE AND OTHER TAX CONSIDERATIONS.

Personal Holding Company Status

We would be subject to a second level of United States federal income tax on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company, or PHC, for United States federal income tax purposes. A United States corporation will generally be classified as a PHC for United States federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (1) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (2) at least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for United States federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).

Depending on the date and size of our partnering transaction, it is possible that at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income as discussed above. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts, as a result of this offering, it is possible that more than 50% of our stock will be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by five or fewer such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not become a PHC following this offering or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently 20%, on our undistributed PHC income, which generally includes our taxable income, subject to certain adjustments.

General Treatment of Units

There is no authority directly addressing the treatment, for United States federal income tax purposes, of instruments with terms substantially the same as the units and, therefore, their treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one share of our Series A common stock and one-third of one warrant to acquire one share of our Series A common stock. We intend to treat the acquisition of a unit in this manner and, by purchasing a unit, you agree to adopt such treatment for tax purposes. Each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the one share of Series A common stock and the one-third of one warrant based on their respective relative fair market values. Under United States federal income tax law, each investor must make his or her own determination of such value based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge each investor to consult his or her tax advisor regarding the determination of value for these purposes. A holder’s initial tax basis in the Series A common stock and the warrant included in each unit should equal the portion of the purchase price of the unit allocated thereto. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a disposition of the share of Series A common stock and one-third of one warrant comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the Series A common stock and the one-third of one warrant based on their respective relative fair market values (as determined by each such unit holder based on all the relevant facts and circumstances) at the time of disposition. The separation of the Series A common stock and warrant constituting a unit should not be a taxable event for United States federal income tax purposes.

The foregoing treatment of the units and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there is no authority that directly addresses instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the United States federal, state, local and any foreign tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative

 

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characterizations of a unit and its components). The following discussion is based on the assumption that the characterization of the Series A common stock and warrants and the allocation described above are respected for United States federal income tax purposes.

United States Holders

Taxation of Distributions

If we pay distributions in cash or other property (other than certain distributions of our stock or rights to acquire our stock) to United States Holders of shares of our Series A common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for United States federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the United States Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our Series A common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the Series A common stock and will be treated as described under “United States Holders - Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Series A Common Stock” below.

Dividends we pay to a United States Holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate United States Holder will generally constitute “qualified dividends” that will be subject to tax at the preferential tax rate accorded to long-term capital gains. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the Series A common stock described in this prospectus may prevent a United States Holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be. If the holding period requirements are not satisfied, then a corporation may not be able to qualify for the dividends received deduction and would have taxable income equal to the entire dividend amount, and non-corporate United States Holders may be subject to tax on such dividend at regular ordinary income tax rates instead of the preferential rate that applies to qualified dividend income.

Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Series A Common Stock

A United States Holder will recognize gain or loss on the sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition (which would include a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete a partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period) of our Series A common stock. Any such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the United States Holder’s holding period for the Series A common stock so disposed of exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate United States Holders are eligible to be taxed at reduced rates.

The amount of gain or loss recognized will generally be equal to the difference between (1) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the Series A common stock is held as part of a unit at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the Series A common stock based upon the then fair market values of the Series A common stock and the warrant included in the unit) and (2) the United States Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Series A common stock so disposed of. A United States Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Series A common stock will generally equal the United States Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, as discussed above, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of Series A common stock or, as discussed below, the United States Holder’s initial basis for Series A common stock received upon exercise of a warrant) less any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

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Redemption of Series A Common Stock

In the event that a United States Holder’s Series A common stock is redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under “Description of Securities - Common Stock” or if we purchase a United States Holder’s Series A common stock in an open market transaction (each of which we refer to as a “redemption”), the treatment of the transaction for United States federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of the Series A common stock under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of Series A common stock under the tests described below, the tax consequences to the United States Holder will be the same as described under “United States Holders - Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Series A Common Stock” above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of Series A common stock, the United States Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution, the tax consequences of which are described above under “United States Holders - Taxation of Distributions.” Whether the redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend primarily on the total number of shares of our stock treated as held by the United States Holder (including any stock constructively owned by the United States Holder as a result of owning warrants) both before and after the redemption. The redemption of Series A common stock will generally be treated as a sale of the Series A common stock (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the redemption (1) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the United States Holder, (2) results in a “complete termination” of the United States Holder’s interest in us or (3) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the United States Holder. These tests are explained more fully below.

In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a United States Holder takes into account not only stock actually owned by the United States Holder, but also shares of our stock that are constructively owned by it. A United States Holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the United States Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such United States Holder, as well as any stock the United States Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include common stock which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the warrants. A redemption of a United States Holder’s stock will be substantially disproportionate with respect to the United States Holder if the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the United States Holder immediately following the redemption of common stock is, among other requirements, less than 80% of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the United States Holder immediately before the redemption. Prior to our partnering transaction, the Series A common stock may not be treated as voting stock for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not be applicable. There will be a complete termination of a United States Holder’s interest if either (1) all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by the United States Holder are redeemed or (2) all of the shares of our stock actually owned by the United States Holder are redeemed and the United States Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the United States Holder does not constructively own any other stock (including any stock constructively owned by the United States Holder as a result of owning warrants). The redemption of the Series A common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if the redemption results in a “meaningful reduction” of the United States Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a United States Holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. The IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” A United States Holder is urged to consult its tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption, including the application of the constructive ownership rules described above.

If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, the redemption will be treated as a corporate distribution, the tax consequences of which are described under “United States Holders - Taxation of Distributions,” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the United States Holder in the redeemed Series A common stock should be added to the United States Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining stock, or, if it has none, to the United States Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrants or possibly in other stock constructively owned by it.

 

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Exercise of a Warrant

Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a warrant, a United States Holder will not recognize gain or loss upon the exercise of a warrant. The United States Holder’s tax basis in the share of our Series A common stock received upon exercise of the warrant will generally be an amount equal to the sum of the United States Holder’s initial investment in the warrant (i.e., the portion of the United States Holder’s purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under “- General Treatment of Units”) and the exercise price of such warrant. It is unclear whether a United States Holder’s holding period for the Series A common stock received upon exercise of the warrant would commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the warrant; however, in either case the holding period will not include the period during which the United States Holder held the warrants.

The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be nontaxable, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for United States federal income tax purposes. In either situation, a United States Holder’s tax basis in the Series A common stock received would generally equal the holder’s tax basis in the warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, it is unclear whether a United States Holder’s holding period for the Series A common stock would commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the warrant. If, however, the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the Series A common stock would include the holding period of the warrant exercised.

It is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss is recognized. In such event, a United States Holder would be deemed to have surrendered a number of warrants having an aggregate fair market value equal to the exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. The United States Holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the warrants deemed surrendered and the United States Holder’s tax basis in such warrants. In this case, a United States Holder’s tax basis in the Series A common stock received would equal the sum of the United States Holder’s initial investment in the warrants deemed exercised (i.e., the portion of the United States Holder’s purchase price for the units that is allocated to the warrant deemed exercised, as described above under “- General Treatment of Units”) and the exercise price of such warrants deemed exercised. It is unclear whether a United States Holder’s holding period for the Series A common stock would commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the warrant; in either case, the holding period would not include the period during which the United States Holder held the warrant.

Due to the absence of authority on the United States federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, including when a United States Holder’s holding period would commence with respect to the Series A common stock received, there can be no assurance which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, United States Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise.

Sale, Taxable Exchange, Redemption or Expiration of a Warrant

Upon a sale, taxable exchange (other than by exercise), redemption (other than a redemption for Series A common stock), or expiration of a warrant, a United States Holder will recognize taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (1) the amount realized upon such disposition or expiration (or, if the warrant is held as part of a unit at the time of the disposition of the unit, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the warrant based on the then fair market values of the warrant and the Series A common stock constituting such unit) and (2) the United States Holder’s tax basis in the warrant (that is, the portion of the United States Holder’s purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under “- General Treatment of Units”). Such gain or loss will generally be treated as long-term

 

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capital gain or loss if the warrant is held by the United States Holder for more than one year at the time of such disposition or expiration. If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a United States Holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in the warrant. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

The tax consequences of an exercise of a warrant occurring after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the warrant for $0.01 as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities —  Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants” are unclear under current law. In the case of a cashless exercise, the exercise may be treated either as if we redeemed such warrant for Series A common stock or as an exercise of the warrant. If the cashless exercise of a warrant for Series A common stock is treated as a redemption, then such redemption generally should be treated as a tax-deferred recapitalization for United States federal income tax purposes, in which case a United States Holder should not recognize any gain or loss on such redemption, and accordingly, a United States Holder’s basis in the Series A common stock received should equal the United States Holder’s basis in the warrant and the holding period of the Series A common stock would include the holding period of the warrant. If the cashless exercise of a warrant occurring after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the warrant is treated in the same manner as a cashless exercise of a warrant by a United States Holder that is not following such notice, there is some uncertainty regarding the treatment, as described above under the heading “United States Holders — Exercise of a Warrant.” Due to the lack of clarity under current law regarding the treatment of an exercise of a warrant after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the warrant for $0.01, there can be no assurance as to which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, United States Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the exercise of a warrant occurring after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the warrant as described above.

Possible Constructive Distributions

The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Series A common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of Securities - Warrants - Public Stockholders’ Warrants.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution is generally not a taxable event. Nevertheless, a United States Holder of warrants would be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Series A common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease to the exercise price, including, for example, the decrease to the exercise price of the warrants where additional shares of Series A common stock or equity-linked securities are issued in connection with the closing of our partnering transaction at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Series A common stock, as described under “Description of Securities — Warrants — Anti-Dilution Adjustments”) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property to the holders of shares of our Series A common stock which is taxable to such holders as a dividend. In addition, an adjustment to the exercise price or conversion rate of any of our outstanding securities (or a failure to make an adjustment to the exercise price or conversion rate of such outstanding securities) may, depending on the circumstances, result in a deemed taxable distribution to a United States Holder of shares of Series A common stock, if as a result of such adjustment or failure to make an adjustment, the proportionate interest of the United States Holder of shares of Series A common stock in our assets or earnings and profits is increased. Any constructive distribution received by a United States Holder would be subject to United States federal income tax as described under “— United States Holders — Taxation of Distributions” above in the same manner as if such United States Holder received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest without any corresponding receipt of cash.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

In general, information reporting requirements may apply to dividends paid to a United States Holder and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our units, Series A common stock and warrants, unless the

 

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United States Holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments if the United States Holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number, a certification of exempt status or has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a United States Holder’s United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Non-United States Holders

Taxation of Distributions

In general, any distributions (including constructive distributions) we make to a non-United States Holder of shares of our Series A common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under United States federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for United States federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the non-United States Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such non-United States Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable). In the case of any constructive dividend, it is possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to a non-United States Holder by the applicable withholding agent, including cash distributions on other property or sale proceeds from warrants or other property subsequently paid or credited to such holder. A Non-United States Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-United States Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the non-United States Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our Series A common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the non-United States Holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the Series A common stock, which will be treated as described under “Non-United States Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Series A Common Stock and Warrants” below. In addition, if we determine that we are classified as a “United States real property holding corporation” (see “Non-United States Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Series A Common Stock and Warrants” below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

Dividends we pay to a non-United States Holder that are effectively connected with such non-United States Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or if a tax treaty applies are attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-United States Holder) will generally not be subject to United States withholding tax, provided such non-United States Holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (usually by providing an IRS Form W-8ECI or other applicable form). Instead, such dividends will generally be subject to United States federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at the same graduated individual or corporate rates applicable to United States Holders. If the non-United States Holder is a corporation, dividends that are effectively connected income may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty).

Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant

The characterization for United States federal income tax purposes of a non-United States Holder’s exercise of a warrant (including an exercise of a warrant occurring after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the warrant for $0.01 as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants”), the lapse of a warrant or the redemption of a warrant held by a

 

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non-United States Holder generally will correspond to the characterization described under “United States Holders — Exercise of a Warrant” or “United States Holders — Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Expiration of a Warrant” above, although to the extent a cashless exercise results in a taxable exchange, the tax consequences to the non-United States Holder would be the same as those described below in “Non-United States Holders — Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Series A Common Stock and Warrants.”

Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Series A Common Stock and Warrants

A non-United States Holder will generally not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our Series A common stock, which would include a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete a partnering transaction within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or 27 months following an agreement in principle event) or during any Extension Period, or warrants (including an expiration or redemption of our warrants), in each case without regard to whether those securities were held as part of a unit, unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the non-United States Holder within the United States (and, if an applicable tax treaty so requires, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-United States Holder);

 

   

the non-United States Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are met; or

 

   

we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for United States federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the non-United States Holder held our Series A common stock, and, in the case where shares of our Series A common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the non-United States Holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our Series A common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such non-United States Holder’s holding period for the shares of our Series A common stock. There can be no assurance that our Series A common stock will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose.

Unless an applicable treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable United States federal income tax rates as if the non-United States Holder were a United States resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a non-United States Holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or lower applicable treaty rate). Gain described in the second bullet point above will generally be subject to a flat 30% United States federal income tax. Non-United States Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding possible eligibility for benefits under income tax treaties.

If the third bullet point above applies to a non-United States Holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Series A common stock or warrants will be subject to tax at generally applicable United States federal income tax rates. In addition, a buyer of our Series A common stock or warrants from such holder may be required to withhold United States income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a United States real property holding corporation in the future until we complete a partnering transaction. We will be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for United States federal income tax purposes. If we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” you are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.

Possible Constructive Distributions

The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Series A common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the

 

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section of this prospectus captioned “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution is generally not a taxable event. Nevertheless, a non-United States Holder of warrants would be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Series A common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease to the exercise price, including, for example, the decrease to the exercise price of the warrants where additional shares of Series A common stock or equity-linked securities are issued in connection with the closing of our partnering transaction at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Series A common stock, as described under “Description of Securities — Warrants — Anti-Dilution Adjustments”) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property to the holders of shares of our Series A common stock which is taxable to such holders as a distribution. In addition, an adjustment to the exercise price or conversion rate of any of our outstanding securities (or a failure to make an adjustment to the exercise price or conversion rate of such outstanding securities) may, depending on the circumstances, result in a deemed taxable distribution to a United States Holder of shares of Series A common stock, if as a result of such adjustment or failure to make an adjustment, the proportionate interest of the United States Holder of shares of Series A common stock in our assets or earnings and profits is increased. Any constructive distribution received by a non-United States Holder would be subject to United States federal income tax withholding as described under “Non-United States Holders — Taxation of Distributions” above in the same manner as if such non-United States Holder received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest without any corresponding receipt of cash.

Redemption of Series A Common Stock

The characterization for United States federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a non-United States Holder’s Series A common stock pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under “Description of Securities — Common Stock” will generally correspond to the United States federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a United States Holder’s Series A common stock, as described under “United States Holders — Redemption of Series A Common Stock” above, and the consequences of the redemption to the non-United States Holder will be as described above under “Non-United States Holders — Taxation of Distributions” and “Non-United States Holders — Gain on Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Series A Common Stock and Warrants,” as applicable.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of dividends and proceeds from the sale of our securities to non-United States Holders that are not exempt recipients. We must report annually to the IRS and to each such holder the amount of dividends or other distributions we pay to such non-United States Holder on our shares of Series A common stock and the amount of tax withheld with respect to those distributions, regardless of whether withholding is required. The IRS may make copies of the information returns reporting those dividends and amounts withheld available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-United States Holder resides pursuant to the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or exchange of information treaty.

The gross amount of dividends and proceeds from the disposition of our Series A common stock or warrants paid to a holder that fails to provide the appropriate certification in accordance with applicable United States Treasury regulations generally will be subject to backup withholding at the applicable rate.

Information reporting and backup withholding are generally not required with respect to the amount of any proceeds from the sale by a non-United States Holder of Series A common stock or warrants outside the United States through a foreign office of a foreign broker that does not have certain specified connections to the United States. However, if a non-United States Holder sells Series A common stock or warrants through a United States broker or the United States office of a foreign broker, the broker will generally be required to

 

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report to the IRS the amount of proceeds paid to such holder, unless the non-United States Holder provides appropriate certification (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable) to the broker of its status as a non-United States Holder or such non-United States Holder is an exempt recipient. In addition, for information reporting purposes, certain non-United States brokers with certain relationships with the United States will be treated in a manner similar to United States brokers.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts we withhold under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against a holder’s United States federal income tax liability, if any, by the IRS if the required information is furnished in a timely manner to the IRS.

All non-United States Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding to them.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (commonly referred as the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA”) generally impose withholding at a rate of 30% in certain circumstances on dividends in respect of our securities which are held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless any such institution (1) enters into, and complies with, an agreement with the IRS to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution that are owned by certain United States persons and by certain non-United States entities that are wholly or partially owned by United States persons and to withhold on certain payments, or (2) if required under an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, reports such information to its local tax authority, which will exchange such information with the United States authorities. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which our securities are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of our securities held by an investor that is a non-financial non-United States entity that does not qualify under certain exceptions will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (1) certifies to us or the applicable withholding agent that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (2) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which will in turn be provided to the United States Department of Treasury.

Prior to the issuance of proposed United States Treasury regulations, such United States federal withholding tax under FATCA also would have applied to gross proceeds from the sale or disposition of our Series A common stock or warrants. However, the proposed United States Treasury regulations provide that such gross proceeds will not be subject to United States federal withholding taxes under FATCA. Taxpayers may rely on these proposed United States Treasury regulations until they are revoked or final United States Treasury regulations are issued. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our securities.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement dated                             , 2021 we have agreed to sell to the underwriters named below, for whom Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. are acting as representatives, the following respective numbers of units:

 

Underwriter

   Number of
Units
 

Evercore Group L.L.C..

  

Barclays Capital Inc.

  
  

 

 

 

Total

     30,000,000  
  

 

 

 

The underwriting agreement will provide that the underwriters are obligated to purchase all the units in this offering if any are purchased, other than those units covered by the over-allotment option described below.

We have granted to the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase on a pro rata basis up to 4,500,000 additional units at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The option may be exercised only to cover any over-allotments of units.

The underwriters propose to offer the units initially at the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus and to selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $            per unit.

The following table summarizes the compensation and estimated expenses we will pay:

 

    

Per Unit(1)

  

Total(1)

    

Without Over-

allotment

  

With Over-

allotment

  

Without Over-
allotment

  

With Over-
allotment

Underwriting Discounts and Commissions paid by us(2)

   $0.55    $0.55    $16,500,000    $18,975,000

 

(1)

Includes $0.35 per unit, or $10,500,000 (or $12,075,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. Up to 25% of the deferred underwriting commissions ($2,625,000 or $3,018,750 if the option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) may be paid at the sole discretion of our management team to the underwriters in the allocations determined by our management team and/or to third parties not participating in this offering (but who are members of FINRA) that assist us in consummating our partnering transaction. The deferred commissions will be released only on completion of a partnering transaction, in an amount equal to $0.35 multiplied by the number of shares of Series A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering, as described in this prospectus.

 

(2)

Assumes our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, does not purchase any public units in this offering. Public units purchased by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor in this offering, if any, will not be subject to underwriting discounts and commissions. See above and “Principal Stockholders — Indication of Interest” for additional information.

We estimate that our out-of-pocket expenses for this offering will be approximately $1,500,000. We have agreed to pay for the FINRA-related fees and expenses of the underwriters’ legal counsel, not to exceed $25,000.

The representatives have informed us that the underwriters do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.

We, our sponsor and our officers and directors have agreed that we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, any units, warrants, common stock or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of common stock; provided, however, that we may (1) issue and sell the private placement units; (2) issue and sell the additional

 

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units to cover our underwriters’ over-allotment option (if any); (3) register with the SEC pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, the resale of the private placement units or the securities underlying the same and the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise or conversion of the warrants and the founder shares; and (4) issue securities in connection with our partnering transaction. However, the foregoing shall not apply to the forfeiture of any founder shares pursuant to their terms or any transfer of founder shares to any current or future independent director of the Company (as long as such current or future independent director is subject to the terms of the letter agreement, filed herewith, at the time of such transfer; and as long as, to the extent any Section 16 reporting obligation is triggered as a result of such transfer, any related Section 16 filing includes a practical explanation as to the nature of the transfer). Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. in their sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice.

Our sponsor will agree not to transfer, assign or sell any of its founder shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of our partnering transaction; and (B) subsequent to our partnering transaction, (x) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property or (y) if the last reported sale price of our Series A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our partnering transaction, subject to certain exceptions described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units.” Any permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units” would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements as our sponsor with respect to any founder shares.

The private placement warrants (including the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our partnering transaction (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Units”).

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in that respect.

We expect our units to be listed on the NYSE, under the symbol “PSPC.U” and, once the Series A common stock and warrants begin separate trading, to have our Series A common stock and warrants listed on the NYSE under the symbols “PSPC” and “PSPC WS,” respectively.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the representatives.

The determination of our per unit offering price was more arbitrary than would typically be the case if we were an operating company. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, our management, our capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which the units, Series A common stock or warrants will sell in the public market after this offering will not be lower than the initial public offering price or that an active trading market in our units, Series A common stock or warrants will develop and continue after this offering.

If we do not complete our partnering transaction, the underwriters have agreed that: (1) the underwriters will forfeit any rights or claims to their deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, including any accrued interest thereon, then in the trust account; and (2) the deferred underwriters’ discounts and commissions

 

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will be distributed on a pro rata basis, together with any accrued interest thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) to the public stockholders.

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

 

   

Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.

 

   

Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of units in excess of the number of units the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of units over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of units that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of units involved is greater than the number of units in the over-allotment option. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option and/or purchasing units in the open market.

 

   

Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the units in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of units to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option. If the underwriters sell more units than could be covered by the over-allotment option, a naked short position, the position can only be closed out by buying units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering.

 

   

Penalty bids permit the representatives to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the units originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the units. As a result, the price of our units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

We are not under any contractual obligation to engage any of the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, but we may do so at our discretion. However, any of the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future, including by acting as a placement agent in a private offering or underwriting or arranging debt financing. If any of the underwriters provides services to us after this offering, we may pay such underwriter fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with any of the underwriters and no fees for such services will be paid to any of the underwriters prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering, and we may pay the underwriters of this offering or any entity with which they are affiliated a finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a partnering transaction. Any fees we may pay the underwriters or their affiliates for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a partnering transaction and may be paid in other than cash. The underwriters or their affiliates that provide these services to us may have a potential conflict of interest given that the underwriters are entitled to the deferred portion of their underwriting compensation for this offering only if a partnering transaction is completed within the specified timeframe.

 

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Some of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates, including Post and our sponsor. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. In particular, affiliates of Barclays Capital Inc. are lenders under Post’s credit agreement and hold certain of Post’s outstanding indebtedness.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more of the underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The representatives may agree to allocate a number of units to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

The units are offered for sale in those jurisdictions in the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere where it is lawful to make such offers.

Each of the underwriters has represented and agreed that it has not offered, sold or delivered and will not offer, sell or deliver any of the units directly or indirectly, or distribute this prospectus or any other offering material relating to the units, in or from any jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations thereof and that will not impose any obligations on us except as set forth in the underwriting agreement.

European Economic Area

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (each, a ‘‘Relevant State’’), no units have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units that has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another relevant state and notified to the competent authority in that relevant state, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that offers of units may be made to the public in that relevant state at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

 

  (a)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;

 

  (b)

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation); or

 

  (c)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

provided that no such offer of units shall require the Company or any representative to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.

 

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For the purposes of this provision, the expression an ‘‘offer to the public’’ in relation to any units in any relevant state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any units, and the expression ‘‘Prospectus Regulation’’ means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of units through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the units as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the units, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the units on behalf of us or the underwriters.

Notice to Investors in the United Kingdom

In relation to the United Kingdom, no units have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units that either (i) has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority, or (ii) is to be treated as if it had been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in accordance with the transitional provision in Regulation 74 of the Prospectus (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, except that offers of units may be made to the public in the United Kingdom at any time under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation:

 

  (a)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;

 

  (b)

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation); or

 

  (c)

in any other circumstances falling within section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (‘‘FSMA’’),

provided that no such offer of units shall require the Company or any representative to publish a prospectus pursuant to section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an ‘‘offer to the public’’ in relation to any units in any relevant state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any units, and the expression ‘‘UK Prospectus Regulation’’ means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of units through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the units as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the units, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the units on behalf of us or the underwriters.

In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are ‘‘qualified investors’’ (as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, or the Order, and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as ‘‘relevant persons’’) or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public of the units in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the FSMA.

Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the information included in this document or use it as basis for taking any action. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity that this document relates to may be made or taken exclusively by relevant persons.

 

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Notice to Residents of Japan

The underwriters will not offer or sell any of our units directly or indirectly in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any Japanese person or to others, for re-offering or re-sale directly or indirectly in Japan or to any Japanese person, except in each case pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and any other applicable laws and regulations of Japan. For purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese person” means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.

Notice to Residents of Hong Kong

The underwriters and each of their affiliates have not (1) offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, in Hong Kong, by means of any document, our units other than (A) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance or (B) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32 of Hong Kong) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance or (2) issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere any advertisement, invitation or document relating to our units which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to our securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance. The contents of this document have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of this document, you should obtain independent professional advice.

Notice to Residents of Singapore

This prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units has not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the units will be offered in Singapore pursuant to exemptions under Section 274 and Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “Securities and Futures Act”). Accordingly our units may not be offered or sold, or be the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to the public or any member of the public in Singapore other than (a) to an institutional investor or other person specified in Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, (b) to a sophisticated investor, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act or (c) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the Securities and Futures Act.

Notice to Residents of Germany

Each person who is in possession of this prospectus is aware that no German sales prospectus (Verkaufsprospekt) within the meaning of the Securities Sales Prospectus Act (Wertpapier-Verkaufsprospektgesetz, the “Act”) of the Federal Republic of Germany has been or will be published with respect to our units. In particular, each underwriter has represented that it has not engaged and has agreed that it will not engage in a public offering (offentliches Angebot) within the meaning of the Act with respect to any of our units otherwise then in accordance with the Act and all other applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

Notice to Residents of France

The units are being issued and sold outside the Republic of France and, in connection with their initial distribution, the Company has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any units to the

 

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public in the Republic of France, and the Company has not distributed and will not distribute or cause to be distributed to the public in the Republic of France this prospectus or any other offering material relating to the units, and such offers, sales and distributions have been and will be made in the Republic of France only to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) in accordance with Article L.411-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code and decrét no. 98-880 dated October 1, 1998.

Notice to Residents of the Netherlands

Our units may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered in or from the Netherlands as part of their initial distribution or at any time thereafter, directly or indirectly, other than to individuals or legal entities situated in The Netherlands who or which trade or invest in securities in the conduct of a business or profession (which includes banks, securities intermediaries (including dealers and brokers), insurance companies, pension funds, collective investment institution, central governments, large international and supranational organizations, other institutional investors and other parties, including treasury departments of commercial enterprises, which as an ancillary activity regularly invest in securities; hereinafter, “Professional Investors”); provided that in the offer, prospectus and in any other documents or advertisements in which a forthcoming offering of our units is publicly announced (whether electronically or otherwise) in The Netherlands it is stated that such offer is and will be exclusively made to such Professional Investors. Individual or legal entities who are not Professional Investors may not participate in the offering of our units, and this prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units may not be considered an offer or the prospect of an offer to sell or exchange our units.

Notice to Canadian Residents

Resale Restrictions

The distribution of units in Canada is being made only in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia on a private placement basis exempt from the requirement that we prepare and file a prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in each province where trades of these securities are made. Any resale of the units in Canada must be made under applicable securities laws which may vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made under available statutory exemptions or under a discretionary exemption granted by the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authority. Purchasers are advised to seek legal advice prior to any resale of the securities.

Representations of Canadian Purchasers

By purchasing units in Canada and accepting delivery of a purchase confirmation, a purchaser is representing to us and the dealer from whom the purchase confirmation is received that:

 

   

the purchaser is entitled under applicable provincial securities laws to purchase the units without the benefit of a prospectus qualified under those securities laws as it is an “accredited investor” as defined under National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions;

 

   

the purchaser is a “permitted client” as defined in National Instrument 31-103 - Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations;

 

   

where required by law, the purchaser is purchasing as principal and not as agent; and

 

   

the purchaser has reviewed the text above under Resale Restrictions.

Conflicts of Interest

Canadian purchasers are hereby notified that Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. are relying on the exemption set out in section 3A.3 or 3A.4, if applicable, of National Instrument 33-105 - Underwriting Conflicts from having to provide certain conflict of interest disclosure in this document.

 

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Statutory Rights of Action

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if the prospectus (including any amendment thereto) such as this document contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser of these securities in Canada should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Enforcement of Legal Rights

All of our directors and officers as well as the experts named herein may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible for Canadian purchasers to effect service of process within Canada upon us or those persons. All or a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of those persons may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible to satisfy a judgment against us or those persons in Canada or to enforce a judgment obtained in Canadian courts against us or those persons outside of Canada.

Taxation and Eligibility for Investment

Canadian purchasers of units should consult their own legal and tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of an investment in the units in their particular circumstances and about the eligibility of the units for investment by the purchaser under relevant Canadian legislation.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago, Illinois will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus with respect to units and warrants. Davis Polk  & Wardwell LLP advised the underwriters in connection with the offering of the securities.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Post Holdings Partnering Corporation as of January 27, 2021, and for the period from January 27, 2021 (inception) through January 27, 2021, appearing in this prospectus have been audited by WithumSmith+Brown, PC, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.

Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholder and the Board of Directors of

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Post Holdings Partnering Corporation (the “Company”) as of January 27, 2021, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholder’s equity and cash flows for the period from January 27, 2021 (inception) through January 27, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 27, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from January 27, 2021 (inception) through January 27, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the United States federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.

New York, New York

April 8, 2021

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

BALANCE SHEET

January 27, 2021

 

Assets:

  

Deferred offering costs associated with the proposed public offering

   $ 40,000  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 40,000  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity:

  

Current liabilities:

  

Accrued expenses

   $ 20,000  
  

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     20,000  
  

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)

  

Stockholder’s Equity:

  

Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

     —    

Series B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

     —    

Series C common stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

     —    

Series F common stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 8,625,000 shares issued and outstanding(1)(2)

     863  

Additional paid-in capital

     24,137  

Accumulated deficit

     (5,000
  

 

 

 

Total stockholder’s equity

     20,000  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

   $ 40,000  
  

 

 

 

 

(1)

This number includes up to 1,125,000 shares of Series F common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.

(2)

The shares and associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the surrender of 2,875,000 shares of Series F common stock by the Sponsor, effected on April 8, 2021 (see Note 4).

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the period from January 27, 2021 (inception) through January 27, 2021

 

Formation and operating costs

   $ 5,000  
  

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (5,000
  

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (1)(2)

     7,500,000  
  

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net loss per share

   $ (0.00
  

 

 

 

 

(1)

This number excludes an aggregate of up to 1,125,000 shares of Series F common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.

(2)

The share and associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the surrender of 2,875,000 shares of Series F common stock by the Sponsor, effected on April 8, 2021 (see Note 4).

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY

For the period from January 27, 2021 (inception) through January 27, 2021

 

     Common Stock      Additional
Paid-In
Capital
     Accumulated
Deficit
    Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
 
     Series F  
     Shares      Amount  

Balance - January 27, 2021 (inception)

     —        $
 

  

 
   $ —        $ —       $ —    

Issuance of Series F common stock to Sponsor (1)(2)

     8,625,000        863        24,137        —         25,000  

Net loss

     —          —          —          (5,000     (5,000
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance - January 27, 2021

     8,625,000      $ 863      $ 24,137      $ (5,000   $ 20,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

This number includes up to 1,500,000 shares of Series F common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.

(2)

The shares and associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the surrender of 2,875,000 shares of Series F common stock by the Sponsor, effected on April 8, 2021 (see Note 4).

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

For the period from January 27, 2021 (inception) through January 27, 2021

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

  

Net loss

   $ (5,000

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

  

Accrued expenses

     5,000  
  

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     —    

Net change in cash

     —    

Cash - beginning of the period

     —    
  

 

 

 

Cash - end of the period

   $ —    
  

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of noncash activities:

  

Deferred offering costs paid by Sponsor for issuance of Series F common stock

   $ 25,000  
  

 

 

 

Deferred offering costs included in accrued expenses

   $ 15,000  
  

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on January 27, 2021. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction with one or more businesses that the Company has not yet identified (“Partnering Transaction”).

As of January 27, 2021, the Company had not yet commenced operations. All activity for the period from January 27, 2021 (inception) through January 27, 2021 relates to the Company’s formation and the Proposed Public Offering, which is described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its Partnering Transaction, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

The Company’s sponsor, PHPC Sponsor, LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a proposed public offering (the “Proposed Public Offering”) of 30,000,000 units of the Company (each, a “Unit” and collectively, the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Series A common stock included in the Units, the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per Unit (or 34,500,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), which is discussed in Note 3, and the sale of 1,000,000 Units (or 1,090,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per Unit (each, a “Private Placement Unit” and collectively, the “Private Placement Units”), in a private placement to the Sponsor that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering.

The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Partnering Transaction. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Partnering Transaction successfully. The Company must complete one or more Partnering Transactions having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing of the agreement to enter into the Partnering Transaction. However, the Company will only complete a Partnering Transaction if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that an amount equal to at least $10.00 per Public Share sold in the Proposed Public Offering, including a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units, will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”), located in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and will be invested only in United States government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with 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 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Partnering Transaction and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below.

The Company will provide the holders of Public Shares (the “Public Stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Partnering Transaction either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Partnering Transaction or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Partnering Transaction or

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay income taxes). The per-share amount to be distributed to Public Stockholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters (as discussed in Note 5).

These Public Shares will be classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” In such case, the Company will proceed with a Partnering Transaction if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Partnering Transaction and only if a majority of the common shares, represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, voted at a stockholder meeting are voted in favor of the Partnering Transaction. If a stockholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation which the Company will adopt upon the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Partnering Transaction. If, however, stockholder approval of the transactions is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. Additionally, each Public Stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or vote at all. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Partnering Transaction, the initial stockholders (as defined below) have agreed to vote their Founder Shares (as defined below in Note 4), the shares underlying the Private Placement Units, and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of a Partnering Transaction. Subsequent to the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering, the Company will adopt an insider trading policy which will require insiders to: (i) refrain from purchasing shares during certain blackout periods and when they are in possession of any material non-public information and (ii) clear all trades with the Company’s legal counsel prior to execution. In addition, the initial stockholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares, the shares underlying the Private Placement Units and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Partnering Transaction.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company seeks stockholder approval of its Partnering Transaction and does not conduct redemptions in connection with its Partnering Transaction pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will provide that a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Series A common shares sold in the Proposed Public Offering, without the prior consent of the Company.

The Company’s Sponsor, officers and directors (the “initial stockholders”) have agreed not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (a) that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of its Public Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with a Partnering Transaction or to redeem 100% of the Company’s Public Shares if the Company does not complete its Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering or 27 months following an agreement in principle event, which means the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for a Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering but has not completed the Partnering Transaction within such 24-month period (such 24-month or 27-month period, the “Combination Period”) or with respect to

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

any other provision relating to the rights of Public Stockholders, unless the Company provides the Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Series A common shares in conjunction with any such amendment.

If the Company has not completed a Partnering Transaction within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay for its income taxes, if any (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of the then-outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (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 Company’s remaining stockholders and its board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

The initial stockholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares and the shares underlying the Private Placement Units held by them if the Company fails to complete a Partnering Transaction within the Combination Period. However, if the initial stockholders acquire Public Shares in or after the Proposed Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Partnering Transaction within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 5) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Partnering Transaction within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.00 per share initially held in the Trust Account. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party 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 Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account if less than $10.00 per Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (excluding the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements are presented in United States dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Company does not have sufficient liquidity to meet its anticipated obligations over the next year from the issuance of these financial statements. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the Company has access to funds from the Sponsor that are sufficient to fund the working capital needs of the Company until the earlier of the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering or one year from the issuance of these financial statements.

Emerging Growth Company

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Risks and Uncertainties

Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the pandemic could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations close of the Proposed Public Offering and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs consist of legal fees incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering and that will be charged to stockholder’s equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.

Net Loss Per Common Share

The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share.” Net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period excluding shares of common stock subject to forfeiture. Weighted average common shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 1,125,000 shares of Series F common stock that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (as further described in Note 4). At January 27, 2021, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into shares of common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per common share is the same as basic loss per common share for the period presented.

Income Taxes

The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Deferred tax assets were deemed immaterial as of January 27, 2021.

FASB ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of January 27, 2021. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties as of January 27, 2021. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The provision for income taxes was deemed to be de minimis for the period from January 27, 2021 (inception) through January 27, 2021.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

NOTE 3. PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING

Pursuant to the Proposed Public Offering, the Company will offer for sale up to 30,000,000 Units (or 34,500,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one Series A common share and one-third of one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each whole Public Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Series A common share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 6).

The Sponsor has also indicated that it or one of its affiliates has an interest in purchasing, directly or indirectly, up to 4,000,000 Units in the Proposed Public Offering at the public offering price. The underwriters will not receive any underwriting discounts or commissions on units purchased by the Sponsor or its affiliate. However, indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase and the Sponsor or its affiliate may decide not to purchase any Units in the Proposed Public Offering.

NOTE 4. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Founder Shares

On January 27, 2021, the Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 for certain expenses on behalf of the Company in exchange for issuance of 11,500,000 Series F common shares (the “Founder Shares”). On April 8, 2020, the Sponsor surrendered 2,875,000 Founder Shares to the Company for no consideration resulting in an aggregate of 8,625,000 Founder Shares outstanding. All shares and associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the share surrender. The Sponsor has agreed to forfeit up to an aggregate of 1,125,000 Founder Shares to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters so that the Founder Shares will represent 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering. If the Company increases or decreases the size of the Proposed Public Offering, the Company will effect a share capitalization or a share repurchase or redemption or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to the Series F common shares prior to the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the number of Founder Shares at 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares upon the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering.

The initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of the Partnering Transaction or earlier if, subsequent to the Partnering Transaction, the closing price of the Series A common share equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, capitalization of shares, share dividends, rights issuances, subdivisions reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Partnering Transaction, and (B) the date following the completion of the Partnering Transaction on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Series A common shares for cash, securities or other property.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Private Placement

In connection with the Proposed Public Offering, the Sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 Private Placement Units (or 1,090,000 Private Placement Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit ($10,000,000 in the aggregate, or $10,900,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Each Private Placement Unit will consist of one share of Series A common stock and one-third of one warrant (the “Private Placement Warrant”). Each whole Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for one share of Series A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. A portion of the proceeds from the Private Placement Units will be added to the proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering to be held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Partnering Transaction within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the Private Placement Warrants.

Forward Purchase

In connection with the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering, the Company will enter into a forward purchase agreement with the Sponsor pursuant to which the Sponsor will commit to purchase from the Company up to 10,000,000 forward purchase units (“Forward Purchase Units”), consisting of one share of Series B common stock, or a “Forward Purchase Share,” and one-third of one warrant to purchase one share of Series A common stock, or a “Forward Purchase Warrant,” for $10.00 per Forward Purchase Unit, in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of the Partnering Transaction. The proceeds from the sale of these Forward Purchase Units, together with the amounts available to us from the Trust Account (after giving effect to any redemptions of Public Shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by us in connection with the Partnering Transaction, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the Partnering Transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining specified amounts to be used by the post-Partnering Transaction company for working capital or other purposes. To the extent that the amounts available from the Trust Account and other financing are sufficient for such cash requirements, the Sponsor may purchase less than 10,000,000 Forward Purchase Units. The terms of the Forward Purchase Warrants will generally be identical to the terms of the redeemable warrants included in the Units being issued in the Proposed Public Offering.

Related Party Loans

On January 27, 2021, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to $300,000 to be used for the payment of costs related to the Proposed Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Note”). The Note is non-interest bearing, unsecured and due on the earlier of December 31, 2021 and the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. The Company intends to repay the Note from the proceeds of the Private Placement Units not being placed in the Trust Account. As of January 27, 2021, the Company had no borrowings under the Note. Subsequent to January 27, 2021, the Company borrowed approximately $172,000 under the Note to be used for a portion of the expenses of the Proposed Public Offering.

In addition, in order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a Partnering Transaction, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Partnering Transaction, the Company may repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans may be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Partnering Transaction does not close, the Company may use a portion

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Partnering Transaction, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $2.5 million of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into Units of the post-Partnering Transaction entity at a price of $10.00 per Unit. The Units would be identical to the Private Placement Units. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. As of January 27, 2021, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.

Services Agreement

The Company will enter into an agreement that will provide that, commencing on the date that the Company’s securities are first listed on NYSE through the earlier of consummation of the Partnering Transaction and its liquidation, the Company will pay Post $40,000 per month for office space and administrative and support services provided to members of the Company’s management team.

In addition, the Sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates (including Post) will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on the Company’s behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Partnering Transactions. The audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by the Company to the Sponsor, officers or directors, or the Company’s or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to a Partnering Transaction will be made from funds held outside the Trust Account.

NOTE 5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Registration Rights

The holders of the Founder Shares, Forward Purchase Shares, Forward Purchase Warrants, Private Placement Shares, Private Placement Warrants and shares and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, Forward Purchase Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares and the Forward Purchase Shares) will be entitled to registration rights with respect to Private Placement Shares, Private Placement Warrants, Forward Purchase Warrants, shares and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and shares of Series A common stock issuable upon (1) conversion of the Founder Shares, (2) exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, (3) conversion of the Forward Purchase Shares and shares of Series B common stock purchased in connection with the Company’s Partnering Transaction (if any), (4) exercise of the Forward Purchase Warrants and (5) exercise of warrants issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (if any) pursuant to an investor rights agreement and forward purchase agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering requiring the Company to register such securities for resale. The holder of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands in any 12-month period under each agreement, excluding short form registration demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders will have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the Company’s completion of its Partnering Transaction and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

Underwriting Agreement

The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to 4,500,000 additional Units at the Proposed Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The underwriters will be entitled to an underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit, or $6.0 million in the aggregate (or $6.9 million in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. In addition, $0.35 per unit, or $10.5 million in the aggregate (or $12.075 million in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Partnering Transaction, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.

NOTE 6. STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY

Series A Common Stock — The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of Series A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of January 27, 2021, there were no shares of Series A common stock issued or outstanding.

Series B Common Stock — The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of Series B common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of January 27, 2021, there were no shares of Series B common stock issued or outstanding.

Series C Common Stock — The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of Series C common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of January 27, 2021, there were no shares of Series C common stock issued or outstanding.

Series F Common Stock — The Company is authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of Series F common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. On January 27, 2021, the Company issued 11,500,000 shares of Series F common stock. On April 8, 2020, the Sponsor surrendered 2,875,000 shares of Series F common stock to the Company for no consideration, resulting in an aggregate of 8,625,000 shares of Series F common stock issued and outstanding. All shares and associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the share surrender. Of the 8,625,000 shares of Series F common stock outstanding, up to 1,125,000 shares of Series F common stock are subject to forfeiture to the Company by the Sponsor for no consideration to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the number of shares of Series F common stock will equal 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock after the Proposed Public Offering.

Prior to the Company’s Partnering Transaction, holders of the Series A common stock, Series B common stock, if any, and holders of the Series F common stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters to be voted on by stockholders, including any vote in connection with the Company’s Partnering Transaction, and vote together as a single class; provided that, prior to the Company’s Partnering Transaction, only holders of the Series F common stock will have the right to elect the Company’s directors. These provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may only be amended if approved by holders of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock entitled to vote thereon as well as more than 50% of the outstanding Series F common stock.

Following the Company’s Partnering Transaction, holders of the Series A common stock and holders of the Series B common stock will generally vote together as a single class on matters presented for a stockholder vote, except as required by Delaware law or stock exchange rule, with each share of Series A common stock entitling the holder to one vote per share and each share of Series B common stock entitling the holder to ten votes per share.

Holders of the Series C common stock will not be entitled to any voting powers, except as otherwise required by applicable law or stock exchange rule. When so required, holders of Series C common stock will be entitled to 1/100th of a vote for each share of such stock held.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Shares of Series F common stock are automatically convertible into shares of the Series B common stock at the time of the Company’s Partnering Transaction, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis and, prior to and following the Company’s Partnering Transaction, each share of Series B common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of the Series A common stock.

Warrants — As of January 27, 2021, there were no warrants outstanding. Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional Public Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Public Warrants will trade. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of a Partnering Transaction and (b) 12 months from the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering; provided in each case that the Company has an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky, laws of the state of residence of the holder (or the Company permits holders to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act). The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the consummation of its Partnering Transaction, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC and have an effective registration statement covering the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the consummation of the Company’s Partnering Transaction and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Series A common stock until the Public Warrants expire or are redeemed. If the shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants are not registered under the Securities Act in accordance with the above requirements, the Company will be required to permit holders to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis. However, no Public Warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and the Company will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their Public Warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration is available. Notwithstanding the above, if the Company’s shares of Series A common stock 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, require holders of Public Warrants who exercise their Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, it will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event the Company does not so elect, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

The Public Warrants have an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustments, and will expire five years after the completion of a Partnering Transaction or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional shares of Series A common stock or equity-linked securities, excluding Forward Purchase Units, for capital raising purposes in connection with the consummation of the Partnering Transaction at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Series A common stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or affiliates of the Sponsor, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Sponsor or affiliates of the Sponsor, as applicable) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances, excluding the Forward Purchase Units, represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the Partnering Transaction on the date of the consummation of the Partnering Transaction (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Series A common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates the Partnering Transaction (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the Public Warrants will be adjusted (to the

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger prices described below under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Partnering Transaction, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees. If the Private Placement Warrants are held by someone other than the Sponsor or its permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.

Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00:

Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants (except as described herein with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):

 

   

in whole and not in part;

 

   

at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

 

   

upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and

 

   

if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Series A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

The Company will not redeem the warrants for cash unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

If the Company calls the warrants for redemption as described above, the management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” management will consider, among other factors, the cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on the Company’s stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Series A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Company’s warrants. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Series A common stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Series A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of the Series A common stock (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.361 shares of Series A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment).

In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any warrant. If the Company is unable to complete a Partnering Transaction within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.

 

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POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Subsequent to January 27, 2021, the Company borrowed approximately $172,000 under the Note to be used for a portion of the expenses of the Proposed Public Offering.

On April 8, 2020, the Sponsor surrendered 2,875,000 shares of Series F common stock to the Company for no consideration, resulting in an aggregate of 8,625,000 shares of Series F common stock outstanding. All shares and associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the share surrender.

The Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to April 8, 2021, the date that the financial statements were available to be issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any other subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements, except as noted above.

 

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30,000,000 Units

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

 

 

P R E L I M I N A R Y    P R O S P E C  T U S

 

 

                             , 2021

 

Evercore ISI   Barclays

Until                             , 2021 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

 

 


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:

 

SEC expenses

   $ 50,186  

FINRA expenses

     69,500  

Accounting fees and expenses

     47,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

     40,000  

Directors and officers liability insurance premiums

     500,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     350,000  

NYSE listing and filing fees

     85,000  

Miscellaneous

     358,314  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,500,000  
  

 

 

 

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that all of our directors, officers, employees and agents shall be entitled to be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”). Section 145 of the DGCL concerning indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.

Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.

 

  (a)

A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

  (b)

A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the

 

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  person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

  (c)

To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

 

  (d)

Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.

 

  (e)

Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former officers and directors or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.

 

  (f)

The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.

 

  (g)

A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.

 

  (h)

For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and

 

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  authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

  (i)

For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.

 

  (j)

The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

  (k)

The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any by law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that no director shall be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is to eliminate our rights and those of our stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care.

If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the

 

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adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by applicable law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors on a retroactive basis.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that we will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify our current and former officers and directors, as well as those persons who, while directors or officers of our corporation, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will be indemnified by us in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by our board of directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification.

The right to indemnification which will be conferred by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by our officer or director (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of our corporation) will be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or otherwise.

The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may have or hereafter acquire under law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by applicable law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also permit us, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other that those specifically covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

Our amended and restated bylaws, which we intend to adopt immediately prior to the closing of this offering, include the provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those which will be set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In addition, our amended and restated bylaws provide for a right of indemnity to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by us within a specified period of time. Our amended and restated bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance, at our expense, to protect us and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of our corporation or another entity, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

 

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Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by our board of directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by applicable law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

We will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors a form of which is to be filed as Exhibit 10.7 to this Registration Statement. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify us against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this offering, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

In January 2021, PHPC Sponsor, LLC (our “sponsor”) purchased an aggregate of 11,500,000 founder shares, with a purchase price of approximately $0.002 per share. On April 8, 2021, our sponsor surrendered 2,875,000 founder shares to us for no consideration resulting in an aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares outstanding (up to 1,125,000 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). As a result of such surrender, the per-share purchase price increased to approximately $0.003 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock (excluding the private placement shares underlying the private placement units) upon completion of this offering. Such securities were issued in connection with our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Our sponsor is an accredited investor for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D.

In addition, our sponsor will commit, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase from us an aggregate of 1,000,000 (or 1,090,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement units at $10.00 per unit (for an aggregate purchase price of $10,000,000 or $10,900,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). This purchase will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the completion of our initial public offering. This issuance will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

Prior to or in connection with this offering, we will enter into a forward purchase agreement pursuant to which our sponsor will agree to acquire forward purchase units for $100,000,000, in the aggregate, in connection with our partnering transaction. Each forward purchase unit will consist of one share of Series B common stock, or a forward purchase share, and one-third of one warrant to purchase one share of Series A common stock, or a forward purchase warrant, at a purchase price of $10.00 per unit, and will be sold in a private placement that will close substantially concurrently with the consummation of our partnering transaction. The terms of the forward purchase warrants will generally be identical to the terms of the redeemable warrants included in the units being issued in this offering.

No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a)

Exhibits.  The following exhibits are being filed herewith:

 

Exhibit

  

Description

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement by and among the Registrant, Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc.
  3.1*    Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.
  3.2*    Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.
  3.3*    Bylaws of the Registrant.
  3.4*    Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant.
  4.1    Specimen certificate for units of the Registrant, par value $0.0001 per share.
  4.2*    Specimen certificate for shares of the Registrant’s Series A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
  4.3*    Specimen certificate for warrants of the Registrant (included in Exhibit 4.4).
  4.4    Form of Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant.
  5.1    Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
10.1*    Promissory Note, dated January 27, 2021 issued to PHPC Sponsor LLC.
10.2    Form of Letter Agreement among the Registrant, PHPC Sponsor LLC and the Registrant’s executive officers and directors.
10.3    Form of Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant.
10.4    Form of Investor Rights Agreement between the Registrant and certain security holders.
10.5*    Securities Subscription Agreement, dated January  27, 2021 between the Registrant and PHPC Sponsor, LLC.
10.6    Form of Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and PHPC Sponsor, LLC.
10.7*    Form of Indemnity Agreement between the Registrant and its executive officers and directors.
10.8*    Form of Services Agreement by and between the Registrant and Post Holdings, Inc.
10.9    Form of Forward Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and PHPC Sponsor, LLC.
10.10    Surrender of Shares and Amendment No. 1 to the Securities Subscription Agreement, dated April 8, 2021, between the Registrant and PHPC Sponsor, LLC.
23.1    Consent of WithumSmith+Brown, PC.
23.2    Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24*    Power of Attorney (included on signature page to the initial filing of this Registration Statement).
99.1*    Consent of Jim Dwyer.
99.2*    Consent of Jennifer Kuperman.
99.3*    Consent of Dave Peacock.
99.4*    Consent of David L. Taiclet.

 

*

Previously filed

 

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(b)         Financial Statements.  See page F-1 for an index to the financial statements and schedules included in the registration statement.

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

  (a)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

 

  (b)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

  (c)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

  (1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

  (2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3)

For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

  (4)

For the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

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  (ii)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;

 

  (iii)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

  (iv)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, on April 8, 2021.

 

POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Robert V. Vitale

Name:   Robert V. Vitale
Title:   President and Chief Investment Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Robert V. Vitale

Robert V. Vitale

   President and Chief Investment Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
  April 8, 2021

/s/ Bradly A. Harper

Bradly A. Harper

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

  April 8, 2021

*

Jeff A. Zadoks

   Director   April 8, 2021

 

*By:

 

/s/ Bradly A. Harper

  Bradly A. Harper
  Attorney-in-fact

 

II-9

Exhibit 1.1

[30,000,000] Units

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

April                , 2021

Evercore Group L.L.C.

55 East 52nd Street, Ste 35

New York, New York 10055

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to sell to you and, as applicable, to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, 30,000,000 units (the “units”) of the Company (said units to be issued and sold by the Company being hereinafter called the “Underwritten Securities”). The Company also proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 4,500,000 additional units to cover over-allotments, if any (the “Option Securities”; the Option Securities, together with the Underwritten Securities, being hereinafter called the “Securities”). Certain capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are defined in Section 21 hereof.

Each unit consists of one share of the Company’s Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A common stock”), and one-third of one redeemable warrant, where each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Series A common stock (the “Warrant(s)”). The Series A common stock and Warrants included in the units will not trade separately until the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus (unless the Representatives inform the Company of their decision to allow earlier separate trading), subject to (a) the Company’s preparation of an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering (as defined below), (b) the filing of such audited balance sheet with the Commission on a Form 8-K or similar form by the Company that includes such audited balance sheet, and (c) the Company having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Each whole Warrant entitles its holder, upon exercise, to purchase one share of Series A common stock for $11.50 per share during the period commencing on the later of thirty (30) days after the completion of an initial Partnering Transaction (as defined below) or twelve (12) months from the date of the consummation of the Offering and terminating on the five-year anniversary of the date of the completion of such initial Partnering Transaction or earlier upon redemption or liquidation; provided, however, that pursuant to the Warrant Agreement (as defined below), a warrant may not be exercised for a fractional share. As used herein, the term “Partnering Transaction” (as described more fully in the Registration Statement) shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction with one or more businesses.

 


The Company will enter into an Investment Management Trust Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“CST”), as trustee, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement (the “Investment Management Trust Agreement”), pursuant to which certain proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units (as defined below) and the proceeds of the Offering will be deposited and held in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company, the Underwriters and the holders of the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities, if and when issued.

The Company will enter into a Warrant Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date, with respect to the Warrants, the Private Placement Warrants (as defined below) and the Forward Purchase Warrants (as defined below) with CST, as warrant agent, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”), pursuant to which CST will act as warrant agent in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption, and exercise of the Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants.

The Company has entered into a Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2021 (the “Securities Subscription Agreement”), with PHPC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 11,500,000 shares of Series F common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Founder Shares”), for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. The Founder Shares are substantially similar to the shares of Series A common stock included in the units except as described in the Prospectus.

The Company has entered into an Amendment to the Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2021 (the “Amendment No. 1 to the Securities Subscription Agreement”), with the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor surrendered 2,875,000 Founder Shares to the Company for no consideration, resulting in an aggregate of 8,625,000 Founder Shares outstanding (up to 1,125,000 Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor depending on the extent to which the Underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised). As a result of such surrender, the per share purchase price increased to approximately $0.003 per share.

The Company will enter into a forward purchase agreement (the “Forward Purchase Agreement”) with the Sponsor, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement, providing for the sale of up to $100,000,000 of units (the “Forward Purchase Units”), for a purchase price of $10.00 per unit, in a private placement transaction to occur concurrently with the closing of the initial Partnering Transaction. Each Forward Purchase Unit includes one share of Series B common stock (the “Forward Purchase Shares”) and one-third of one Warrant (the “Forward Purchase Warrants,” and, together with the Forward Purchase Shares, the “Forward Purchase Securities”). Each whole Forward Purchase Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise, to purchase one share of Series A common stock, for $11.50 per share. The Forward Purchase Units are identical to the units sold in the Offering, except as described in the Prospectus. The Forward Purchase Warrants are substantially similar to the Warrants included in the units, except as described in the Prospectus.

 

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The Company has entered into a Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement”), with the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor will purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 private placement units (the “Private Placement Units”) (or up to 1,090,000 Private Placement Units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit. Each Private Placement Unit includes one share of Series A common stock (the “Private Placement Shares”) and one-third of one Warrant (the “Private Placement Warrants”). Each whole Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise, to purchase one share of Series A common stock, for $11.50 per share. The Private Placement Units are identical to the units sold in the Offering, except as described in the Prospectus. The Private Placement Warrants are substantially similar to the Warrants included in the units, except as described in the Prospectus.

The Company will enter into an Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, with the Sponsor and the other parties thereto, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has granted certain registration rights in respect of the Founder Shares, the Forward Purchase Securities, the Private Placement Shares and the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of Series A common stock and Warrants underlying such securities and Private Placement Units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans).

The Company has caused to be duly executed and delivered a letter agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Sponsor, the Company and each of the Company’s executive officers, directors, and director nominees, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement (the “Insider Letter”).

The Company will enter into a Services Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, with the Sponsor, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement (the “Services Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will pay to the Sponsor an aggregate monthly fee of $40,000 for the use of certain premises and certain services.

1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission the Registration Statement (file number 333-252910) on Form S-1, including the related Preliminary Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, has become effective. The Company has filed one or more amendments thereto, including the related Preliminary Prospectus, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission the Prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, such Prospectus shall contain all information required by the Act and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the

 

3


form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you and that has been approved by you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. The Company has complied to the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information.

(b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein) and on any date on which Option Securities are purchased, if such date is not the Closing Date (an “Additional Closing Date”), the Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act; on the Effective Date and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; as of the Applicable Time did not, and on the Closing Date and any Additional Closing Date, any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined herein) will not, conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Statutory Prospectus, complied or will comply, as applicable, in all material respects with the Act, when considered together with the Statutory Prospectus, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and any Additional Closing Date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(c) The Statutory Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time and on the Closing Date and any Additional Closing Date, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Statutory Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

4


(d) The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (file number [•]) providing for the registration under the Exchange Act of the Securities, which registration is currently effective on the date hereof. The Securities have been authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), and the Company knows of no reason or set of facts that is likely to adversely affect such authorization.

(e) The Commission has not issued any order or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any part thereof, and has not instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.

(f) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was and is an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405).

(g) The Company has not prepared or used a Free Writing Prospectus.

(h) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and to enter into this Agreement, the Investment Management Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Amendment No. 1 to the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, the Investor Rights Agreement, the Insider Letter and the Services Agreement, and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction that requires such qualification. The Company has no subsidiaries (as defined under the Act).

(i) There is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not described or filed as required (and the Statutory Prospectus contains in all material respects the same description of the foregoing matters contained in the Prospectus); and the statements in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Principal Stockholders,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” and “Description of Securities” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required by the Act to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus that have not been described as required.

(j) The Company’s authorized equity capitalization is as set forth in the Registration Statement, Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

5


(k) All issued and outstanding shares of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable; and none of such shares were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The offers and sales of the outstanding shares of Series A common stock and Warrants were at all relevant times either registered under the Act, the applicable state securities and blue sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such shares of Series A common stock and Warrants, exempt from such registration requirements. The holders of outstanding shares of the Company are not entitled to preemptive or other rights to subscribe for the Securities arising by operation of law or under the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), amended and restated bylaws of the Company (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”) or otherwise; and, except as set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations into or exchange any securities for, shares or other ownership interests in the Company are outstanding.

(l) The Securities have been duly authorized and when issued and delivered by the Company against payment by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued.

(m) The shares of Series A common stock included in the Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment for the Securities by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(n) The shares of Series A common stock included in the Private Placement Units and the shares of Series B common stock included in the Forward Purchase Units have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement and the Forward Purchase Agreement, as applicable, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(o) The Warrants included in the units, when executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner set forth in the Warrant Agreement against payment for the Securities by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will be duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

(p) The shares of Series A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants included in the units, the Forward Purchase Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise thereof and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to the Warrants, the Forward Purchase Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants, as applicable, and the Warrant Agreement and Forward Purchase Agreement, as applicable, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of such shares of Series A common stock are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; such shares of Series A common stock are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of such shares of Series A common stock (other than such execution, countersignature and delivery at the time of issuance) has been duly and validly taken.

 

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(q) Except as set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.

(r) No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company from its inception through and including the date hereof, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(s) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities that are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Act with the offer and sale of the Underwritten Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

(t) The Founder Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(u) The Private Placement Units (including the underlying Private Placement Warrants), when delivered upon the consummation of this Offering, will be duly executed, authenticated and issued, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

(v) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

(w) On the Closing Date, the Investment Management Trust Agreement will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company, in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

(x) On the Closing Date, the Warrant Agreement will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

(y) The Securities Subscription Agreement and Amendment No. 1 to the Securities Subscription Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Sponsor, and are valid and binding agreements of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company and the Sponsor in accordance with their terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

7


(z) The Forward Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Sponsor, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company and the Sponsor in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

(aa) The Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Sponsor, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company and the Sponsor in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

(bb) On the Closing Date, the Investor Rights Agreement will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

(cc) The Insider Letter executed by the Company, the Sponsor and each executive officer, director and director nominee of the Company, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer, director and director nominee, respectively, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer, director and director nominee, respectively, enforceable against the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer, director and director nominee, respectively, in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

(dd) On the Closing Date, the Services Agreement will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by Post Holdings, Inc., will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.

(ee) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

8


(ff) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein or in the Investment Management Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Amendment No. 1 to the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, the Investor Rights Agreement, the Insider Letter or the Services Agreement, except for the registration under the Act and the Exchange Act of the Securities and such as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(gg) The Company is not in violation or default of (i) any provision of its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws (or similar organizational documents), (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any (x) statute, law, rule, regulation, or (y) judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company; except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above for any such conflict, breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(hh) Neither the issue and sale of the Securities nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or of the Investment Management Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Amendment No. 1 to the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, the Investor Rights Agreement, the Insider Letter or the Services Agreement will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, (i) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company is a party or bound or to which the Company property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, or regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, except in the cases of clauses (ii) and (iii) above for any such conflict, breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) No holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement.

 

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(jj) The historical financial statements, including the notes thereto and the supporting schedules, if any, of the Company included in the Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The summary financial data set forth under the caption “Summary Financial Data” in the Statutory Prospectus, Prospectus and Registration Statement fairly present, on the basis stated in the Statutory Prospectus, Prospectus and Registration Statement, the information included therein. The Company is not party to any off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

(kk) No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or the Sponsor, or the property of either of them is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company or (ii) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

(ll) The Company owns or leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted.

(mm) WithumSmith+Brown, PC (“Withum”), who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and delivered their report with respect to the audited financial statements and schedules included in the Registration Statement, Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, is a registered public accounting firm that is independent with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

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

(oo) Solely to the extent that the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder (the “Sarbanes Oxley Act”) have been applicable to the Company, there is and has been no failure on the part of the Company to comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes Oxley Act.

 

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(pp) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with (as and when applicable), and immediately following the Effective Date the Company will be in compliance with, Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual (subject to applicable phase-in rules). Further, there is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with (as and when applicable), and immediately following the Effective Date the Company will be in compliance with, the phase-in requirements and all other provisions of the New York Stock Exchange LLC corporate governance requirements set forth in the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

(qq) There are no transfer, stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar taxes, duties, fees or charges under U.S. federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, or under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Securities.

(rr) The Company has filed all tax returns (including U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S.) that are required to be filed by it, subject to permitted extensions (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect) through the date hereof and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves required by generally accepted accounting principles have been created with respect thereto or as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

(ss) The Company possesses all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct its business, except for any of the foregoing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, authorization or permit that, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

(tt) None of the Company, the Sponsor or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, director nominee, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company: (i) has used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity: (ii) has made any direct or indirect unlawful contribution or payment to any official of, or candidate for, or any employee of, any federal, state or foreign office from corporate funds; (iii) has made any bribe, unlawful rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment; or (iv) is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the OECD Convention on Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (“OECD Convention”), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”) or any similar law or regulation to which the Company, any director, director nominee, officer, agent, employee,

 

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affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company is subject. The Company, the Sponsor and its directors, director nominees, officers, agents, employees and affiliates have each conducted the business of the Company and their own businesses on behalf of the Company in compliance with the FCPA and any applicable similar law or regulation and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(uu) The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”), the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company conducts business, the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(vv) None of the Company, the Sponsor or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, director nominee, officer, agent or affiliate of the Company is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) or any similar sanctions imposed by any other body, governmental or other, to which any of such persons is subject (collectively, “other economic sanctions”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any sanctions administered by OFAC or other economic sanctions.

(ww) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any of the Underwriters and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any of the Underwriters.

(xx) The Company acknowledges that, in accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

(yy) All information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by the Sponsor and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s executive officers, directors and director nominees and provided to the Underwriters as an exhibit to his or her Insider Letter, is true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information that would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by the Sponsor or the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees to become inaccurate and incorrect in any material respect.

 

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(zz) Except as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, to the Company’s knowledge, none of the Sponsor, officers, directors or director nominees of the Company is subject to a non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer that could materially affect its, his or her ability to be and act in the capacity of stockholder, officer or director of the Company, as applicable.

(aaa) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, prior to the date hereof, the Company has not selected any specific acquisition target and has not, nor, to its knowledge, has anyone on its behalf, initiated contact with any prospective acquisition target or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to a possible initial Partnering Transaction, or undertaken, or engaged or retained any agent or other representative, to contact any suitable acquisition candidate.

(bbb) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, contracts, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a brokerage commission or finder’s, consulting, origination or similar fee by the Company or the Sponsor with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company, the Sponsor or any officer or director of the Company, or their respective affiliates, that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

(ccc) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or any other “item of value” as defined in Rule 5110(c)(3) of FINRA’s Conduct Rules): (i) to any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any person that, to the Company’s knowledge, has been accepted by FINRA as a member of FINRA (a “Member”); or (iii) to any person or entity that, to the Company’s knowledge, has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any Member, within the twelve months prior to the Effective Date, other than payments to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement.

(ddd) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, during the period beginning 180 days prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement and ending on the Effective Date, no Member and/or any person associated or affiliated with a Member has provided any investment banking, financial advisory and/or consulting services to the Company.

(eee) Except as disclosed in the FINRA Questionnaires provided to the Representatives, to the Company’s knowledge no executive officer, director, or beneficial owner of any class of the Company’s securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) is a Member or a person associated or affiliated with a Member.

 

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(fff) Except as disclosed in the FINRA Questionnaires provided to the Representatives, to the Company’s knowledge, no Company Affiliate is an owner of shares or other securities of any Member (other than securities purchased on the open market).

(ggg) No Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any Member.

(hhh) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, no proceeds from the sale of the Underwritten Securities (excluding underwriting compensation as disclosed in the Registration Statement, Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus) will be paid by the Company to any Member, or any persons associated or affiliated with a Member.

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

(jjj) Except as disclosed in the FINRA Questionnaires, no person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement has to the Company’s knowledge any relationship or affiliation or association with any Member.

(kkk) To the Company’s knowledge, no Member intending to participate in the Offering has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” means, if at the time of the Member’s participation in the Offering, any of the following applies: (A) the securities are to be issued by the Member; (B) the Company controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Member or the Member’s associated persons; (C) at least 5% of the net offering proceeds, not including underwriting compensation, are intended to be: (i) used to reduce or retire the balance of a loan or credit facility extended by the Member, its affiliates and its associated persons, in the aggregate; or (ii) otherwise directed to the Member, its affiliates and associated persons, in the aggregate; or (D) as a result of the Offering and any transactions contemplated at the time of the Offering: (i) the Member will be an affiliate of the Company; (ii) the Member will become publicly owned; or (iii) the Company will become a Member or form a broker-dealer subsidiary.

(lll) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(mmm) The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other entity.

(nnn) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the one hand, and any director, director nominee, executive officer, stockholder, special advisor, customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the Act or the Exchange Act to be described in the Registration Statement, Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus that is not described as

 

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required. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers, directors or director nominees of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. The Company has not extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or officer of the Company.

(ooo) The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Underwritten Securities to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (a) a customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.

(ppp) Upon delivery and payment for the units on the Closing Date, the Company will not be subject to Rule 419 under the Act and none of the Company’s outstanding securities will be deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act.

(qqq) From the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged, directly or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf, in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the Execution Time, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) and/or Rule 163B of the Act.

(rrr) The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule III hereto. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act.

(sss) To the Company’s knowledge, (i) there has been no material security breach or other material compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of its customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third-party data maintained by or on behalf of the Company), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”), (ii) the Company has not been notified of, and there has been no event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any material security breach or other compromise to its IT Systems and Data, (iii) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company is presently in compliance with all applicable laws or

 

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statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, and (iv) the Company has implemented security, backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the Offering shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

2. PURCHASE AND SALE.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $9.80 per unit, the amount of the Underwritten Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto; provided, however, that [•] of the Underwritten Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters (the “Post IPO Securities”), allocated among the Underwriters pro rata, subject to such adjustments as the Representative in its absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional Post IPO Securities, shall be purchased by the Underwriters at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. The Post IPO Securities shall be sold by the Underwriters to the Sponsor or one or more of its affiliates.

(b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 4,500,000 Option Securities at the same purchase price per unit as the Underwriters shall pay for the Underwritten Securities (subject to the proviso regarding the Post IPO Securities as set forth in Section 2(a)). Said option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Underwritten Securities by the Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before the 45th day after the date of the Prospectus upon written notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the Additional Closing Date. The number of Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be based upon the same percentage of the total number of the Option Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Underwritten Securities, subject to such adjustments as the Representatives in their absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares.

(c) In addition to the discount from the public offering price represented by the purchase price set forth in the first sentence of Section 2(a) of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to pay to the Underwriters a deferred discount of $0.350 per unit (for both Underwritten Securities and Option Securities provided, however, that no deferred discount shall be paid with respect to any Post IPO Securities) purchased hereunder (the “Deferred Discount”). The Deferred Discount will be paid directly to the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, by the Trustee from amounts on deposit in the Trust Account by wire transfer if

 

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and when the Company consummates a Partnering Transaction. The Underwriters hereby agree that if no Partnering Transaction is consummated within the time period provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the funds held under the Trust Agreement are distributed to the holders of the shares of Series A common stock included in the Securities sold pursuant to this Agreement (the “Public Stockholders”), (i) the Underwriters will forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Discount and (ii) the Trustee is authorized to distribute the Deferred Discount to the Public Stockholders on a pro rata basis. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, up to 25% of the Deferred Discount may be paid at the sole and absolute discretion of the Company’s management to the Underwriters in allocations determined by the Company’s management and/or to third parties not participating as Underwriters in this Offering (as defined below), but who are Members, that assist the Company in consummating its Partnering Transaction.

3. DELIVERY AND PAYMENT.

Delivery of and payment for the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities (if the option provided for in Section 2 hereof shall have been exercised on or before the third Business Day prior to the Closing Date) shall be made at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on [•], 2021, or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company and to the Trust Account as described below in this Section 3. Delivery of the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

(a) Payment for the Underwritten Securities shall be made as follows: $9.80 per Underwritten Security (other than Post IPO Securities) and $10.00 per Post IPO Security shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms of the Investment Management Trust Agreement along with such portion of the gross proceeds of the Private Placement Units (the “Private Placement Portion”) in order for the Trust Account to equal the product of the number of units sold and the Public Offering price per unit as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus upon delivery to the Representatives of the Underwritten Securities through the facilities of DTC or, if the Representatives have otherwise instructed, upon delivery to the Representatives of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives) representing the Underwritten Securities, in each case for the account of the Underwriters. The Underwritten Securities shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representatives may request in writing at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date. If delivery is not made through the facilities of DTC, the Company will permit the Representatives to examine and package the Underwritten Securities for delivery, at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Underwritten Securities except upon tender of payment by the Representatives for all the Underwritten Securities. Payment by the Underwriters for the Underwritten Securities is contingent on the (i) payment by the Sponsor to the Company for the Private Placement Units and (ii) deposit of the Private Placement Portion by or at the direction of the Company into the Trust Account, in each case at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(b) Payment for the Option Securities shall be made as follows: $9.80 per Option Security shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms of the Investment Management Trust Agreement upon delivery to the Representatives of the Option Securities through the facilities of DTC or, if the Representatives have otherwise instructed, upon delivery to the Representatives of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives) representing the Option Securities (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Option Securities shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representatives may request in writing at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date. If delivery is not made through the facilities of DTC, the Company will permit the Representatives to examine and package the Option Securities for delivery, at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Securities except upon tender of payment by the Representatives for all the Option Securities.

If the option provided for in Section 2 hereof is exercised after the third Business Day prior to the Closing Date, the Company will deliver the Option Securities (at the expense of the Company) to Evercore Group L.L.C. on behalf of the Representatives, at 55 East 52nd Street, Ste 35, New York, New York 10055, on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be at least three Business Days after exercise of said option) for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to the Trust Account as described above in this Section 3(b). If settlement for the Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the Representatives on the Additional Closing Date for the Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

4. OFFERING BY UNDERWRITERS.

It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus (the “Offering”).

5. AGREEMENTS.

The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

(a) Prior to the termination of the Offering, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment, supplement or Rule 462(b) Registration Statement to which you reasonably object. The Company will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing.

 

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The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication shall have been filed with the Commission, (ii) when, prior to termination of the Offering, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

(b) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event or development occurs as a result of which the Statutory Prospectus would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Statutory Prospectus may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Statutory Prospectus to correct such statement or omission in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

(c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event or development occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the rules thereunder, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Representatives of any such event; (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the first two sentences of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any supplemented Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

 

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(d) The Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries that will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

(e) The Company will not make any offer relating to the units that constitutes or would constitute a Free Writing Prospectus or a portion thereof required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Act.

(f) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the Offering.

(g) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(h) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise 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 Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company, in each case, other than those entities or individuals that have executed the Insider Letter), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission 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 Exchange Act with respect to, any other units, shares of Series A common stock, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Series A common stock or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may (1) issue and sell the Private Placement Units (including the Private Placement Units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans) and the Private Placement Shares and the Private Placement Warrants included therein, (2) issue and sell the Option Securities on exercise of the option provided for in Section 2 hereof, (3) issue and sell the Forward Purchase Units, (4) register with the Commission pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement or the Forward Purchase Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement, the resale of the securities covered thereby and (5) issue securities in connection with a Partnering Transaction.

 

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(i) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(j) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the Offering; (v) the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act and the listing of the Securities on the NYSE; (vi) the printing and delivery of a preliminary blue sky memorandum, any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states, and any filings required to be made with FINRA (including filing fees and the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such filings, memorandum, registration and qualification in an aggregate amount up to $25,000); (vii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company (and not the Underwriters) in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel for the Company; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

(k) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending five (5) years from the date of the consummation of the Partnering Transaction or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Series A common stock (or such other security into which shares of Series A common stock may be exchanged in connection with a Partnering Transaction) under the provisions of the Exchange Act, except after giving effect to a going private transaction after the completion of a Partnering Transaction. The Company will not deregister the Series A common stock under the Exchange Act (except in connection with an exchange of the shares of Series A common stock pursuant to a Partnering Transaction or a going private transaction after the completion of a Partnering Transaction) without the prior written consent of the Representatives.

(l) The Company shall, on the date hereof, retain its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing Date (the “Audited Balance Sheet”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering on the Closing Date. As soon as the Audited Balance Sheet becomes available, the Company shall promptly, but not later than four Business Days after the Closing Date, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Balance Sheet. Additionally, upon the Company’s receipt of the proceeds from the exercise of all or any

 

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portion of the option provided for in Section 2 hereof, the Company shall promptly, but not later than four Business Days after the receipt of such proceeds, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which report shall disclose the Company’s sale of the Option Securities and its receipt of the proceeds therefrom.

(m) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending five (5) years from the date of the consummation of the Partnering Transaction or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs or the shares of Series A common stock and Warrants cease to be publicly traded, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accounting firm to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the announcement of quarterly financial information, the filing of the Company’s Form 10-Q quarterly report and the mailing, if any, of quarterly financial information to stockholders.

(n) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending five (5) years from the date of the consummation of the Partnering Transaction or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs, the Company shall, to the extent such information or documents are not otherwise publicly available, upon written request from the Representatives, furnish to the Representatives copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of securities, and, to the extent such information or documents are not otherwise publicly available, upon written request from the Representatives promptly furnish to the Representatives: (i) a copy of such registration statements, financial statements and periodic and special reports as the Company shall be required to file with the Commission and from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any such class of its securities; and (ii) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request, all subject to the execution of a satisfactory confidentiality agreement. Any registration statements, financial statements, periodic and special reports or other additional documents referred to in the preceding sentence filed on the Commission’s EDGAR website will be considered furnished for the purposes of this section.

(o) For a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending five (5) years from the date of the consummation of the Partnering Transaction or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs or the shares of Series A common stock and Warrants cease to be publicly traded, the Company shall retain a transfer and warrant agent.

(p) In no event will the amounts payable by the Company for the use of certain premises and certain services exceed $40,000 per month in the aggregate until the earlier of the date of the consummation of the Partnering Transaction or the Liquidation.

(q) The Company will not consummate a Partnering Transaction with any entity that is affiliated with the Sponsor or any of the Company’s officers or directors unless it obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA, or from an independent accounting firm, that such Partnering Transaction is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. The Company shall not pay the Sponsor or its affiliates or any of the Company’s officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates any fees or compensation for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a

 

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Partnering Transaction; provided, however, that such officers, directors and affiliates (i) may receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on the Company’s behalf to the extent that such expenses do not exceed the amount of available proceeds not deposited in the Trust Account; (ii) with respect to non-employee directors, may receive payments of fees in cash for service on our board of directors as described in the Registration Statement, (iii) may be repaid loans as described in the Registration Statement; and (iv) may be paid $40,000 per month for the use of certain premises and certain services pursuant to the Services Agreement between the Company and an affiliate of the Sponsor.

(r) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units received by it in a manner consistent in all material respects with the applications described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(s) For a period of 60 days following the Effective Date, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association) is engaged to assist the Company in its search for a merger candidate or to provide any other merger and acquisition services, or has provided or will provide any underwriting services to the Company, the Company agrees that it shall promptly provide to FINRA (via a FINRA submission), the Representatives and its counsel a notification prior to entering into the agreement or transaction relating to a potential Partnering Transaction: (i) the identity of the person or entity providing any such services; (ii) complete details of all such services and copies of all agreements governing such services prior to entering into the agreement or transaction; and (iii) justification as to why the value received by any person or entity for such services is not underwriting compensation for the Offering. The Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the tender offer materials or proxy statement, as applicable, which the Company may file in connection with the Partnering Transaction for purposes of offering redemption of shares held by its stockholders or for soliciting stockholder approval, as applicable.

(t) The Company shall advise FINRA, the Representatives and its counsel if it is aware that any 10% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a Member participating in the distribution of the Securities.

(u) The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act as set forth in the Investment Management Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. The Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates a Partnering Transaction, it will not be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(v) All funds held in the Trust Account (including any interest income earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable)) will remain in the Trust Account until the earlier of (a) the completion of the Company’s initial Partnering Transaction, (b) the redemption of any shares of Public Stock (as defined below) properly

 

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tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its shares of Public Stock if it does not complete its initial Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Offering (or 27 months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Offering), or (ii) with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of holders of the Company’s Series A common stock, and (c) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if it is unable to complete a Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Offering (or 27 months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Offering), subject to applicable law; provided, however, that in the event of the Liquidation, up to $100,000 of interest income may be released to the Company if the proceeds of the Offering held outside of the Trust Account are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing the Company’s plan of dissolution; provided, further that funds may be withdrawn from the Trust Account to pay the Company’s income tax and franchise tax obligations.

(w) The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities that are issuable upon the settlement of the Forward Purchase Units and the exercise of any of the Warrants and Private Placement Warrants, collectively, outstanding from time to time.

(x) Prior to the consummation of a Partnering Transaction or the Liquidation, the Company shall not issue any shares of Series A common stock, Warrants or any options or other securities convertible into shares of Series A common stock, or any preferred shares, in each case, that participate in any manner in the Trust Account or that vote as a class with the shares of Series A common stock on a Partnering Transaction.

(y) Prior to the consummation of a Partnering Transaction or the Liquidation, the Company’s audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments made to the Sponsor, to the Company’s executive officers or directors, or to the Company’s or any of such other persons’ respective affiliates.

(z) The Company agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the Act prior to the consummation of any Partnering Transaction, including, but not limited to, using its best efforts to prevent any of the Company’s outstanding securities from being deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a-51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.

(aa) To the extent required by Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, the Company will maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

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(bb) The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the units, shares of Series A common stock and Warrants on the NYSE (or another national securities exchange) prior to the consummation of the Partnering Transaction.

(cc) As soon as legally required to do so, the Company and its directors and officers, in their capacities as such, shall take all actions necessary to comply with any applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications, and to comply with the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

(dd) The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the Company to be in breach or violation of its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws.

(ee) The Company will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than independent accountants), prospective target businesses, lenders or other entities with which it does business enter into agreements waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of the holders of the Series A common stock included in the Securities sold pursuant to this Agreement (the “Public Stockholders”). The Company may forego obtaining such waivers only if the Company shall have received the approval of its President or Chief Financial Officer.

(ff) The Company may consummate the initial Partnering Transaction and conduct redemptions of shares of Series A common stock for cash upon consummation of such Partnering Transaction without a stockholder vote pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, including the filing of tender offer documents with the Commission. Such tender offer documents will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Partnering Transaction and the redemption rights as is required under the Commission’s proxy rules and will provide each stockholder of the Company with the opportunity prior to the consummation of the initial Partnering Transaction to redeem the shares of Series A common stock held by such stockholder for an amount of cash equal to (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two Business Days prior to the consummation of the initial Partnering Transaction, representing (x) the proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and certain of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units and (y) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, divided by (B) the total number of shares of Series A common stock sold as part of the units in the Offering (the “Public Stock”) then outstanding. If, however, a stockholder vote is required by law or stock exchange listing requirement in connection with the initial Partnering Transaction or the Company decides to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will submit such Partnering Transaction to the Company’s stockholders for their approval (“Partnering Transaction Vote”). With respect to the initial Partnering Transaction Vote, if any, the Sponsor and the Company’s executive officers and directors have agreed to vote all of their Founder Shares and any other shares of Series A common stock purchased during or after the Offering in

 

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favor of the Company’s initial Partnering Transaction. If the Company seeks stockholder approval of the initial Partnering Transaction, the Company will offer to each Public Stockholder holding shares of Series A common stock the right to have its shares redeemed in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission at a per share redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to (I) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two Business Days prior to the consummation of the initial Partnering Transaction, representing (1) the proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units and (2) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, divided by (II) the total number of shares of Public Stock then outstanding. If the Company seeks stockholder approval of the initial Partnering Transaction, the Company may proceed with such Partnering Transaction only if a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A common stock and Founder Shares voted by the stockholders at a duly held stockholders meeting are voted to approve such Partnering Transaction. If, after seeking and receiving such stockholder approval, the Company elects to so proceed, it will redeem shares, at the Redemption Price, from those Public Stockholders who affirmatively requested such redemption. Only Public Stockholders holding shares of Series A common stock who properly exercise their redemption rights, in accordance with the applicable tender offer or proxy materials related to such Partnering Transaction and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account in connection with an initial Partnering Transaction, and the Company shall pay no distributions with respect to any other holders of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection therewith. In the event that the Company does not effect a Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Offering (or 27 months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Offering), the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) Business Days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Public Stock, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (including interest not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding shares of Public Stock, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Only Public Stockholders holding shares of Series A common stock included in the Securities shall be entitled to receive such redemption amounts and the Company shall pay no such redemption amounts or any distributions in liquidation with respect to any other shares of the Company. The Sponsor and the Company’s executive officers and directors have agreed that they will not propose any amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Stock if the Company has not consummated a Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Offering (or 27 months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Offering) unless the Company offers to redeem the Public Stock in connection with such amendment, as described in the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus.

 

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(gg) In the event that the Company desires or is required by an applicable law or regulation to cause an announcement (“Partnering Transaction Announcement”) to be placed in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times or any other news or media publication or outlet or to be made via a public filing with the Commission announcing the consummation of the Partnering Transaction that indicates that the Underwriters were the underwriters in the Offering, the Company shall supply the Representatives with a draft of the Partnering Transaction Announcement and provide the Representatives with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment thereon, subject to the agreement of the Underwriters to keep confidential such draft announcement in accordance with the Representatives’ standard policies regarding confidential information.

(hh) The Company will endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with the Representatives, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities, provided that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would be subject to service of general process or to taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in such jurisdiction. Until the earliest of (i) the date on which all Underwriters shall have ceased to engage in market-making activities in respect of the Securities, (ii) the date on which the Securities are listed on the NYSE (or any successor thereto), (iii) a going private transaction after the completion of a Partnering Transaction, and (iv) the date of the liquidation of the Company, in each jurisdiction where such qualification shall be effected, the Company will, unless the Representatives agree that such action is not at the time necessary or advisable, use all reasonable efforts to file and make such statements or reports at such times as are or may be required to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

(ii) If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time, not misleading, the Company will promptly (i) notify the Representatives so that use of the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.

(jj) The Company will deliver to each Underwriter (or its agent), on the date of execution of this Agreement, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as each Underwriter may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing Certification.

 

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(kk) The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 5(h) hereof.

(ll) [Intentionally Omitted]

(mm) Upon the earlier to occur of the expiration or termination of the Underwriters’ over-allotment option, the Company shall cancel or otherwise effect the forfeiture of Founder Shares from the Sponsor, in an aggregate amount equal to the number of Founder Shares determined by multiplying (a) 1,125,000 by (b) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 4,500,000 minus the number of shares of Series A common stock purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 4,500,000. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, the Company shall not cancel or otherwise effect the forfeiture of the Founder Shares pursuant to this subsection.

6. CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS.

The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any Additional Closing Date pursuant to Section 3 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

(b) The Company shall have requested and caused Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Company, to have furnished to the Representatives its opinions dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives.

(c) The Representatives shall have received from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

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(d) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by the President or Chief Financial Officer and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, and this Agreement and that:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and

(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

(e) The Company shall have requested and caused Withum to have furnished to the Representatives, at the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, letters, dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that they are a registered public accounting firm that is independent with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder and that they have performed a review of the audited financial statements of the Company for the period January 27, 2021 (date of inception) through [•], 2021, provided that the cutoff date shall not be more than two Business Days prior to such Execution Time or Closing Date, as applicable, and stating in effect that:

(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and financial statement schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission; and

(ii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of the Company) set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, including the information set forth under the captions “Dilution” and “Capitalization” in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, agrees with the accounting records of the Company, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.

 

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References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (e) include any supplement thereto at the date of the letter.

(f) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

(g) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(h) FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness or reasonableness of the underwriting or other arrangements of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(i) The Securities shall be duly listed subject to notice of issuance on the NYSE, satisfactory evidence of which shall have been provided to the Representatives.

(j) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representatives executed copies of the Investment Management Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Amendment No. 1 to the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, the Insider Letter, the Investor Rights Agreement and the Services Agreement.

(k) At least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date, the Sponsor shall have caused certain proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units to be deposited into the Trust Account such that the cumulative amount deposited into the Trust Account as of such Closing Date shall equal the product of the number of units issued in the Offering as of such Closing Date or such settlement date, as applicable, and the public offering price per unit as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

(l) No order preventing or suspending the sale of the units in any jurisdiction designated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(hh) hereof shall have been issued as of the Closing Date, and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall have been threatened.

 

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If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or electronic mail confirmed in writing.

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention: Derek Dostal and Deanna Kirkpatrick, unless otherwise indicated herein, on the Closing Date.

7. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS’ EXPENSES.

If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof (other than clauses (ii), (iii) or (vi) thereof) or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through the Representatives on demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of outside counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

8. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter, each person or entity who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each affiliate of each Underwriter against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus, any “roadshow” as defined in Section 433(h) of the Act or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action (whether or not such indemnified party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, and in connection with the enforcement of this provision with respect to any of the above; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or

 

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omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described in the last sentence of Section 8(b) hereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have.

(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person or entity who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the following information set forth under the heading “Underwriting” in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus constitutes the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity: (x) the list of Underwriters and their respective roles and participation in the sale of the Securities and (y) the seventh, sixteenth and seventeenth paragraphs.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of material rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the

 

32


indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless (i) such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 45 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including outside counsel legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the Offering; provided, however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the Offering) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the Offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

33


The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. For purposes of this Section 8, each person or entity who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person or entity who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

(e) In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment thereto, each party against whom contribution may be sought under this Section 8 hereby consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan and (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), agrees that process issuing from such courts may be served upon it by any other contributing party and consents to the service of such process and agrees that any other contributing party may join it as an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other contributing party is a party.

(f) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 and the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, its directors or officers or any person controlling any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Securities and payment therefor hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any Underwriter, its directors or officers or any person controlling any Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, or any person controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 8.

9. DEFAULT BY AN UNDERWRITER.

If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions that the amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate amount of Securities that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the Underwritten Securities, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to

 

34


purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities. If within one Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Underwritten Securities the remaining Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Underwritten Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one Business Day within which to procure another party or parties reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase said Underwritten Securities. In the event that neither the remaining Underwriters nor the Company purchase or arrange for the purchase of all of the Underwritten Securities to which a default relates as provided in this Section 9, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

10. TERMINATION.

This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in the Company’s units, Series A common stock or Warrants shall have been suspended by the Commission, or trading in securities generally on the NYSE or the Nasdaq Capital Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange or trading market, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities, (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other national or international calamity or crisis (including, without limitation, an act of terrorism) or change in economic or political conditions the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), (iv) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (v) the enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental authority which in the Representatives’ opinion materially and adversely affects or may materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company, or (vi) the taking of any action by any governmental body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in the Representatives’ opinion has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States.

 

35


11. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE.

The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

12. NOTICES.

All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed and delivered to Evercore Group L.L.C., 55 East 52nd Street, Ste 35, New York, NY 10055 and Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, with a copy to the Representatives’ counsel at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10017, Attention: Derek Dostal; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed and delivered to Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, 2503 S. Hanley Road, St. Louis, MO 63144, with a copy to the Company’s counsel at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 601 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022, Attention: Christian O. Nagler.

13. SUCCESSORS.

This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. No party to this Agreement may assign, in whole or in part, this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto.

14. NO FIDUCIARY DUTY.

The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the Offering and the process leading up to the Offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the Offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto. The Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Underwriters for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Underwriters shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

 

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15. RECOGNITION OF THE U.S. SPECIAL RESOLUTION REGIMES.

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

For purposes of this Section 15: (A) a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); (B) “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); (C) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (D) “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

16. INTEGRATION.

This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

17. APPLICABLE LAW.

This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles that would apply to the laws of another jurisdiction. The Company and each Underwriter hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company and each Underwriter irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

37


18. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

19. COUNTERPARTS.

This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

20. HEADINGS.

The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

21. DEFINITIONS.

The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Applicable Time” shall mean [•] PM (New York time) on the date of this Agreement.

Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or becomes effective.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

38


Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

FINRA Questionnaires” shall mean the written questionnaires sent on behalf of the Representatives to the officers, directors, and holders of 10% or more of any class of the Company’s capital stock prior to the Closing Date.

Liquidation” shall mean the distributions of the Trust Account to the Public Stockholders in connection with the redemption of Series A common stock held by the Public Stockholders pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws if the Company fails to consummate a Partnering Transaction.

Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above and any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date that omits Rule 430A Information.

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time.

Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statements referred to in paragraph 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus and prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A, as amended at the Execution Time and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be.

Rule 158”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 419”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430A”, “Rule 433”, “Rule 462” and “Rule 501” refer to such rules under the Act.

Rule 430A Information” shall mean information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A.

Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof.

Statutory Prospectus” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Prospectus dated [•], contained in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness relating to the Securities and (ii) the Time of Delivery Information, if any, set forth on Schedule II hereto.

 

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22. CONSTRUCTION.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the words “hereof,” “hereto,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;

(b) words defined in the singular shall have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa;

(c) wherever the word “include,” “includes” or “including” is used in this Agreement, it shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

(d) references herein to any law shall be deemed to refer to such law as amended, reenacted, supplemented or superseded in whole or in part and in effect from time to time and also to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

(e) if the last day for the giving of any notice or the performance of any act required or permitted under this Agreement is a day that is not a Business Day, then the time for the giving of such notice or the performance of such action shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day;

(f) with regard to each and every term and condition of this Agreement and all other agreements and instruments subject to the terms hereof, the parties understand and agree that such documents have been mutually negotiated, prepared and drafted, and if at any time the parties desire or are required to interpret or construe any such term or condition, no consideration will be given to the issue of which party actually prepared, drafted or requested any such term or condition; and

(g) a reference to “knowledge” of the Company or of which the Company is “aware” means to the actual knowledge of any of the directors or executive officers of the Company, each after due and reasonable inquiry.

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

40


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
Post Holdings Partnering Corporation
By:  

         

Name:  
Title:  


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
Evercore Group L.L.C.
By:  

         

Name:  
Title:  
Barclays Capital Inc.
By:  

         

Name:  
Title:  


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters    Number of
Underwritten
Securities to
be Purchased
 

Evercore Group L.L.C.

  

Barclays Capital Inc.

  

Total

     [30,000,000


SCHEDULE II

TIME OF DELIVERY INFORMATION

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation priced [30,000,000] units at $10.00 per unit plus an additional [4,500,000] units if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full.

The units will be issued pursuant to an effective registration statement that has been previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy the securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of any such state or jurisdiction.

Copies of the prospectus related to this offering may be obtained from Evercore Group L.L.C., 55 East 52nd Street, Ste 35, New York, NY 10055 or Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019.


SCHEDULE III

SCHEDULE OF WRITTEN TESTING-THE-WATERS COMMUNICATIONS

 

1.

Investor presentation dated [•], 2021.

Exhibit 4.1

NUMBER UNITS

U-

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

CUSIP

POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE SHARE OF SERIES A COMMON STOCK AND

ONE-THIRD OF ONE REDEEMABLE WARRANT, EACH WHOLE WARRANT

ENTITLING THE HOLDER TO

PURCHASE ONE SHARE OF SERIES A COMMON STOCK

THIS CERTIFIES THAT                      is the owner of          Units.

Each Unit (“Unit”) consists of one (1) share of Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Series A Common Stock”), of Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and one-third (1/3) of one redeemable warrant (each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Series A Common Stock) (the “Warrant”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of Series A Common Stock (subject to adjustment) for $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). Only whole Warrants are exercisable. Each Warrant will become exercisable on the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the Company’s completion of an initial merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar partnering transaction with one or more businesses (each a “Partnering Transaction”), and (ii) twelve (12) months from the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, and will expire unless exercised before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its Partnering Transaction, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. The shares of Series A Common Stock and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable separately prior to                 , 2021, unless Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. elect to allow separate trading earlier, subject to the Company’s filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of its initial public offering (the “Form 8-K”) and issuing a press release announcing when such earlier separate trading will begin. No fractional Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Warrants will trade. The terms of the Warrants are governed by a Warrant Agreement, dated as of                 , 2021, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and are subject to the terms and provisions contained therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at One State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, and are available to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost.

Upon the consummation of the Partnering Transaction, the Units represented by this certificate will automatically separate into the Series A Common Stock and Warrants comprising such Units.

This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company.


This certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware.

Witness the facsimile signature of its duly authorized officers.

 

                             
Chief Financial Officer     President

 

2


POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

The Company will furnish without charge to each unitholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM

      as tenants in common    UNIF GIFT MIN ACT       Custodian
                         (Cust)    (Minor)

TEN ENT

      as tenants by the entireties            
                    Under Uniform Gifts to

JT TEN

      as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common      

Minors Act

(State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

For value received, _______________hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 

 

(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Units represented by the within Certificate, and do(es) hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________ Attorney to transfer the said Units on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:                                                                                              
  

 

Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.


Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

 
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).

In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated                 , 2021, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the shares of Series A Common Stock sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate a Partnering Transaction within the period of time set forth in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (ii) the Company redeems the shares of Series A Common Stock sold in its initial public offering in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemptions in connection with the Company’s partnering transaction or to redeem 100% of the Series A Common Stock if it does not complete its partnering transaction within the period of time set forth in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the holder(s) rights or pre-partnering transaction activity, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her, its or their respective shares of Series A Common Stock in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks stockholder approval of the proposed partnering transaction) setting forth the details of a proposed partnering transaction. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

 

4

Exhibit 4.4

POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

and

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

WARRANT AGREEMENT

Dated as of                , 2021

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of                , 2021, is by and between Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”).

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement with PHPC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 units (or 1,090,000 units in the aggregate if the Over-allotment Option (as defined below) in connection with the Company’s Offering (as defined below) is exercised in full) simultaneously with the closing of the Offering (and the closing of the Over-allotment Option, if applicable) (the “Private Placement Units”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit. The Private Placement Units include an aggregate of 333,333 private placement warrants (or 363,333 private placement warrants if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) (the “Private Placement Warrants”) bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto. Each Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Series A Common Stock (as defined below) at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein;

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Forward Purchase Agreement with the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 10,000,000 forward purchase units, which consist in the aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s Series B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series B Common Stock”), and 3,333,333 redeemable warrants (the “Forward Purchase Warrants”) in a private placement transaction to occur substantially concurrently with the closing of the Company’s Partnering Transaction (as defined below). Each Forward Purchase Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one share of the Company’s Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A Common Stock”), for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, terms and limitations as described herein;

WHEREAS, as used in this Agreement, the term “Common Stock” means the Series A Common Stock; provided, however, that following any event described in Section 4.1.1(b) pursuant to which the Warrants become exercisable for shares of the Company’s Series C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series C Common Stock”), in addition to Series A Common Stock, the term “Common Stock” shall be read to include the Series A Common Stock and Series C Common Stock, where applicable;


WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Partnering Transaction”), the Sponsor, Post Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation and the parent of the Sponsor and any successor thereto (“Post”), and its subsidiaries may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $2,500,000 of such loans made to the Company may be convertible into up to an additional 250,000 Private Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, and the Private Placement Warrants underlying such Private Placement Units issued in this way shall have the same terms and be in the same form as the other Private Placement Warrants described under this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in an initial public offering (the “Offering”) of units of the Company’s equity securities, each such unit comprised of one share of Series A Common Stock and one-third of one Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “Units”) and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 11,500,000 redeemable warrants (including up to 1,500,000 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 the Forward Purchase Warrants, the “Warrants”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Series A Common Stock, for $11.50 per whole share, subject to adjustments, terms and limitations 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;

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-252910 (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 shares of Series A Common Stock included in the Units;

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;

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


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, either by manual or facsimile signature, 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, 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 President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Chief Legal Officer or Secretary of the Company or other authorized 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

 

3


  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.

 

2.4

Detachability of Warrants. The shares of Common Stock and Public Warrants comprising the Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “Business Day”), then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “Detachment Date”) with the consent of Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc., but in no event shall the shares of Common Stock and the Public Warrants comprising the Units be separately traded until (A) the Company has filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including the proceeds 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) if the Detachment Date is earlier than the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus, the Company issues a press release announcing when such earlier separate trading shall begin.

 

2.5

Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants other than as part of the Units, each of which is comprised initially of one share of Series A Common Stock and one-third of one 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.

 

2.6

Private Placement Warrants. The Private Placement Warrants shall be identical to the Public Warrants, except that so long as they are held by the Sponsor or any of its Permitted Transferees (as defined below): (i) the Private Placement Warrants may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, pursuant to Section 3.3.1(c) hereof and (ii) the Private Placement Warrants shall not be redeemable by the Company. Unless waived by the Company, the Private Placement Warrants and any shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants may not be transferred, assigned or sold until thirty (30) days after the completion by the Company of a Partnering Transaction; provided, however, that the Private Placement Warrants and any shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants may be transferred by the holders thereof:

 

  (a)

to the Company’s officers or directors, Post’s officers or directors, their respective family members and entities formed by such persons for investment or estate planning purposes which are controlled by such persons or formed for their benefit or for charitable purposes;

 

4


  (b)

to Post or any entity in which Post or the officers and directors of Post hold, in the aggregate, securities representing no less than 25% of the outstanding voting power of such entity (so long as no other holder or group holds a higher percentage of the voting power of such entity), and the subsidiaries of Post or such entities;

 

  (c)

to any corporation or other entity which, as a result of any spinoff, splitoff or other distribution transaction, becomes the beneficial owner of the Private Placement Warrants (and shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants); or

 

  (d)

by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of a Partnering Transaction at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased;

provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (d) these permitted transferees (the “Permitted Transferees”) must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in a certain letter agreement, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and the Company’s executive officers and directors, dated as of the date of this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Letter Agreement”).

In addition, the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees will be permitted to pledge or grant a security interest in such securities to secure bona fide indebtedness or engage in hedging transactions; provided, that the holder thereof retains voting control over such securities prior to delivery of shares upon foreclosure or upon satisfaction of the hedge. In the event of any liquidation prior to the completion of the Company’s Partnering Transaction or the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Company’s completion of its Partnering Transaction, the lockup period will be deemed terminated.

 

2.7

Forward Purchase Warrants. The Forward Purchase Warrants shall have the same terms and be in the same form as the Public Warrants. Except as expressly noted herein, Forward Purchase Warrants shall be treated as Public Warrants under this Agreement.

 

3.

Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.1

Warrant Price. Upon issuance, each Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Series A Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share of Series A Common Stock, and shall be 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 initially mean the price per share of Series A Common Stock (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted hereunder) described in the prior sentence and

 

5


  such term shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days, provided, that the Company shall provide at least three (3) Business 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 later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes a Partnering Transaction, and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the Offering, and (B) terminating at the earliest to occur of: (w) 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 Partnering Transaction, (x) the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as amended, restated or amended and restated from time to time, if the Company fails to consummate a Partnering Transaction, and (y) other than with respect to the Private Placement Warrants then held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees, 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 Section 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 then held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees) in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each Warrant (other than a Private Placement Warrant then held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees in the event of a redemption) not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become null and 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 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant, properly delivered by the Participant in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures, and (iii) the payment

 

6


  in full of the aggregate Warrant Price for all shares of Common Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the shares of Common Stock and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock, as follows:

 

  (a)

in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or wire payable to the Warrant Agent;

 

  (b)

in the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof in which the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) has elected to require all holders of the Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Series A Common Stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Series A Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined in this Section 3.3.1(b)) over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value and (B) the product of 0.361 and the number of shares of Series A Common Stock underlying the Warrants. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.4, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average price of the applicable series of Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the Warrants, pursuant to Section 6 hereof;

 

  (c)

with respect to any Private Placement Warrant so long as such Private Placement Warrant is held by the Sponsor or a Permitted Transferee, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Series A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Series A Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Sponsor Fair Market Value” (as defined in this Section 3.3.1(c)) over the Warrant Price, by (y) the Sponsor Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.3.1(c), the “Sponsor Fair Market Value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the applicable series of Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent;

 

  (d)

[reserved]; or

 

  (e)

as provided in Section 7.4 hereof;

provided, however, that this Section 3 shall be adjusted pursuant to Section 4.1.1(b) following any event described in Section 4.1.1(b) pursuant to which the Warrants become exercisable for shares of Series C Common Stock in addition to shares of Series A Common Stock, including to provide that exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” would be net of the proportionate number of shares of both Series A Common Stock and Series C Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall forward funds received for warrant exercises as promptly as practicable after receipt thereof and in any event not later than by the 5th business day of the following month by wire transfer to an account designated by the Company.

 

7


  3.3.2

Issuance of Shares of Common Stock on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to Section 3.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of full shares of Common Stock to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of shares of Common Stock as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless a (a) registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and (b) prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations under Section 7.4. No Warrant shall be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis and the Company shall not be obligated to issue shares of Common Stock to holders seeking to exercise Warrants unless the shares of Common Stock 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. Subject to Section 4.7 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Public Warrants may exercise its Public Warrants only for a whole number of shares of Common Stock. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Warrant exercise. The Company may require holders of Public Warrants to settle the Warrant on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 7.4. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis,” the holder of any Warrants would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrants, to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.

 

  3.3.3

Valid Issuance. All shares of Common Stock issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  3.3.4

Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for shares of Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share transfer books of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares of Common Stock at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open.

 

8


  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 Section 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this Section 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% or such other amount as the holder may specify (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the shares of any series of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of any series of Common Stock beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of shares of such series of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of such series of Common Stock that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding shares of any series of Common Stock, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of such series of Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission, as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or the Company’s transfer agent setting forth the number of shares of such series of Common Stock outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of a Warrant who has made an election under this Section 3.3.5, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of shares of any series of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of any series of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of such series of Common Stock was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.

 

9


4.

Adjustments.

 

4.1

Stock Dividends.

 

  4.1.1

Stock Splits and Distributions.

 

  (a)

If after the date hereof, the number of outstanding shares of Series A Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend or share distribution to holders of Series A Common Stock payable in shares of Series A Common Stock, or by a stock split of shares of Series A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, stock split or similar event, the number of shares of Series A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Series A Common Stock.

 

  (b)

If after the date hereof, a stock dividend or other share distribution is made to the holders of Series A Common Stock consisting of shares of Series C Common Stock, then the terms of the Warrant will be adjusted so that, upon exercise thereof the holder will be entitled to receive, in addition to the shares of Series A Common Stock such holder is otherwise entitled, such number of shares of Series C Common Stock which such holder would have received had such holder exercised the Warrant in full immediately prior to the record date for such stock dividend or share distribution and held the applicable number of shares of Series A Common Stock at the time of record date for such stock dividend or share distribution. For the avoidance of doubt, in such event, each Warrant shall become exercisable for a basket of shares consisting of the same number of shares of Series A Common Stock prior to such dividend or distribution together with the number of whole or fractional shares of Series C Common Stock such holder would have been entitled to receive if it had exercised such warrant immediately prior to the record date for such dividend or distribution and the Warrant Price will not be adjusted as a result of such dividend or distribution. Immediately following any event described in this Section 4.1.1(b) pursuant to which the Warrants become exercisable for shares of Series C Common Stock in addition to Series A Common Stock, the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Sections 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 6 and 7.4, and the Definitive Warrant Certificates and the form of Election to Purchase contained therein shall be adjusted by the Company to provide for the shares of Series C Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4.1.1(b).

 

  4.1.2

Series A Rights Offering. If after the date hereof, the Company effects a rights offering (including, without limitation, by distribution of stock purchase rights, warrants or options (collectively, “Rights”)) to all holders of shares of Series A Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Series A Common Stock at a price per share less than the “Rights Offering Fair Market Value” (as defined

 

10


  below), and at the time of such Rights offering (or distribution of Rights) each Warrant is exercisable only for Series A Common Stock, then the number of shares of Series A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant (the “Warrant Share Number”) shall be increased as of immediately after the open of business on the “Ex-Dividend Date” (as defined below) based on the following formula:

 

 

   WS’    = WS0 x    OS0 + X   
   OS0 + Y   

where,

WS0 = the Warrant Share Number in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such Rights offering;

WS’ = the Warrant Share Number in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

OS0 = the number of shares of Series A Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

X = the total number of shares of Series A Common Stock issuable pursuant to such Rights that are distributed to holders of Series A Common Stock; and

Y = the number equal to the aggregate price payable to exercise in full such Rights that are distributed to holders of shares of Series A Common Stock divided by the Rights Offering Fair Market Value.

Such adjustment to Warrant Share Number shall be made immediately after the opening of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution. To the extent that shares of Series A Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such Rights, the Warrant Share Number may be readjusted (in the sole discretion of the Board) to the Warrant Share Number that would then be in effect had the adjustment made upon the distribution of such Rights been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Series A Common Stock actually delivered pursuant to the Rights.

For purposes of this Section 4.1.2, (i) if the Rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Series A Common Stock, in determining the price payable for shares of Series A Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such Rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion, (ii) “Rights Offering Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price per share of the Series A Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on, and including, the last trading day prior to the Ex-Dividend Date, and (iii) “Ex-Dividend Date” means the first date on which the shares of Series A Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such Rights.

 

11


  4.1.3

Other Rights Offering. If after the date hereof, the Company effects a Rights offering (including, without limitation, by distribution of Rights) (other than a Rights offering described in Section 4.1.2) to all holders of shares of Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a price per share less than the “Other Rights Offering Fair Market Value” (as defined below) applicable thereto, then the Company will cause to be delivered (immediately following the date such Rights are distributed to the holders of Common Stock) to each holder of Warrants the number and type of Rights such holder would have been entitled to receive had it exercised such Warrant immediately prior to the record date for such Rights distribution and been the holder of the number of shares and series of Common Stock deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant on such record date. The Rights so delivered to such holder are referred to as the “Pass-Through Securities.” The delivery of Pass-Through Securities to the holders of Warrants as provided herein will be the sole adjustment required in connection with any such Rights offering.

For purposes of this Section 4.1.3, (i) if the Rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, in determining the price payable for shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such Rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion, (ii) “Other Rights Offering Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the applicable series of the Company’s common stock as reported on a national securities exchange during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the last trading day prior to the Ex-Dividend Date, and (iii) “Ex-Dividend Date” means the first date on which the shares of the applicable series of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such Rights.

 

  4.1.4

Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of the shares of Common Stock on account of such shares of Common Stock, other than (a) as described in Sections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 or 4.1.3 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the shares of Common Stock in connection with a proposed Partnering Transaction, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the shares of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemptions in connection with its Partnering Transaction or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares of Series A Common Stock if the Company does not complete its Partnering Transaction within the time period set forth therein or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to the Company’s stockholders’ rights or pre-Partnering Transaction activity, or (e) in connection with the redemption of public shares upon the failure of the Company to complete its Partnering Transaction 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

 

12


  such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Board, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this Section 4.1.4, “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 shares of Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution, does not exceed $0.50 (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant).

 

4.2

Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, the number of outstanding shares of a series of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of such series of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of such series of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of such series of Common Stock.

 

4.3

Adjustments in Exercise Price. Except as described in Section 4.1.1(b), whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

 

4.4

Raising of Capital in Connection with the Partnering Transaction. If (x) the Company issues additional shares of Series A Common Stock or equity-linked securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Series A Common Stock, excluding forward purchase units, for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its Partnering Transaction at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Series A Common Stock (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 shares of Series F common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, or Series B Common Stock 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 Company’s Partnering Transaction on the date of the completion of the Company’s Partnering Transaction (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume-weighted average trading price of shares of Series A Common Stock during the twenty (20) trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its Partnering Transaction (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the Warrant Price shall 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 $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described in Section 6.1 shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

 

13


4.5

Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change under Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a merger or consolidation in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another 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 shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash without interest) 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 shares of Common Stock were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such merger or consolidation, 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 shares of Common Stock in such merger or consolidation 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 shares of Common Stock (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the Company as provided for in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as a result of the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company if a proposed Partnering Transaction is presented to the stockholders of the Company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the holder of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such Warrant holder had exercised the Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the shares of Common Stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments

 

14


  provided for in this Section 4; provided, further, that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the shares of Common Stock in the applicable event is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) 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 (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (1) Section 6 of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (2) the price of each series of Common Stock shall be the volume weighted average price of such series of Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (3) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event, and (4) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the United States Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “Per Share Consideration” means initially (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4) (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the shares of Series A Common Stock consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per share of Series A Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Series A Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in shares of Series A Common Stock covered by Section 4.1.1 (including, if applicable, to provide for any Series C Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant), then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Section 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and this Section 4.5. The provisions of this Section 4.5 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event shall 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 or series of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the adjustment, if any, in the number of shares or series of Common Stock purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 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.

 

15


4.7

No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrants would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrants, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.

 

4.8

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 of Common Stock as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

 

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 reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent, duly executed by the registered holder thereof, or by a duly authorized

 

16


  attorney, 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), 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 except for any tax or other third-party charges imposed in connection therewith.

 

5.5

Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

5.6

Transfer of Warrants. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrant is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on and after the Detachment Date.

 

6.

Redemption.

 

6.1

Redemption of Warrants when the price per share of Series A Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00. Subject to Sections 6.5 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office(s) of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.3 below, at the price (the “Redemption Price”) of $0.01 per Warrant, provided that (i) the last sales price of the Series A Common Stock reported has been at least $18.00 per share (such Common Stock and its price subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof) on each of twenty (20) trading days, within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given and (ii) there is an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the

 

17


  Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.3 below) or the Company has elected to require the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 3.3.1. In connection with any redemption pursuant to this Section 6.1, the Company shall provide notice to the Registered Holders of the Fair Market Value no later than one (1) Business Day after the end of the ten (10) trading day period described in the definition of Fair Market Value in Section 3.3.1(b).

 

6.2

[Reserved].

 

6.3

Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event that the Company elects to redeem all of the Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1 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 (such 30-day period, the “Redemption Period”) to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice.

 

6.4

Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3.3.1(b) or 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. In the event that the Company determines to require all holders of Warrants to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 3.3.1, the notice of redemption shall contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the Warrants, and the Company shall provide the Registered Holders with the Fair Market Value no later than one (1) Business Day after the end of the ten (10) trading day period described in the definition of Fair Market Value in Section 3.3.1(b). 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 Private Placement Warrants. The Company agrees that the redemption rights provided in Section 6.1 shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants continue to be held by the initial holder thereof or its Permitted Transferees. Private Placement Warrants that are transferred to persons other than Permitted Transferees shall upon such transfer cease to be Private Placement Warrants and shall become Public Warrants under this Agreement and shall be subject to redemption on the same basis and subject to the same terms and conditions as Public Warrants.

 

6.6

[Reserved].

 

18


7.

Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

 

7.1

No Rights as Stockholder. Except as set forth in Section 4.1.3, a Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of the meetings of stockholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

7.2

Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

 

7.3

Reservation of Shares of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

7.4

Registration of Shares of Common Stock; Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option.

 

  7.4.1

Registration of Shares of Common Stock. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than twenty (20) Business Days after the closing of its Partnering Transaction, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within sixty (60) Business Days after the closing of its Partnering Transaction 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 Partnering Transaction, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after the closing of the Partnering Transaction 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 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless

 

19


  basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor statute) or another exemption) initially (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4) for that number of shares of Series A Common Stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Series A Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value and (B) the product of 0.361 and the number of shares of Series A Common Stock underlying the Warrants. Solely for purposes of this Section 7.4.1, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average price of the applicable series of Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date that notice of exercise is received by the Warrant Agent from the holder of such Warrants or its securities broker or intermediary. The date that notice of “cashless exercise” is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection with the “cashless exercise” of a Public Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with this Section 7.4.1 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the shares of Common Stock issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule)) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided in Section 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 Section 7.4.1.

 

  7.4.2

Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option. If Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act (or any successor statute), the Company may, at its option, (i) require holders of Public Warrants who exercise Public Warrants to exercise such Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor statute) as described in Section 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrant under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

 

8.

Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.

 

8.1

Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company and the Warrant Agent shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares of Common Stock.

 

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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 Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

 

  8.2.2

Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Company’s transfer agent for the shares of Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

  8.2.3

Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any entity 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.

 

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8.3

Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.

 

  8.3.1

Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

 

  8.3.2

Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

8.4

Liability of Warrant Agent.

 

  8.4.1

Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Chief Legal Officer or Secretary of the Company or other authorized 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 gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

 

  8.4.3

Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.

 

22


8.5

Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Common Stock through the exercise of the Warrants.

 

8.6

Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and 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 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, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

2503 S. Hanley Road

St. Louis, Missouri 63144

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

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 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, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), 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 by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or

 

23


  claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement or the Warrants will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdictions will be the exclusive forums for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdictions 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, and the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting such causes of action.

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 the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware or the federal district courts of the United States of America, as applicable (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 Delaware or the federal courts of the United States of America, as applicable, 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 holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

 

9.4

Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

 

9.5

Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit his Warrant for inspection by it.

 

9.6

Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signature to this Agreement transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect, and enforceability as an original signature.

 

9.7

Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

24


9.8

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) modifying the terms of this Agreement and the Warrants pursuant to Section 4.1.1(b) 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 materially adversely affect the rights of the Registered Holders under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period and any amendment to the terms of only the Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants or any provision of this Agreement with respect to the Private Placement Warrants and Forward Purchase Warrants, Registered Holders of 50% of the then-outstanding Private Placement Warrants or Forward Purchase Warrants, respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

 

9.9

Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

9.10

Confidentiality. The Warrant Agent and the Company agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public warrant holder information, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement, including the fees for services, shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law or regulation, including, without limitation, pursuant to requests from the Securities and Exchange Commission and subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (e.g., in divorce and criminal actions).

Exhibit A Form of Warrant Certificate

Exhibit B Legend — Sponsor’s Warrants

 

25


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION
By:    

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, AS WARRANT AGENT
By:    

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]


Exhibit A

Form of Warrant Certificate

[FACE]

Number

Warrants

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE NULL AND VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Delaware

CUSIP [                ]

Warrant Certificate

This Warrant Certificate certifies that , or registered assigns, is the registered holder of warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase shares of Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Series A Common Stock”), of Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Series A Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Series A Common Stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrant, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of the number of shares of Series A Common Stock to be issued to the holder. The number of shares of Series A Common Stock 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 share of Series A Common Stock for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per whole 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 null and void.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.

This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware.

 

POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION
By:    

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, AS WARRANT AGENT
By:    

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

2


[Form of Warrant Certificate]

[Reverse]

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive shares of Series A Common Stock 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 (or successor warrant agent) (collectively, 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 designated office(s) of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the shares of Series A Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the shares of Series A Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Series A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Series A Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Series A Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the designated office(s) 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(s) 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 third-party charges imposed in connection therewith.


The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a stockholder of the Company.

 

4


Election to Purchase

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive shares of Series A Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Series A Common Stock to the order of Post Holdings Partnering Corporation (the “Company”) in the amount of $ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares of Series A Common Stock be registered in the name of , whose address is and that such shares of Series A Common Stock be delivered to whose address is . If said number of shares of Series A Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Series A Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Series A Common Stock be registered in the name of                 , whose address is                 , and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to                 , whose address is                  .

In the event that the Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Warrant Agreement and the Company has required cashless exercise pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Series A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Series A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Series A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares of Series A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive shares of Series A Common Stock. If said number of shares of Series A Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Series A Common Stock purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Series A Common Stock be registered in the name of                 , whose address is                 , and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to                 , whose address is                 .


Date:        
      (Signature)
       
      (Address)
       
      (Tax Identification Number)

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 SEC RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT, OF 1934, AS AMENDED).

 

6


Exhibit B

LEGEND

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY 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 POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), PHPC SPONSOR LLC AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS PARTNERING TRANSACTION (AS DEFINED IN 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 HEREBY AND SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

 

  

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

United States

 

+1 212 446 4800

 

www.kirkland.com

  

 

Facsimile:

+1 212 446 4900

April 8, 2021

 

To:

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

2503 S. Hanley Road

St. Louis, Missouri 63144

 

  Re:

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

Registration Statement on Form S-1

We are issuing this opinion in our capacity as special counsel to Post Holdings Partnering Corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), on a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (333-252910) originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 9, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”) of 34,500,000 Units of the Company , including the underwriter’s over-allotment option to purchase an additional 4,500,000 Units (collectively, the “Units”), with each Unit consisting of one share of Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company and one-third of one warrant of the Company to purchase one share of Common Stock (the “Warrants”).

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Act.

For purposes of this letter, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purpose of this opinion, including:

 

  (i)

the form of Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) proposed to be entered into by and between the Company, Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale by the Company to the Underwriters of the Units, filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration Statement;

 

  (ii)

the form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware prior to the sale of any Units, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement (the “Charter”);

 

  (iii)

the form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Bylaws”);

 

Bay Area    Beijing    Boston    Chicago    Dallas    Hong Kong    Houston    London    Munich    Paris    San Francisco    Shanghai    Washington, D.C


LOGO

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

April 8, 2021

Page 2

 

  (iv)

the form of Unit certificate, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement;

 

  (v)

the form of Common Stock certificate, filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement;

 

  (vi)

the form of Warrant certificate, filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement;

 

  (vii)

the form of Warrant Agreement proposed to be entered into by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”);

 

  (viii)

the corporate and organizational documents of the Company;

 

  (ix)

the minutes and records of the corporate proceedings of the Company with respect to the issuance of the Units; and

 

  (x)

the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto.

For purposes of this letter, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which this opinion is rendered, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the parties thereto other than the Company, and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto other than the Company. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which we have not independently established or verified, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

Subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations identified in this letter, we advise you that in our opinion:

(1) When the Units are delivered in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement upon payment of the agreed upon consideration therefor, the Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of New York.

(2) The shares of Common Stock included in the Units, or issuable upon the exercise or redemption of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable when, as and if (i) the Units are delivered to and paid


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Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

April 8, 2021

Page 3

 

for by the Underwriters in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) the Registration Statement shall have become effective pursuant to the provisions of the Act, (iii) a prospectus with respect to the Common Stock shall have been filed (or transmitted for filing) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Act, (iv) any legally required consents, approvals, authorizations and other orders of the Commission and any other regulatory authorities shall have been obtained and (v) appropriate certificates representing the shares of Common Stock are duly executed, countersigned by the Company’s transfer agent/registrar, registered and delivered against payment of the agreed consideration therefor in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement.

(3) When the Units are delivered in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement upon payment of the agreed upon consideration therefor, the Warrants included in such Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of New York.

Our advice on every legal issue addressed in this letter is based exclusively on the internal laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (under which the Company is incorporated).

Our opinions expressed above are subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar law or judicially developed doctrine in this area (such as substantive consolidation or equitable subordination) affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, (iv) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies, (v) any requirement that a claim with respect to any security denominated in other than United States dollars (or a judgment denominated in other than United States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined in accordance with applicable law, (vi) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside of the United States or in a foreign currency or currency unit and (vii) any laws except the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We advise you that issues addressed by this letter may be governed in whole or in part by other laws, but we express no opinion as to whether any relevant difference exists between the laws upon which our opinions are based and any other laws which may actually govern.

In addition, in providing the opinions herein, we have relied, with respect to matters related to the Company’s existence, upon the certificates of officials of the Company, public officials, and others as we have deemed appropriate.


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Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

April 8, 2021

Page 4

 

We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the various states to the issuance of the Units and the Warrants and shares of Common Stock included in the Units.

This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the present laws of the State of New York or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purposes.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Opinion” in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act of the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Very truly yours,

/s/ KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP

Exhibit 10.2

, 2021

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

2503 S. Hanley Road

St. Louis, Missouri 63144

 

  Re:

Initial Public Offering

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into or proposed to be entered into by and between Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc., as the representatives of the several underwriters named therein (each an “Underwriter” and collectively, the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”), of up to 34,500,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 4,500,000 units that may be purchased to cover the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional units, if any) (the “Units”), each comprised of one share of Series A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Series A Common Stock”), and one-third of one redeemable warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Series A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units shall be sold in the Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 11 hereof.

In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, PHPC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and the other undersigned persons (each such other undersigned person, an “Insider” and collectively, the “Insiders”), each hereby agrees, severally but not jointly, with the Company as follows:

1. The Sponsor and each Insider agrees with the Company that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Partnering Transaction, then in connection with such proposed Partnering Transaction, it, he or she shall (i) vote any Shares owned by it, him or her in favor of any proposed Partnering Transaction (including any proposals recommended by the Company’s Board of Directors in connection with such Partnering Transaction) and (ii) not redeem any Shares owned by it, him or her in connection with such stockholder approval.

2. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees with the Company that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering (or 27 months from the closing of the Public Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for a Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering (an “Agreement in Principle Event”)), or such later period approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Sponsor and each Insider shall


take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Series A Common Shares sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering (the “Offering Shares”), at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any) and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the other requirements of applicable law. The Sponsor and each Insider agrees to not propose any amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s Partnering Transaction or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete its Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering (or 27 months if an Agreement in Principle Event has occurred) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-partnering transaction activity, unless the Company provides its Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.

The Sponsor and each Insider acknowledges that it, he or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares or Private Placement Shares held by it. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby further waives, with respect to any Shares held by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with (x) the consummation of a Partnering Transaction, including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of a stockholder vote to approve such Partnering Transaction or in the context of a tender offer made by the Company to purchase Series A Common Shares and (y) a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemptions in connection with the Company’s Partnering Transaction or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company has not consummated its Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the closing of the Public Offering (or 27 months if an Agreement in Principle Event has occurred) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-Partnering Transaction activity (although the Sponsor and the Insiders shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Partnering Transaction within 24 months from the date of the closing of the Public Offering (or 27 months if an Agreement in Principle Event has occurred)).

3. During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Sponsor and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put

 

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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 Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to, any Units, Series A Common Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, Series A Common Shares or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction; provided, however, that the foregoing does not apply to the forfeiture of any Founder Shares pursuant to their terms or any transfer of Founder Shares to any current or future independent director of the Company (as long as such current or future independent director transferee is subject to this Letter Agreement or executes an agreement substantially identical to the terms of this Letter Agreement, as applicable to directors and officers at the time of such transfer; and as long as, to the extent any Section 16 reporting obligation is triggered as a result of such transfer, any related Section 16 filing includes a practical explanation as to the nature of the transfer). The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (i) the transfer of securities is not for consideration, (ii) the transfer of securities is by bona fide gift to a member of the holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the holder’s immediate family, for estate planning purposes, (iii) the transfer of securities is by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (iv) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of securities, provided that (A) such plan does not provide for the transfer of securities during such 180-day period and (B) no public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the establishment of such plan and (v) with respect to exceptions (i)—(iii) immediately above, the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

4. In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account, the Sponsor (which for purposes of clarification shall not extend to any other stockholders, members or managers of the Sponsor) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened, or any claim whatsoever) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party (other than the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company or (ii) a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement (a “Target”); provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Sponsor shall (I) apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party for services rendered (other than the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm) or products sold to the Company or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.00 per Offering Share or (ii) such lesser amount per Offering Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, in each case, net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes and (II) not apply with respect to any claims by any third party which has executed a waiver of any and all of such third party’s rights to proceed against, or seek satisfaction from the Trust Account or with respect to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In the event that any such executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against such third party, the Sponsor shall not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. The Sponsor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Sponsor, the Sponsor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense.

 

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5. To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise in full their option to purchase up to an additional 4,500,000 Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees that it shall forfeit, at no cost, a number of Founder Shares in the aggregate equal to 1,125,000 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 4,500,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their option to purchase additional Units, and (ii) the denominator of which is 4,500,000. All references in this Letter Agreement to Founder Shares of the Company being forfeited shall take effect as a contribution of such Founder Shares to the Company’s capital as a matter of Delaware law. The Sponsor and each Insider further acknowledge and agree that to the extent that the size of the Public Offering is increased or decreased, the Company will effect a recapitalization or stock repurchase or redemption, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the number of Founder Shares at 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Shares (not including the Private Placement Shares) upon the consummation of the Public Offering. In connection with such increase or decrease in the size of the Public Offering, then (A) the references to 4,500,000 in the numerator and denominator of the formula in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be changed to a number equal to 15.0% of the number of Series A Common Shares included in the Units issued in the Public Offering and (B) the reference to 1,125,000 in the formula set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be adjusted to such number of Founder Shares that the Sponsor would have to return to the Company in order for the number of Founder Shares to equal an aggregate of 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Shares (not including the Private Placement Shares) after the Public Offering.

6. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees and acknowledges that: (i) the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such Sponsor or Insider of its, his or her obligations under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7(a), 7(b), and 9 of this Letter Agreement, (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.

7. (a) In addition to the provisions set forth in paragraph 3, the Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she shall not Transfer (as defined below) any Founder Shares until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s Partnering Transaction and (B) subsequent to the Company’s Partnering Transaction, (x) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Public Stockholders having the right to exchange their Series A Common Shares for cash, securities or other property or (y) if the last reported sale price of the Series A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s Partnering Transaction (the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”).

 

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(b) In addition to the provisions set forth in paragraph 3, the Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she shall not Transfer any of the Private Placement Units, the Private Placement Shares or the Private Placement Warrants (or Series A Common Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants), until 30 days after the completion of the Company’s Partnering Transaction (the “Private Placement Units Lock-up Period”, together with the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the “Lock-up Periods”).

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 3, 7(a) and (b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units, the Private Placement Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Series A Common Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and that are held by the Sponsor or any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 7(c) or Section 3, if applicable), are permitted (i) to the Company’s directors or officers, to the directors or officers of Post Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (or any successor thereto) (“Post”), and to their respective family members and entities formed by such persons for investment or estate planning purposes which are controlled by such persons or formed for their benefit or for charitable purposes, (ii) to Post or any entity in which Post or the officers and directors of Post hold, in the aggregate, securities representing no less than 25% of the outstanding voting power of such entity (so long as no other holder or group holds a higher percentage of the voting power of such entity), and the subsidiaries of Post or such entities, (iii) to any corporation or other entity which, as a result of any spinoff, splitoff or other distribution transaction, becomes the beneficial owner of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units, Private Placement Shares and Private Placement Warrants (and shares issuable upon the exercise of such warrants), (iv) by bona fide gift to a member of the holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the holder’s immediate family, for estate planning purposes, (v) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death or (vi) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of a Partnering Transaction at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) through (vi), such permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company, agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions and other applicable restrictions in this Letter Agreement. In addition, the Sponsor or its permitted transferees will be permitted to pledge or grant a security interest in such securities to secure bona fide indebtedness or engage in hedging transactions; provided, that the holder thereof retains voting control over such securities prior to delivery of shares upon foreclosure or upon satisfaction of the hedge. In the event of any liquidation prior to the completion of the Company’s Partnering Transaction or the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s Public Stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Series A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Company’s completion of our Partnering Transaction, the Lock-Up Periods will be deemed terminated.

8. The Sponsor and each Insider represents and warrants that, as of the date hereof, it, he or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company, if any (including any such information included in the Prospectus), is true and accurate in all material respects as of the date when such information was furnished and does not omit any material information with respect to such Insider’s background. The Sponsor and each Insider’s

 

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questionnaire furnished to the Company, if any, is true and accurate in all material respects as of the date when such questionnaire was furnished. Except as otherwise disclosed in any publicly available filings with the Commission, the Sponsor and each Insider represents and warrants, each as to itself and not jointly with any other person, that: as of the date hereof, it, he or she is not subject to, or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; and it has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.

9. Except as disclosed in, or as expressly contemplated by, the Prospectus, or as otherwise contemplated in the proxy statement related to the Company’s Partnering Transaction, neither the Sponsor nor any Insider nor any affiliate of the Sponsor or any Insider, nor any director or officer of the Company, shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate the consummation of, the Company’s Partnering Transaction (regardless of the type of transaction that it is).

10. The Sponsor and each Insider has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and, as applicable, to serve as an officer and/or a director on the board of directors of the Company and hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer and/or a director of the Company.

11. As used herein, (i) “Partnering Transaction” shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Shares” shall mean, collectively, the Series A Common Shares and the Founder Shares; (iii) “Series A Common Shares” shall mean shares of Series A Common Stock; (iv) “Founder Shares” shall mean (a) the 8,625,000 shares of the Company’s Series F common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, initially purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement prior to the Public Offering, (b) shares of the Company’s Series B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, issued upon the conversion of such shares of Series F common stock, and (c) Series A Common Shares issued upon the conversion of such shares of Series B common stock; (v) “Private Placement Units” shall mean the units that will be acquired by the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $10,000,000 in the aggregate (or $10,900,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering (including the shares of Series A Common Stock (the “Private Placement Shares”) and private placement warrants underlying such units (the “Private Placement Warrants”) and the shares of Series A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such Private Placement Warrants thereof); (vi) “Public Stockholders” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (vii) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the Private Placement Units shall be deposited; and (viii) “Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly,

 

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or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b) herein.

12. This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by (1) each Insider that is the subject of any such change, amendment modification or waiver, (2) the Sponsor, and (3) the Company.

13. No party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company and the Sponsor. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.

14. Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or entity other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.

15. This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original, facsimile or electronic counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

16. This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

17. This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

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18. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally or sent via e-mail (providing proof of delivery) or (b) on the first (1st) business day following the date of dispatch if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (providing proof of delivery).

19. No party hereto shall be liable for any breaches or misrepresentations contained in this Letter Agreement by any other party to this Letter Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Insider with respect to any other Insider), and no party shall be liable or responsible for the obligations of another party, including, without limitation, indemnification obligations and notice obligations.

20. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods and (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by December 31, 2021; provided further that paragraph 4 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation.

[Signature page follows]

 

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Sincerely,
PHPC SPONSOR, LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Name: Robert V. Vitale

 

Name: Bradly A. Harper

 

Name: Jeff A. Zadoks

 

Name: Jim Dwyer

 

Name: Jennifer Kuperman

 

Name: Dave Peacock

 

Name: David L. Taiclet

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]


Acknowledged and Agreed:

 

POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]

Exhibit 10.3

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of                 , 2021, by and between Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Trustee”).

WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-252910 (the “Registration Statement”), and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each of which consists of one of the Company’s Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and one-third of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”), has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; and

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named therein; and

WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, $300,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Units (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $345,000,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of shares of Common Stock included in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the “Property,” the stockholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Stockholders,” and the Public Stockholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $[●], or $[●] if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that may be payable by the Company to the Underwriters upon the consummation of the Partnering Transaction (as defined below) (the “Deferred Discount”); and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.


NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

1. Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:

(a) Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee located in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another United States 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 United States government treasury obligations, as determined by the Company; it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder; while on deposit, the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration;

(d) Collect and receive, when due, all interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;

(e) Promptly notify the Company and the 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 Company’s preparation of tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account or in connection with the preparation or completion of the audit of the Company’s financial statements by the Company’s auditors;

(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;

(h) Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;

(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after (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 signed on behalf of the Company by its President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Chief Legal Officer or Secretary of the Company 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses, it being understood that the Trustee has no obligation to monitor or question the Company’s position that an allocation has been made for taxes payable), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein; provided, that, in the case a

 

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Termination Letter in the form of Exhibit A is received, or (y) upon the date which is twenty-four (24) months after the closing of the Offering (or twenty- seven (27) months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for a Partnering Transaction within twenty-four (24) months from the closing of the Offering but has not completed a Partnering Transaction within such twenty-four (24) month period), or such later date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as it may be amended from time to time, 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), shall be distributed to the Public Stockholders of record as of such date;

(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 (a “Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided, further, however, that if the tax to be paid is a franchise tax, the written request by the Company to make such distribution shall be accompanied by a copy of the franchise tax bill for the Company (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;

(k) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D (a “Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction”), the Trustee shall distribute on behalf of the Company the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem shares of Common Stock from Public Stockholders properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Partnering Transaction”) or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its Partnering Transaction within twenty-four (24) months from the closing of the Offering (or twenty-seven (27) months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for a Partnering Transaction within twenty-four (24) months from the closing of the Offering but has not completed a Partnering Transaction within such twenty-four (24) month period) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-Partnering Transaction activity. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to distribute said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request; and

 

3


(l) Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i), (j) or (k) above.

2. Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:

(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Secretary or other authorized officer of the Company. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k) hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;

(b) Subject to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all reasonable and documented expenses, including reasonable outside counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b), it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;

(c) Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing fee which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until it is distributed to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i) through 1(j) hereof. The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Offering. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c) and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;

(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s stockholders regarding a Partnering Transaction, provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the stockholder meeting verifying the vote of such stockholders regarding such Partnering Transaction;

 

4


(e) Provide the Representatives with a copy of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;

(f) Expressly provide in any Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A) delivered in connection with a Termination Letter in the Form of Exhibit A that the Deferred Discount be paid directly to the account or accounts directed by the Representatives; and

(g) Instruct the Trustee to make only those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any distributions that are not permitted under this Agreement.

3. Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:

(a) Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein;

(b) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;

(c) Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;

(d) Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;

(e) Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;

(f) The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustee’s best judgment, except for the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee with written notification to the Company, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;

 

5


(g) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement;

(h) Provide any assurance that any Partnering Transaction entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

(i) File information returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the Company documenting the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;

(j) Prepare, execute and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, franchise and income tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or

(k) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j) or 1(k) hereof.

4. Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.

5. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:

(a) If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement (whether following the Trustee giving notice that it desires to resign under this Agreement or the Company otherwise electing to replace the Trustee under this Agreement), the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever;

 

6


(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b); or

(c) If the Offering is not consummated within ten (10) business days of the date of this Agreement, in which case any funds received by the Trustee from the Company or PHPC Sponsor, LLC for purposes of funding the Trust Account shall be promptly returned to the Company or PHPC Sponsor, LLC, as applicable.

6. Miscellaneous.

(a) The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or out-of-pocket 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.

(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Section 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k) hereof (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of sixty-six and 2/3rds percent (6623%) of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, Series B shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and Series F shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, voting together as a single class; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Stockholder who has otherwise indicated his, her or its election to redeem his, her or its shares of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote sought to amend this Agreement), 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. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

7


(e) Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery, by electronic mail:

if to the Trustee, to:

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

One State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

E-mail: fwolf@continentalstock.com

E-mail: cgonzalez@continentalstock.com

if to the Company, to:

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

2503 S. Hanley Road

St. Louis, Missouri 63144

Attn: Brad Harper

Email: brad.harper@postholdings.com

in each case, with copies to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

300 N. LaSalle

Chicago, Illinois 60654

Attn: Christian Nagler

 Wayne Williams

Email: cnagler@kirkland.com

 wwilliams@kirkland.com

and

Evercore Group L.L.C.

55 East 52nd Street, Ste 35

New York, New York 10055

Attn: Kenneth Masotti

Email: masotti@evercore.com

and

Bayclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attn: Syndicate Registration

and

 

8


David Polk & Wardell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York, 10017

Attn: Derek Dostal

Deanna Kirkpatrick

Email: derek.dostal@davispolk.com

   deanna.kirkpatrick@davispolk.com

This Agreement may not be assigned by the Trustee without the prior consent of the Company.

(f) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.

(g) This Agreement is the joint product of the Trustee and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.

(h) 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.

(i) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters are third party beneficiaries of this Agreement.

(j) 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:           
Name:  

 

  Francis Wolf
Title:  

 

  Vice President

 

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation
By:           
Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

 

Fee Item

  

Time and method of payment

   Amount  
Initial acceptance fee    Initial closing of the Offering by wire transfer.    $ 3,500.00  
Annual fee    First year fee payable at initial closing of the 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) and 1(j)    Billed to Company following disbursement made to Company under Sections 1(i) and 1(j)    $ 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  

 

Schedule A-1


EXHIBIT A

[Letterhead of Company]

[Insert date]

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

One State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re:

Trust Account - Termination Letter

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Post Holdings Partnering Corporation (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of                 , 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with                  (the “Target Business”) to consummate a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction with the Target Business (the “Partnering Transaction”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date (or such shorter time period as you may agree) of the consummation of the Partnering Transaction (“Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account and to transfer the proceeds into the above-referenced trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that Evercore Group L.L.C. and Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Representatives”) (with respect to the Deferred Discount) and the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. awaiting distribution, neither the Company nor the Representatives will earn any interest.

On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Partnering Transaction has been consummated, or will be consummated substantially, concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “Notification”) and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) a certificate of the President, which verifies that the Partnering Transaction has been approved by a vote of the Company’s stockholders, if a vote is held and (b) joint written instruction signed by the Company and the Representatives with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of the Deferred Discount from the Trust Account (the “Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same

 

A-1


and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

In the event that the Partnering Transaction is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in the notice as soon thereafter as possible.

 

        Very truly yours,
Post Holdings Partnering Corporation
By:       
Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

cc:

Evercore Group L.L.C.

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

A-2


EXHIBIT B

[Letterhead of Company]

[Insert date]

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

One State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re:

Trust Account - Termination Letter

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Post Holdings Partnering Corporation (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of                , 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction with a target business (the “Partnering Transaction”) within the time frame specified in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the trust operating account and to transfer the total proceeds into the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to await distribution to the Public Stockholders. The Company has selected [•] as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Stockholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly to the Company’s Public Stockholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(j) of the Trust Agreement.

 

Very truly yours,

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation
By:           
Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

cc:

Evercore Group L.L.C.

    

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

B-1


EXHIBIT C

[Letterhead of Company]

[Insert date]

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

One State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York

10004 Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re:

Trust Account - Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Post Holdings Partnering Corporation (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of                , 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. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

The Company needs such funds to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:

[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]

 

Very truly yours,

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation
By:           
Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

cc:

Evercore Group L.L.C.

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

C-1


EXHIBIT D

[Letterhead of Company]

[Insert date]

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

One State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Re:

Trust Account - Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction

Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Post Holdings Partnering Corporation (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of                , 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the redeeming Public Stockholders on behalf of the Company $                 of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

The Company needs such funds to pay its Public Stockholders who have properly elected to have their shares of Common Stock redeemed by the Company in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s Partnering Transaction or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its Partnering Transaction within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-Partnering Transaction activity. As such, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the redeeming Public Stockholders in accordance with your customary procedures.

 

Very truly yours,

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation
By:           
Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

cc:

Evercore Group L.L.C.

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

D-1

Exhibit 10.4

 

INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

Dated as of                 , 2021

by and among

POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION,

PHPC SPONSOR, LLC

and

POST HOLDINGS, INC.

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

        Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     2  

Section 1.1  

  

Definitions

     2  

Section 1.2  

  

General Interpretive Principles

     10  

ARTICLE II STOCKHOLDERS RIGHTS

     11  

Section 2.1  

  

Stockholders Rights

     11  

ARTICLE III REGISTRATION RIGHTS

     13  

Section 3.1  

  

Demand Registration

     13  

Section 3.2  

  

Shelf Registration on Form S-3

     15  

Section 3.3  

  

Piggyback Registration

     17  

Section 3.4  

  

Restrictions on Registration Rights

     19  

Section 3.5  

  

Lock-Up Periods

     19  

Section 3.6  

  

Registration in Connection with Hedging Transactions

     20  

Section 3.7  

  

Registration in Connection with Exchangeable Private Placements

     21  

ARTICLE IV COMPANY PROCEDURES

     22  

Section 4.1  

  

General Procedures

     22  

Section 4.2  

  

Registration Expenses

     25  

Section 4.3  

  

Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings

     25  

Section 4.4  

  

Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure

     25  

Section 4.5  

  

Reporting Obligations

     25  

ARTICLE V INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

     26  

Section 5.1  

  

Indemnification

     26  

ARTICLE VI TERMINATION

     28  

Section 6.1  

  

Termination

     28  

Section 6.2  

  

Effect of Termination; Survival

     28  

ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

     28  

Section 7.1  

  

Amendment and Modification

     28  

Section 7.2  

  

Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries

     29  

Section 7.3  

  

Binding Effect; Entire Agreement

     29  

Section 7.4  

  

Severability

     29  

Section 7.5  

  

Notices and Addresses

     29  

Section 7.6  

  

Governing Law

     30  

Section 7.7  

  

Headings

     30  

Section 7.8  

  

Counterparts

     30  

Section 7.9  

  

Further Assurances

     31  

Section 7.10

  

Remedies

     31  

Section 7.11

  

Jurisdiction and Venue

     31  

Section 7.12

  

Adjustments

     32  

 

i


INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of         , 2021, by and among Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which term will include any successor company resulting from or in connection with the Partnering Transaction), PHPC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and Post Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (“Post”).

RECITALS:

A. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a Partnering Transaction;

B. The Sponsor owns an aggregate of 8,625,000 shares of the Company Series F Common Stock, up to 1,125,000 of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units in connection with the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”) is exercised in full (the “Founder Shares”).

C. The Founder Shares are convertible into shares of the Company Series B Common Stock, which are convertible into shares of the Company Series A Common Stock, in each case on the terms and conditions provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

D. On                , 2021, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase 1,000,000 units (or up to 1,090,000 units if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units in connection with the Company’s IPO is exercised in full) (the “Private Placement Units”), each Private Placement Unit consisting of one share of Company Series A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant (the “Private Placement Warrants”), where each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Company Series A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, at a purchase price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s IPO.

E. On                , 2021, the Company entered into that certain Forward Purchase Agreement (the “Forward Purchase Agreement”) with the Sponsor pursuant to which, substantially concurrently with the closing of the Company’s Partnering Transaction and subject to the terms and conditions of the Forward Purchase Agreement, the Company shall issue and sell to the Sponsor, and the Sponsor shall purchase in the aggregate from the Company, on a private placement basis, up to 10,000,000 units (each, a “Forward Purchase Unit”), each Forward Purchase Unit consisting of one share of Company Series B Common Stock and one-third of one warrant (the “Forward Purchase Warrants”), where each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Company Series A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, at a purchase price of $10.00 per Forward Purchase Unit.

AGREEMENT:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

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ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions. The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Adverse Disclosure” means any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the President or Principal Financial Officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (a) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (b) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (c) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

Affiliate” of a Person has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, and “Affiliated” has a correlative meaning. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

beneficial owner”, “beneficial ownership”, “beneficially owns” and “owns beneficially” have the meaning given such terms in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and a Person’s beneficial ownership of Capital Stock shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such Rule; provided, however, that, for purposes of determining beneficial ownership, (a) a Person shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of any Capital Stock which may be acquired by such Person (disregarding any legal impediments to such beneficial ownership), whether within sixty (60) days or thereafter, upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any warrants, options, rights or other Equity-Linked Securities issued by a Person and (b) no Person shall be deemed to beneficially own any Capital Stock or Equity-Linked Securities solely as a result of such Person’s execution of this Agreement or such Person’s filing of any reports, forms or schedules with the Commission in connection with any of the matters contemplated hereby.

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company and, unless the context indicates otherwise, also means, to the extent permitted by law, any committee thereof authorized, with respect to any particular matter, to exercise the power of the Board of Directors of the Company with respect to such matter.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by Law to be closed in the City of New York.

Bylaws” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, dated                , 2021 (including as they may subsequently be amended, modified, supplemented and/or restated in accordance with its terms).

 

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Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person at any time, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of capital stock, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or equivalent ownership interests in or issued by such Person.

Certificate of Incorporation” means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated                , 2021 (including as it may subsequently be amended, modified, supplemented and/or restated in accordance with its terms).

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Company Common Stock” means the Company Series A Common Stock, the Company Series B Common Stock, the Company Series C Common Stock, the Company Series F Common Stock, and all shares of any other series or class of common stock of the Company hereafter authorized.

Company Incentive Plan” means any equity or omnibus incentive plan adopted by the Company or assumed by the Company in connection with the Partnering Transaction or any other acquisition or partnering transaction involving the Company, or any other compensatory equity-based award or inducement award.

Company Preferred Stock” means any series or class of Capital Stock of the Company designated as preferred stock.

Company Series A Common Stock” means the Company’s Series A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

Company Series B Common Stock” means the Company’s Series B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

Company Series C Common Stock” means the Company’s Series C Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

Company Series F Common Stock” means the Company’s Series F Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

Demand Registration” has the meaning given in Section 3.1(a).

Demanding Holder” has the meaning given in Section 3.1(a).

Director” means a director of the Company.

Equity-Linked Securities” means any securities (other than Capital Stock) convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Capital Stock (whether directly or indirectly).

 

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Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchangeable Holder” means a holder of record or beneficial owner of Exchangeable Securities.

Exchangeable Private Placement” means any sale of exchangeable notes or debentures made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, which notes or debentures are exchangeable for consideration that includes Registrable Securities.

Exchangeable Private Placement Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

Exchangeable Registrable Securities” means any shares of Company Common Stock delivered or deliverable to an Exchangeable Holder upon the exchange of Exchangeable Securities, which shares are Registrable Securities immediately prior to such delivery.

Exchangeable Securities” means exchangeable notes or debentures issued by a Holder in an Exchangeable Private Placement.

Exchangeable Security Shelf Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

Exchangeable Security Shelf Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(a).

Exchangeable Security Shelf Registration Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(a).

Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement” means a registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration statement that may be available at such time providing for an offering of Exchangeable Registrable Securities to be made on a delayed or continuous basis.

Exchangeable Shelf Registration Trigger Event” means the thirty (30) days prior to the first date on which any Exchangeable Securities become eligible to be exchanged for Registrable Securities.

Form S-1” has the meaning given in Section 3.1(a).

Form S-3” has the meaning given in Section 3.2(a).

Forward Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Forward Purchase Unit” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Forward Purchase Warrants” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Founder Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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Governmental Entity” means any United States or foreign (a) federal, state, local, municipal or other government, (b) governmental or quasi-governmental entity of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official or entity and any court or other tribunal) or (c) body exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory or taxing authority or power of any nature, including any arbitral tribunal.

Hedging Counterparty” means a broker-dealer registered under Section 15(b) of the Exchange Act or an Affiliate thereof or any other financial institution that routinely engages in Hedging Transactions in the ordinary course of its business.

Hedging Transaction” means any transaction involving a security linked to the Registrable Securities or any security that would be deemed to be a “derivative security” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) with respect to the Registrable Securities or any transaction (even if not a security) which would (were it a security) be considered such a derivative security, or which transfers some or all of the economic risk of ownership of the Registrable Securities, including any forward contract, equity swap, put or call, put or call equivalent position, collar, non-recourse loan, sale of exchangeable security or similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, the following transactions shall be deemed to be Hedging Transactions:

(a) transactions by a Holder in which a Hedging Counterparty engages in short sales of Company Common Stock pursuant to a Prospectus and may use Registrable Securities to close out its short position;

(b) transactions pursuant to which a Holder sells short Company Common Stock pursuant to a Prospectus and delivers Registrable Securities to close out its short position;

(c) transactions by a Holder in which the Holder delivers, in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act, Registrable Securities to a Hedging Counterparty who may then publicly resell or otherwise transfer such Registrable Shares pursuant to a Prospectus or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act; and

(d) a loan or pledge of Registrable Securities to a Hedging Counterparty who may then become a Permitted Transferee and sell the loaned shares or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, then sell the pledged shares, in each case, in a public transaction pursuant to a Prospectus.

Holder” means any Post Stockholder who holds Registrable Securities and any Person who hereafter becomes entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations contained in Article III hereof pursuant to Section 7.2 of this Agreement.

IPO” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Law” means any applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, stock exchange rules and regulations, statute, ordinance, rule, guideline, regulation, order, writ, decree, agency requirement, license or permit of any Governmental Entity.

 

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Letter Agreement” means the Letter Agreement, dated the date hereof, among the Company, the Sponsor and the Company’s executive officers and directors.

Lock-up Period” means, with respect to any Registrable Security, any period during which a Holder has agreed not to transfer such Registrable Security (subject to certain exceptions specified in the Letter Agreement) pursuant to the Letter Agreement entered into by such Holder in connection with the IPO.

Maximum Number of Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c).

Misstatement” means an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

Nominee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

Partnering Transaction” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Certificate of Incorporation.

Permitted Transferee” means any Person to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities including, without limitation, pursuant to the Letter Agreement.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, general or limited partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, proprietorship, unincorporated association, organization or other entity.

Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).

Post” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble and which term will include any successor thereto by operation of law or otherwise.

Post Common Stock Amount” means, at any designated time, the aggregate number of issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock owned by the Post Stockholders and any Permitted Transferees.

Post Common Stock Percentage” means, at the time of any determination thereof, the percentage obtained by dividing (x) the Post Common Stock Amount by (y) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.

Post Stockholders” means (a) Post and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) and any officer or director of Post or its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) and (b) any Qualified Distribution Transferee and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

 

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Post Voting Stock Amount” means, at any designated time, the aggregate number of issued and outstanding shares of Voting Stock owned by the Post Stockholders and any Permitted Transferees.

Post Voting Stock Percentage” means, at the time of any determination thereof, the percentage obtained by dividing (x) the Post Voting Stock Amount by (y) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Voting Stock.

Private Placement Unit” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Private Placement Warrant” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Prospectus” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

Public Warrants” means the Company’s warrants sold as part of the units in the IPO (whether such warrants are purchased in the IPO or thereafter in the open market) and any Private Placement Warrants that are subsequently resold to third parties following the consummation of the Company’s Partnering Transaction.

Qualified Distribution Transaction” means, following the Partnering Transaction, the transfer, sale, assignment or other disposition by the Post Stockholders of all or substantially all of the Voting Stock held by them in any spinoff, splitoff or other distribution transaction in which the equity interests of a Post Stockholder holding, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the shares of Voting Stock held by the Post Stockholders are distributed to or acquired by (whether by redemption, dividend, share distribution, merger or otherwise) holders of one or more classes or series of common stock of Post on a pro rata basis with respect to each such class or series, or such equity interests are available to be acquired by the holders of one or more classes or series of Post’s common stock (including through any rights offering, exchange offer, exercise of subscription rights or other offer made available to such holders) on a pro rata basis with respect to each such class or series, whether voluntary or involuntary.

Registrable Security” means (a) the Private Placement Warrants and the shares of Company Series A Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Units, (b) the Forward Purchase Warrants, (c) the Working Capital Warrants and the shares of Company Series A Common Stock underlying the Working Capital Units, (d) the shares of Company Series A Common Stock issued upon exercise of the securities (as applicable) referenced in clauses (a), (b) or (c) or upon conversion of any share of Company Series B Common Stock, (e) any other Warrants or Company Common Stock (other than Company Series B Common Stock) that the Holders may have purchased in the open market, including in the IPO, and (f) any other equity security of the Company issued with respect to any of the securities referred to in clauses (a) through (e) or with respect to shares of Company Series B Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or by way of a conversion from or exercise of a warrant, or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, 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

 

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shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates or book-entry shares for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities have been sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated by the SEC); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.

Registration” means a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

Registration Expenses” means the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including the following:

(a) all registration, qualification, listing and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Commission and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Company Series A Common Stock is then listed;

(b) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities or Exchangeable Registrable Securities);

(c) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

(d) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

(e) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration;

(f) any reasonable fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities (other than underwriting discounts and selling commissions) and for any underwritten offering all expenses related to the “road show”, including applicable travel, meals and lodging; and

(g) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the Holder initiating an Underwritten Shelf Offering or a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.

Registration Statement” means any registration statement that permits the offer and resale of the Registrable Securities or the Exchangeable Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

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Requesting Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Selling Holders” means the Exchangeable Holders of the Exchangeable Securities sold in such Exchangeable Private Placement.

Selling Holder Questionnaire” means a selling stockholder questionnaire, in form and content reasonably acceptable to the Company, completed and signed by a Selling Holder.

Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

Sponsor” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Sponsor Director” means an individual elected to the Board that has been nominated by the Sponsor pursuant to this Agreement.

Subsequent Shelf Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).

Subsidiary” when used with respect to any Person, means any other Person of which (x) in the case of a corporation, at least (A) 50% of the equity or (B) securities representing at least 50% of the outstanding voting power of such other Person are owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by such first Person, by any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries or (y) in the case of any Person other than a corporation, such first Person, one or more of its Subsidiaries, or such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries (A) owns at least 50% of the equity interests thereof or (B) has the power to elect or direct the election of at least 50% of the members of the governing body thereof or otherwise has Control over such organization or entity.

Takedown Requesting Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c).

Tax” or “Taxes” means all federal, state, local or non-United States taxes, charges, fees, duties, levies or other assessments, including income, gross receipts, stamp, occupation, premium, environmental, windfall profits, value added, severance, property, production, sales, use, transfer, registration, duty, license, excise, franchise, payroll, employment, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, withholding, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, or other taxes, whether disputed or not, imposed by any Government Entity, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.

Transfer” means, when used as a noun, any direct or indirect, voluntary or involuntary, sale, disposition, hypothecation, mortgage, gift, pledge, assignment, attachment or other transfer (including the creation of any derivative or synthetic interest, including a participation or other similar interest) and, when used as a verb, voluntarily to directly or indirectly sell, dispose, hypothecate, mortgage, gift, pledge, assign, attach or otherwise transfer, in any case, whether by operation of law or otherwise.

 

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Underwriter” means a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” means a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm-commitment basis for reoffering to the public.

Underwritten Shelf Takedown” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c).

Voting Common Stock” means Common Stock that entitles the holders thereof to vote on matters submitted generally to the Company’s stockholders for approval, including the election of directors, but excluding any class or series of Common Stock whose voting rights are limited exclusively to approval of modifications or amendments to the rights, powers, preferences or privileges of such class or series.

Voting Preferred Stock” means any Preferred Stock that entitles the holders thereof to vote on matters submitted generally to the Company’s stockholders for approval, including the election of directors, but excluding any class or series of Capital Stock whose voting rights are limited exclusively to approval of modifications or amendments to the rights, powers, preferences or privileges of such class or series.

Voting Stock” means any Voting Common Stock and/or Voting Preferred Stock.

Warrants” means the Public Warrants, the Forward Purchase Warrants, the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the equity and voting interest in which is beneficially owned or owned of record, directly and/or indirectly, by such Person.

Working Capital Units” means the units that may be issued upon conversion of up to $2,500,000 of working capital loans extended to the Company by the Sponsor or Post or its Subsidiaries, at the option of such lender, at a price of $10.00 per Working Capital Unit, each Working Capital Unit consisting of one share of Company Series A Common Stock and one-third of one warrant, where each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Company Series A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share.

Working Capital Warrants” means the warrants underlying the Working Capital Units.

Section 1.2 General Interpretive Principles. Whenever used in this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, any noun or pronoun shall be deemed to include the plural as well as the singular and to cover all genders. The name assigned this Agreement and the Section captions used herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed to affect the meaning, construction or effect hereof. Unless otherwise specified, the terms “hereof,” “herein” and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole (including the exhibits hereto), and references herein to Sections refer to Sections of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” For the avoidance of doubt, references to the ownership or beneficial ownership by Post Stockholders of any securities will be deemed to refer to the ownership (whether of record or book-entry through a brokerage account held in the name of Post) or beneficial ownership of such securities.

 

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ARTICLE II

STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS

Section 2.1 Stockholder Rights

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at any time and from time to time on or after the date that the Company consummates a Partnering Transaction and for so long as the Sponsor holds any Registrable Securities:

(i) The Sponsor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate three individuals to be appointed or nominated, as the case may be, for election to the Board (including any successor, each, a “Nominee”) by giving written notice to the Company on or before the time such information is reasonably requested by the Board or the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee of the Board, as applicable, for inclusion in a proxy statement for a meeting of stockholders provided to the Sponsor.

(ii) The Company will, as promptly as practicable, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions (including, without limitation, calling special meetings of the Board and the stockholders and recommending, supporting and soliciting proxies) so that there are three Sponsor Directors serving on the Board at all times.

(iii) The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, use its best efforts to take all actions necessary to ensure that: (i) each Nominee is included in the Board’s slate of nominees to the stockholders of the Company for each election of Directors; and (ii) each Nominee is included in the proxy statement prepared by management of the Company in connection with soliciting proxies for every meeting of the stockholders of the Company called with respect to the election of members of the Board, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of the Company or the Board with respect to the election of members of the Board.

(iv) If a vacancy occurs because of the death, disability, disqualification, resignation, or removal of a Sponsor Director or for any other reason, the Sponsor shall be entitled to designate such person’s successor, and the Company will, as promptly as practicable following such designation, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions, to the fullest extent permitted by law, within its control such that such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee.

(v) If a Nominee is not elected because of such Nominee’s death, disability, disqualification, withdrawal as a nominee or for any other reason, the Sponsor shall be entitled to designate promptly another Nominee and the Company will take all necessary and desirable actions within its control such that the director position for which such Nominee was nominated shall not be filled pending such designation or the size of the Board shall be increased by one and such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee as promptly as practicable following such designation.

 

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(vi) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the request of any Sponsor Director, the Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement with such Sponsor Director, in the form entered into with the other members of the Board. The Company shall pay the reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Sponsor Director in connection with his or her services provided to or on behalf of the Company, including attending meetings or events attended explicitly on behalf of the Company at the Company’s request.

(vii) The Company shall (i) purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in an amount determined by the Board to be reasonable and customary and (ii) for so long as a Sponsor Director serves as a Director of the Company, maintain such coverage with respect to such Sponsor Director; provided that upon removal or resignation of such Sponsor Director for any reason, the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to extend such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for a period of not less than six years from any such event in respect of any act or omission occurring at or prior to such event.

(viii) For so long as a Sponsor Director serves as a Director of the Company, the Company shall not amend, alter or repeal any right to indemnification or exculpation covering or benefiting any Director nominated pursuant to this Agreement as and to the extent consistent with applicable law, whether such right is contained in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, each as amended, or another document (except to the extent such amendment or alteration permits the Company to provide broader indemnification or exculpation rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto).

(ix) Each Nominee may, but does not need to qualify as “independent” pursuant to listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (or such other national securities exchange upon which the Company’s securities are then listed).

(x) Any Nominee will be subject to the Company’s customary due diligence process, including its review of a completed questionnaire and a background check. Based on the foregoing, the Company may object to any Nominee provided (a) it does so in good faith, and (b) such objection is based upon any of the following: (i) such Nominee was convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses), (ii) such Nominee was the subject of any order, judgment, or decree not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining such proposed director from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities: (A) engaging in any type of business practice, or (B) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities laws, (iii) such Nominee was the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of such person to engage

 

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in any activity described in clause (ii)(B), or to be associated with persons engaged in such activity, (iv) such proposed director was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commission to have violated any federal or state securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, or (v) such proposed director was the subject of, or a party to any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to a violation of any federal or state securities laws or regulations. In the event the Board reasonably finds the Nominee to be unsuitable based upon one or more of the foregoing clauses (i) through (v) and reasonably objects to the identified director, Sponsor shall be entitled to propose a different nominee to the Board within 30 calendar days of the Company’s notice to Sponsor of its objection to the Nominee and such replacement Nominee shall be subject to the review process outlined above.

(xi) The Company shall take all necessary action to cause a Nominee chosen by the Sponsor, at the request of such Nominee to be elected to the board of directors (or similar governing body) of each material operating subsidiary of the Company. The Nominee, as applicable, shall have the right to attend (in person or remotely) any meetings of the board of directors (or similar governing body or committee thereof) of each subsidiary of the Company.

ARTICLE III

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 3.1 Demand Registration.

(a) Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of Sections 3.1(c) and 3.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the date the Company consummates the Partnering Transaction, the Holders of at least 15% in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities (the “Demanding Holders”) may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within three (3) Business Days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this Section 3.2(a)

 

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in any 12-month period 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 4.1 of this Agreement.

(b) Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of Sections 3.1(c) and 3.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this Section 3.1(b) and the Company 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 (provided that such investment banker or bankers and managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company). The majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration shall have the right, after consultation with the Company, to determine the plan of distribution, including the price at which the Registrable Securities are to be sold and the underwriting commissions, discounts and fees.

(c) Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Company Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Company Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) holds prior to such Underwritten Registration) 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), Company Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other Persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such Persons and 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), Company Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

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(d) Demand Registration Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders (if any), pursuant to a Registration under Section 3.1(a) shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 3.1(d).

Section 3.2 Shelf Registration on Form S-3.

(a) The Holders of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-3”); a registration statement filed pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) (a “Shelf Registration Statement”) shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder. Within three (3) days of the Company’s receipt of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration shall so notify the Company, in writing, within three (3) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than ten (10) days after the Company’s initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall file a Shelf Registration Statement relating to all or such portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) if (i) a Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $5,000,000. The Company shall maintain each Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep such Shelf Registration Statement 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 Registration Statement.

 

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(b) If any Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities included thereon are still outstanding, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Shelf Registration Statement to again become effective under the Securities Act (including obtaining the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Shelf Registration Statement in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or file an additional registration statement (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities included on such Shelf Registration Statement, and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration 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 thereon. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on another appropriate form. In the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company, upon request of a Holder shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered by either, at the Company’s option, a Shelf Registration Statement (including by means of a post-effective amendment) a Subsequent Shelf Registration, or prospectus supplements, if available, and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Shelf Registration Statement or Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered once annually after inquiry of the Holders.

(c) At any time and from time to time after a Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, the Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders (if any) may request to sell all or any portion of its Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided that the Company shall be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown only if such offering shall include securities with a total offering price (including piggyback securities and before deduction of underwriting discounts) reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $5,000,000. All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company at least 48 hours prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. The Company shall include in any Underwritten Shelf Takedown the securities requested to be included by any Holder (each, a “Takedown Requesting Holder”) at least 24 hours prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of such Holder (including to those set forth herein). The Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders (if any) shall have the right to select the underwriter(s) for such offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the Company’s prior approval which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

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(d) If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advises the Company, the Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Company Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Sponsor 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 Company Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which 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 Company Common Stock or other equity securities of the Takedown Requesting Holders, if any, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities, determined pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Takedown Requesting Holder has so requested to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

(e) The Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders (if any) shall have the right to withdraw from an Underwritten Shelf Takedown for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of its intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with an Underwritten Shelf Takedown prior to a withdrawal under this Section 3.2(e).

Section 3.3 Piggyback Registration.

(a) Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the date of the consummation of the Partnering Transaction, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any Company Incentive Plan or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than seven (7) Business Days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The

 

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Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.3(a) to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this Section 3.3(a) shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

(b) Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Company Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Company Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with Persons other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 3.3 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Company Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

(i) If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Company Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3.3(a) hereof and Company Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each stockholder holds prior to such Underwritten Registration), which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and

(ii) If the Registration is pursuant to a request by Persons other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, Company Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting Persons, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3.3(a) and Company Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other Persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such Persons (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each stockholder holds prior to such Underwritten Registration),

 

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which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), Company Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

(c) Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by Persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 3.3(c).

(d) Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 3.3 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 3.1 hereof.

Section 3.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 3.1(a) 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 President or other executive officer 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.

Section 3.5 Lock-Up Periods. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no Holder shall be permitted to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration during any Lock-Up Period with respect to such Registrable Securities; provided that the existence of a Lock-Up Period with respect to any Registrable Securities shall not alter the Company’s obligation to Register any such Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.1(a).

 

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Section 3.6 Registration in Connection with Hedging Transactions.

(a) The Company acknowledges that from time to time a Holder may seek to enter into one or more Hedging Transactions with a Hedging Counterparty. The Company agrees that, in connection with any proposed Hedging Transaction (if during any Lock-Up Period, to the extent then permitted by the Letter Agreement), if, in the reasonable judgment of counsel to such Holder (after good faith consultation with counsel to the Company), it is necessary or desirable to register under the Securities Act sales or transfers (whether short or long and whether by the Holder or by the Hedging Counterparty) of Registrable Securities or (by the Hedging Counterparty) other shares of Common Stock in connection therewith, then a Registration Statement covering Registrable Securities in a manner otherwise in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement to register such sales or transfers under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to register, and shall not be required to pay Registration Expenses in connection with the registration of, an aggregate number of sales or transfers of Registrable Securities in excess of the total number of Registrable Securities, it being understood that a sale or transfer of any Registrable Securities shall be considered to have been registered for purposes of this Section 3.6 and Section 6.2 when (1) a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities shall have been declared effective or, following a request pursuant to Section 3.6(b), an effective shelf Registration Statement is available to cover the sale or transfer of the Registrable Securities requested to be covered and (2) in the case of a Demand Registration, such Registration Statement shall have remained effective until such sale or transfer of such Registrable Securities shall have occurred.

(b) If, in the circumstances contemplated by Section 3.6(a), a Holder seeks to register sales or transfers of Registrable Securities (or the sale or transfer by a Hedging Counterparty of other shares of Company Common Stock) in connection with a Hedging Transaction at a time when a shelf Registration Statement covering Registrable Securities is effective, upon receipt of written notice thereof from the Sponsor, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as may reasonably be required to permit such sales or transfers in connection with such Hedging Transaction to be covered by such effective Registration Statement in a manner otherwise in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, which may include, among other things, the filing of a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment including a description of such Hedging Transaction, the name of the Hedging Counterparty, identification of the Hedging Counterparty or its Affiliates as underwriters or potential underwriters, if applicable, and any change to the plan of distribution contained in the Prospectus.

(c) Any information regarding a Hedging Transaction included in a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 3.6 shall be deemed to be information provided by the Holder selling or transferring Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement for purposes of Article V of this Agreement.

(d) If, with respect to a Hedging Transaction in connection with which a registration is contemplated by Section 3.6(a), a Hedging Counterparty or any Affiliate thereof is (or may be considered) an underwriter or selling securityholder, then, as a condition to including in any Registration Statement any sales or transfers of Registrable Securities by such Hedging Counterparty in connection with such Hedging Transaction, it and the Company shall be required to enter into an agreement with the other providing for indemnification rights substantially similar to those provided under Article V.

 

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Section 3.7 Registration in Connection with Exchangeable Private Placements.

(a) At any time following the occurrence of an Exchangeable Shelf Registration Trigger Event, the Holder that effected the Exchangeable Private Placement may, by providing written notice to the Company, request that the corresponding Selling Holders be able to sell all or part of their Exchangeable Registrable Securities delivered or deliverable under the terms of such Exchangeable Private Placement pursuant to an Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement (an “Exchangeable Security Shelf Registration Request”) for a secondary offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto (a “Exchangeable Security Shelf Registration”). Each Exchangeable Security Shelf Registration Request shall specify the number of Exchangeable Registrable Securities to be registered on the Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement. A Selling Holder shall not be named in such Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement unless and until the Company has received a fully completed and executed Selling Holder Questionnaire for such Selling Holder. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, after receipt of an Exchangeable Security Shelf Registration Request, if the Company is then eligible to file an Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, as promptly as practicable and no later than twenty (20) business days after receipt of such Exchangeable Security Shelf Registration Request file with the Commission a new Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement or amend or renew an existing or expiring Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement, at the Company’s option, to effectuate such Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement. If permitted under the Securities Act, such Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement shall be an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission or otherwise become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act in order to permit the Prospectus forming a part thereof to be usable by such Selling Holders until the earlier of (i) one (1) year after the Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement is first declared effective, (ii) the date as of which all of the Exchangeable Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement shall have been sold pursuant to such Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement and (iii) the date as of which each of the Selling Holders is permitted to sell its Exchangeable Registrable Securities without registration pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without volume limitations or other restrictions on transfer thereunder (such period of effectiveness, an “Exchangeable Security Shelf Period”). An Exchangeable Security Shelf Period shall be extended by the number of days of any suspension of the Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement that occurs during such Exchangeable Security Shelf Period. An Exchangeable Shelf Registration pursuant to this Section 5.7(a) shall not be an underwritten offering. As a condition to being named as a selling stockholder in the Prospectus included in an Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement, each Selling Holder will be required to agree to be bound by the obligations applicable to a Holder set forth in Sections 5(b) through (e). All actions on behalf of the Selling Holders shall be coordinated and communicated to the Company by, and proceed through, the applicable Holder.

 

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(b) In connection with an Exchangeable Private Placement in which the aggregate gross proceeds from such private placement to the Holder are at least $250,000,000, the Company shall make the Company’s executive officers available, to the extent requested by such Holder and the initial purchasers (an “Exchangeable Private Placement Request”), to reasonably assist in the marketing of the Exchangeable Securities to be sold in such Exchangeable Private Placement, to the same extent as would be required under Section 4.1(j) in connection with a Demand Registration; provided that the Holder may request that the Company make the Company’s executive officers available for participation in “road show” presentations pursuant to Section 4.1(o).

(c) A Holder may, by written notice to the Company, withdraw Shelf Registrable Securities from an Exchangeable Security Shelf Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement. Upon receipt of notice from the applicable Holders to such effect, the Company shall cease all efforts to seek effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement.

ARTICLE IV

COMPANY PROCEDURES

Section 4.1 General Procedures. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates the Partnering Transaction the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities or of Exchangeable Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration or Exchangeable Security Shelf Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities or such Exchangeable Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

(a) prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities or such Exchangeable Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities and Exchangeable Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;

(b) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities and Exchangeable Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

(c) prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such

 

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Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders or of Exchangeable Registrable Securities;

(d) prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities or Exchangeable Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities or Exchangeable Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders (in light of the intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities or Exchangeable Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities or Selling Holders of Exchangeable Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities or Exchangeable Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

(e) cause all such Registrable Securities or Exchangeable Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

(f) provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities or Exchangeable Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

(g) advise each Holder, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

(h) at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each Holder or its counsel;

(i) notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 4.4 hereof;

 

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(j) permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such Person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

(k) obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;

(l) on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;

(m) in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;

(n) make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);

(o) in the case of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities or an Exchangeable Private Placement, in each case, involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter or applicable Holder, respectively, in any Underwritten Offering;

(p) 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, including making available senior executives of the Company to participate in any due diligence sessions that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and

(q) in the case of an offering of Exchangeable Registrable Securities in connection with an Exchangeable Security Private Placement, promptly incorporate in a

 

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supplement to the Prospectus, a filing incorporated by reference into the Prospectus or a post-effective amendment to the Exchangeable Shelf Registration Statement the information for each Selling Holder set forth in its fully completed and executed Selling Holder Questionnaire delivered to the Company, and promptly make all required filings of such supplement, filing or post-effective amendment after receipt of such Selling Holder Questionnaire.

Section 4.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear Underwriters’ commissions and discounts relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders or the Selling Holders.

Section 4.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No Person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

Section 4.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or 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 he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 4.4.

Section 4.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Company Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144

 

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promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

ARTICLE V

INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

Section 5.1 Indemnification.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities or Selling Holder of Exchangeable Registrable Securities, their respective officers and directors and each Person who controls such Holder or Selling Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder (including with respect to information about any Selling Holder) expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder or Selling Holders.

(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities or any Selling Holders of Exchangeable Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder or Selling Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder or such Selling Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities and among such Selling Holders of Exchangeable Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities and each such Selling Holder of Exchangeable Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities or by each such Selling Holder from the sale of Exchangeable Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each Person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

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(c) Any Person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

(d) 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 any Exchangeable Registrable Securities by any Holder. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering and each of the Selling Holders of Exchangeable Registrable Securities agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s or such Selling Holders’ indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

(e) If the indemnification provided under Article V hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder or of any Selling Holders under this Section 5.1(e) shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder or such Selling Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 5.1(a), 5.1(b) and 5.1(c) above, any legal or other

 

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fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5.1(e) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 5.1(e). No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 5.1(e) from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

ARTICLE VI

TERMINATION

Section 6.1 Termination. Except as provided in Section 6.2, this Agreement shall terminate (a) with the mutual written agreement of the Company and the Sponsor or (b) immediately following the first date on which the Post Voting Stock Percentage is less than two percent (2%).

Section 6.2 Effect of Termination; Survival. In the event of any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1, there shall be no further liability or obligation hereunder on the part of any party hereto and this Agreement (other than Sections 7.5, 7.6, 7.10 and 7.11) shall thereafter be null and void; provided, that Articles III, IV and V of this Agreement shall survive any termination until the earlier of (A) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (B) the Holders of all Registrable Securities are permitted to sell the Registrable Securities under Rule 144 (or any similar provision) under the Securities Act without limitation on the amount of securities sold or the manner of sale; and provided, further, that nothing contained in this Agreement (including this Section 6.2) shall relieve any party from liability for any breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement occurring prior to such termination.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 Amendment and Modification. Compliance with the provisions, covenants or conditions set forth in Article II (and any provisions of this Article VII that affect Article II) may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified, only with the written consent of the Sponsor. Compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement (other than in Article II or the provisions of this Article VII that affect Article II) may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified, only with the written consent of the Company, the Sponsor, Post and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any such amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between or among any Persons having any interest in this Agreement shall be deemed effective to modify, amend or discharge any part of this Agreement or any rights or obligations of any Person under or by reason of this Agreement. 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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Section 7.2 Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by any party hereto without the prior written consent of each other party hereto, except that (i) Sponsor may assign or delegate its rights under Article II to a Qualified Distribution Transferee in connection with a Qualified Distribution Transaction, and (ii) any Holder may assign or delegate its rights under Article III to a Permitted Transferee in connection with the transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to the Permitted Transferee. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors (including, in the case of the Company, any successor publicly traded Person resulting from a reorganization of the Company, and in the case of the Holders, Permitted Transferees) and assigns and executors, administrators and heirs. This Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and as expressly set forth in this Agreement and this Section 7.2 hereof. No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 7.5 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 7.2 shall be null and void.

Section 7.3 Binding Effect; Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and merges and supersedes all prior representations, agreements and understandings, written or oral, of any and every nature among them.

Section 7.4 Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable Law, (a) a suitable and equitable provision to be negotiated by the Parties, each acting reasonably and in good faith shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be enforceable, the intent and purpose of such unenforceable provision, and (b) the balance of this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such unenforceable provisions were excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party.

Section 7.5 Notices and Addresses. All notices, requests, claims, demands, waiver and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally or sent via e-mail (with delivery confirmation); (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (providing proof of delivery); or (c) and on the third Business Day after mailing, if mailed to the party to whom notice is to be given, by first class mail, registered, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed as follows:

 

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If to the Company:

Post Holdings Partnering Corporation

2503 S. Hanley Road

St. Louis, Missouri 63144

Attention: Brad harper

Telephone: (314) 644-7600

Facsimile:                 

Email: brad.harper@postholdings.com

If to the Sponsor or Post:

Post Holdings, Inc.

2503 S. Hanley Road

St. Louis, Missouri 63144

Telephone: (314) 644-7600

Facsimile:                

Attention: Diedre Gray

E-Mail: diedre.gray@postholdings.com

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn:  Christian O. Nagler, Esq.

Wayne E. Williams, Esq.

Email: cnagler@kirkland.com

  wwilliams@kirkland.com

Section 7.6 Governing Law. This Agreement and all claims or disputes arising out of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

Section 7.7 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction or effect.

Section 7.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed via facsimile or pdf and in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original instrument and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 7.9 Further Assurances. Each party shall cooperate and take such action as may be reasonably requested by the other party in order to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that no party shall be obligated to take any actions or omit to take any actions that would be inconsistent with applicable Law. At such times as the Sponsor or Post may reasonably request, the Company will provide such requesting party with information regarding the number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding.

 

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Section 7.10 Remedies. In the event of a breach or a threatened breach by any party to this Agreement of its obligations under this Agreement, any party injured or to be injured by such breach shall be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement or to injunctive relief, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided in this Agreement and granted by Law, it being agreed by the parties that the remedy at Law, including monetary damages, for breach of any such provision will be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense or objection in any action for specific performance or injunctive relief for which a remedy at Law would be adequate is waived.

Section 7.11 Jurisdiction and Venue. The parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, in the event (but only in the event) that such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, another state court within the State of Delaware or, in the event (but only in the event) that no state court within the State of Delaware has subject matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (and in each case, any appellate courts thereof), in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement and of the documents referred to in this Agreement, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, in the event (but only in the event) that such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, another state court within the State of Delaware or, in the event (but only in the event) that no state court within the State of Delaware has subject matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (and in each case, any appellate courts thereof), or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the parties hereto irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, in the event (but only in the event) that such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, another state court within the State of Delaware or, in the event (but only in the event) that no state court within the State of Delaware has subject matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (and in each case, any appellate courts thereof). The parties hereto hereby consent to and grant the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, in the event (but only in the event) that such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, another state court within the State of Delaware or, in the event (but only in the event) that no state court within the State of Delaware has subject matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (and in each case, any appellate courts thereof), jurisdiction over the Person of such parties and, to the extent permitted by Law, over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 7.5 or in such other manner as may be permitted by Law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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Section 7.12 Adjustments. References herein to numbers of shares, the series thereof, and to per share prices, shall be appropriately adjusted to account for any reclassification, exchange, substitution, combination, stock split, reverse stock split, or stock dividend or other share distribution made on or with respect to the applicable series of shares, occurring or effective following the date of this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date and year first above written.

 

POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION
By       
  Name:
  Title:

 

PHPC SPONSOR, LLC
By       
  Name:
  Title:

 

POST HOLDINGS, INC.
By       
  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement]

Exhibit 10.6

PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNITS PURCHASE AGREEMENT

THIS PRIVATE PLACEMENT UNITS PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of                           , 2021 (as it may from time to time be amended, this “Agreement”), is entered into by and between Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and PHPC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”).

WHEREAS:

The Company intends to consummate an initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Public Offering”), each unit consisting of one share of Series A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Shares”), and one-third of one redeemable warrant, where each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share.

The Purchaser has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 units (and up to 90,000 additional units if the underwriters in the Public Offering exercise their option to purchase additional units in full) (the “Private Placement Units”), with each Private Placement Unit consisting of one Common Share (1,000,000 Common Shares in the aggregate, or up to 1,090,000 Common Shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional units in full) and one-third of one private placement warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Common Share (333,333 warrants in the aggregate, or up 363,333 warrants if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional units in full) (the “Private Placement Warrants”).

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:

AGREEMENT

Section 1. Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the Private Placement Units.

A. Authorization of the Private Placement Units. The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Units, including the Common Shares and Private Placement Warrants underlying the Private Placement Units, to the Purchaser.

B. Purchase and Sale of the Private Placement Units.

(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 “Initial Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, 1,000,000 Private Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit for an aggregate purchase price of $10,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”), which shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company at least one day prior to the Initial Closing Date in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions. On the Initial


Closing Date, following 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 Units purchased by the Purchaser on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser or effect such delivery in book-entry form.

(ii) On the date of any closing of the over-allotment option 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 Initial Closing Date being sometimes referred to herein as a “Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, up to an aggregate of 90,000 Private Placement Units, in the same proportion as the amount of the option that is then so exercised, at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit for an aggregate purchase price of up to $900,000 (if the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full) (the “Over-allotment Purchase Price”), which shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company at least one day prior to such Over-allotment Closing Date in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions. 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 Units purchased by the Purchaser on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.

C. Terms of the Private Placement Units.

(i) The Private Placement Units are substantially identical to the units to be offered in the Public Offering except that (a) the Private Placement Units (including the underlying Common Shares, Private Placement Warrants and the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) will not, except in limited circumstances, be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial partnering transaction (the “Partnering Transaction”) so long as they are held by the Purchaser or its permitted transferees, and (b) the Private Placement Units are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become freely tradable only after the expiration of the lockup described above in clause (a) and they are registered pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement (as defined below) or an exemption from registration is available, and the restrictions described above in clause (a) have expired.

(ii) Each Private Placement Warrant included in the Private Placement Units shall have the terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent, in connection with the Public Offering (the “Warrant Agreement”).

(iii) At the time of, or prior to, the closing of the Public Offering, the Company, the Purchaser and Post Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (“Post”), shall enter into an investor rights agreement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser and Post relating to the Private Placement Units, the Private Placement Warrants and the Common Shares underlying the Private Placement Units and Private Placement Warrants.

 

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Section 2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Private Placement Units, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and warranties shall survive the Closing Date) that:

A. Incorporation and Corporate Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.

B. Authorization; No Breach.

(i) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Private Placement Units, including the Common Shares and Private Placement Units included in the Private Placement Units, have been duly authorized by the Company as of each Closing Date. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Placement Units, including the Common Shares and Private Placement Units included in the Private Placement Units, 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 Units, the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Units, the issuance of the Private Placement Warrants and the Common Shares included in the Private Placement Units, the issuance of the Common Shares upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the fulfillment, of and compliance with, the respective terms hereof and thereof by the Company, do not and will not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Company’s 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 certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company (in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.

C. Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Common Shares included in the Private Placement Units and issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have good title to the Private Placement Units purchased by it, the Private Placement Warrants and Common Shares included in the Private Placement Units and the Common Shares issuable upon

 

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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.

Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private Placement Units to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:

A. Organization and Requisite Authority. The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

B. Authorization; No Breach.

(i) This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

(ii) The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall not as of each Closing Date conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject.

C. Investment Representations.

(i) The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Placement Units, the Common Shares and Private Placement Warrants included in the Private Placement Units and, upon exercise of such Private Placement Warrants, the Common Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”), for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination thereof that would result in a violation of the Securities Act.

(ii) The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), 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

 

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States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities.

(iv) The Purchaser decided to enter into this Agreement not 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) in a registered transaction or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; (b) except as specifically set forth in the Investor 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; and (c) Rule 144 adopted pursuant to the Securities Act will not be available for resale transactions of Securities prior to a Partnering Transaction and may not be available for resale transactions of Securities after a Partnering Transaction.

(viii) The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knows 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 Units and the Common Shares included in the Private Placement Units shall bear the following legend and appropriate “stop transfer restrictions”:

 

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“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL, IS AVAILABLE.

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO LOCKUP PROVISIONS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF DURING THE TERM OF THE LOCKUP.”

(x) The Purchaser understands that the Private Placement Warrants shall bear the legend substantially in the form set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Section 4. Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations. The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Private Placement Units are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each 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. The Company shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser

E. Investor Rights Agreement. The Company shall have entered into an Investor Rights Agreement with the Purchaser and Post and such Investor Rights Agreement shall still be in effect as of each Closing Date.

Section 5. Conditions of the Company’s Obligations. The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

A. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.

 

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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 Units hereunder.

D. No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

E. Warrant Agreement. The Company shall have entered into a Warrant Agreement with a warrant agent on terms satisfactory to the Company.

Section 6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time after 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 the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the Securities Act.

Section 9. Miscellaneous.

A. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, 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.

 

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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.

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:

POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION
By:    

 

Name:

Title:

PURCHASER:

PHPC SPONSOR, LLC

By:    

 

Name:

Title:

 

[Signature page to Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement]

Exhibit 10.9

FORM OF FORWARD PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Forward Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of                 , 2021, by and between Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and PHPC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”).

Recitals

WHEREAS, the Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar partnering transaction with one or more businesses (a “Partnering Transaction”);

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) for its initial public offering (“IPO”) of 30,000,000 units (or 34,500,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option (the “IPO Option”) is exercised in full) (the “Public Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Public Unit, each Public Unit comprised of one share of the Company’s Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A Shares,” and the Series A Shares included in the Public Units, the “Public Shares”), and a fraction of one redeemable warrant, where each whole redeemable warrant is exercisable to purchase one Series A Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (the “Warrants,” and the Warrants included in the Public Units the “Public Warrants”);

WHEREAS, the Purchaser, who is the Company’s sponsor, has agreed to purchase units of the Company in a private placement that will close contemporaneously with the closing of the IPO (the “Private Placement Units”);

WHEREAS, following the closing of the IPO (the “IPO Closing”), the Company will seek to identify and consummate a Partnering Transaction;

WHEREAS, the parties wish to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which concurrently with the closing of the Company’s initial Partnering Transaction (the “Partnering Transaction Closing”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, on a private placement basis, the number of units (the “Forward Purchase Units”) determined pursuant to Sections 1(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv) hereof, each comprised of one share of the Company’s Series B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series B Shares” (each, a “Forward Purchase Share”), and one-third of one redeemable warrant, where each whole redeemable warrant is exercisable to purchase one Series A Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (each, a “Forward Purchase Warrant”), on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the Forward Purchase Units, the Forward Purchase Shares, the Forward Purchase Warrants underlying the Forward Purchase Units and the Series A Shares underlying the Forward Purchase Warrants, the “Forward Purchase Securities”);

WHEREAS, proceeds from the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Units in an aggregate amount equal to the gross proceeds from the IPO will be deposited into a trust account for the benefit of the holders of the Public Shares (the “Trust Account”), as described in the Registration Statement; and

WHEREAS, the amounts available to the Company from the Trust Account (after giving effect to any redemptions of Public Shares) and any other equity or debt financing obtained by the Company in connection with the Partnering Transaction (the “Available Cash”), together with the proceeds from the sale of the Forward Purchase Units, will be used to satisfy the cash requirements of the Partnering Transaction, including funding the purchase price and paying expenses and retaining amounts specified in the definitive agreement for the Partnering Transaction (the “Definitive Agreement”) to be retained for use by the post-Partnering Transaction company for working capital or other purposes (the “Cash Requirements”);


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, representations, warranties and the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Agreement

1. Sale and Purchase.

 

  (a)

Forward Purchase Units.

(i) Subject to Sections 1(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, up to a maximum of 10,000,000 Forward Purchase Units (the “Maximum Units”) for a purchase price of $10.00 per Forward Purchase Unit (the “Forward Purchase Price”), or up to a maximum of $100,000,000 in the aggregate. Each Forward Purchase Warrant and its underlying Series A Share will have the same terms as the Warrants and their underlying Series A Shares to be issued in the IPO. Each Forward Purchase Warrant will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Warrant Agreement to be entered into between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, in connection with the IPO.

(ii) The number of Forward Purchase Units to be issued and sold by the Company and purchased by the Purchaser hereunder shall be determined as follows:

(A) As soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Company’s entry into the Definitive Agreement, the Company shall provide the Purchaser with notice (the “Initial Company Notice”) of the number of Forward Purchase Units that it desires the Purchaser to purchase pursuant to this Agreement, which shall be equal to its good faith estimate of that number which, after payment of the aggregate Forward Purchase Price by the Purchaser, will result in gross proceeds to the Company equal to the amount of funds necessary for the Company to satisfy the Cash Requirements less the Available Cash; provided, however, that such number shall in no event exceed the Maximum Units;

(iii) At least two (2) Business Days before the Partnering Transaction Closing, the Company shall provide the Purchaser with an updated notice (the “Final Company Notice”) including:

(A) its determination, based on the actual number of Public Shares validly submitted for redemption or other changes in the Cash Requirements, of the number of Forward Purchase Units that it requires the Purchaser to purchase pursuant to this Agreement;

(B) the anticipated date of the Partnering Transaction Closing; and

(C) instructions for wiring the Forward Purchase Price.

(iv) In the event that any Definitive Agreement is terminated or the transaction contemplated thereby is abandoned, the procedures completed pursuant to clause (ii) and (iii) above to determine the number of Forward Purchase Units to be purchased by the Purchaser in connection with such Definitive Agreement shall be disregarded and the provisions of clause (ii) and clause (iii) above must be separately completed for each Definitive Agreement entered into by the Company.

 

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(v) The closing of the sale of Forward Purchase Units (the “Forward Closing”) shall be held on the same date and concurrently with the Partnering Transaction Closing (such date being referred to as the “Forward Closing Date”). At least one (1) Business Day prior to the Forward Closing Date, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Company the Forward Purchase Price for the Forward Purchase Units by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company in such notice to be held in escrow until the Forward Closing. Immediately prior to the Forward Closing on the Forward Closing Date, (i) the Forward Purchase Price shall be released from escrow automatically and without further action by the Company or the Purchaser, and (ii) upon such release, the Company shall issue the Forward Purchase Units to the Purchaser in book-entry form, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions whatsoever (other than those arising under state or federal securities laws), registered in the name of the Purchaser (or its nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions), or to a custodian designated by the Purchaser, as applicable. In the event the Partnering Transaction Closing does not occur within five (5) Business Days of the date scheduled for closing, the Forward Closing shall not occur and the Company shall promptly (but not later than one (1) Business Day thereafter) return the Forward Purchase Price to the Purchaser. For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law or regulation to close in the City of New York, New York.

(b) Legends. Each register and book entry for the Forward Purchase Securities shall contain a notation, and each certificate (if any) evidencing the Forward Purchase Securities shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend, in substantially the following form:

“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.”

2. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company as follows, as of the date hereof:

(a) Organization and Power. The Purchaser is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

(b) Authorization. The Purchaser has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement. This Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Purchaser, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and any other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies, or (iii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Registration Rights (as defined below) may be limited by applicable federal or state securities laws.

 

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(c) Governmental Consents and Filings. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any federal, state or local governmental authority is required on the part of the Purchaser in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Compliance with Other Instruments. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in any violation or default (i) of any provisions of its organizational documents, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree to which it is a party or by which it is bound, (iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage to which it is a party or by which it is bound, (iv) under any lease, agreement, contract or purchase order to which it is a party or by which it is bound or (v) of any provision of federal or state statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Purchaser, in each case (other than clause (i)), which would have a material adverse effect on the Purchaser or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(e) Purchase Entirely for Own Account. This Agreement is made with the Purchaser in reliance upon the Purchaser’s representation to the Company, which by the Purchaser’s execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby confirms, that the Forward Purchase Securities to be acquired by the Purchaser will be acquired for investment for the Purchaser’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of any state or federal securities laws, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same in violation of law. By executing this Agreement, the Purchaser further represents that the Purchaser does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Forward Purchase Securities. For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or any government or any department or agency thereof.

(f) Disclosure of Information. The Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management, financial affairs and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Forward Purchase Units, as well as the terms of the Company’s proposed IPO, with the Company’s management.

(g) Restricted Securities. The Purchaser understands that the offer and sale of the Forward Purchase Units to the Purchaser has not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. The Purchaser understands that the Forward Purchase Securities are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, the Purchaser must hold the Forward Purchase Securities indefinitely unless they are registered with the SEC and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Forward Purchase Securities, or any Series A Shares into which the Forward Purchase Securities may be converted or exercised, for resale, except for the Registration Rights. The Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Forward Purchase Securities, and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of the Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company filed the Registration Statement for its proposed IPO. The Purchaser understands that the offering of the Forward Purchase Securities is not, and is not intended to be, part of the IPO, and that the Purchaser will not be able to rely on the protection of Section 11 of the Securities Act with respect to the Forward Purchase Securities.

 

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(h) No Public Market. The Purchaser understands that no public market now exists for the Forward Purchase Securities, and that the Company has made no assurances that a public market will ever exist for the Forward Purchase Securities.

(i) High Degree of Risk. The Purchaser understands that its agreement to purchase the Forward Purchase Securities involves a high degree of risk which could cause the Purchaser to lose all or part of its investment.

(j) Accredited Investor. The Purchaser is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

(k) No General Solicitation. Neither the Purchaser, nor any of its officers, members, managers, employees or agents has either directly or indirectly, including, through a broker or finder, (i) engaged in any general solicitation, or (ii) published any advertisement in connection with the offer and sale of the Forward Purchase Units.

(l) Residence. The Purchaser’s principal place of business is the office or offices located at the address of the Purchaser set forth on the signature page hereof.

(m) Non-Public Information. The Purchaser acknowledges its obligations under applicable securities laws with respect to the treatment of non-public information relating to the Company.

(n) Adequacy of Financing. At the time of the Forward Closing, the Purchaser will have available to it sufficient funds to satisfy its obligations under this Agreement.

(o) No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance. Except for the specific representations and warranties contained in this Section 2 and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, none of the Purchaser nor any person acting on behalf of the Purchaser nor any of the Purchaser’s affiliates (the “Purchaser Parties”) has made, makes or shall be deemed to make any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Purchaser and this offering, and the Purchaser Parties disclaim any such representation or warranty. Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by the Company in Section 3 of this Agreement and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, the Purchaser Parties specifically disclaim that they are relying upon any other representations or warranties that may have been made by the Company, any person on behalf of the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates (collectively, the “Company Parties”).

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

(a) Incorporation and Corporate Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. The Company has no subsidiaries.

(b) Capitalization. The authorized share capital of the Company will consist, as of or prior to the IPO Closing, of:

(i) 500,000,000 Series A Shares, none of which are issued and outstanding.

 

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(ii) 80,000,000 Series B Shares, none of which are issued and outstanding.

(iii) 40,000,000 shares of the Company’s Series C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, none of which are issued and outstanding.

(iv) 40,000,000 shares of the Company’s Series F common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series F Shares”), 8,625,000 of which are issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding Series F Shares have been duly authorized, are fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

(v) 10,000,000 preferred shares, none of which are issued and outstanding.

(c) Authorization. All corporate action required to be taken by the Company’s Board of Directors and stockholders in order to authorize the Company to enter into this Agreement, and to issue the Forward Purchase Securities at the Forward Closing, and the securities issuable upon exercise of the Forward Purchase Warrants, has been taken or will be taken prior to the Forward Closing. All action on the part of the stockholders, directors and officers of the Company necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of all obligations of the Company under this Agreement to be performed as of the Forward Closing, and the issuance and delivery of the Forward Purchase Securities and the securities issuable upon exercise of the Forward Purchase Warrants has been taken or will be taken prior to the Forward Closing. This Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Company, shall constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (iii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Registration Rights may be limited by applicable federal or state securities laws.

(d) Valid Issuance of Securities. The Forward Purchase Securities, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms and for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, and the securities issuable upon exercise of the Forward Purchase Warrants, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Forward Purchase Warrants and this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, as applicable, and free of all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, encumbrances and charges with respect to the issue thereof and restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer specified under this Agreement, applicable state and federal securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the Purchaser. Assuming the accuracy of the representations of the Purchaser in this Agreement and subject to the filings described in Section 3(e) below, the Forward Purchase Securities will be issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

(e) Governmental Consents and Filings. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Purchaser in this Agreement, no consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any federal, state or local governmental authority is required on the part of the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for filings pursuant to Regulation D of the Securities Act, and applicable state securities laws, if any, and pursuant to the Registration Rights.

(f) Compliance with Other Instruments. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in any violation or default (i) of any provisions of the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Charter”), bylaws or other governing documents of the Company, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound,

 

6


(iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, (iv) under any lease, agreement, contract or purchase order to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or (v) of any provision of federal or state statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, in each case (other than clause (i)) which would have a material adverse effect on the Company or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(g) Operations. As of the date hereof, the Company has not conducted, and prior to the IPO Closing the Company will not conduct, any operations other than organizational activities and activities in connection with offerings of its securities.

(h) No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or stockholders has either directly or indirectly, including, through a broker or finder, (i) engaged in any general solicitation, or (ii) published any advertisement in connection with the offer and sale of the Forward Purchase Units.

(i) No Other Representations and Warranties; Non-Reliance. Except for the specific representations and warranties contained in this Section 3 and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, none of the Company Parties has made, makes or shall be deemed to make any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company, this offering, the proposed IPO or a potential Partnering Transaction, and the Company Parties disclaim any such representation or warranty. Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by the Purchaser in Section 2 of this Agreement and in any certificate or agreement delivered pursuant hereto, the Company Parties specifically disclaim that they are relying upon any other representations or warranties that may have been made by the Purchaser Parties.

4. Registration Rights; Transfer

(a) Registration Rights. The Purchaser shall be granted registration rights by the Company related to the Forward Purchase Warrants and the Forward Purchase Shares pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be entered into with the Company, a form of which has been filed with the registration statement relating to the Company’s IPO (the “Registration Rights”).

(b) Transfer. This Agreement and all of the Purchaser’s rights and obligations hereunder (including the Purchaser’s obligation to purchase the Forward Purchase Units) may be transferred or assigned, at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, to one or more affiliates of the Purchaser (each such transferee, a “Transferee”). Upon any such assignment:

(i) the applicable Transferee shall execute a signature page to this Agreement, substantially in the form of the Purchaser’s signature page hereto (the “Joinder Agreement”), which shall reflect the number of Forward Purchase Units to be purchased by such Transferee (the “Transferee Securities”), and, upon such execution, such Transferee shall have all the same rights and obligations of the Purchaser hereunder with respect to the Transferee Securities, and references herein to the “Purchaser” shall be deemed to refer to and include any such Transferee with respect to such Transferee and to its Transferee Securities; provided, that any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Purchaser and any such Transferee shall be several and not joint and shall be made as to the Purchaser or any such Transferee, as applicable, as to itself only; and

(ii) upon a Transferee’s execution and delivery of a Joinder Agreement, the number of Forward Purchase Units to be purchased by the Purchaser hereunder shall be reduced by the total number of Forward Purchase Units to be purchased by the applicable Transferee pursuant to the applicable Joinder Agreement, which reduction shall be evidenced by the Purchaser and the Company amending

 

7


Schedule A to this Agreement to reflect each transfer and updating the “Number of Forward Purchase Units” and “Aggregate Purchase Price for Forward Purchase Units” on the Purchaser’s signature page hereto to reflect such reduced number of Forward Purchase Units, and the Purchaser shall be fully and unconditionally released from its obligation to purchase such Transferee Securities hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement need not be amended and restated in its entirety, but only Schedule A and the Purchaser’s signature page hereto need be so amended and updated and executed by each of the Purchaser and the Company upon the occurrence of any such transfer of Transferee Securities.

5. Additional Agreements, Acknowledgements and Waivers of the Purchaser.

(a) Lock-up; Transfer Restrictions. The Purchaser agrees that it shall not Transfer any Forward Purchase Units (or the Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, including the Series A Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Forward Purchase Warrants) until 30 days after the completion of the initial Partnering Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Transfers of the Forward Purchase Units (and the underlying Series B Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants, including the Series A Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such warrants) are permitted (any such transferees, the “Permitted Transferees”): (A) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any members of the Purchaser, or any affiliates of the Purchaser; (B) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family, to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization; (C) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (D) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (E) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of a Partnering Transaction at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (F) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of a Partnering Transaction; (G) in the event of the Company’s liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Series A Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of a Partnering Transaction; (H) as a distribution to limited partners, members or stockholders of the Purchaser; (I) to the Purchaser’s affiliates, to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the Purchaser or any of its affiliates, or to any investment manager or investment advisor of the Purchaser or an affiliate of any such investment manager or investment advisor; (J) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (A) through (I) above; (K) to the Purchaser or any Transferee hereunder; (L) by virtue of the laws of the Purchaser’s jurisdiction of formation or its organizational documents upon dissolution of the Purchaser; and (M) pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (A) through (E) and (H) through (L), these Permitted Transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions. “Transfer” shall mean the (x) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecation, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position (within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder) with respect to, any of the Forward Purchase Securities (excluding any pledges in the ordinary course of business for bona fide financing purposes or as part of prime brokerage arrangements), (y) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any of the Forward Purchase Securities, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such Forward Purchase Securities, in cash or otherwise, or (z) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (x) or (y).

 

8


(b) Trust Account.

(i) The Purchaser hereby acknowledges that it is aware that the Company will establish the Trust Account for the benefit of its public stockholders upon the IPO Closing. The Purchaser, for itself and its affiliates, hereby agrees that it has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company, except for redemption and liquidation rights, if any, the Purchaser may have in respect of any Public Shares held by it.

(ii) The Purchaser hereby agrees that it shall have no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future, except for redemption and liquidation rights, if any, the Purchaser may have in respect of any Public Shares held by it. In the event the Purchaser has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, the Purchaser shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the property or any monies in the Trust Account, except for redemption and liquidation rights, if any, the Purchaser may have in respect of any Public Shares held by it.

6. NYSE Listing. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the listing of the Series A Shares and Public Warrants on The New York Stock Exchange (the “NSYE”) (or another national securities exchange) at the time of the Partnering Transaction Closing.

7. Forward Closing Conditions.

(a) The obligation of the Purchaser to purchase the Forward Purchase Units at the Forward Closing under this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Forward Closing of each of the following conditions, any of which, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, may be waived by the Purchaser:

(i) The Partnering Transaction shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the purchase of the Forward Purchase Units;

(ii) The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser a certificate evidencing the Company’s good standing as a Delaware corporation;

(iii) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement shall have been true and correct as of the date hereof and shall be true and correct as of the Forward Closing Date, as applicable, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date (other than any such representation or warranty that is made by its terms as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such specified date), except where the failure to be so true and correct would not have a material adverse effect on the Company or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(iv) The Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Forward Closing; and

(v) No order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination, or award shall have been entered by or with any governmental, regulatory, or administrative authority or any court, tribunal, or judicial, or arbitral body, and no other legal restraint or prohibition shall be in effect, preventing the purchase by the Purchaser of the Forward Purchase Units.

 

9


(b) The obligation of the Company to sell the Forward Purchase Units at the Forward Closing under this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Forward Closing of each of the following conditions, any of which, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, may be waived by the Company:

(i) The Partnering Transaction shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the purchase of Forward Purchase Units;

(ii) The representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement shall have been true and correct as of the date hereof and shall be true and correct as of the Forward Closing Date, as applicable, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date (other than any such representation or warranty that is made by its terms as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such specified date), except where the failure to be so true and correct would not have a material adverse effect on the Purchaser or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(iii) The Purchaser shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Purchaser at or prior to the Forward Closing; and

(iv) No order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination, or award shall have been entered by or with any governmental, regulatory, or administrative authority or any court, tribunal, or judicial, or arbitral body, and no other legal restraint or prohibition shall be in effect, preventing the purchase by the Purchaser of the Forward Purchase Units.

8. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Forward Closing:

(a) by mutual written consent of the Company and the Purchaser;

(b) automatically

(i) if the IPO is not consummated on or prior to twelve months from the date of this Agreement; or

(ii) if the Partnering Transaction is not consummated within 24 months from the closing of the IPO (or twenty-seven (27) months from the closing of the IPO if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for the Partnering Transaction within twenty-four (24) months from the closing of the IPO but has not completed the Partnering Transaction within such twenty-four (24) month period), or such later date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders.

In the event of any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8, the Forward Purchase Price (and interest thereon, if any), if previously paid, and all Purchaser’s funds paid in connection herewith shall be promptly returned to the Purchaser, and thereafter this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of the Purchaser or the Company and their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, managers, members, or stockholders and all rights and obligations of each party shall cease; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 8 shall relieve either party from liabilities or damages arising out of any fraud or willful breach by such party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement.

 

10


9. General Provisions.

(a) Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt, or (i) personal delivery to the party to be notified, (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile (if any) during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s next Business Day, (iii) five (5) Business Days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (iv) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next Business Day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications sent to the Company shall be sent to: Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, c/o Post Holdings, Inc., 2503 S. Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, Attn: Brad Harper, email: brad.harper@postholdings.com, with a copy to the Company’s counsel at: Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022, Attn: Christian Nagler and Wayne Williams, email: christian.nagler@kirkland.com and wayne.williams@kirkland.com.

All communications to the Purchaser shall be sent to the Purchaser’s address as set forth on the signature page hereof, or to such e-mail address, facsimile number (if any) or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 9(a).

(b) No Finder’s Fees. Each party represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finder’s fee or commission in connection with this transaction. The Purchaser agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Company from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Purchaser or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Company or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

(c) Survival of Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Forward Closing.

(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any documents, instruments and writings that are delivered pursuant hereto or referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.

(e) Successors. All of the terms, agreements, covenants, representations, warranties, and conditions of this Agreement are binding upon, and inure to the benefit of and are enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective successors. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

(f) Assignments. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, no party hereto may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party.

(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

11


(h) Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

(i) Governing Law. This Agreement, the entire relationship of the parties hereto, and any dispute between the parties (whether grounded in contract, tort, statute, law or equity) shall be governed by, construed in accordance with, and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice of laws principles.

(j) Jurisdiction. The parties (i) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of the state courts of New York and to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement, (ii) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement except in state courts of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (iii) hereby waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court.

(k) Waiver of Jury Trial. The parties hereto hereby waive any right to a jury trial in connection with any litigation pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

(l) Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision except with the prior written consent of the Company and the Purchaser.

(m) Severability. The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof; provided, that if any provision of this Agreement, as applied to any party hereto or to any circumstance, is adjudged by a governmental authority, arbitrator, or mediator not to be enforceable in accordance with its terms, the parties hereto agree that the governmental authority, arbitrator, or mediator making such determination will have the power to modify the provision in a manner consistent with its objectives such that it is enforceable, and/or to delete specific words or phrases, and in its reduced form, such provision will then be enforceable and will be enforced.

(n) Expenses. Each of the Company and the Purchaser will bear its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including all fees and expenses of agents, representatives, financial advisors, legal counsel and accountants. The Company shall be responsible for the fees of its transfer agent; stamp taxes and all of The Depository Trust Company’s fees associated with the issuance of the Forward Purchase Securities and the securities issuable upon conversion or exercise of the Forward Purchase Securities.

(o) Construction. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Any reference to any federal, state, local, or foreign law will be deemed also to refer to law as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form

 

12


will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.

(p) Waiver. No waiver by any party hereto of any default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent occurrence.

(q) Specific Performance. The Purchaser agrees that irreparable damage may occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof and that the Company shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

PURCHASER:
PHPC SPONSOR, LLC
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
Address for Notices: [_____]

[_____]

E-mail:                      [________________]
COMPANY:
POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
         Title:

 

 

[Signature Page to Forward Purchase Agreement]


TO BE EXECUTED UPON ANY ASSIGNMENT AND/OR REVISION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS AGREEMENT TO “NUMBER OF FORWARD PURCHASE UNITS” AND “AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE FOR FORWARD PURCHASE UNITS” SET FORTH BELOW

Number of Forward Purchase Units:

Aggregate Purchase Price for Forward Purchase Units: $                        

Number of Forward Purchase Units and Aggregate Purchase Price for Forward Purchase Units as of                , 202[    ], accepted and agreed to as of this                day of                , 202[    ].

 

[                 ]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS OF FORWARD PURCHASE UNITS

The following transfers of a portion of the original number of Forward Purchase Units have been made:

 

Date of Transfer

 

Transferee

 

Number of Forward

Purchase Units

Transferred

  

Purchaser Revised

Forward Purchase

Units

Amount

 

A-1


TO BE EXECUTED UPON ANY ASSIGNMENT OR FINAL DETERMINATION OF FORWARD PURCHASE UNITS:

Schedule A as of                , 202[    ], accepted and agreed to as of this                day of                , 202[    ] by:

 

[                ]                                  POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION
By:  

         

    By:   

             

Name:  

 

    Name:   

 

Title:  

 

    Title:   

 

 

A-2

Exhibit 10.10

Surrender of Shares and

Amendment No. 1 to the

Securities Subscription Agreement

This Surrender of Shares and Amendment No. 1 to the Securities Subscription Agreement, dated April 8, 2021 (this “Agreement”), is made by and between Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and PHPC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Subscriber”).

WHEREAS, the Company and the Subscriber have entered into that certain Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2021 (the “Subscription Agreement”), pursuant to which the Subscriber subscribed for an aggregate of 11,500,000 shares of Series F common stock, par value $0.0001 per share of the Company (“Series F Shares”), for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, and up to 1,500,000 of such Series F Shares are subject to complete or partial forfeiture by the Subscriber if the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “IPO”) do not fully exercise their over-allotment option as described therein;

WHEREAS, the Subscriber desires to surrender for no consideration 2,875,000 Series F Shares, resulting in an aggregate of 8,625,000 Series F shares outstanding, up to 1,125,000 of which are intended to be subject to complete or partial forfeiture by the Subscriber if the underwriters of the Company’s IPO do not fully exercise their over-allotment option as described in the Subscription Agreement;

WHEREAS, as a result of such surrender, the per-share purchase price will increase from approximately $0.002 per share to $0.003 per share; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Subscriber desire to amend the Subscription Agreement to modify the number of Series F Shares subject to forfeiture in connection with the IPO and the Subscriber desires to provide an irrevocable notice of surrender of certain Series F Shares to the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual conditions and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

  1.

Surrender of Shares.

 

  (a)

The Subscriber hereby irrevocably surrenders to the Company for no consideration 2,875,000 Series F Shares.

 

  (b)

The Subscriber confirms that the Company has not, as at the date of this letter, issued any share certificates to it.

 

  2.

Amendment to Subscription Agreement. Section 3.1 of the Subscription Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with a new Section 3.1 to read as follows:

“3.1. Partial or No Exercise of the Over-allotment Option. In the event the Over-allotment Option granted to the representative(s) of the underwriters of the Company’s IPO is not exercised in full, the Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that it shall forfeit any and all rights to such number of Shares (up to an aggregate of 1,125,000 Shares and pro rata based upon the percentage of the Over-allotment Option exercised) such that immediately following such forfeiture, the Subscriber (and all other initial shareholders prior to the IPO, if any) will own an aggregate number of Shares (not including shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of any warrants or any shares of Common Stock purchased by Subscriber in the IPO, in a private placement in connection with the IPO, or in the aftermarket) equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately following the IPO.”

 

  3.

Agreement Remains Effective. Except as modified herein or amended hereby, the terms and conditions contained in the Subscription Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.


  4.

Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of Delaware applicable to contracts wholly performed within the borders of such state, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof.

 

  5.

Headings and Captions. The headings and captions of the various subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall in no way modify or affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

  6.

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

POST HOLDINGS PARTNERING CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Robert V. Vitale
 

Name:  Robert V. Vitale

Title:    President and Chief Investment Officer

 

PHPC SPONSOR, LLC
By:   /s/ Robert V. Vitale
 

Name:  Robert V. Vitale

Title:    President

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement on Amendment No. 4 to Form S-1 of our report dated April 8, 2021, relating to the financial statements of Post Holdings Partnering Corporation, which is contained in that Prospectus. We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC

New York, New York

April 8, 2021