As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 9, 2024

Registration No. 333-280275

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

____________________________________________

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

____________________________________________

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

____________________________________________

Cayman Islands

 

6770

 

N/A

(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification Number)

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 738-6680
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

____________________________________________

Donald J. Puglisi
Puglisi & Associates
850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
(302) 738-6680
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

____________________________________________

Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:

Alan I. Annex, Esq.
Jason Simon, Esq.

Yuta N. Delarck, Esq.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
1750 Tysons Blvd., Suite 1000
McLean, VA 22102
Tel: (703) 749-1300

 

David A. Miller, Esq.
Jeffrey M. Gallant, Esq.
Graubard Miller
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue, 44
th Floor
New York, NY 10174
Tel: (212) 818
-8800

____________________________________________

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

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 registered 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, 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 pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act 

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

 

Table of Contents

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. The preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and does not constitute the solicitation of offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

preliminary PROSPECTUS

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 9, 2024

$175,000,000

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

17,500,000 Units

Tavia Acquisition Corp. is a Cayman Islands exempted company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our “initial business combination” or our “business combination.” We may pursue a business combination with a target in any industry or geographic location that we choose, although we intend to primarily direct our attention on target businesses in North America and Europe focused on energy transition, the circular economy and food technologies.

This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one convertible preferred share and one-half of one warrant. We will not issue fractional ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants and only whole ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants will trade, so unless you purchase units in multiples of two, you will not be able to receive or trade the ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants included in the units. We have also granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,625,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any.

Each whole convertible preferred share will vote with the ordinary shares on all matters requiring a shareholder vote and will not pay any dividends before the initial business combination. It is currently contemplated that commencing upon the completion of our initial business combination, each whole convertible preferred share will pay an annual dividend of $0.60 per share, payable quarterly in cash or in kind at our option. Additionally, after the consummation of our initial business combination, each whole convertible preferred share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) will be (i) convertible into ordinary shares at the option of the holder at any time at a conversion price of $11.50 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) and (ii) mandatorily converted into ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share if the last sales price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $14.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period commencing after the consummation of our initial business combination and the 30-day average daily trading volume ending on (and including) the date of determination is greater than or equal to 100,000 shares during the first two years after the consummation of the business combination and 75,000 shares thereafter. There is no fee to investors associated with the conversion. To illustrate the conversion mechanics, assuming no accrued and unpaid dividends, an investor would receive 100 ordinary shares for every 115 convertible preferred shares and the conversion ratio for each preferred share to ordinary share would be approximately 1-to-0.87. The payment of dividends on the convertible preferred shares at a certain rate or at all is not guaranteed and is subject to uncertainty as the terms of the convertible preferred shares may be amended in connection with our initial business combination, subject to applicable law and as further described herein and may depend on the post-combination company’s ability to pay such dividends. Further, the ability to pay such dividends in kind at the combined company’s option may result in dilution to existing shareholders. We might also consider amending the terms of the convertible preferred shares, including with respect to dividend rate or conversion price, if we believe it would make the consummation of the business combination more likely or reduce the number of public shares being redeemed in connection with such business combination, provided that any amendment that would alter the terms of the convertible preferred shares in a manner that has a material adverse effect on the rights of the holders of convertible preferred shares would need to be approved by a majority of preferred shareholders.

Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Only whole warrants are exercisable. Each warrant will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and will expire on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

We will provide the holders of our ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares included in the units sold in this offering, which we refer to collectively throughout this prospectus as our public shares, with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares (in any combination of ordinary shares and preferred shares) upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, described below, as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (as described in this prospectus), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. Only whole ordinary and preferred shares can be redeemed and, as a result, an investor must own an even number of units to fully redeem its holdings as each unit contains one-half of one ordinary share and one-half of one preferred share. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem 100% of the public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and as further described herein.

 

Table of Contents

Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd., which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our “sponsor,” and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., the representative of the underwriters in this offering, and which we refer to throughout this prospectus as “EBC” or the “representative,” have agreed that they and/or their designees will purchase from us an aggregate of 4,500,000 warrants, or “private warrants” (2,312,500 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and 2,187,500 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees), at a price of $1.00 per warrant for a total purchase price of $4,500,000 in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor and EBC have also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they and/or their designees will purchase from us up to an additional 525,000 private warrants on a pro rata basis (up to 269,792 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and up to 255,208 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees) at a price of $1.00 per warrant in an amount that is necessary to maintain in the trust account $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering. The private warrants are identical to the warrants included in the units sold in this offering. Our sponsor and EBC have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private warrants or underlying securities (with certain exceptions) until the completion of our initial business combination.

Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private warrants, $175,000,000 or $201,250,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per public share in either case), will be deposited into a U.S.-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 fund our working capital requirements or to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private warrants that are deposited in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to consummate a business combination or to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law. The 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 shareholders.

We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. No offer or invitation to subscribe for securities may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands.

Currently, there is no public market for our units, ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants. We expect to apply to list our units on the Nasdaq Global Market, or “NASDAQ,” and apply to reserve the symbol “[•]” for our units. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on NASDAQ. We expect the ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 90th day following the date of this prospectus unless EBC informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, we expect that the ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants will be listed on NASDAQ under the symbols “[•],” “[•]” and “[•],” respectively.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 31 for a discussion of the information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors under Rule 419 blank check offerings.

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

 

Per Unit

 

Total

Public offering price

 

$

10.00

 

$

175,000,000

Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)

 

$

0.20

 

$

3,500,000

Proceeds, before expenses, to Tavia Acquisition Corp.

 

$

9.80

 

$

171,500,000

____________

(1)      The underwriters have received and will receive compensation in addition to the underwriting discount, including an aggregate of 200,000 ordinary shares, or “EBC founder shares,” and fees pursuant to a Business Combination Marketing Agreement. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Underwriting” for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters.

The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the units to the purchasers on or about [•], 2024.

Book-Running Manager

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

[•], 2024

 

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information, and we take no responsibility for any other information others may give to you. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.

 

Page

Summary

 

1

Risk Factors

 

31

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

65

Use of Proceeds

 

66

Dividend Policy

 

70

Dilution

 

71

Capitalization

 

73

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

74

Proposed Business

 

80

Management

 

102

Principal Shareholders

 

109

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

 

111

Description of Securities

 

114

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

130

Underwriting

 

141

Legal Matters

 

150

Experts

 

150

Where You Can Find Additional Information

 

150

Index to Financial Statements

 

F-1

i

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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 the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before investing.

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

        “amended and restated memorandum and articles of association” are to our memorandum and articles of association to be in effect upon completion of this offering;

        “Companies Act” are to the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands as the same may be amended from time to time;

        “company,” “our company” “we,” “us” or “our” are to Tavia Acquisition Corp, a Cayman Islands exempted company;

        “convertible preferred shares” are to our preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share, that are being issued in this offering;

        “EBC founder shares” or “EBC Founder Shares” are to 200,000 ordinary shares that we issued to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. for an aggregate purchase price of $994 in a private placement prior to this offering (for the avoidance of doubt, such ordinary shares will not be “public shares”);

        equity-linked securities” are to any securities of our company which are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, ordinary shares of our company, including but not limited to equity or debt securities issued in a private placement;

        “founder shares” are to 5,031,250 ordinary shares that we have issued to our sponsor for a purchase price of $25,000 in a private placement prior to this offering (for the avoidance of doubt, such ordinary shares will not be “public shares”);

        initial shareholdersare to our sponsor and the other holders of our founder shares prior to this offering, if any, but excluding the holders of the EBC founder shares;

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

        “ordinary shares” are to our ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share;

        permitted withdrawals” are to amounts withdrawn from interest earned on the trust account (and not from the principal held in the trust account) to fund our working capital requirements, subject to an annual limit of $1,000,000, and/or to pay our taxes, if any;

        “private warrants” are to the warrants that are being issued to our sponsor, EBC and/or their designees in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering, as well as any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans, all of which are identical to the public warrants;

        “public shares” are to our ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares that are being sold as part of the units in this offering;

        “public shareholders” are to the holders of our public shares, including our initial shareholders and/or members of our management team to the extent they purchase public shares, provided that each such holder’s status as a “public shareholder” shall only exist with respect to such public shares;

        “public units” are to the units that are being sold in this offering, each consisting of one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one convertible preferred share and one-half of one warrant;

        “public warrants” are to the warrants that are being sold as part of the units in this offering;

        “sponsor” are to Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd., a company incorporated in Singapore; and

        “warrants” are to the private warrants and the public warrants, collectively.

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Registered trademarks referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option.

Any forfeiture of shares described in this prospectus will take effect as a surrender of shares for no consideration as a matter of Cayman Islands law. Any share dividends described in this prospectus will take effect as a share capitalization as a matter of Cayman Islands law.

PROPOSED BUSINESS

Our Company

We are a blank check company incorporated on March 7, 2024, as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our “business combination” or “initial business combination,” with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as a “target business” or “target businesses”. While we will consider opportunities in any industry, we are strategically positioned to capitalize on transformative opportunities, focusing on sectors that are pivotal to advancing sustainability and innovation. Our investment thesis prioritizes target businesses primarily in North America and Europe, with a keen interest in new energy businesses, circular economy initiatives, and innovative agricultural and food technologies. These sectors are selected based on their potential to respond to evolving environmental challenges, demographic shifts, and the transition towards sustainable practices. We believe our team’s expertise in these sectors will provide us with a significant competitive advantage in sourcing and evaluating potential targets.

Our management team is led by our Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Kanat Mynzhanov, and our Chief Financial Officer and director, Askar Mametov. Together, they founded Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd., our sponsor.

Mr. Mynzhanov brings a wealth of investment expertise, SPAC leadership, and international deal-making experience to our organization. His track record includes leading strategic acquisitions, founding successful investment funds, and advising on complex financial transactions. Mr. Mynzhanov’s SPAC expertise is highlighted by his role as Chief Executive Officer and director of Oxus Acquisition Corp. (“Oxus”), a special purpose acquisition company that completed a $172 million initial public offering in September 2021. In February 2024, Oxus completed its initial business combination with Borealis Foods Inc., a food tech company with a mission to address growing consumer needs and global food security challenges by developing highly nutritious and functional food products that are delicious, affordable and sustainable. Mr. Mynzhanov remains actively involved with the combined company (referred to in this prospectus as “Borealis”) as a member of its board of directors. The closing price on NASDAQ for the Borealis ordinary shares was $8.98 on June 14, 2024.

In September 2016, Mr. Mynzhanov co-founded Bellprescot Prime Fund, a hedge fund focused on disruptive technology investments in sectors such as the internet of things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and semiconductors. He concurrently founded Bellprescot Asset Management, serving as its chief investment officer from September 2016 to June 2020. Since 2018, Mr. Mynzhanov has been advising on numerous private equity deals in fintech, mobility (including EV battery technologies), and structured products such as tokenization and syndicated co-lending.

Mr. Mynzhanov’s comprehensive experience includes directing the strategic acquisition of distressed chemical plants and critical materials mines in Europe, which we believe further demonstrates his ability to identify and execute complex cross-border and global transactions. Prior to his work in hedge funds and asset management, Mr. Mynzhanov worked at Kazatomprom-Damu, the investment subsidiary of NAC Kazatomprom JSC. As head of investments, he spearheaded mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and business development initiatives within the metals and mining, rare metals, and alternative energy sectors. Mr. Mynzhanov’s career with NAC Kazatomprom JSC began in March 2014, where he oversaw various projects and forged valuable relationships with key industry players. NAC Kazatomprom JSC is the world’s largest uranium producer, which fuels carbon-free electricity generation at nuclear power facilities around the globe. From March 2011 to March 2014, Mr. Mynzhanov’s experience included leadership roles in the oil maritime transportation sector and consulting for firms seeking capital and business development solutions.

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We believe Mr. Mynzhanov’s extensive background in investment management, technology, strategic business development, SPAC leadership, cross-border transactions, and distressed asset acquisitions provide him with a unique and valuable skillset, and that these strengths position him to guide our company’s efforts to complete a successful business combination.

Mr. Mametov served as Oxus’ Chief Financial Officer from Oxus’ inception in February 2021 until the completion of its initial business combination with Borealis in February 2024. Mr. Mametov has over 15 years of executive experience in mining, oil and gas, infrastructure and transportation industries with a thorough understanding of financial reporting (US GAAP and IFRS), taxation and accounting, financial planning and analysis. Mr. Mametov has served as the Director of Kaznedraproject LLP, a private Kazkh oil and gas exploration company, since July 2019. Previously, Mr. Mametov served as chief financial officer of KM Gold Inc., a public Kazakh gold mining company (KASE: KMGD) from August 2016 until October 2019. He led the process of public listing of the company on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange in 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Mametov served as financial controller of Sequa Petroleum Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of Sequa Petroleum, an oil and gas company, listed on Euronext Access (EPA: MLSEQ) from January 2014 to July 2016. From 2007 to 2014, Mr. Mametov served in multiple roles at Caspian Services Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSV), including management reporting, US GAAP financial reporting, as well as IFRS financial reporting for Kazakhstani Stock Exchange (KASE: US_CSSV). In 2007, Mr. Mametov worked at Beeline Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of VEON (Nasdaq: VEON). VEON (formerly Vympelcom). From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Mametov served as financial reporting specialist and consortium accountant in PetroKazakhstan Inc. (TSX: PKZ), a Canadian oil company. Mr. Mametov is a member of IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) and since 2014, has served as the President of Kazakhstan Chapter of IMA.

We have generated no revenues to date and we do not expect that we will generate operating revenues until, at the earliest, we consummate our initial business combination. Our management team is continuously made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for an initial business combination. However, we have not selected any specific target business and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any target business with respect to an initial business combination with us.

Experienced Board of Directors

In addition to Mr. Mynzhanov and Mr. Mametov, we expect to benefit from the experience and networks of the following director nominees:

Christophe Charlier served as one of Oxus’ independent directors from September 2021 until the completion of its initial business combination with Borealis in February 2024. Mr. Charlier is an international financier with over 25 years of experience in investment banking, private equity and international management. Throughout his career he has acted as principal or advised on a number of landmark transactions in the telecoms, financial services, natural resources and sports and entertainment industries across developed and emerging markets. He has served as an independent director of La Française de l’Energie, a French clean energy production company, since April 2016 and chairman of Pure Grass Films, a UK-based film and TV series production company, since 2012. He served as a co-Chairman of Tingo Inc., an African fintech company, from September 2021 to April 2023. Mr. Charlier served as chairman of the board of directors of Renaissance Capital, a leading investment bank focused on emerging and frontier markets, from April 2017 to March 2020. As Chairman, Mr. Charlier coordinated the work of Renaissance Capital’s board of directors and oversaw strategic development, the global brand, and relationships with key clients and stakeholders globally. Previously, Mr. Charlier served as deputy Chief Executive Officer of Onexim Group, a leading private equity fund based in Moscow, from September 2008 to June 2014. In this capacity, he served on the boards of directors of several of Russia’s largest companies including RusAl, Polyus Gold, Quadra-Power Generation, and RBC. He also acted as chairman of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets franchise from 2010 to 2014. Prior to that, from February 2002 to March 2004, Mr. Charlier was director of strategic development of Norilsk Nickel, leading its acquisition of strategic stakes in Stillwater Mining Company and Gold Fields. He started his investment banking career in 1995 at JPMorgan in the M&A Group in New York.

Marsha Kutkevich has worked in the finance industry for over 20 years, primarily in structured products and emerging and capital markets. She founded and has served as Chief Operating Officer of EMVirya Ltd, an FCA regulated investment advisor based in London, since February 2018. EMVirya Ltd, is a privately held financial services firm operating in global emerging markets that is positioning itself at the crossroads of emerging markets and

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renewable energy. Prior to founding EMVirya, Ms. Kutkevitch worked as a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs from April 2015 to September 2016 in London. From 2003 to 2015, Ms. Kutkevitch was a Managing Director at Barclays Capital (Barclays Investment Bank). She ran a business at both Barclays and Goldman whose clients were corporate entities, financial institutions and governmental organizations.

Darrell Mays is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Mays//Mock Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm focused on the TMT, Transportation and Energy sectors. The firm targets companies that serve large small-to-medium-sized businesses (“SMBs”) to enterprise customers that want an opportunity to work with Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified companies. Mr. Mays served on the board of directors of American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc., formerly known as Pensare Acquisition Corp., from July 2017 until May 2023. He also served as Chief Executive Officer between July 2021 and August 2022 and also between July 2017 and September 2020. Mr. Mays was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of nsoro, a turnkey wireless installation services provider, from 2003 to 2008, which was acquired by MasTec in August 2008. Mr. Mays served as an executive of MasTec from August 2008 to December 2016.

Established Deal Sourcing Network

We believe that our management team’s strong background, contacts and sources and geographic reach will provide us with high quality acquisition opportunities and possibly complementary follow-on business arrangements. These contacts and sources include those ranging from industry executives, private owners, private equity funds, family offices, commercial and investment bankers, lawyers and other financial sector service providers and participants.

Status as a Publicly Listed Acquisition Company

We believe that we will be an attractive initial business combination partner to prospective target businesses. As a publicly listed company, we will offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering process. We believe that some of our target businesses will favor this alternative, which we believe is more cost effective while also offering greater certainty of execution than would a traditional initial public offering process. Once public, we believe that the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned with shareholders’ interests than it would as a private company. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aiding in attracting talented management staff.

With respect to the foregoing examples and descriptions, past performance by our management team is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any initial business combination we may consummate. Potential investors should not rely upon the historical record of our management as indicative of future performance.

Business Strategy

We envision a future where sustainable innovation fuels business growth within a circular economy.

We plan to leverage our management team’s experience to deliver value for investors. We believe we will offer a target company the ability to benefit from U.S. capital markets and our deep industry expertise.

Our strategy will be to:

        direct our attention on target businesses focused on new energy technologies, circular economy initiatives, and innovative agricultural and food technologies, with a particular emphasis on companies innovating sustainable solutions across this interconnected landscape;

        focus on target businesses in North America and European markets;

        deploy our team’s expertise to strategically advise and connect with promising targets;

        proactively uncover unique deal opportunities through innovative sourcing methods; and

        navigate complex financial environments and structures to optimize target outcomes.

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Our attention on target businesses focused on energy transition, the circular economy and food technologies is driven by a commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability across these interconnected sectors:

        Energy Transition and Critical Materials

The global shift towards a carbon-neutral economy is accelerating the demand for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. This transition is heavily dependent on critical materials, including but not limited to lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, which are vital for the manufacture of batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), and renewable energy infrastructure. We aim to focus on companies that excel in the ethical sourcing, processing, and recycling of these materials. By supporting businesses that adhere to environmentally responsible practices, we intend to facilitate the development of a sustainable energy ecosystem that reduces environmental impact and supports the worldwide shift to carbon neutral economies.

        Circular Economy

We believe in the transformative potential of the circular economy to create economic growth that is both sustainable and beneficial for society. Our focus within this sector includes but is not limited to:

        Materials Recovery and Recycling:    We target investments in companies that are pioneering innovations in the recycling industry to efficiently process and reclaim valuable materials from waste.

        Product as a Service (PaaS):    We support business models that emphasize product durability and reparability, which contribute to extending the lifecycle of products and reducing waste.

        Biobased Materials:    Our interests extend to companies developing materials from renewable biological resources, which help decrease reliance on fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions. These materials are essential across multiple industries and are pivotal in promoting clean hydrogen solutions in transportation.

        Sustainable Packaging:    We aim to invest in advancements in sustainable packaging solutions that focus on biodegradable materials and technologies that minimize environmental impact and resource use.

        Food Industries and Alternative Proteins

Addressing the sustainability challenges within the global food system, we focus on innovative companies in the alternative proteins sector. Technologies such as fermentation and cellular agriculture represent the forefront of sustainable food solutions. These methods are significantly more resource-efficient than traditional livestock farming and offer scalable solutions to meet the increasing global protein demand while mitigating environmental impacts.

        Broader Opportunities

Beyond the specific sectors mentioned, we are dedicated to exploring broader opportunities in. These include industrial and infrastructure within the context of the transition and circular economies, renewable energy storage solutions, carbon capture technologies, and smart resource management systems. These businesses play a crucial role in enhancing environmental sustainability and resilience, aligning with our commitment to support innovations that address a wide array of ecological challenges.

        Conclusion

By strategically focusing on these interconnected sectors, we aim to drive innovation, enhance sustainability, and create significant value. This approach positions us effectively in facilitating the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

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The pipeline:

Our deal sourcing will seek to leverage the industry networks of our management team, including executives at potential high-growth targets, along with our proactive thematic sourcing. We believe this will generate a robust pipeline of high-potential deals.

The Execution:

We believe that our team’s track record, including their experience with Oxus, a recently completed de-SPAC transaction, demonstrates our ability to identify high-potential targets within our focused sectors. We intend to combine this with a proactive deal-sourcing strategy to allow us to consummate a business combination that fully leverages our team’s operating experience, relationships, and capital markets expertise.

Our management team and the directors have experience in:

        Deal Execution:    Sourcing, structuring, and acquiring businesses, with an emphasis on negotiating favorable terms for investors.

        Strategic Growth:    Fostering relationships with sellers, capital providers, and target management, as well as driving organic and acquisition-led expansion.

        Global Capabilities:    Experience navigating complex cross-border transactions and volatile market conditions.

        Leadership & Operations:    Acquiring businesses, setting strategic direction, and building world-class teams.

        Capital Markets Fluency:    Accessing capital markets, financing businesses, and successfully managing public transitions.

Acquisition Criteria

Our management team intends to focus on creating shareholder value by leveraging its experience in the management, operation, and financing of businesses to improve the efficiency of operations while implementing strategies to scale revenue organically and/or through acquisitions. We have identified the following general criteria and guidelines, which we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. While we intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating prospective businesses, we may deviate from these criteria and guidelines should we see justification to do so.

        Strong Management Team that Can Create Significant Value for Target Business.    We intend to seek targets with professional management teams whose interests are aligned with those of our investors and complement the expertise of our team. When strategically beneficial, we may also look to enhance their expertise, and leverage our network to strengthen their leadership team and drive post-acquisition growth.

        Would Benefit from our Capabilities.    We plan to target businesses primed for strategic growth acceleration through the application of our team’s management and market expertise.

        Revenue and Earnings Growth Potential.    We intend to seek to acquire one or more businesses that have the potential for significant revenue and earnings growth through a combination of both existing and new product development, increased production capacity, expense reduction and synergistic follow-on acquisitions resulting in increased operating leverage.

        Potential for Strong Free Cash Flow Generation.    We intend to prioritize targets with a demonstrable track record of robust and sustainable free cash flow, or the potential to achieve it in the near future.

        Benefit from Being a Public Company.    We intend to acquire a business or businesses that will benefit from being publicly traded and which can effectively utilize access to broader sources of capital and a public profile that are associated with being a publicly traded company.

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These criteria do not intend to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors, and criteria that our sponsor and management team may deem relevant.

Initial Business Combination

We will have up to 24 months from the closing of this offering to consummate an initial business combination. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within such time period, we will, as promptly as possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of our outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (and less up to $100,000 of interest for liquidation and dissolution expenses), and then seek to dissolve and liquidate. However, we may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders.

Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding income interest earned on the trust account and released to us for working capital or to pay taxes) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria.

The funds released to us from the trust account upon the closing of our initial business combination may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we complete our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemption of our public shares, we may use the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account following the closing for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.

In addition, we may be required to obtain additional financing in connection with the closing of our initial business combination to be used following the closing for general corporate purposes or other purposes as described above. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following consummation of this offering. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. We have granted EBC a right of first refusal under certain circumstances for a period commencing from the consummation of this offering until the consummation of our initial business combination (or the liquidation of the trust account in the event that we fail to consummate our initial business combination within the prescribed time period) to act as book running manager, placement agent and/or arranger for all financings where we seek to raise equity, equity-linked, debt or mezzanine financings relating to or in connection with an initial business combination. We are otherwise 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. None of our initial shareholders are required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination.

Pursuant to a Business Combination Marketing Agreement, we have engaged EBC as an advisor in connection with our initial business combination to assist us in holding meetings with our shareholders to discuss the potential business combination and the target business’ attributes, introduce us to potential investors that are interested in purchasing our securities in connection with our initial business combination and assist us with our press releases and public filings in connection with the business combination. We will pay EBC a cash fee for such services upon the consummation of our initial business combination in an amount equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering as further described in the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In addition, we will pay EBC a cash fee in an amount equal to 1.0% of the total consideration payable in the initial business combination if it introduces us to the target business with whom we complete our initial business combination; provided that the foregoing fee will not be paid

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prior to the date that is 60 days from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110.

Our Acquisition Process

Our due diligence process is anticipated to involve meetings with management, document reviews, site visits, and comprehensive analysis of financial data, leveraging our team’s transactional, financial, managerial, and investment expertise.

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated (as defined in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) with our officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, stating that the consideration to be paid by us in such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.

Members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further conflicts could arise if a target company’s terms for a business combination involve the retention or resignation of our officers and directors.

We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target regarding a business combination with our company. We have also not contacted any of the prospective target businesses that Oxus had considered and rejected while such entity was a blank check company searching for target businesses to acquire. We do not currently intend to contact any of such targets; however, we may do so in the future if we become aware that the valuations, operations, profits or prospects of such target business, or the benefits of any potential transaction with such target business, would be attractive.

Each of our officers and directors presently has contractual obligations to other entities, and any of them in the future may have additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities including other special purpose acquisition companies, or “SPACs” pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present an initial business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity under Cayman Islands law.

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one that we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.

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 initial business combination.

Private Placements

In March 2024, our sponsor acquired an aggregate of 5,031,250 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. Prior to the consummation of this offering, our sponsor intends to transfer 50,000 founder shares to each of our independent director nominees at their original purchase price. The founder shares include an aggregate of up to 656,250 founder shares that are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the founder shares will represent 20% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (excluding the EBC founder shares).

In March 2024, we also issued an aggregate of 200,000 EBC founder shares to EBC for an aggregate purchase price of $994. The EBC founder shares are deemed to be underwriters’ compensation by FINRA pursuant to Rule 5110 of the FINRA Manual. See the section titled “Underwriting” for further information related to these arrangements.

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The EBC founder shares cannot be sold, transferred or assigned (except to the same permitted transferees as the founder shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the founder shares must agree to, each as described herein) until the consummation of an initial business combination.

In addition, our sponsor and EBC have agreed that they and/or their designees will purchase from us an aggregate of 4,500,000 private warrants (2,312,500 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and 2,187,500 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees), at a price of $1.00 per warrant for a total purchase price of $4,500,000 in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor and EBC have also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they and/or their designees will purchase from us up to an additional 525,000 private warrants on a pro rata basis (up to 269,792 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and up to 255,208 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees) at a price of $1.00 per warrant in an amount that is necessary to maintain in the trust account $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering. The private warrants are identical to the units sold in this offering. Our sponsor and EBC have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private warrants or underlying securities (with certain exceptions) until the completion of our initial business combination.

The founder shares are identical to the ordinary shares included in the units offered to the public. However, our initial shareholders have agreed (A) to vote their founder shares in favor of any proposed business combination (subject to applicable securities laws), (B) not to propose, or vote in favor of, prior to and unrelated to an initial business combination, an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would affect the substance or timing of our redemption obligation to redeem all public shares if we cannot complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, unless we provide public shareholders an opportunity to redeem their public shares in conjunction with any such amendment, (C) not to redeem any shares, including founder shares, in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination or to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association prior thereto or to sell any shares to us in any tender offer in connection with our proposed initial business combination, and (D) that the founder shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if an initial business combination is not consummated.

On the date of closing of this offering, the founder shares will be placed into an escrow account maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as escrow agent. The founder shares will not, subject to certain exceptions, be transferred, assigned, sold or released from escrow until six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier, if, subsequent to our initial business combination, we consummate a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property.

The holders of the private warrants have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private warrants or underlying shares (except to the same permitted transferees as the founder shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the founder shares must agree to, each as described herein) until the completion of our initial business combination. EBC has also agreed that the EBC founder shares cannot be sold, transferred or assigned (except to the same permitted transferees as the founder shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the founder shares must agree to, each as described herein) until the consummation of an initial business combination.

The proceeds from the private placement of the private warrants will be added to the proceeds of this offering and placed in a trust account in the United States maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds from the sale of the private warrants will be included in the liquidating distribution to the holders of our public shares.

Corporate Information

Our office address is 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711 and our telephone number is (302) 738-6680.

We are a Cayman Islands exempted company. Exempted companies are Cayman Islands companies conducting business mainly outside the Cayman Islands and, as such, are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Act.

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We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder 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 $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.

Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.

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The Offering

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

Securities offered

 

17,500,000 units, at $10.00 per unit (or 20,125,000 units if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full), each unit consisting of:

   

   one-half of one ordinary share;

   one-half of one convertible preferred share; and

   one-half of one warrant.

   

This unit structure is different than unit structures employed by other similar blank check companies. We have structured each unit to contain one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one convertible preferred share and one-half of one warrant. We believe the inclusion of a convertible preferred share in the unit sold in this offering will be viewed as an attractive differentiating factor of our offering and potentially our initial business combination as we think it will provide us with more flexibility in negotiating and marketing a potential business combination. For instance, unlike other similarly structured blank check companies that may seek to do a private offering of convertible securities (whether debt or equity) in connection with the closing of a proposed business combination, the convertible preferred shares issued in this offering will already be freely tradable and can potentially be recycled to new investors in connection with the marketing of a proposed business combination. Purchasers of such shares in the open market would receive freely tradable securities and not have to wait any extended period of time following the business combination to be able to resell such securities if they wished to do so (unlike a typical PIPE investor that would need to wait for a resale registration statement to be filed and declared effective by the SEC after the business combination). Accordingly, although there can be no assurance of this fact, we believe this offering structure will differentiate us from other blank check companies searching for potential target businesses with which to consummate a business combination.

Proposed NASDAQ symbols

 

Units: “[•]”

   

Ordinary Shares: “[•]”

   

Convertible Preferred Shares “[•]”

   

Warrants: “[•]”

Trading commencement and separation of ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants

 



The units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 90th day following the date of this prospectus unless the representative informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have

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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 ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants. No fractional securities will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase units in multiples of two, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole ordinary share, convertible preferred share or warrant underlying the units.

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

Separate trading of ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants is prohibited until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K

 




In no event will the ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants be traded separately until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering. 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 units

Number outstanding after this offering

 

17,500,000 units(1)

Ordinary Shares:

   

Number outstanding before this offering

 

5,231,250 shares(2)

Number outstanding after this offering and private placement

 

13,325,000(1)(3)

Convertible Preferred Shares:

   

Number outstanding before this offering

 

0 shares

Number outstanding after this offering

 

8,750,000(1)

Terms of convertible preferred shares:

 

Each whole convertible preferred share will vote with the ordinary shares on all matters requiring a shareholder vote, and will not pay any dividends prior to the initial business combination. It is currently contemplated that commencing upon the completion of our initial business combination, each whole convertible preferred share will pay an annual dividend of $0.60 per share, payable quarterly in cash or in kind at our option. Additionally, after our initial business combination, each whole convertible preferred share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) will be (i) convertible into ordinary shares at the option of the holder at any time at a conversion price of $11.50 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) and (ii) mandatorily converted into ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share if the last sales price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $14.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day

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period commencing after the consummation of our initial business combination and the 30-day average daily trading volume ending on (and including) the date of determination is greater than or equal to 100,000 shares during the first two years after the consummation of the business combination and 75,000 shares thereafter. There is no fee to investors associated with the conversion. To illustrate the conversion mechanics, assuming no accrued and unpaid dividends, an investor would receive 100 ordinary shares for every 115 convertible preferred shares and the conversion ratio for each preferred share to ordinary share would be approximately 1-to-0.87. The preferred shares have the same redemption rights as the ordinary shares and an investor may choose to redeem any combination of their ordinary and preferred shares as further described below. The payment of dividends on the convertible preferred shares at a certain rate or at all is not guaranteed and is subject to uncertainty as the terms of the convertible preferred shares may be amended in connection with our initial business combination, subject to applicable law and as further described herein and may depend on the post-combination company’s ability to pay such dividends. Further, the ability to pay such dividends in kind at the combined company’s option may result in dilution to existing shareholders. In addition, we might consider amending the terms of the convertible preferred shares, including with respect to dividend rate or conversion price, if we believe it would make the consummation of the business combination more likely or reduce the number of public shares being redeemed in connection with such business combination, provided that any amendment that would alter the terms of the convertible preferred shares in a manner that has a material adverse effect on the rights of the holders of convertible preferred shares would need to be approved by a majority of preferred shareholders.

Warrants:

   

Number outstanding before this offering

 

0 warrants

Number to be sold in private placement

 

4,500,000 warrants(1)

Number outstanding after this offering and private placement

 


13,250,000 warrants(1)(4)

Exercisability of warrants

 

Each whole warrant is exercisable for one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share and only whole warrants are exercisable. The warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of an initial business combination. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption.

____________

(1)      Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

(2)      Represents 5,031,250 founder shares and 200,000 EBC founder shares. The founder shares include up to 656,250 founder shares that are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.

(3)      Represents 4,375,000 founder shares, 200,000 EBC founder shares and 8,750,000 public shares.

(4)      Represents 4,500,000 private warrants and 8,750,000 public warrants.

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Exercise price of warrants

 

$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. In addition, if (x) we issue additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per ordinary share (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, initial stockholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any founders’ shares held by them prior to such issuance), (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 our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which we consummate our initial business combination (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 greater of (i) the Market Value or (ii) the price at which we issue the additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no change in the terms of the convertible preferred shares issued in this offering as described herein will result in an adjustment in the exercise price of the warrants.

   

No warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such ordinary shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective within a specified period following the consummation of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis.

Redemption of warrants

 

We may redeem the outstanding warrants in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant at any time after the warrants become exercisable, upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, if, and only if, the last sales price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period commencing at any time after the warrants become exercisable and ending three business days before we send the notice of redemption; and if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the ordinary shares underlying such warrants.

If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption, each warrant holder can exercise his, her or its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the ordinary shares may fall below the $18.00 trigger price as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.

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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 such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose shall mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the five trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants.

Securities purchased, or being purchased, by insiders in connection with this offering

 

In March 2024, our sponsor acquired an aggregate of 5,031,250 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. Prior to the consummation of this offering, our sponsor intends to transfer 50,000 founder shares to each of our independent director nominees at their original purchase price. Prior to the initial investments in the company by our sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (including ordinary and preferred shares but excluding the EBC founder shares).

   

We also issued to EBC 200,000 EBC founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $994 in March 2024.

   

The founder shares and EBC founder shares are identical to the ordinary shares included in the public units, except that:

   

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

   the holders of the founder shares (but not the holders of the EBC founder shares) have agreed, subject to applicable securities laws, to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased in or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need (i) 6,462,501, or 36.9%, of the 17,500,000 public shares, as well as 2,087,501, or 23.9% of the 8,750,000 ordinary shares, sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming all outstanding shares are voted, including the EBC founder shares, the EBC founder shares are voted in favor of the proposed initial business combination (although they are not required to do so) and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or (ii) 943,752, or 5.4%, of the 17,500,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming that only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted but of those shares, the EBC founder shares are voted in favor of the proposed initial business combination (although they are not required to do so), and the over-allotment option is not exercised);

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   our founders have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed (i) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. If we submit our initial business combination to our shareholders for a vote, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares voted, including a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares, are voted in favor of the initial business combination; and

   the holders of the founder shares and EBC founder shares have certain registration rights.

   

In addition, our sponsor and EBC have agreed that they and/or their designees will purchase from us an aggregate of 4,500,000 private warrants (2,312,500 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and 2,187,500 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees), at a price of $1.00 per warrant for a total purchase price of $4,500,000 in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor and EBC have also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they and/or their designees will purchase from us up to an additional 525,000 private warrants on a pro rata basis (up to 269,792 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and up to 255,208 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees) at a price of $1.00 per warrant in an amount that is necessary to maintain in the trust account $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering. These additional private warrants will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The private warrants are identical to the warrants included in the units sold in this offering.

In the event of a liquidation prior to our initial business combination, the private warrants will likely be worthless.

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Transfer restrictions on founder shares, EBC founder shares and private warrants

 


On the date of closing of this offering, the founder shares will be placed into an escrow account maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as escrow agent. The founder shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold or released from escrow until six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (except as described herein under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Shareholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares, EBC Founder Shares, and Private Warrants”), or earlier, if, subsequent to our initial business combination, we consummate a subsequent liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property.

The EBC founder shares will not be transferred, assigned or sold (except to the same permitted transferees as the founder shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the founder shares must agree to, each as described herein) until the consummation of an initial business combination.

The purchasers of the private warrants have also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private warrants, including the underlying shares (except in connection with the same limited exceptions that the founders’ shares may be transferred as described above), until the consummation of our initial business combination.

Proceeds to be held in trust account

 

The rules of NASDAQ provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private warrants be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private warrants, $10.00 per unit sold in this offering will be placed into a U.S.-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 pursuant to permitted withdrawals, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private warrants that are deposited in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law. The 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 shareholders.

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Anticipated expenses and funding sources

 

Except as described above with respect to the withdrawal of interest pursuant to permitted withdrawals, unless and until we complete our initial business combination, no proceeds held in the trust account will be available for our use. The proceeds held in the trust account will be held in demand deposit or cash accounts or invested only in U.S. government securities with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. We will disclose in each quarterly and annual report filed with the SEC prior to our initial business combination whether the proceeds deposited in the trust account are invested in U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds or a combination thereof or as cash or cash items, including in demand deposit accounts. Additionally, when we determine (based on our management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to our potential status under the Investment Company Act) to hold the funds in the trust account as cash or in demand deposit accounts at a bank, the amount of interest we may receive would likely be less.

Based upon an assumed interest rate of 5%, we expect the trust account to generate approximately $8,750,000 of interest annually.

   

Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from:

   

   the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private warrants not held in the trust account, which will be approximately $450,000 in working capital after the payment of approximately $550,000 in expenses (excluding underwriting commissions) relating to this offering;

   permitted withdrawals; and

   any loans or additional investments from our initial shareholders or their affiliates, although they are under no obligation to advance funds or invest in us, and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account unless such proceeds are released to us upon completion of our initial business combination.

Conditions to completing our initial business combination

 


We will have up to 24 months from the closing of this offering to consummate an initial business combination. Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our assets held in the trust account (excluding interest income earned on the trust account that is released to us for working capital or to pay taxes) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions.

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We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public shareholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-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 shareholders or for other reasons. However, we will only complete such initial business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target sufficient for the post-transaction company not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial business combination transaction.

   

If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test, provided that in the event that the initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking shareholder approval, as applicable.

Permitted purchases of public shares by our affiliates

 


If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our initial shareholders or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial shareholders or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and the rules of NASDAQ. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules.

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Redemption rights for public shareholders upon completion of our initial business combination

 



We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares (in any combination of ordinary shares and preferred shares) upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. Only whole ordinary and preferred shares can be redeemed and, as a result, an investor must own an even number of units to fully redeem its holdings as each unit contains one-half of one ordinary share and one-half of one preferred share. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share regardless of whether the public share is an ordinary or preferred share. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our initial shareholders and EBC have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and EBC founder shares held by them and, in the case of our initial shareholders, any public shares our initial shareholders may acquire in or after this offering in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or otherwise and to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares, EBC founder shares and, in the case of our initial shareholders, public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity.

Manner of conducting redemptions

 

We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed initial business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek shareholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require shareholder approval, while direct mergers with our company and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares or seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association would require shareholder approval.

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If a shareholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association:

   

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

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

   

Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we or our initial shareholders will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act to purchase our ordinary shares in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.

   

In the event that we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period.

   

If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will:

   

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

   file proxy materials with the SEC.

   

If we seek shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares voted, including a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares, are voted in favor of the initial business combination. Although, in general, both preferred shares and ordinary shares will vote together as a single class, the initial business combination may only be approved if both majority of all public shares (ordinary shares and preferred shares) and majority of ordinary shares approve the initial business combination. Each ordinary share and each convertible preferred share will have one vote on all matters submitted to shareholders. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of outstanding share of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial shareholders will count towards this quorum and have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased in or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding public shares and ordinary shares voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need

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(i) 6,462,501, or 36.9%, of the 17,500,000 public shares sold in this offering as well as 2,087,501, or 23.9% of the 8,750,000 ordinary shares sold in the offering, to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming all outstanding shares are voted, including the EBC founder shares and the EBC founder shares are voted in favor of the proposed initial business combination (although they are not required to do so) and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or (ii) 943,752, or 5.4%, of the 17,500,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming that only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted but of those shares, the EBC founder shares are voted in favor of the proposed initial business combination (although they are not required to do so), and the over-allotment option is not exercised).

   

We intend to give approximately 20 days (but not less than 5 clear days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. The quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial shareholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public shareholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether it votes for or against the proposed transaction or abstains from voting.

   

We may require our public shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. We believe that this will allow our transfer agent to efficiently process any redemptions without the need for further communication or action from the redeeming public shareholders, which could delay redemptions and result in additional administrative cost. If the proposed initial business combination is not approved and we continue to search for a target company, we will promptly return any certificates delivered, or shares tendered electronically, by public shareholders who elected to redeem their shares.

Limitation on redemption rights of shareholders holding 15% or more of the shares sold in this offering if we hold shareholder vote

 




Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder 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. By limiting our shareholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the public shares, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of shareholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with an initial business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those shareholders that hold more than 15% of the public shares) for or against our initial business combination.

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Redemption rights in connection with proposed amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association

 




The provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (including without limitation, the provisions related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the private placement of units into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public shareholders as described herein)) may be amended if approved by holders of two-thirds of our shares entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the Cayman Islands law, or the Companies Act, or applicable stock exchange rules, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of two-thirds of our shares entitled to vote thereon. We may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or on our initial business combination or that would entitle holders to receive funds from the trust account. Our initial shareholders, who will collectively beneficially own 20% of our ordinary shares upon the closing of this offering (excluding the EBC founder shares and assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering), will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Our initial shareholders have agreed, pursuant to a letter agreement with us (filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part), that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other material provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public 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 public shares. They have also agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association described above.

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Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination

 


On the completion of our initial business combination, all amounts held in the trust account will be released to us. We will use these funds to pay amounts due to any public shareholders who exercise their redemption rights as described above under “Redemption rights for public shareholders upon completion of our initial business combination,” to pay EBC the fee payable pursuant to the Business Combination Marketing Agreement described under the heading “Underwriting,” to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt instruments, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness, to fund the purchase of other assets, companies or for working capital.

Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination

 

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such time period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period.

   

Our initial shareholders have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our initial shareholders acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time period.

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Limited payments to insiders

 

We are not prohibited from paying customary fees (including advisory fees), reimbursements or cash payments to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, including the following payments, all of which, if made prior to the completion of our initial business combination, will be paid from (i) funds held outside the trust account or (ii) permitted withdrawals:

   Repayment of an aggregate of up to $150,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor.

   Reimbursement for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support made available to us by our sponsor or an affiliate thereof, in an amount equal to $30,000 per month.

   Payment of a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee upon consummation of an initial business combination for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of such business combination.

   Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination.

   Repayment of non-interest bearing loans which may be made by our initial shareholders or their affiliates to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, or working capital warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The working capital warrants would be identical to the private warrants sold in the private placement. Other than as described above, no terms have been determined with respect to such loans and no written agreements have been entered into with respect to any such loans.

   

Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our initial shareholders or their affiliates.

Audit Committee

 

We will establish and maintain an audit committee, which will be composed entirely of independent directors to, among other things, monitor compliance with the terms described above and the other terms relating to this offering. If any noncompliance is identified, then the audit committee will be charged with the responsibility to promptly take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of this offering. For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Management — Committees of the Board of Directors — Audit Committee.

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Conflicts of Interest

 

Although we do not believe any conflict currently exists between us and our initial shareholders or their affiliates, our initial shareholders or their affiliates may compete with us for acquisition opportunities. If such entities decide to pursue an opportunity, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunity. None of our initial shareholders or their respective affiliates will have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential initial business combination of which they become aware, unless presented to such member specifically in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company. Our management team, in their capacities as employees or affiliates of our initial shareholders or in their other endeavors, may be required to present potential business combinations to future initial shareholders’ affiliates or third parties, before they present such opportunities to us.

   

Our officers have agreed that they will not become an officer or director of any other special purpose acquisition company that publicly files a registration statement for its initial public offering unless and until we enter into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date as may be approved by shareholders).

In connection with the completion of our initial business combination, there may be payment by the company to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, of a customary, fair and reasonable finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business. See “Risk Factors — We may engage one or more affiliates of our sponsor, officers or directors or their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, which may include acting as financial advisor in connection with an initial business combination. These financial incentives may cause them to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.”

The potential conflicts described above may limit our ability to enter into a business combination or other transactions. These circumstances could give rise to numerous situations where interests may conflict. There can be no assurance that these or other conflicts of interest with the potential for adverse effects on the company and investors will not arise.

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Indemnity

 

Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or by a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in 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 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, then our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor have sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations. Accordingly, we believe it is unlikely that our sponsor will be able to satisfy any indemnification obligations that may arise. None of our officers or directors are required to indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

We have agreed to indemnify our sponsor and its members (present and former), managers and affiliates and their respective present and former officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law from any claims made by us or a third party in respect of any investment opportunities sourced by them or any liability arising with respect to their activities in connection with our affairs, to the extent that such indemnification, hold harmless and exoneration obligations with respect to such matters are not expressly covered by a separate written agreement between us and any such party. Such indemnity will provide that the indemnified parties cannot access the funds held in our trust account.

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Risk Factors Summary

We have conducted no operations and have generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company. This offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, please see “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” of this prospectus.

Such risks include, but are not limited to:

Risks Related to our Search for, Consummation of, or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination

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

        Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”

        Because our unit structure is different than other special purpose acquisition companies, the units may be worth less than, or not be viewed as favorably as, units of other special purpose acquisition companies.

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

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

        We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public shareholders may receive only their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public shareholders, and our warrants will expire without value to the holder.

        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.

        We may seek acquisition opportunities in industries or sectors which may be outside of our management’s area of expertise.

        Past performance by our management team, our advisors and our initial shareholders may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.

Risks Related to Our Securities

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

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Risks Related to Our Management

        Our officers and directors may allocate their time to other businesses and may become officers or directors of any other special purpose acquisition companies, thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs and whether to present potential target to us instead of to our competitors. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.

        Our initial shareholders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.

Post Business Combination Risks

        Our management will most likely not maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. 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 seek acquisition opportunities with an early-stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings.

Risks Related to Acquiring and Operating a Business Outside of the United States

        Because of the costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, our results of operations may be negatively impacted.

        If we effect an initial business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws applicable to such company will likely govern all of our material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.

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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.

 

March 31, 2024

   

Actual

 

As Adjusted

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working capital (deficiency)

 

$

(172,178

)

 

$

961,159

Total assets

 

$

879,631

 

 

$

175,156,459

Total liabilities

 

$

173,172

 

 

$

195,300

Value of public shares subject to possible redemption

 

$

 

 

$

175,000,000

Shareholders’ equity

 

$

706,459

 

 

$

961,159

If a business combination is not completed within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares. Our initial shareholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within such time period.

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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 Related to our Search for, Consummation of, or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination

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

Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”

As of March 31, 2024, we had a working capital deficiency of $172,178. Further, we expect to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this need for capital through this offering are discussed in the section of this prospectus titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to consummate this offering or our inability to continue as a going concern.

Because our unit structure is different than other special purpose acquisition companies, the units may be worth less, or not be viewed as favorably, than units of other special purpose acquisition companies.

Each unit contains one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one convertible preferred share and one-half of one warrant. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one whole ordinary share and a fraction of a warrant to purchase one whole share. Furthermore, we will not issue fractional ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants and only whole ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants will trade, so unless you purchase units in multiples of two, you will not be able to receive or trade the ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants included in the units. We believe the inclusion of a convertible preferred share in the unit sold in this offering will be viewed as an attractive differentiating factor of our offering and potentially our initial business combination as it may provide us with more flexibility in negotiating and marketing a potential business combination. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if it included a full ordinary share and a warrant to purchase one whole share.

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

We may not hold a shareholder vote to approve our initial business combination unless the business combination would require shareholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements or if we decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons. Except as required by law, the decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. Accordingly, we may complete our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our public shares do

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not approve of the business combination we complete. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business — Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve our Initial Business Combination” for additional information.

If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial shareholders have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public shareholders vote.

Our initial shareholders have agreed to vote their founder shares, as well as any public shares purchased in or after this offering, in favor of our initial business combination (subject to applicable securities laws).As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need (i) 6,462,501, or 36.9%, of the 17,500,000 public shares, as well as 2,087,501, or 23.9% of the 8,750,000 ordinary shares, sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming all outstanding shares are voted, including the EBC founder shares, the EBC founder shares are voted in favor of the proposed initial business combination (although they are not required to do so) and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or (ii) 943,752, or 5.4%, of the 17,500,000 public shares sold in this offering, to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming that only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted but of those shares, the EBC founder shares are voted in favor of the proposed initial business combination (although they are not required to do so), and the over-allotment option is not exercised) Our founder shares and EBC founder shares will represent 20.7% of our outstanding shares immediately following the completion of this offering, assuming no exercise of over-allotment option. Accordingly, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, it is more likely that the necessary shareholder approval will be received than would be the case if our initial shareholders agreed to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public shareholders.

If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, holders of our ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares may have separate class voting rights, which may make it more difficult to obtain shareholder approval.

While our ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares will generally vote together as a single class on matters requiring shareholder approval, Cayman Islands law may require separate class votes of the holders of ordinary shares and/or convertible preferred shares under certain circumstances. For example, if in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination we were to propose a change to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would alter the terms of the convertible preferred shares in a manner that has a material adverse on the rights of the holders of ordinary shares or the holders of convertible preferred shares, the holders of the class of shares that would be adversely affected may have a separate class voting right on such change. Any such class voting right may make it more difficult for us to obtain shareholder approval of our initial business combination.

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

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

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

We may seek to enter into a business combination 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 shareholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able

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to proceed with the business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause us to be unable to satisfy a closing condition, as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination and may instead search for an alternate business combination. Prospective targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into a business combination transaction with us.

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

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

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

If the agreement for our initial business combination requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our initial business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your share in the open market; however, at such time our shares 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 shares in the open market.

Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by new outbreaks, or continuation of any existing outbreaks, of any infectious disease (such as COVID-19) and the status of debt and equity markets.

Any new outbreaks, or continuation of any existing outbreaks, of any infectious disease (such as COVID-19) or other events (such as terrorist attacks, armed conflicts or natural disasters) could adversely affect the economies and financial markets worldwide, and the business of any potential target business with which we consummate an initial business combination could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete an initial business combination if concerns relating to any outbreak of a disease restricts travel or limits the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers. The extent to which any new outbreak or the continuation of any existing situation impacts our search for an initial business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. If any such event (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) continues for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate an initial business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate an initial business combination, 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 outside events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of infectious diseases), 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.

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Our search for an initial business combination, and any target business with which we may ultimately consummate an initial business combination, may be materially adversely affected by current global geopolitical conditions resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the recent escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

United States and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the geopolitical instability resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the recent escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”) deployed additional military forces to eastern Europe, and the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries have announced various sanctions and restrictive actions against Russia, Belarus and related individuals and entities, including the removal of certain financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payment system. Certain countries, including the United States, have also provided and may continue to provide military aid or other assistance to Ukraine and to Israel, increasing geopolitical tensions among a number of nations. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the resulting measures that have been taken, and could be taken in the future, by NATO, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Israel and its neighboring states and other countries have created global security concerns that could have a lasting impact on regional and global economies. Although the length and impact of the ongoing conflicts are highly unpredictable, they could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions and increased cyber-attacks against U.S. companies. Additionally, any resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets.

Any of the abovementioned factors, or any other negative impact on the global economy, capital markets or other geopolitical conditions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and subsequent sanctions or related actions, could adversely affect our search for an initial business combination and any target business with which we may ultimately consummate an initial business combination.

The extent and duration of the ongoing conflicts, resulting sanctions and any related market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial, particularly if current or new sanctions continue for an extended period of time or if geopolitical tensions result in expanded military operations on a global scale. Any such disruptions may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this section. If these disruptions or other matters of global concern continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate an initial business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we may ultimately consummate an initial business combination, may be materially adversely affected.

Military or other conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere may lead to increased volume and price volatility for publicly traded securities, or affect the operations or financial condition of potential target companies, which could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.

Military or other conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere may lead to increased volume and price volatility for publicly traded securities, or affect the operations or financial condition of potential target companies, and to other company or industry-specific, national, regional or international economic disruptions and economic uncertainty, any of which could make it more difficult for us to identify a business combination target and consummate an initial business combination on acceptable commercial terms, or at all.

Because there are many special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets, attractive targets may be scarce and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.

Because there are many special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets, attractive targets may be scarce. As a result, fewer attractive targets may be available, and it may require more time, more effort and more resources to identify a suitable target and to consummate an initial business combination.

In addition, because there are many special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination 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, geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination.

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This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination, and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.

If our initial business combination involves a company organized under the laws of a state of the United States, it is possible a 1% U.S. federal excise tax will be imposed on us in connection with redemptions of our ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares after or in connection with such initial business combination.

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 became law in the United States, which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of certain repurchases (including certain redemptions) of shares by publicly traded domestic (i.e., United States) corporations (and certain non-U.S. corporations treated as “surrogate foreign corporations”). The excise tax will apply to share repurchases occurring in 2023 and beyond. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of, the excise tax. For instance, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued interim guidance addressing certain key aspects of the 1% excise tax, pending forthcoming regulations which are expected to be retroactive to January 1, 2023 when finalized. The interim guidance clarified that certain repurchases would be exempt from the excise tax, such as where the repurchases occur in the same year that the repurchasing company undertakes a complete liquidation (as described in Section 331 of the Internal Revenue Code). However, only limited guidance has been issued to date.

As an entity incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company, the 1% excise tax is not expected to apply to redemptions of our ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares (absent any regulations and other additional guidance that may be issued in the future with retroactive effect). However, in connection with an initial business combination involving a company organized under the laws of the United States, it is possible that we domesticate and continue as a U.S. corporation prior to certain redemptions and, because our securities are trading on Nasdaq, it is possible that we will be subject to the excise tax with respect to any subsequent redemptions, including redemptions in connection with the initial business combination, that are treated as repurchases for this purpose (other than, pursuant to recently issued guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, redemptions in complete liquidation of the company). In all cases, the extent of the excise tax that may be incurred will depend on a number of factors, including the fair market value of our shares redeemed, the extent such redemptions could be treated as dividends and not repurchases, and the content of any regulations and other additional guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that may be issued and applicable to the redemptions. Issuances of shares by a repurchasing company in a year in which such company repurchases shares may reduce the amount of excise tax imposed with respect to such repurchase. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing company itself, not the shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The imposition of the excise tax as a result of redemptions in connection with the initial business combination or in connection with any extension of time to consummate an initial business combination could, however, reduce the amount of cash available to pay redemptions or reduce the cash contribution to the target business in connection with our initial business combination, which could cause the non-redeeming shareholders of the combined company to economically bear the impact of such excise tax.

Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.

The market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies is subject to continual change. For instance, at various times in recent years, the premiums charged for such policies have increased and the terms of such policies have become less favorable. There can be no assurance that such changes will not occur in the future.

An increased cost of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity may need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. Any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.

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In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The cost of run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.

The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may decrease our ability to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our shareholders.

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

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

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our initial business combination within such time period. Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein. If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share or less in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders 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 shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.

If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial shareholders and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or warrants from public shareholders, which may make it more likely that we are able to consummate such initial business combination or reduce the public “float” of our ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants.

If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market prior to the completion of our initial business combination, although they are under no obligation or duty to do so. Any price paid for such securities may be less (but not more) than the amount a public shareholder

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would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. In the event that our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares.

Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares or warrants or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase securities in such transactions.

The purpose of any such transactions could be to (1) decrease the number of shares to be redeemed thereby leaving more cash available for the post-combination company or (2) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.

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

See “Proposed Business — Permitted Purchases of Our Securities” for a description of how our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates will select which shareholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction.

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

We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a shareholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such shareholder 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 initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares. For example, we may require our public shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a shareholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures, its shares may not be redeemed. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business — Redemption Rights for Public Shareholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination — Tendering Share Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights.”

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

Our public shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those public shares that such shareholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this

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offering, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering for any reason, compliance with Cayman Islands law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing shareholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our trust account. In that case, public shareholders may be forced to wait beyond the 24 months from the closing of this offering before they receive funds from our trust account. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.

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 warrants are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target 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 warrants and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to consummate an initial business combination as opposed to companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if this offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our completion of an initial business combination. For a more detailed comparison of our offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business — Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.”

If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of shareholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our public shares, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our public shares.

If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering (including ordinary and preferred shares), which we refer to as the “excess shares.” However, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association does not restrict our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including excess shares) for or against our initial business combination. Your inability to redeem the excess shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination. Accordingly, 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 shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.

Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on our redemption of our public shares, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.

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 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. As a result, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses.

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If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders 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. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share upon our liquidation. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.

If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months from the closing of this offering, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination, in which case our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.

We believe that, upon the closing of this offering, the funds available to us outside of the trust account, together with interest on the funds held in the trust account that may be available to us as described herein, will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months from the closing of this offering (as further described in this prospectus); however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. If the available funds are not sufficient, we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business and we may be forced to liquidate. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders 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. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 per share upon our liquidation. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.

If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we will depend on loans from our initial shareholders or management team to fund our search for a business combination and to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.

Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private warrants, only approximately $450,000 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 $550,000 (excluding underwriting discounts), 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. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our initial shareholders or their affiliates to operate, or we may be forced to liquidate. None of our initial shareholders nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our initial shareholders or their affiliates as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. Consequently, our public shareholders may only receive approximately $10.00 per share on our redemption of our public shares, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders 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 shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.

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

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association does not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold. As a result, we may be able to complete our initial business combination even though a substantial majority of our public shareholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares.

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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 shareholders 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, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public shareholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. 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.

Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public shareholders could be less than the $10.00 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors. Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy their indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations. Therefore, we believe it is unlikely that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors are required to 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 shareholders.

In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that they are unable to satisfy their obligations or that they have 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. For example, they may determine that the cost of such legal action is too high relative to the amount recoverable or 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 shareholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.

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If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and we and our board may be exposed to claims of punitive damages.

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

If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, 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 shareholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our shareholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.

If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public shareholders, 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 shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our shareholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.

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

If we are forced to enter into an insolvent liquidation, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed as an unlawful payment if it was proved that immediately following the date on which the distribution was made, we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. As a result, a liquidator could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, our directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to us or our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, thereby exposing themselves and our company to claims, by paying public shareholders 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. We and our directors and officers who knowingly and willfully authorized or permitted any distribution to be paid out of our share premium account while we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business would be guilty of an offence and may be liable for a fine of approximately $18,000 and imprisonment for five years in the Cayman Islands.

Because we are not limited to a particular industry, sector, or geographic region in which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’ operations.

We may seek to complete a business combination with a target business in any industry or sector or geographical location. Because we have not yet selected or approached any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenues 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 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. Accordingly, any shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares.

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Past performance by our management team, our advisors and our initial shareholders may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.

Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with our management team and our initial shareholders and their affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by our management team and our initial shareholders is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. The majority of our officers, directors and advisors have not had management experience with special purpose acquisition companies in the past. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s, our advisors’ or our initial shareholders’ respective performance as indicative of our future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward.

We may seek acquisition opportunities in industries or sectors which may be outside of our management’s area of expertise.

We will consider a business combination outside of our management’s area of expertise if a business combination 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’s expertise, our management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this prospectus regarding the areas of our management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all the significant risk factors. Accordingly, any shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares.

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

Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria and guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of shareholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain shareholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders 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. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders 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 shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.

Transactions in connection with or in anticipation of our initial business combination and our structure thereafter may not be tax-efficient to our shareholders and warrantholders. As a result of our business combination, our tax obligations may be more complex, burdensome and uncertain.

Although we will attempt to structure transactions in connection with our initial business combination in a tax-efficient manner, tax structuring considerations are complex, the relevant facts and law are uncertain and may change, and we may prioritize commercial and other considerations over tax considerations. For example, in anticipation of or as a result of our initial business combination, we may enter into one or more transactions that require shareholders and/or warrantholders to recognize gain or income for tax purposes or otherwise increase their tax burden without prior notice to or approval from our shareholders and warrantholders. We do not intend to make any cash distributions to shareholders or warrantholders to pay taxes in connection with our business

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combination or thereafter. Accordingly, a shareholder or a warrantholder may be required to satisfy any liability resulting from any such transactions with cash from its own funds or by selling all or a portion of such holder’s shares or public warrants.

Furthermore, we will likely effect a business combination with a target company that has business operations outside of the Cayman Islands and, possibly, business operations in multiple jurisdictions, and we may reincorporate in a different jurisdiction in connection therewith (including, but not limited to, the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located). For example, in anticipation of engaging in a business combination with certain target companies, we may convert into a U.S. company, even if such a business combination ultimately is not achieved. If we effect any such transaction, including such a conversion, we could be subject to significant income, withholding and other tax obligations in a number of jurisdictions with respect to income, operations and subsidiaries related to those jurisdictions. Due to the complexity of tax obligations and filings in many jurisdictions, we may have a heightened risk related to audits or examinations by taxing authorities. This additional complexity and risk could have an adverse effect on our after-tax profitability and financial condition. In addition, shareholders and warrantholders may be subject to additional income, withholding or other taxes with respect to their ownership of us after any such transaction.

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

Unless we complete our initial business combination with an affiliated entity or our board cannot independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that the price we are paying is fair to our company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our shareholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.

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 initial business combination, our public shareholders 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 rights 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 initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public shareholders 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 shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors in this section.

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

If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple

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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 have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may complete our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company, which could, in turn, negatively impact the value of our shareholders’ investment in us.

When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources, or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications, or abilities we suspected. Should the target’s management not possess the skills, qualifications, or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such shareholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.

The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place.

If we complete a business combination with a single target business, we may be solely dependent on such single business which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operations and profitability.

Of the net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private warrants, up to $175,450,000 (or $201,700,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be available to complete our initial business combination and pay related fees and expenses. We intend to complete our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously. However, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive, and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. 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 developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our business combination.

Risks Related to Our Securities

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

We have applied to have our units listed on NASDAQ on or promptly after the date of this prospectus and our ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants listed on or promptly after their date of separation. However, we cannot assure you that our securities will be approved for listing or that they will continue to be listed on NASDAQ

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in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on NASDAQ prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and share price levels. Generally, we must maintain a minimum amount in shareholders’ equity (generally $10,000,000) and a minimum number of holders of our securities (generally 400 public holders). Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with NASDAQ’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on NASDAQ. For instance, our share price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share and our shareholders’ equity would generally be required to be at least $30 million and we would be required to have a minimum of 400 round lot holders of our securities. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.

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

        a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;

        reduced liquidity for our securities;

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

        a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and

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

The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because our units and eventually our ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants will be listed on NASDAQ, our units, ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants will be covered securities. Although the states are pre-empted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. Additionally, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on NASDAQ, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.

We may issue additional ordinary shares or preferred shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likely present other risks.

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association authorizes the issuance of up to 400,000,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, and 100,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share. Immediately after this offering, there will be 13,325,000 ordinary shares and 8,750,000 preference shares issued and outstanding (assuming that the underwriters have not exercised their over-allotment option). As a result, there will be 386,675,000 and 91,250,000 unissued ordinary shares and preference shares, respectively, available for issuance, which amount does not take into account the ordinary shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of any outstanding warrants.

We may issue a substantial number of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. However, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital share that would entitle the holders thereof to: (i) receive funds from the trust account; or (ii) vote as a class with our public shares. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, like all provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, may be amended with the approval of our shareholders. However, our executive officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to (A) modify the substance

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or timing of our obligation to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other material provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public 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 public shares.

The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares:

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

        may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if preferred shares are issued with rights senior to those afforded our ordinary shares;

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

        may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and/or warrants.

We may amend the terms of our convertible preferred shares in connection with our initial business combination, which may negatively impact the value of our ordinary shares.

It is currently contemplated that commencing upon the completion of our initial business combination, each whole convertible preferred share will pay an annual dividend of $0.60 per share, payable quarterly in cash or in kind at our option. Additionally, it is contemplated that each whole convertible preferred share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) will be (i) convertible into ordinary shares at the option of the holder at any time at a conversion price of $11.50 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) and (ii) mandatorily converted into ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share if the last sales price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $14.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period commencing after the consummation of our initial business combination and the 30-day average daily trading volume ending on (and including) the date of determination is greater than or equal to 100,000 shares during the first two years after the consummation of the business combination and 75,000 shares thereafter. However, the terms of the convertible preferred shares may be amended in connection with our initial business combination, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. For instance, we may amend the terms of our convertible preferred shares, including with respect to dividend rate or conversion price, if we believe it would make the consummation of the business combination more likely or reduce the number of public shares being redeemed in connection with such business combination, provided that any amendment that would alter the terms of the convertible preferred shares in a manner that has a material adverse effect on the rights of the holders of convertible preferred shares would need to be approved by a majority of preferred shareholders, in order to incentivize holders of outstanding convertible preferred shares not to redeem those shares in connection with our initial business combination by, for example, increasing the dividend rate payable on the convertible preferred shares, lowering the conversion price of the convertible preferred shares or providing that the convertible preferred shares have a liquidation preference in the event of a liquidation or dissolution (or deemed liquidation or dissolution) of the combined company. The terms of the convertible preferred shares, including as such terms may be amended in connection with our initial business combination, may negatively impact the value of our ordinary shares.

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

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

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

        default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;

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

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

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

        our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary or convertible preferred shares;

        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 ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares if declared, our ability to pay expenses, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and fund other general corporate purposes;

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

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

        other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.

The grant of registration rights to our initial shareholders and EBC may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares and/or convertible preferred shares.

Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, holders of the founder shares, EBC founder shares, private warrants and any ordinary shares that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register such units and/or underlying securities. 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 ordinary shares and/or convertible preferred shares. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the shareholders 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 ordinary shares and/or convertible preferred shares that is expected when the founder shares, EBC founder shares, private warrants and any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans are registered.

Our initial shareholders contributed an aggregate of approximately $25,000, or approximately $0.005 per founder share, and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our shares.

The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the shares and none to the portion of the warrant included in the unit) and the pro forma net tangible book value per our shares after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our initial shareholders 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 portion of the warrant included in the units, you and the other public shareholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 97.9% or $9.79 per share, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $0.21 and the deemed offering price of $10.00 per unit.

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Our initial shareholders paid an aggregate of $25,000 for the founder shares, or approximately $0.005 per founder share. As a result of this low initial price, our initial shareholders stand to make a substantial profit even if an initial business combination subsequently declines in value or is unprofitable for our public shareholders.

As a result of the low acquisition cost of our founder shares, our initial shareholders could make a substantial profit even if we select and consummate an initial business combination with an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value or is unprofitable for our public shareholders. Thus, such parties may have more of an economic incentive for us to enter into an initial business combination with a riskier, weaker-performing or financially unstable business, or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, than would be the case if such parties had paid the full offering price for their founder shares.

If we do not file and maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, holders will only be able to exercise such warrants on a “cashless basis.”

If we do not file and maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants at the time that holders wish to exercise such warrants, they will only be able to exercise them on a “cashless basis” provided that an exemption from registration is available. As a result, the number of ordinary shares that holders will receive upon exercise of the warrants will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised his warrant for cash. Further, if an exemption from registration is not available, holders would not be able to exercise on a cashless basis and would only be able to exercise their warrants for cash if a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is available. Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to meet these conditions and to file and maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so. If we are unable to do so, the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in our company may be reduced or the warrants may expire worthless.

An investor will only be able to exercise a warrant if the issuance of ordinary shares upon such exercise has been registered or qualified or is deemed exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants.

No warrants will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue ordinary shares unless the ordinary shares issuable upon such exercise has been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants. If the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not qualified or exempt from qualification in the jurisdictions in which the holders of the warrants reside, the warrants may be deprived of any value, the market for the warrants may be limited and they may expire worthless if they cannot be sold.

We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding public warrants.

Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision. The warrant agreement requires the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding public warrants in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the holders of the warrants.

Our outstanding warrants may have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares and/or convertible preferred shares and make it more difficult to effect a business combination.

We will be issuing warrants to purchase 8,750,000 ordinary shares as part of the units offered by this prospectus and private warrants to purchase 4,500,000 ordinary shares. We may also issue other warrants to our sponsor, initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates in payment of working capital loans made to us as described in this prospectus. To the extent we issue ordinary shares to effect a business combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares upon exercise of these warrants could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle in the eyes of a target business. Such securities, when exercised, will increase the number of issued and outstanding ordinary shares and reduce the value of the shares issued to

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complete the business combination. Accordingly, our warrants may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business. Additionally, the sale, or even the possibility of sale, of the shares underlying the warrants could have an adverse effect on the market price for our securities or on our ability to obtain future financing. If and to the extent these warrants are exercised, you may experience dilution to your holdings.

Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York 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 New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that 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 New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (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 and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant 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 an initial business combination.

If:

        we issue additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share,

        the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and

        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 price at which we issue the additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities; provided that no change in the terms of the convertible preferred shares issued in this offering as described herein will result in an adjustment in the exercise price of the warrants. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination 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 all of the outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on each of 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period commencing once the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third trading day prior to proper notice of such redemption provided that on the date we give notice of redemption. We will not redeem the warrants unless an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those ordinary shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you to (i) exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants or (iii) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your warrants.

Our management’s ability to require holders of our warrants to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis will cause holders to receive fewer ordinary shares upon their exercise of the warrants than they would have received had they been able to exercise their warrants for cash.

If we call our warrants for redemption after the redemption criteria described elsewhere in this prospectus have been satisfied, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” If our management chooses to require holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, the number of ordinary shares received by a holder upon exercise will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised his warrant for cash. This will have the effect of reducing the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in our company.

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 had discussions with 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 ordinary shares, the convertible preferred shares and the 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;

        an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies;

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

        other factors as were deemed relevant.

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

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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. Shareholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.

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

The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include target historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure. 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 PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.

Risks Related to Our Management

Our ability to successfully complete our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of members of our management team, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of such people could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.

Our ability to successfully complete our initial business combination is dependent upon the efforts of members of our management team. The role of members of our management team in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some members of our management team may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our initial business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.

In addition, the officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.

Members of our management team may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.

Members of our management team may be able to remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination

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and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. We cannot assure you that any members of our management team will remain in senior management or advisory positions with us. The determination as to whether any members of our management team will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination.

Our officers and directors may allocate their time to other businesses and may become officers or directors of other special purpose acquisition companies, thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs and whether to present a target to us instead of our competitors. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.

Our officers and directors have fiduciary responsibilities to dedicate substantially all their business time to their respective affairs and their respective employers. Additionally, these responsibilities may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses, including other business endeavors for which he or she may be entitled to substantial compensation. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs; or if they have fiduciary duty to present a target company to our competitor instead of us, which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”

Our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.

Following the completion of this offering and until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our officers and directors may become affiliated with entities (such as operating companies or investment vehicles) that are engaged in a similar business. Our officers and directors also may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities in the future to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please see the sections of this prospectus entitled “Management — Officers and Directors,” “Management — Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

Our initial shareholders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.

We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our initial shareholders or their respective affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. We do not have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.

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We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our initial shareholders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.

In light of the involvement of our officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our initial shareholders or their respective affiliates. Our initial shareholders are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no preliminary discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that acquiring such affiliated entity will be beneficial and such transaction was approved by a majority of our independent directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our initial shareholders or their respective affiliates, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public shareholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.

We may engage one or more affiliates of our sponsor, officers or directors or their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, which may include acting as financial advisor in connection with an initial business combination. These financial incentives may cause them to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.

We may engage one or more affiliates of our sponsor, officers or directors or their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, identifying potential targets or providing financial advisory services. We may pay such affiliates customary, fair and reasonable fees or other compensation that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation. Any such affiliates’ financial interests tied to the consummation of a business combination transaction may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in providing any such additional services to us, including potential conflicts of interest in connection with advising on, sourcing and consummating of an initial business combination.

Since our initial shareholders will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.

Our sponsor has acquired an aggregate 5,031,250 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. Prior to this initial investment in our company, we had no assets, tangible or intangible. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering (including both ordinary and preferred shares but excluding the EBC founder shares). In addition, our sponsor and EBC have committed to purchase an aggregate of 4,500,000 private warrants (or 5,025,000 private warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.00 per warrant ($4,500,000 in the aggregate, or $5,025,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The founder shares and private warrants will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. Our initial shareholders have agreed (A) to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination (subject to applicable securities laws) and (B) not to redeem any founder shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination or amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association prior thereto. In addition, we may obtain loans from our initial shareholders. The personal and financial interests of our initial shareholders may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination, and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination.

Our initial shareholders and other insiders may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.

Upon the closing of this offering, our initial shareholders will own founder shares representing 20% of our issued and outstanding shares (excluding the EBC founder shares and assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Accordingly, our initial shareholders and their affiliates may exert a substantial influence on actions

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requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approval of major corporate transactions. If our initial shareholders purchase any units in this offering or if they purchase any additional shares in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our shares. In addition, our board of directors, whose members were elected by certain of our initial shareholders, is and will be divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our initial shareholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome.

Post Business Combination Risks

Subsequent to the completion of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our share price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.

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

Our success will ultimately depend upon market acceptance of our products and services, our ability to develop and commercialize existing and new products and services and generate revenues, and our ability to identify new markets for its technology.

Ultimately, our success will depend on the acceptance of our products and services in the target markets. We are faced with the risk that the marketplace will not be receptive to our products and services over competing products and that we will be unable to compete effectively. We will face challenges of developing (or acquiring externally-developed) technology solutions that are adequate and competitive in meeting the requirements of next-generation design challenges.

We cannot assure investors that the products and services of the company with which we conduct a business combination, or any future products and services will gain broad market acceptance. If the market for our products and services fails to develop or develops more slowly than expected, or if any of the services and standards supported by us do not achieve or sustain market acceptance, our business and operating results would be materially and adversely affected.

If we fail to adapt and respond effectively to rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, changing regulations and payment methods, demand for product enhancements, new product features, and changing business needs, requirements or preferences, our products may become less competitive.

Regardless of our target business’ industry, it will likely be subject to ongoing technological change, evolving industry standards, changing regulations, and changing customer needs, requirements, and preferences. The success of our business will depend, in part, on our ability to adapt and respond effectively to these changes on

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a timely basis, including launching new products and services. The success of any new product and service, or any enhancements, features, or modifications to existing products and services, depends on several factors, including the timely completion, introduction, and market acceptance of such products and services, enhancements, modifications, and new product features. If we are unable to enhance our products or develop new products that keep pace with technological and regulatory change and changes in customer preferences and achieve market acceptance, or if new technologies emerge that are able to deliver competitive products and services at lower prices, more efficiently, more conveniently, or more securely than our products, our business, operating results and financial condition would be adversely affected. Furthermore, modifications to our existing platform, products, or technology will increase our research and development expenses. Any failure of our products and services to operate effectively could reduce the demand for our services, result in customer dissatisfaction and adversely affect our business.

Technology platforms may not operate properly or as we expect it to operate.

Technology platforms are expensive and complex, their continuous development, maintenance and operation may entail unforeseen difficulties including material performance problems or undetected defects or errors. We may encounter technical obstacles, and it is possible that we may discover additional problems that prevent our technology from operating properly. If our platform does not function reliably, we may not be able to provide any products or services. Errors could also cause customer dissatisfaction with us, which could cause customers to stop purchasing or working with us. Any of these eventualities could result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

New or changing technologies, could cause a disruption in our business model, which may materially impact our results of operations and financial condition.

If we fail to anticipate the impact on our business of changing technology, our ability to successfully operate may be materially impaired. Our business could also be affected by potential technological changes. Such changes could disrupt the demand for products from current customers, create coverage issues or impact the frequency or severity of losses, or reduce the size of the ultimate market, causing our business to decline. We may not be able to respond effectively to these changes, which could have a material effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We may face additional and distinctive risks if we acquire a business in certain industries, such as technology.

Business combinations with businesses in certain industries, such as technology, may involve special considerations and risks. If we complete our initial business combination with a technology business, we will be subject to the following risks, any of which could be detrimental to us and the business we acquire:

        If we are unable to keep pace with evolving technology and changes in the technology services industry, our revenues and future prospects may decline;

        Any business or company we acquire could be vulnerable to cyberattack or theft of individual identities or personal data;

        Difficulties with any products or services we provide could damage our reputation and business;

        A failure to comply with privacy regulations could adversely affect relations with customers and have a negative impact on business; and

        We may not be able to protect our intellectual property and we may be subject to infringement claims.

Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our operations following a business combination. However, our efforts in identifying prospective target businesses will not be limited to technology businesses. Accordingly, if we acquire a target business in another industry, these risks will likely not affect us and we will be subject to other risks attendant with the specific industry in which we operate or target business which we acquire, none of which can be presently ascertained.

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Risks Related to Acquiring and Operating a Business Outside of the United States

We may effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States and if we do, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our business operations and financial results.

If we consummate a business combination with a target business located outside of the United States, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in the target business’ governing jurisdiction, including any of the following:

        rules and regulations or currency redemption or corporate withholding taxes on individuals;

        tariffs and trade barriers;

        regulations related to customs and import/export matters;

        longer payment cycles than in the United States;

        inflation;

        economic policies and market conditions;

        unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;

        challenges in managing and staffing international operations;

        tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;

        currency fluctuations;

        challenges in collecting accounts receivable;

        cultural and language differences;

        protection of intellectual property; and

        employment regulations.

We cannot assure you that we would be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer.

Because of the costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, our results of operations may be negatively impacted.

Managing a business, operations, personnel or assets in another country is challenging and costly. Any management that we may have (whether based abroad or in the U.S.) may be inexperienced in cross-border business practices and unaware of significant differences in accounting rules, legal regimes and labor practices. Even with a seasoned and experienced management team, the costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, personnel and assets can be significant (and much higher than in a purely domestic business) and may negatively impact our financial and operational performance.

If social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, or policy changes or enactments occur in a country in which we may operate after we effect our initial business combination, it may result in a negative impact on our business.

Political events in another country may significantly affect our business, assets or operations. Social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, and policy changes or enactments could negatively impact our business in a particular country.

The economic, political, and social conditions, as well as government policies, of the country in which our potential target’s operations are located could affect our business. The economy in such target’s country may differ greatly from the economies of most developed countries in many respects. Such country’s economic growth may be

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uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy, and such growth may not be sustained in the future. If in the future such target’s country’s economy experiences a downturn or grows at a slower rate than expected, there may be less demand for spending in certain industries. A decrease in demand for spending in certain industries could materially and adversely affect the ability of that target business to become profitable after our initial business combination.

Many countries have difficult and unpredictable legal systems and underdeveloped laws and regulations that are unclear and subject to corruption and inexperience, which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

Our ability to seek and enforce legal protections, including with respect to intellectual property and other property rights, or to defend ourselves with regard to legal actions taken against us in a given country, may be difficult or impossible, which could adversely impact our operations, assets or financial condition.

Rules and regulations in many countries are often ambiguous or open to differing interpretation by responsible individuals and agencies at the municipal, state, regional and federal levels. The attitudes and actions of such individuals and agencies are often difficult to predict and inconsistent.

Delay with respect to the enforcement of particular rules and regulations, including those relating to customs, tax, environmental and labor, could cause serious disruption to operations abroad and negatively impact our results.

If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws applicable to such company will likely govern all of our material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.

If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws of the country in which such company operates will govern almost all of the material agreements relating to its operations. We cannot assure you that the target business will be able to enforce any of its material agreements or that remedies will be available in this new jurisdiction. The system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws in such jurisdiction may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in the United States. The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our future agreements could result in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital. Additionally, if we acquire a company located outside of the United States, it is likely that substantially all of our assets would be located outside of the United States and some of our officers and directors might reside outside of the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon our directors or officers or to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties of our directors and officers under Federal securities laws.

If relations between the United States and foreign governments deteriorate, it could cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive.

The relationship between the United States and foreign governments could be subject to sudden fluctuation and periodic tension. For instance, the United States may announce its intention to impose quotas on certain imports. Such import quotas may adversely affect political relations between the two countries and result in retaliatory countermeasures by the foreign government in industries that may affect our ultimate target business. Changes in political conditions in foreign countries and changes in the state of U.S. relations with such countries are difficult to predict and could adversely affect our operations or cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive. Because we are not limited to any specific industry, there is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible extent of any impact on our ultimate operations if relations are strained between the United States and a foreign country in which we acquire a target business or move our principal manufacturing or service operations.

If any dividend is declared in the future and paid in a foreign currency, you may be disproportionately taxed on what you actually receive.

If you are a U.S. holder of our ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares, you will be taxed on the U.S. dollar value of your dividends, if any, at the time you receive them, even if you actually receive a smaller amount of U.S. dollars when the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Specifically, if a dividend is declared and paid

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in a foreign currency, the amount of the dividend distribution that you must include in your income as a U.S. holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the payments made in the foreign currency, determined at the spot rate of the foreign currency to the U.S. dollar on the date the dividend distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Thus, if the value of the foreign currency decreases before you actually convert the currency into U.S. dollars, you will be taxed on a larger amount in U.S. dollars than the U.S. dollar amount that you will actually ultimately receive.

If our management following our initial business combination 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 initial business combination, certain members of our management team will likely resign from their positions as officers or directors of the company and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination will remain in place. Management of the target business may not be familiar with United States securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with our 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.

Currency policies may cause a target business’ ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.

In the event we acquire a non-U.S. target, all revenues and income would likely be received in a foreign currency, the dollar equivalent of our net assets and distributions, if any, could be adversely affected by reductions in the value of the local currency. The value of the currencies in our target regions fluctuate and are affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. Any change in the relative value of such currency against our reporting currency may affect the attractiveness of any target business or, following consummation of our initial business combination, our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if a currency appreciates in value against the dollar prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, the cost of a target business as measured in dollars will increase, which may make it less likely that we are able to consummate such transaction.

General Risk Factors

Unanticipated changes in our effective tax rate or challenges by tax authorities could harm our future results.

We may become subject to income taxes in various other jurisdictions in the future. Our effective tax rate could be adversely affected by changes in the allocation of our pre-tax earnings and losses among countries with differing statutory tax rates, in certain non-deductible expenses as a result of acquisitions, in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, or in federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax laws and accounting principles, including increased tax rates, new tax laws or revised interpretations of existing tax laws and precedents. Increases in our effective tax rate would adversely affect our operating results. In addition, we may be subject to income tax audits by various tax jurisdictions throughout the world. The application of tax laws in such jurisdictions may be subject to diverging and sometimes conflicting interpretations by tax authorities in these jurisdictions. Although we believe our income tax liabilities are reasonably estimated and accounted for in accordance with applicable laws and principles, an adverse resolution of one or more uncertain tax positions in any period could have a material impact on the results of operations for that period.

We may be a passive foreign investment company, or “PFIC,” which could result in adverse United States federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders.

If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder (as defined in the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Tax Considerations-U.S. Holders”) of our securities, the U.S. Holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and may be subject to additional reporting requirements. Our PFIC status for our current and subsequent taxable years may depend on whether we qualify for the PFIC start-up exception (see the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules”). Depending on the particular circumstances, the application of the start-up exception may be subject to uncertainty, and there cannot be any assurance that we will qualify for the

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start-up exception. Accordingly, there can be no assurances with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year. Our actual PFIC status for any taxable year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. Moreover, if we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, upon written request, we will endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a “qualified electing fund” election, but there can be no assurance that we will timely provide such required information, and such election possibly would be unavailable with respect to our warrants. We urge U.S. investors to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules. For a more detailed explanation of the tax consequences of PFIC classification to U.S. Holders, see the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”

The U.S. federal income tax treatment of in-kind distributions on the preferred shares is uncertain.

Pursuant to Section 305(a) of the Code, the receipt by a stockholder of stock or a right to acquire stock generally is not included in the taxable income of the recipient. The general rule of nonrecognition in Section 305(a) of the Code is subject to exceptions under Section 305(b) of the Code, which include (i) certain distributions with respect to preferred stock, and (ii) “disproportionate distributions.”

As discussed in further detail in the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — In-Kind Distributions on the Preferred Shares,” an in-kind distribution on the preferred shares may be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes under one of these exceptions. The application of the rules under Section 305 to the preferred shares is uncertain, and U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors about the impact of these rules in their particular situations.

Because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited.

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon our directors or executive officers, or enforce judgments obtained in the U.S. courts against our directors or officers.

Our corporate affairs will be governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act (as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. We will also be subject to the federal securities laws of the United States. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as what they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and certain states, may have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholders derivative action in a federal court of the United States.

We may not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company if such initial business combination is subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and ultimately prohibited by the same.

Certain federally licensed businesses in the United States, such as broadcasters and airlines, may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership. In addition, CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States by foreign persons in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. Were we considered to be a “foreign person” under such rules and regulations, any proposed business combination between us and a U.S. business engaged in a regulated industry or which may affect national security could be subject to such foreign ownership restrictions

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and/or CFIUS review. The scope of CFIUS was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”) to include certain non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subject certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If a potential initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within the scope of foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable to consummate an initial business combination with such business. In addition, if a potential initial business combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may be required to make a mandatory filing or determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination. Our sponsor is an entity incorporated in Singapore and is controlled by our chairman and chief executive officer, Kanat Mynzhanov, a citizen of the United Kingdom. Therefore, if CFIUS has jurisdiction over our initial business combination, CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company if we had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance. If we were considered to be a “foreign person,” the foreign ownership limitations, and the potential impact of CFIUS, may limit the attractiveness of a transaction with us or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, in such circumstances, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination could be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other SPACs that do not have similar foreign ownership issues.

Moreover, the process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. If we liquidate, the public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share, and our warrants will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose any potential investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation of our stock in the combined company or future potential dividend on the convertible preferred shares.

Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments 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 and ability to consummate our initial business combination. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination and results of operations.

On January 24, 2024, the SEC issued final rules (the “2024 SPAC Rules”), effective as of 125 days following the publication of the 2024 SPAC Rules in the Federal Register, that formally adopted some of the SEC’s proposed rules for SPACs that were released on March 30, 2022. The 2024 SPAC Rules, among other items, impose additional disclosure requirements in initial public offerings by SPACs and business combination transactions involving SPACs and private operating companies; amend the financial statement requirements applicable to business combination transactions involving such companies; update and expand guidance regarding the general use of projections in SEC filings, as well as when projections are disclosed in connection with proposed business combination transactions; increase the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and could impact the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The 2024 SPAC Rules may materially adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete, and the costs associated with, our initial business combination, and results of operations.

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We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting 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 shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our shareholders 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 ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.

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

Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of the prior June 30th, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.

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

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

        restrictions on the nature of our investments; and

        restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.

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

        registration as an investment company;

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        adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and

        reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.

In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading 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 U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business will be to identify and complete a business combination and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.

We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may only be held in demand deposit or cash accounts or 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 which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. This offering is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The trust account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our primary business objective, which is a business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to modify (A) the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent a business combination, our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public shareholders 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.

Further, under the subjective test of a “investment company” pursuant to Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, even if the funds deposited in the trust account were invested in the assets discussed above, such assets, other than cash, are “securities” for purposes of the Investment Company Act and, therefore, there is a risk that we could be deemed an investment company and subject to the Investment Company Act.

In the adopting release for the 2024 SPAC Rules, the SEC provided guidance that a SPAC’s potential status as an “investment company” depends on a variety of factors, such as a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities and “is a question of facts and circumstances” requiring individualized analysis. If we were deemed to be subject to compliance with and regulation under the Investment Company Act, we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and expenses for which we have not allotted funds. Unless we are able to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we would either register as an investment company or wind down and abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead liquidate the Company. As a result, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per public share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and would be unable to realize the potential benefits of an initial business combination, including the possible appreciation of the combined company’s securities.

To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time, instruct the trustee to liquidate the securities held in the trust account and instead to hold the funds in the trust account in cash until the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation. As a result, following the liquidation of securities in the trust account, the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account may be materially reduced, which would reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.

We intend to initially hold the funds in the trust account as cash or in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. U.S. government

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treasury obligations are considered “securities” for purposes of the Investment Company Act, while cash is not. As noted above, one of the factors the SEC identified as relevant to the determination of whether a SPAC which holds securities could potentially be deemed an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act is the SPAC’s duration. To mitigate the risk of us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act) and thus subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, we may, at any time, instruct Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the trustee with respect to the trust account, to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the trust account and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in cash until the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination or liquidation of the company. Following such liquidation, the rate of interest we receive on the funds held in the trust account may be materially decreased. However, interest previously earned on the funds held in the trust account still may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any, and working capital. As a result, any decision to liquidate the securities held in the trust account and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in cash would reduce the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the company.

If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we could be forced to liquidate and investors in our company would not be able to participate in any benefits of owning stock in an operating business, including the potential appreciation of our stock following a business combination and our warrants would expire worthless.

As indicated above, we have 24 months from the closing of this offering to consummate an initial business combination. It is possible that a claim in the future could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company. It is also possible that the investment of funds from this offering and private placement of warrants during our life as a blank check company, and the earning and use of interest from such investment, both of which will likely continue until we consummate an initial business combination, could increase the likelihood of us being found to have been operating as an unregistered investment company more than if we sought to potentially mitigate this risk by holding such funds as cash. Furthermore, the longer the funds are 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 which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, the greater the risk could be that we are considered an investment company. If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act and found to have been operating as an unregistered investment company, it could cause us to liquidate. If we are forced to liquidate, investors in our company would not be able to participate in any benefits of owning stock in an operating business, including the potential appreciation of our stock following a business combination and our warrants would expire worthless.

Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination, 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, 2025. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target company with which we seek to complete our business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

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Provisions in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our ordinary shares and/or convertible preferred shares and could entrench management.

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that shareholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered board of directors and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred shares, which may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.

We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders until after the consummation of our initial business combination, which could delay the opportunity for our shareholders to elect directors.

In accordance with NASDAQ corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until no later than one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NASDAQ. There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or general meetings to appoint directors. Accordingly, until we hold an annual general meeting, public shareholders may not be afforded the opportunity to discuss company affairs with management. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being appointed in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual general meeting) serving a three-year term. Accordingly, you may not have any say in the management of our company prior to the consummation of an initial business combination.

Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry could adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations, either directly or through adverse impacts on certain of our vendors and customers.

Adverse developments that affect financial institutions, such as events involving liquidity that are rumored or actual, have in the past and may in the future lead to bank failures and/or market-wide liquidity problems. These events could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, either directly or through an adverse impact on certain of our vendors and customers. For example, on March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) as receiver. Similarly, on March 12, 2023, Signature Bank was put into receivership. Since that time, there have been reports of instability at other U.S. banks, including First Republic Bank. Although the Federal Reserve Board, the Department of the Treasury and the FDIC have taken steps to ensure that depositors at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank can access all of their funds, including funds held in uninsured deposit accounts, and have taken additional steps to provide liquidity to other banks, there is no guarantee that, in the event of the closure of other banks or financial institutions in the future, depositors would be able to access uninsured funds or that they would be able to do so in a timely fashion.

To date, we have not experienced any adverse impact to our liquidity, financial condition or results of operations as a result of the events described above. However, failures of other banks or financial institutions may expose us to additional risks, either directly or through the effect on vendors or other third parties, and may lead to significant disruptions to our operations, financial condition and reputation. Moreover, uncertainty remains over liquidity concerns in the broader financial services industry. Our business may be adversely impacted by these developments in ways that we cannot predict at this time, there may be additional risks that we have not yet identified, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to avoid negative consequences directly or indirectly from any failure of one or more banks or other financial institutions.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this prospectus may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the federal securities laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:

        our ability to complete our initial business combination;

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

        our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;

        our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements;

        our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination;

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

        our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;

        the lack of a market for our securities;

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

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

        our financial performance following this offering.

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We are offering 17,500,000 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 warrants will be used as set forth in the following table.

 

Without
Over-Allotment
Option

 

Over-Allotment
Option Fully
Exercised

Gross proceeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross proceeds from units offered to public(1)

 

$

175,000,000

 

 

$

201,250,000

 

Gross proceeds from private warrants offered in the private placement

 

$

4,500,000

 

 

$

5,025,000

 

Total gross proceeds

 

$

179,500,000

 

 

$

206,275,000

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offering expenses(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting commissions (2.0% of gross proceeds from units offered to public)

 

$

3,500,000

 

 

$

4,025,000

 

Legal fees and expenses

 

$

225,000

 

 

$

225,000

 

Accounting fees and expenses

 

$

92,500

 

 

$

92,500

 

SEC/FINRA Expenses

 

$

92,688

 

 

$

92,688

 

NASDAQ listing and filing fees

 

$

55,000

 

 

$

55,000

 

Printing and engraving expenses

 

$

30,000

 

 

$

30,000

 

Miscellaneous

 

$

54,812

 

 

$

54,812

 

Total offering expenses (excluding underwriting commissions)

 

$

550,000

 

 

$

550,000

 

Proceeds after offering expenses

 

$

175,450,000

 

 

$

201,700,000

 

Held in trust account

 

$

175,000,000

 

 

$

201,250,000

 

% of public offering size

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

Not held in trust account

 

$

450,000

(3)

 

$

450,000

(3)

The following table shows the use of the approximately $450,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account, as well as an estimated $1,760,000 to be withdrawn pursuant to permitted withdrawals:

 

Amount

 

% of Total

Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, and other expenses in connection with any business combination

 

$

200,000

 

9.1

%

Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations

 

$

150,000

 

6.8

%

Payment for office space, administrative and support services

 

$

720,000

 

32.6

%

NASDAQ continued listing fees

 

$

140,000

 

6.3

%

Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses, including general corporate purposes and reserves (including D&O insurance)

 

$

1,000,000

 

45.2

%

Total(4)

 

$

2,210,000

 

100.0

%

____________

(1)      Includes amounts payable to public shareholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our initial business combination.

(2)      A portion of the offering expenses will be paid from the proceeds of a loan from our sponsor and/or its affiliates of up to $150,000 as described in this prospectus. This amount will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $450,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) and amounts not to be held in the trust account. In the event that offering expenses are less than set forth in this table, any such amounts will be used for post-closing working capital expenses. In the event that the offering expenses are more than as set forth in this table, we may fund such excess with funds not held in the trust account.

(3)      Does not include the permitted withdrawals.

(4)      These expenses are estimates only. Actual amounts available for permitted withdrawals may be less than estimated if interest rates are lower than we currently anticipate. In addition, our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth herein. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring our initial business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify a business combination target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal

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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.

We may increase or decrease the total number of units sold to the public in this offering. If we decide to proceed with an offering that results in an increase in the total number of units sold to the public, we would have additional proceeds from the offering available to pursue an acquisition. If we proceed with an offering that results in a decrease in the total number of units sold to the public, we would have reduced proceeds from the offering available to pursue an acquisition. Such an increase or decrease may impact the size of the initial business combination we may pursue. In addition, the proceeds held in trust would correspondingly increase or decrease such that 100% of the gross proceeds from this offering will be held in trust. The underwriters’ option to purchase additional units to cover over-allotments and the amount of private warrants that our sponsor and EBC will purchase would correspondingly increase or decrease. If we increase or decrease the size of the offering, we will effect a share dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial shareholders at 20% of the issued and outstanding shares (including both ordinary and preferred shares but excluding the EBC founder shares and any units purchased by our initial shareholders in this offering).

The rules of NASDAQ provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private warrants be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private warrants, $175,000,000 (or $201,250,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be placed in a U.S.-based trust account at [•] with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, and will be held in demand deposit or cash accounts or invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. We estimate that the interest earned on the trust account will be approximately $8,750,000 per year, assuming an interest rate of 5% per year; however, we can provide no assurance regarding this amount. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private warrants that are deposited in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of: (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete our business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law.

The net proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we ultimately complete our initial business combination as well as paying our expenses, including a fee payable to EBC upon consummation of our initial business combination for assisting us in connection with our initial business combination, as described under the section titled “Underwriting.” If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt instruments, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other assets, companies or for working capital.

We believe that amounts not held in trust, together with interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals, will be sufficient to pay the costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. This belief is based on the fact that while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective acquisition, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of a business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, or if the amount of interest earned on the trust account is less than we anticipate, we may

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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 initial shareholders or their affiliates, but such persons are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.

Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $150,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. This loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and is due at the earlier of December 31, 2024, the closing of this offering or our determination not to proceed with the offering. The loan will be repaid upon the closing of this offering out of the offering proceeds not held in the trust account.

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our initial shareholders or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds on a non-interest basis as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into working capital warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, at the option of the lender. The working capital warrants would be identical to the private warrants sold in the private placement. Other than as set forth above, the terms of such loans by our initial shareholders or their affiliates, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our initial shareholders or their affiliates as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. If we do seek loans from any third party, we will obtain a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.

If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our initial shareholders or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial shareholders or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and the rules of NASDAQ. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules.

The agreement for our initial business combination may require as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public shareholders exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares or the business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination.

A public shareholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those public shares that such shareholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to modify (A) the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law and as further described herein and any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed business combination. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.

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Our initial shareholders have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. In addition, our initial shareholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. However, if our initial shareholders or their affiliates acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. Permitted transferees of the founder shares held by our initial shareholders would be subject to the same restrictions applicable to our initial shareholders, respectively.

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have not paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination.

It is currently contemplated that commencing upon the completion of our initial business combination, each whole convertible preferred share will pay an annual dividend of $0.60 per share, payable quarterly in cash or in kind at our option. The payment of dividends on the convertible preferred shares at a certain rate or at all is not guaranteed and is subject to uncertainty as the terms of the convertible preferred shares may be amended in connection with our initial business combination, subject to applicable law and as further described herein and may depend on the post-combination company’s ability to pay such dividends. Further, the ability to pay such dividends in kind at the combined company’s option may result in dilution to existing shareholders. Other than the dividends to be paid on our convertible preferred shares, the payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time and we will only pay such dividend out of our profits or share premium (subject to solvency requirements) as permitted under Cayman Islands Law. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

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DILUTION

The difference between the public offering price per ordinary share and preferred share, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus or the private warrants, and the pro forma net tangible book value per ordinary share and preferred share 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 warrants, which would cause the actual dilution to the public shareholders 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 ordinary shares and preferred shares which may be redeemed for cash), by the number of outstanding shares.

At March 31, 2024, our net tangible book deficit was $172,178 or approximately ($0.04) per share assuming the underwriters do not exercise any portion of the over-allotment option and the forfeiture of 656,250 founder shares. After giving effect to the sale of 8,750,000 ordinary shares and 8,750,000 convertible preferred shares included in the units we are offering by this prospectus (or 10,062,500 ordinary shares and 10,062,500 convertible preferred shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), the sale of the private warrants and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value would have been $961,159 or $0.21 per share (or $1,156,459 or $0.22 per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value (as decreased by the value of 8,750,000 ordinary shares and 8,750,000 convertible preferred shares that may be redeemed for cash, or 10,062,500 ordinary shares and 10,062,500 convertible preferred shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of $0.25 per share (or $0.25 per share if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) to our sponsor as of the date of this prospectus. Total dilution to public shareholders from this offering will be $9.79 per share (or $9.78 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full).

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

 

Without
Over-Allotment

 

With
Over-Allotment

Public offering price

 

$

10.00

 

 

$

10.00

 

Net tangible book deficit before this offering

 

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(0.03

)

Increase attributable to public shareholders

 

 

0.25

 

 

 

0.25

 

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

 

 

0.21

 

 

 

0.22

 

Dilution to public shareholders

 

$

9.79

 

 

$

9.78

 

Percentage of dilution to public shareholders

 

 

97.90

%

 

 

97.80

%

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 $175,000,000 because holders of up to 100% of our public shares may redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account at a per share redemption price equal to the amount in the trust account as set forth in our tender offer or proxy materials (initially anticipated to be the aggregate amount held in trust two days prior to the commencement of our tender offer or shareholders meeting, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of public shares sold in this offering.

The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial shareholders, EBC and the public shareholders:

 


Shares Purchased

 


Total Consideration

 

Average
Price
Per Share

   

Number

 

Percentage

 

Amount

 

Percentage

 

Initial shareholders(1)

 

4,375,000

 

19.82

%

 

$

25,000

 

0.01

%

 

$

0.006

EBC

 

200,000

 

0.91

%

 

 

994

 

0.00

%

 

$

0.005

Public shareholders(1)

 

17,500,000

 

79.28

%

 

 

175,000,000

 

99.99

%

 

$

10.00

   

22,075,000

 

100.00

%

 

$

175,025,994

 

100.00

%

 

 

 

____________

(1)      Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of an aggregate of 656,250 founder shares held by our initial shareholders.

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The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:

 

Without
Over-allotment

 

With
Over-allotment

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net tangible book deficit before this offering

 

$

(172,178

)

 

$

(172,178

)

Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private warrants

 

$

175,450,000

 

 

$

201,700,000

 

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

 

$

878,637

 

 

$

878,637

 

Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption

 

$

(175,000,000

)

 

$

(201,250,000

)

Less: Overallotment liability

 

$

(195,300

)

 

$

 

   

$

961,159

 

 

$

1,156,459

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares outstanding prior to this offering

 

 

5,031,250

 

 

 

5,031,250

 

Ordinary shares forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised

 

 

(656,250

)

 

 

 

EBC founder shares

 

 

200,000

 

 

 

200,000

 

Ordinary shares and preferred shares included in the units offered in this offering

 

 

17,500,000

 

 

 

20,125,000

 

Less: Shares subject to possible redemption

 

 

(17,500,000

)

 

 

(20,125,000

)

   

 

4,575,000

 

 

 

5,231,250

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization at March 31, 2024 and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our units and the private warrants and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities:

 

March 31, 2024

   

Actual

 

As Adjusted(1)

Promissory note to related party(2)

 

$

3,027

 

 

$

 

Overallotment liability

 

 

 

 

 

195,300

 

Ordinary shares and preferred shares, -0- and 17,500,000 shares subject to possible redemption, actual and as adjusted, respectively

 

 

 

 

 

175,000,000

(3)

Preferred shares, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding(3) (excluding – 0 – and 8,750,000 shares subject to possible redemption), actual and as adjusted, respectively

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized, 5,231,250 and 4,575,000 shares issued and outstanding(3) (excluding – 0 – and 8,750,000 shares subject to possible redemption), actual and as adjusted, respectively

 

 

523

 

 

 

457

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

746,477

 

 

 

1,001,243

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(40,541

)

 

 

(40,541

)

Total shareholders’ (deficit) equity

 

$

(706,459

)

 

$

961,159

 

Total capitalization

 

$

(709,486

)

 

$

176,156,459

 

____________

(1)      Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised and the resulting forfeiture of 656,250 founder shares held by our initial shareholders has occurred.

(2)      Our sponsor and/or its affiliates have agreed to loan us up to $150,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of March 31, 2024, we had $3,027 outstanding under the promissory note with our initial shareholders.

(3)      Represents net proceeds allocated to the public shares less the allocated transaction costs related to this offering. The ordinary shares and preferred shares offered to the public contain redemption rights that make them redeemable by our public shareholders. Accordingly, they are classified within temporary equity in accordance with the guidance provided in ASC 480-10-S99-3A and will be subsequently accredited at redemption value.

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

Overview

We are a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company and incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. While we will consider opportunities in any industry, we are strategically positioned to capitalize on transformative opportunities, focusing on sectors that are pivotal to advancing sustainability and innovation. Our investment thesis prioritizes target businesses primarily in North America and Europe, with a keen interest in new energy businesses, circular economy initiatives, and innovative agricultural and food technologies. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private warrants, the proceeds of the sale of our securities in connection with our initial business combination, if any, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, stock and debt.

The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares in a business combination:

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

        may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if preferred shares are issued with rights senior to those afforded our ordinary shares;

        could cause a change of control if a substantial number of our shares 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 share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and

        may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and/or warrants.

Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:

        default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;

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

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

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

        our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares;

        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 ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares if declared (including the dividends currently contemplated to be paid on our convertible preferred shares commencing upon the completion of our initial business combination), 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;

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        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.

As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at March 31, 2024, we had a working capital deficit of $172,178. Further, we expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful.

Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events

We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We expect to generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. 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 completion of this offering through up to $150,000 in loans from our sponsor under an unsecured promissory note. As of March 31, 2024, we had $3,027 in borrowings under the promissory note with our sponsor. We estimate that the net proceeds from (i) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $550,000 and underwriting commissions of $3,500,000 and (ii) the sale of the private warrants for a purchase price of $4,500,000 (or $5,025,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be $175,450,000 (or $201,700,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). Of this amount, $175,000,000 or ($201,250,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be deposited into a non-interest bearing trust account.

The funds in the trust account will be held in demand deposit or cash accounts or invested only in specified U.S. government treasury bills or in specified money market funds. The remaining $450,000 will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $550,000 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 $550,000, 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) to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest earned on the funds in the trust account pursuant to permitted withdrawals. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account and the tax rates applicable to us in the jurisdictions in which we operate. To the extent that our shares or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.

Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we will have available to us $450,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account. We will use these funds, together with interest earned on the trust account and released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals, primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, structure, negotiate and complete a business combination, and to pay taxes to the extent the interest earned on the trust account is not sufficient to pay our taxes.

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In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required on a non-interest bearing basis. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment.

Up to $1,500,000 of the loans made by our sponsor, our officers and directors, or our or their affiliates to us prior to or in connection with our initial business combination may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender, upon consummation of our initial business combination. The warrants would be identical to the private warrants. Except as set forth above, the terms of such loans by our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates, 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, our officers, directors or their affiliates 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 $200,000 for legal, accounting, due diligence, travel and other expenses associated with structuring, negotiating and documenting a business combination; $150,000 for legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting requirements; $720,000 for office space, administrative and support services, $140,000 for NASDAQ continued listing fees and approximately $1,000,000 for general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses, director and officer’s liability insurance, general corporate purposes, liquidation obligations and reserves.

These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. If our available funds are not sufficient, we may be unable to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.

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

Deferred Offering Costs

We comply with the requirements of ASC 340-10-S99-1 relating to deferred offering costs. Deferred offering costs consist of legal, accounting, advisory, administrative, and other costs (including underwriting discounts and commissions) incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to this offering and that will be charged to shareholders’ equity upon the completion of the offering. Should the offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.

Controls and Procedures

We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer would we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.

Prior to the closing of this offering, we have not completed an assessment, nor have our auditors tested our systems, of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business

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may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Many small and mid-sized target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:

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

        reconciliation of accounts;

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

        evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;

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

        documentation of accounting policies and procedures.

Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant 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 our independent auditors to audit and render an opinion on such report when required by Section 404. The independent auditors may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal controls while performing their audit of internal control over financial reporting.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private warrants held in the trust account will be held in demand deposit or cash accounts or invested in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.

Related Party Transactions

On March 7, 2024, our sponsor received an aggregate of 5,031,250 ordinary shares in exchange for $25,000 paid for deferred offering costs borne by the sponsor on our behalf. Up to 656,250 of such founder shares are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment is not exercised in full.

The purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the number of founder shares issued. As such, our sponsor will own 20% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (including both ordinary and preferred shares but excluding the EBC founder shares and any shares purchased by the initial shareholders in this offering).

On March 7, 2024, we issued to EBC 200,000 EBC founder shares for a purchase price of approximately $0.005 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $994.

We will enter into an Administrative Services Agreement pursuant to which we will pay our sponsor (or its designee) a total of $30,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.

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

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Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $150,000 on a non-interest bearing basis under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of March 31, 2024, there was $3,027 outstanding under the Promissory Note. After borrowing from the Promissory Note, the loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the offering proceeds not held in the trust account (or will become payable on December 31, 2024 if this offering has not been completed by such date). The value of our sponsor’s interest in this loan transaction corresponds to the principal amount outstanding under any such loan.

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds on a non-interest bearing basis as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment.

Up to $1,500,000 of the loans made by our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates to us prior to or in connection with our initial business combination may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, at the option of the lender, upon consummation of our initial business combination. The warrants would be identical to the private warrants. Other than set forth above, 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, officers, directors or their affiliates 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 and EBC have agreed that they and/or their designees will purchase from us an aggregate of 4,500,000 private warrants (2,312,500 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and 2,187,500 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees), at a price of $1.00 per warrant for a total purchase price of $4,500,000 in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor and EBC have also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they and/or their designees will purchase from us up to an additional 525,000 private warrants on a pro rata basis (up to 269,792 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and up to 255,208 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees) at a price of $1.00 per warrant. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the private warrants, which will expire worthless if we do not consummate a business combination within the allotted 24-month period.

Our initial shareholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares (i) in connection with the consummation of a business combination, (ii) in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering and (iii) if we fail to consummate a business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering or if we liquidate prior to the expiration of the 24-month period. However, our initial shareholders will be entitled to redemption rights with respect to any public shares held by them if we fail to consummate a business combination or liquidate within the 24-month period.

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement we will enter into with the holders of our founder shares, EBC founder shares, private warrants and working capital warrants (if any) on or prior to the closing of this offering, we may be required to register such securities for sale under the Securities Act. These will be entitled to make up to three demands that we register their securities for sale under the Securities Act. In addition, these holders have the right to include their securities in other registration statements filed by us. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing any such registration statements. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

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

As of March 31, 2024, 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.

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Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which require our management to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our financial condition or results of operations would be affected. We base our estimates on our own historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable after taking into account our circumstances and expectations for the future based on available information. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis.

We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (i) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (ii) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. The financial statements include an estimate of the fair value of the founder shares issued to EBC, which is considered to be a critical estimate. The Company established the initial fair value for the EBC Founder Shares on March 7, 2024, the date of the issuance, using a calculation prepared by management which takes into consideration the probability of completion of this offering, an implied probability of the completion of a business combination and a discount for lack of marketability calculation. The EBC Founder Shares are classified as Level 3 at the measurement date due to the use of unobservable inputs including the probability of a business combination, the probability of this offering, and other risk factors.

JOBS Act

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

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

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PROPOSED BUSINESS

We are a blank check company incorporated on March 7, 2024, as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our “business combination” or “initial business combination,” with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as a “target business” or “target businesses”. While we will consider opportunities in any industry, we are strategically positioned to capitalize on transformative opportunities, focusing on sectors that are pivotal to advancing sustainability and innovation. Our investment thesis prioritizes target businesses primarily in North America and Europe, with a keen interest in new energy businesses, circular economy initiatives, and innovative agricultural and food technologies. These sectors are selected based on their potential to respond to evolving environmental challenges, demographic shifts, and the transition towards sustainable practices. We believe our team’s expertise in these sectors will provide us with a significant competitive advantage in sourcing and evaluating potential targets.

Our management team is led by our Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Kanat Mynzhanov, and our Chief Financial Officer and director, Askar Mametov. Together, they founded Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd., our sponsor.

Mr. Mynzhanov brings a wealth of investment expertise, SPAC leadership, and international deal-making experience to our organization. His track record includes leading strategic acquisitions, founding successful investment funds, and advising on complex financial transactions. Mr. Mynzhanov’s SPAC expertise is highlighted by his role as Chief Executive Officer and director of Oxus, a special purpose acquisition company that completed a $172 million initial public offering in September 2021. In February 2024, Oxus completed its initial business combination with Borealis Foods Inc., a food tech company with a mission to address growing consumer needs and global food security challenges by developing highly nutritious and functional food products that are delicious, affordable and sustainable. Mr. Mynzhanov remains actively involved with Borealis as a member of its board of directors. The closing price on NASDAQ for the Borealis ordinary shares was $8.98 on June 14, 2024.

In September 2016, Mr. Mynzhanov co-founded Bellprescot Prime Fund, a hedge fund focused on disruptive technology investments in sectors such as the internet of things, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and semiconductors. He concurrently founded Bellprescot Asset Management, serving as its chief investment officer from September 2016 to June 2020. Since 2018, Mr. Mynzhanov has been advising on numerous private equity deals in fintech, mobility (including EV battery technologies), and structured products such as tokenization and syndicated co-lending.

Mr. Mynzhanov’s comprehensive experience includes directing the strategic acquisition of distressed chemical plants and critical materials mines in Europe, which we believe further demonstrates his ability to identify and execute complex cross-border and global transactions. Prior to his work in hedge funds and asset management, Mr. Mynzhanov worked at Kazatomprom-Damu, the investment subsidiary of NAC Kazatomprom JSC. As head of investments, he spearheaded mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and business development initiatives within the metals and mining, rare metals, and alternative energy sectors. Mr. Mynzhanov’s career with NAC Kazatomprom JSC began in March 2014, where he oversaw various projects and forged valuable relationships with key industry players. NAC Kazatomprom JSC is the world’s largest uranium producer, which fuels carbon-free electricity generation at nuclear power facilities around the globe. From March 2011 to March 2014, Mr. Mynzhanov’s experience included leadership roles in the oil maritime transportation sector and consulting for firms seeking capital and business development solutions.

We believe Mr. Mynzhanov’s extensive background in investment management, technology, strategic business development, SPAC leadership, cross-border transactions, and distressed asset acquisitions provide him with a unique and valuable skillset, and that these strengths position him to guide our company’s efforts to complete a successful business combination.

Mr. Mametov served as Oxus’ Chief Financial Officer from Oxus’ inception in February 2021 until the completion of its initial business combination with Borealis in February 2024. Mr. Mametov has over 15 years of executive experience in mining, oil and gas, infrastructure and transportation industries with a thorough understanding of financial reporting (US GAAP and IFRS), taxation and accounting, financial planning and analysis. Mr. Mametov

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has served as the Director of Kaznedraproject LLP, a private Kazkh oil and gas exploration company, since July 2019. Previously, Mr. Mametov served as chief financial officer of KM Gold Inc., a public Kazakh gold mining company (KASE: KMGD) from August 2016 until October 2019. He led the process of public listing of the company on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange in 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Mametov served as financial controller of Sequa Petroleum Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of Sequa Petroleum, an oil and gas company, listed on Euronext Access (EPA: MLSEQ) from January 2014 to July 2016. From 2007 to 2014, Mr. Mametov served in multiple roles at Caspian Services Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSV), including management reporting, US GAAP financial reporting, as well as IFRS financial reporting for Kazakhstani Stock Exchange (KASE: US_CSSV). In 2007, Mr. Mametov worked at Beeline Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of VEON (Nasdaq: VEON). VEON (formerly Vympelcom). From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Mametov served as financial reporting specialist and consortium accountant in PetroKazakhstan Inc. (TSX: PKZ), a Canadian oil company. Mr. Mametov is a member of IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) and since 2014, has served as the President of Kazakhstan Chapter of IMA.

We have generated no revenues to date and we do not expect that we will generate operating revenues until, at the earliest, we consummate our initial business combination. Our management team is continuously made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for an initial business combination. However, we have not selected any specific target business and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any target business with respect to an initial business combination with us.

Our Competitive Advantages

Experienced Board of Directors

In addition to Mr. Mynzhanov and Mr. Mametov, we expect to benefit from the experience and networks of the following director nominees:

Christophe Charlier served as one of Oxus’ independent directors from September 2021 until the completion of its initial business combination with Borealis in February 2024. Mr. Charlier is an international financier with over 25 years of experience in investment banking, private equity and international management. Throughout his career he has acted as principal or advised on a number of landmark transactions in the telecoms, financial services, natural resources and sports and entertainment industries across developed and emerging markets. He has served as an independent director of La Française de l’Energie, a French clean energy production company since April 2016, and chairman of Pure Grass Films, a UK-based film and TV series production company, since 2012. He served as a co-Chairman of Tingo Inc., an African fintech company, from September 2021 to April 2023. Mr. Charlier served as chairman of the board of directors of Renaissance Capital, a leading investment bank focused on emerging and frontier markets, from April 2017 to March 2020. As Chairman, Mr. Charlier coordinated the work of Renaissance Capital’s board of directors and oversaw strategic development, the global brand, and relationships with key clients and stakeholders globally. Previously, Mr. Charlier served as deputy Chief Executive Officer of Onexim Group, a leading private equity fund based in Moscow from September 2008 to June 2014. In this capacity, he served on the boards of directors of several of Russia’s largest companies including RusAl, Polyus Gold, Quadra-Power Generation, and RBC. He also acted as chairman of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets franchise from 2010 to 2014. Prior to that from February 2002 to March 2004, Mr. Charlier was director of strategic development of Norilsk Nickel, leading its acquisition of strategic stakes in Stillwater Mining Company and Gold Fields. He started his investment banking career in 1995 at JPMorgan in the M&A Group in New York.

Marsha Kutkevich has worked in the finance industry for over 20 years, primarily in structured products and emerging and capital markets. She founded and has served as Chief Operating Officer of EMVirya Ltd, an FCA regulated investment advisor based in London, since February 2018. EMVirya Ltd, is a privately held financial services firm operating in global emerging markets that is positioning itself at the crossroads of emerging markets and renewable energy. Prior to founding EMVirya, Ms. Kutkevitch worked as a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs from April 2015 to September 2016 in London. From 2003 to 2015, Ms. Kutkevitch was a Managing Director at Barclays Capital (Barclays Investment Bank). She ran a business at both Barclays and Goldman whose clients were corporate entities, financial institutions and governmental organizations.

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Darrell Mays is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Mays//Mock Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm focused on the TMT, Transportation and Energy sectors. The firm targets companies that serve large-SMBs to enterprise customers that want an opportunity to work with Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified companies. Mr. Mays served on the board of directors of American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc., formerly known as Pensare Acquisition Corp., from July 2017 until May 2023. He also served as Chief Executive Officer between July 2021 and August 2022 and also between July 2017 and September 2020. Mr. Mays was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of nsoro, a turnkey wireless installation services provider, from 2003 to 2008, which was acquired by MasTec in August 2008. Mr. Mays served as an executive of MasTec from August 2008 to December 2016.

Established Deal Sourcing Network

We believe that our management team’s strong background, contacts and sources and geographic reach will provide us with high quality acquisition opportunities and possibly complementary follow-on business arrangements. These contacts and sources include those ranging from industry executives, private owners, private equity funds, family offices, commercial and investment bankers, lawyers and other financial sector service providers and participants.

Status as a Publicly Listed Acquisition Company

We believe that we will be an attractive initial business combination partner to prospective target businesses. As a publicly listed company, we will offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering process. We believe that some of our target businesses will favor this alternative, which we believe is more cost effective while also offering greater certainty of execution than would a traditional initial public offering process. Once public, we believe that the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned with shareholders’ interests than it would as a private company. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aiding in attracting talented management staff.

With respect to the foregoing examples and descriptions, past performance by our management team is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any initial business combination we may consummate. Potential investors should not rely upon the historical record of our management as indicative of future performance.

Business Strategy

We envision a future where sustainable innovation fuels business growth within a circular economy.

We plan to leverage our management team’s experience to deliver value for investors. We believe we will offer a target company the ability to benefit from U.S. capital markets and our deep industry expertise.

Our strategy will be to:

        direct our attention on target businesses focused on new energy technologies, circular economy initiatives, and innovative agricultural and food technologies, with a particular emphasis on companies innovating sustainable solutions across this interconnected landscape;

        focus on target businesses in North America and European markets;

        deploy our team’s expertise to strategically advise and connect with promising targets;

        proactively uncover unique deal opportunities through innovative sourcing methods; and

        navigate complex financial environments and structures to optimize target outcomes.

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Our attention on target businesses focused on energy transition, the circular economy and food technologies is driven by a commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability across these interconnected sectors:

        Energy Transition and Critical Materials

The global shift towards a carbon-neutral economy is accelerating the demand for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. This transition is heavily dependent on critical materials, including but not limited to lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, which are vital for the manufacture of batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), and renewable energy infrastructure. We aim to focus on companies that excel in the ethical sourcing, processing, and recycling of these materials. By supporting businesses that adhere to environmentally responsible practices, we intend to facilitate the development of a sustainable energy ecosystem that reduces environmental impact and supports the worldwide shift to carbon neutral economies.

        Circular Economy

We believe in the transformative potential of the circular economy to create economic growth that is both sustainable and beneficial for society. Our focus within this sector includes but is not limited to:

        Materials Recovery and Recycling:    We target investments in companies that are pioneering innovations in the recycling industry to efficiently process and reclaim valuable materials from waste.

        Product as a Service (PaaS):    We support business models that emphasize product durability and reparability, which contribute to extending the lifecycle of products and reducing waste.

        Biobased Materials:    Our interests extend to companies developing materials from renewable biological resources, which help decrease reliance on fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions. These materials are essential across multiple industries and are pivotal in promoting clean hydrogen solutions in transportation.

        Sustainable Packaging:    We aim to invest in advancements in sustainable packaging solutions that focus on biodegradable materials and technologies that minimize environmental impact and resource use.

        Food Industries and Alternative Proteins

Addressing the sustainability challenges within the global food system, we focus on innovative companies in the alternative proteins sector. Technologies such as fermentation and cellular agriculture represent the forefront of sustainable food solutions. These methods are significantly more resource-efficient than traditional livestock farming and offer scalable solutions to meet the increasing global protein demand while mitigating environmental impacts.

        Broader Opportunities

Beyond the specific sectors mentioned, we are dedicated to exploring broader opportunities in. These include industrial and infrastructure within the context of the transition and circular economies, renewable energy storage solutions, carbon capture technologies, and smart resource management systems. These businesses play a crucial role in enhancing environmental sustainability and resilience, aligning with our commitment to support innovations that address a wide array of ecological challenges.

        Conclusion

By strategically focusing on these interconnected sectors, we aim to drive innovation, enhance sustainability, and create significant value. This approach positions us effectively in facilitating the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

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Acquisition Criteria

Our management team intends to focus on creating shareholder value by leveraging its experience in the management, operation, and financing of businesses to improve the efficiency of operations while implementing strategies to scale revenue organically and/or through acquisitions. We have identified the following general criteria and guidelines, which we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. While we intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating prospective businesses, we may deviate from these criteria and guidelines should we see justification to do so.

        Strong Management Team that Can Create Significant Value for Target Business.    We intend to seek targets with professional management teams whose interests are aligned with those of our investors and complement the expertise of our team. When strategically beneficial, we may also look to enhance their expertise, and leverage our network to strengthen their leadership team and drive post-acquisition growth.

        Would Benefit from our Capabilities.    We plan to target businesses primed for strategic growth acceleration through the application of our team’s management and market expertise.

        Revenue and Earnings Growth Potential.    We intend to seek to acquire one or more businesses that have the potential for significant revenue and earnings growth through a combination of both existing and new product development, increased production capacity, expense reduction and synergistic follow-on acquisitions resulting in increased operating leverage.

        Potential for Strong Free Cash Flow Generation.    We intend to prioritize targets with a demonstrable track record of robust and sustainable free cash flow, or the potential to achieve it in the near future.

        Benefit from Being a Public Company.    We intend to acquire a business or businesses that will benefit from being publicly traded and which can effectively utilize access to broader sources of capital and a public profile that are associated with being a publicly traded company.

These criteria do not intend to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors, and criteria that our sponsor and management team may deem relevant.

Our Acquisition Process

Our due diligence process is anticipated to involve meetings with management, document reviews, site visits, and comprehensive analysis of financial data, leveraging our team’s deep transactional, financial, managerial, and investment expertise.

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated (as defined in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) with our officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, stating that the consideration to be paid by us in such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.

Members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further conflicts could arise if a target company’s terms for a business combination involve the retention or resignation of our officers and directors.

We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target regarding a business combination with our company. We have also not contacted any of the prospective target businesses that Oxus had considered and rejected while such entity was a blank check company searching for target businesses to acquire. We do not currently intend to contact any of such targets; however, we may do so in the future if we become aware that the valuations, operations, profits or prospects of such target business, or the benefits of any potential transaction with such target business, would be attractive.

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Each of our officers and directors presently has contractual obligations to other entities, and any of them in the future may have additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities including other special purpose acquisition companies, or “SPACs” pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present an initial business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity under Cayman Islands law.

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one that we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.

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 initial business combination.

Status as a Public Company

We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination. In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their shares in the target business for our share or for a combination of shares of our share 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 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 business combination with us.

Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay or prevent the offering from occurring or could have negative valuation consequences. Once public, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with shareholders’ 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 Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the 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 shareholder 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. Billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.235 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.

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Financial Position

With funds in the trust account available for a business combination initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share, we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt or leverage ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third-party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.

Effecting our Initial Business Combination

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

If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt instruments, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemptions 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 the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other assets, companies or for working capital.

We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, and we may complete our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the trust account. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of our initial business combination. In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our tender offer documents or proxy materials disclosing the business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek shareholder approval of such financing. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following consummation of this offering. 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. None of our initial shareholders are required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that, following this offering and prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we will be prohibited from issuing additional securities that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote as a class with our public shares.

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

Sources of Target Businesses

We expect to receive a number of proprietary transaction opportunities as a result of the business relationships, direct outreach, and deal sourcing activities of our management team. In addition to this proprietary deal flow, we anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment banking firms, consultants, accounting firms, private equity groups, large business enterprises, and other market participants. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses in which they think we may be interested

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on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read this prospectus and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our initial shareholders, as well as their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. We have agreed to reimburse our initial shareholders for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination.

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our initial shareholders or advisors or making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, officers, directors or advisors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our initial shareholders or advisors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context. As more fully discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us.

Lack of Business Diversification

For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. In addition, we intend to focus our search for an initial business combination in a single industry. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:

        subject us to negative economic, competitive, and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination, and

        cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services.

Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team

Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’ management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications, or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team or of our board, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination, it is presently unknown if any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination.

Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business. The determination as to whether any members of our board of directors will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.

Following a business combination, to the extent that we deem it necessary, 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.

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Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve our Initial Business Combination

We may conduct redemptions without a shareholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC subject to the provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. However, we will seek shareholder approval if it is required by law or applicable stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons. Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business combinations we may consider and whether shareholder approval is currently required under Cayman Islands law for each such transaction.

Type of Transaction

 

Whether
Shareholder
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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, shareholder approval may otherwise be required in transactions where we also seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association in connection therewith.

Under NASDAQ’s listing rules, shareholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:

        we issue ordinary shares that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of our ordinary shares then outstanding;

        any of our directors, officers or substantial shareholders (as defined by NASDAQ rules) has a 5% or greater interest (or such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest), directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise and the present or potential issuance of ordinary shares could result in an increase in outstanding common shares or voting power of 5% or more; or

        the issuance or potential issuance of ordinary shares will result in our undergoing a change of control.

The decision as to whether we will seek shareholders’ approval of a proposed business combination in those instances in which shareholder approval is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and legal reasons, which include a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine shareholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek shareholder approval or doing so would place the company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the company; (ii) the expected cost of holding a shareholder vote; (iii) the risk that the shareholders would fail to approve the proposed business combination; (iv) other time and budget constraints of the company; and (v) additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to shareholders.

Permitted Purchases of our Securities

In the event we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions.

None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase securities in such transactions. They will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. In the event that our initial shareholders or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject

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to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules.

The purpose of any such transactions could be to (1) increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the business combination by purchasing shares from holders that have, or have indicated an intention to, vote against a proposed transaction (as those shares would no longer be voted on the proposed transaction), (2) increase the likelihood of approval on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination by purchasing warrants from holders that have, or have indicated an intention to, vote against a proposed matter (as those rights would no longer be voted on the proposed matter) 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 closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.

Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. Additionally, in the event our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:

        our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our initial business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases;

        If our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates were to purchase public shares from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process;

        our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our initial business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction;

        our sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and

        we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the material terms of the purchases.

In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our ordinary shares 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.

It is anticipated that any privately negotiated purchases would be as a result of either the shareholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by shareholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling shareholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against the business combination. Our initial shareholders or their affiliates will only purchase shares if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, Section 9(a)(2) of, or Rule 10b-5 under, the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.

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Redemption Rights for Public Shareholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination

We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares (in any combination of ordinary and preferred shares) upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. Only whole ordinary and preferred shares can be redeemed and, as a result, an investor must own an even number of units to fully redeem its holdings as each unit contains one-half of one ordinary share and one-half of one preferred share. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.00 per public share regardless of whether the public share is an ordinary share or a preferred share. Our initial shareholders have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.

Manner of Conducting Redemptions

We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek shareholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirement. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require shareholder approval while direct mergers with our company and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares or seek to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association would require shareholder approval. If we structure a business combination transaction with a target company in a manner that requires shareholder approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a shareholder vote to approve the proposed business combination.

If a shareholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association:

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

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

Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, we or our initial shareholders will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase our public shares 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 that we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer may be conditioned on public shareholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares which are not purchased by our initial shareholders, which number will be based on any net worth or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public shareholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete the initial business combination.

If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association:

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

        file proxy materials with the SEC.

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In the event that we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public shareholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.

If we seek shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares, including a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares, voted are voted in favor of the business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of outstanding shares of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial shareholders will count toward this quorum and have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding public shares and ordinary shares voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need (i) 6,462,501, or 36.9%, of the 17,500,000 public shares, as well as 2,087,501, or 23.9% of the 8,750,000 ordinary shares, sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming all outstanding shares are voted, including the EBC founder shares, the EBC founder shares are voted in favor of the proposed initial business combination (although they are not required to do so) and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or (ii) 943,752, or 5.4%, of the 17,500,000 public shares sold in this offering, to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming that only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted but of those shares, the EBC founder shares are voted in favor of the proposed initial business combination (although they are not required to do so), and the over-allotment option is not exercised). We intend to give approximately 20 days (but not less than 5 clear days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination.

These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial shareholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public shareholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether it votes for or against the proposed transaction or abstains from voting.

Limitation on Redemption upon Completion of Initial Business Combination if we Seek Shareholder Approval

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to any excess shares they own. We believe this restriction will discourage shareholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed business combination as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms.

By limiting our shareholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of shareholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association does not restrict our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including excess shares) for or against our initial business combination.

Tendering Share Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights

We may require our public shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public shareholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public shareholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer

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materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two days prior to the vote on the business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for shareholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.

There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $100.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.

The foregoing is different from the procedures used by some prior blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, some prior blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the shareholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such shareholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the shareholder then had an “option window” after the completion of the business combination during which he or she could monitor the price of the company’s share 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 shareholders were aware they needed to commit before the shareholder meeting, would become “option” rights surviving past the completion of the business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election to redeem is irrevocable once the business combination is approved.

Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the tender offer materials or the date of the shareholder meeting set forth in our proxy materials, as applicable. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.

If our initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public shareholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.

If our initial proposed business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete a business combination with a different target until 24 months from the closing of this offering.

Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if no Initial Business Combination

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that, if we wind up for any

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other reason prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we will follow the foregoing procedures with respect to the liquidation of the trust account as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to applicable Cayman Islands law.

Our initial shareholders have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our initial shareholders acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted 24-month time period.

Our initial shareholders have agreed, pursuant to a letter agreement with us (filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part), that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or (ii) with respect to any other material provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.

We expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of liquidation and dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the approximately $450,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account and funds we may withdraw from interest earned on the trust account pursuant to permitted withdrawals, 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 liquidation and dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay taxes on interest income earned on the trust account balance, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.

If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private warrants, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $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 shareholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by shareholders will not be substantially less than $10.00.

Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest and claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public shareholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver.

In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Our sponsor has agreed that they will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $10.00

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per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy their indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations. Therefore, we believe it is unlikely that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors are required to indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that they are unable to satisfy their indemnification obligations or that they have no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce such indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce their indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations and we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less than $10.00 per public share.

We will seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to approximately $450,000 from the proceeds of this offering, as well as any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals with which to pay any such potential claims. In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, shareholders 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 $550,000, 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 $550,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.

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 shareholders. 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 shareholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders 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 shareholders. Furthermore, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.

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Our public shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only (i) in the event of the redemption of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, (ii) in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (iii) if they redeem their respective shares for cash upon the completion of the initial business combination. In no other circumstances will a shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a shareholder’s voting in connection with the business combination alone will not result in a shareholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such shareholder must have also exercised its redemption rights described above. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, like all provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, may be amended with a shareholder vote.

Comparison of Redemption or Purchase Prices in Connection with our Initial Business Combination and if We Fail to Complete our Initial Business Combination

The following table compares the redemptions and other permitted purchases of public shares that may take place in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.

 

Redemptions in
Connection
with our Initial
Business Combination

 

Other Permitted
Purchases of Public
Shares by us or our
Affiliates

 

Redemptions if we
fail to Complete
an Initial
Business Combination

Calculation of redemption price

 

Redemptions at the time of our initial business combination may be made pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a shareholder vote. The redemption price will be the same whether we conduct redemptions pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a shareholder vote.

In either case, our public shareholders may redeem their public shares for cash equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share), including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) agreed to in connection with the negotiation of terms of a proposed business combination.

 

If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial shareholders, or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market prior to or following completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit to the prices that our initial shareholders or their affiliates may pay in these transactions.

 

If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem all public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount, then on deposit in the trust account (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share), including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.

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Redemptions in
Connection
with our Initial
Business Combination

 

Other Permitted
Purchases of Public
Shares by us or our
Affiliates

 

Redemptions if we
fail to Complete
an Initial
Business Combination

Impact to remaining shareholders

 

The redemptions in connection with our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for our remaining shareholders, who will bear the burden of working capital and taxes payable released to us.

 

If the permitted purchases described above are made, there would be no impact to our remaining shareholders because the purchase price would not be paid by us.

 

The redemption of our public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for the shares held by our initial shareholders, who will be our only remaining shareholders 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

 

$175,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private warrants will be deposited into a U.S.-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee.

 

$154,350,000 of the offering proceeds would be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account.

Investment of net proceeds

 

$175,000,000 of the net offering proceeds and the sale of the private warrants held in trust will be held in demand deposit or cash accounts or invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.

 

Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States.

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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 shareholders is reduced by (i) permitted withdrawals and (ii) in the event of our liquidation for failure to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time, up to $100,000 of net interest that may be released to us should we have no or insufficient working capital to fund the costs and expenses of our dissolution and liquidation.

 

Interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our completion of a business combination.

Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business

 

Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our assets held in the trust account (excluding interest income earned on the trust account released to us for working capital or to pay taxes) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination.

 

The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds.

Trading of securities issued

 

The units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 90th day following the date of this prospectus unless the representative informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days from the date of this prospectus. If the over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, an additional Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option.

 

No trading of the units or the underlying ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account.

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Terms of Our Offering

 

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Election to remain an investor

 

We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein. We may not be required by law to hold a shareholder vote.

If we are not required by law and do not otherwise decide to hold a shareholder vote, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, we hold a shareholder vote, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the tender offer rules. If we seek shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares voted, including a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares, are voted in favor of the business combination. Additionally, each public shareholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or abstain from voting. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of outstanding shares of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of the company entitled to vote at such meeting.

 

A prospectus containing information pertaining to the business combination required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of a post-effective amendment to the company’s registration statement, to decide if it elects to remain a shareholder of the company or require the return of its investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the shareholder. 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.

Business combination deadline

 

If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days

 

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

Release of funds

 

Thereafter, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

 

The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time.

   

Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private warrants that are deposited and held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (a) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (b) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) the redemption of 100% of our public shares if we are unable to complete a business combination within the required time frame (subject to the requirements of applicable law).

   

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Competition

In identifying, evaluating, and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human, and other resources than we do. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public shareholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding rights, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.

Facilities

Our office address is 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711. Pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, until the completion of our initial business combination or liquidation, we will pay a monthly fee of $30,000 to our sponsor for office space, secretarial and administrative services. We consider our current office space, combined with the other office space otherwise available to our executive officers, adequate for our current operations.

Employees

We currently have two executive officers, Kanat Mynzhanov and Askar Mametov. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the stage of the initial business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination.

Periodic Reporting and Financial Information

We will register our units, ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.

We will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, sent to shareholders. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or reconciled to, GAAP or IFRS, depending on the prospective target business, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential business combination candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with the requirements outlined above, or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.

We will be required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 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 requirement 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 their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

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Prior to the date of this prospectus, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.

We are a Cayman Islands exempted company. Exempted companies are Cayman Islands companies conducting business mainly outside the Cayman Islands and, as such, are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Act.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the 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 shareholder 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.

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.

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MANAGEMENT

Officers and Directors

Our officers, directors and director nominees are as follows:

Name

 

Age

 

Position

Kanat Mynzhanov

 

40

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

Askar Mametov

 

40

 

Chief Financial Officer and Director

Christophe Charlier

 

52

 

Director Nominee

Marsha Kutkevich

 

44

 

Director Nominee

Darrell Mays

 

60

 

Director Nominee

Mr. Mynzhanov has served as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since our inception. Mr. Mynzhanov was the Chief Executive Officer and director of Oxus Acquisition Corp., a black check company, from its inception in February 2021 until its merger with Borealis Foods Inc., a food tech company with a mission to address growing consumer needs and global food security challenges, in February 2024. Mr. Mynzhanov has served as a member of the board of directors of Borealis Foods Inc. (NASDAQ: BRLS) since February 2024. Mr. Mynzhanov was the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Bellprescot Asset Management, an asset management firm and Bellprescot Prime Fund, a hedge fund, with a focus of investments in technology driven public companies, including internet of things and cloud, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, machine learning, semiconductors, cybersecurity and robotics, since September 2016 to June 2020. Since 2018, Mr. Mynzhanov advised on several private equity deals in fintech (payments, remittances and alternative financing), mobility (including EV battery metals and EV battery technology) and structured products, including tokenization and syndicated co-lending. Prior to founding the hedge fund, Mr. Mynzhanov served as the head of investments at Kazatomprom-Damu, a subsidiary of NAC Kazatomprom JSC, the world’s largest uranium producer, which fuels carbon-free electricity generation at nuclear power facilities around the globe, where he spearheaded mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and business development initiatives within the metals and mining, rare metals, and alternative energy sectors. Mr. Mynzhanov’s career with NAC Kazatomprom JSC began in March 2014, where he oversaw various projects and forged valuable relationships with key industry players. From March 2011 to March 2014, Mr. Mynzhanov’s experience included leadership roles in the crude oil maritime transportation sector and consulting for firms seeking capital and business development solutions. Mr. Mynzhanov holds a Master of Science from University of Westminster. We believe Mr. Mynzhanov is qualified to serve as a member of our Board because of his investment expertise, prior SPAC experience, and cross-border transaction experience.

Mr. Mametov has served as our Chief Financial Officer and a director since our inception. Mr. Mametov served as Oxus’ Chief Financial Officer from Oxus’ inception in February 2021 until the completion of its initial business combination with Borealis in February 2024. Mr. Mametov has over 15 years of executive experience in mining, oil and gas, infrastructure and transportation industries with a thorough understanding of financial reporting (US GAAP and IFRS), taxation and accounting, financial planning and analysis. Mr. Mametov has served as the Director of Kaznedraproject LLP, a private Kazkh oil and gas exploration company, since July 2019. Previously, Mr. Mametov served as chief financial officer of KM Gold Inc., a public Kazakh gold mining company (KASE: KMGD) from August 2016 until October 2019. He led the process of public listing of the company on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange in 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Mametov served as financial controller of Sequa Petroleum Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of Sequa Petroleum, an oil and gas company, listed on Euronext Access (EPA: MLSEQ) from January 2014 to July 2016. From 2007 to 2014, Mr. Mametov served in multiple roles at Caspian Services Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSV), including management reporting, US GAAP financial reporting, as well as IFRS financial reporting for Kazakhstani Stock Exchange (KASE: US_CSSV). In 2007, Mr. Mametov worked at Beeline Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of VEON (Nasdaq: VEON). VEON (formerly Vympelcom). From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Mametov served as financial reporting specialist and consortium accountant in PetroKazakhstan Inc. (TSX: PKZ), a Canadian oil company. Mr. Mametov is a member of IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) and since 2014, has served as the President of Kazakhstan Chapter of IMA. Mr. Mametov earned a B.S. in Accounting and MBA in Financial Reporting from KIMEP University. We believe Mr. Mametov is qualified to serve as a member of our Board because of his financial expertise, prior SPAC experience, and cross-border transaction experience.

Christophe Charlier served as one of Oxus’ independent directors from September 2021 until the completion of its initial business combination with Borealis in February 2024. Mr. Charlier is an international financier with over 25 years of experience in investment banking, private equity and international management. Throughout his

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career he has acted as principal or advised on a number of landmark transactions in the telecoms, financial services, natural resources and sports and entertainment industries across developed and emerging markets. He has served as an independent director of La Française de l’Energie, a French clean energy production company, since April 2016 and chairman of Pure Grass Films, a UK-based film and TV series production company, since 2012. He served as a co-Chairman of Agri-Fintech Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Tingo Inc.) (“Agri-Fintech”), an African fintech company, from September 2021 to April 2023. Mr. Charlier served as chairman of the board of directors of Renaissance Capital, a leading investment bank focused on emerging and frontier markets, from April 2017 to March 2020. As Chairman, Mr. Charlier coordinated the work of Renaissance Capital’s board of directors and oversaw strategic development, the global brand, and relationships with key clients and stakeholders globally. Previously, Mr. Charlier served as deputy CEO of Onexim Group, a leading private equity fund based in Moscow, from September 2008 to June 2014. In this capacity, he served on the boards of directors of several of Russia’s largest companies including RusAl, Polyus Gold, Quadra-Power Generation, and RBC. He also acted as chairman of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets franchise from 2010 to 2014. Prior to that, from February 2002 to March 2004, Mr. Charlier was director of strategic development of Norilsk Nickel, leading its acquisition of strategic stakes in Stillwater Mining Company and Gold Fields. He started his investment banking career in 1995 at JPMorgan in the M&A Group in New York. Mr. Charlier graduated cum laude in Finance from the Wharton School and in International Relations from the College of Arts & Sciences of the University of Pennsylvania in 1994. We believe that Mr. Charlier is qualified to serve as a member of our Board because of his extensive executive financial experience across a number of industries.

On April 24, 2023, Mr. Charlier resigned as a director (including as co-Chairman) of Agri-Fintech. In his resignation letter, a copy of which was filed by Agri-Fintech as an exhibit to the current report on Form 8-K it filed to report his resignation, Mr. Charlier expressed concerns regarding the company’s corporate governance practices and management, and indicated that he would not be in a position to approve the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. In October 2023, Mr. Charlier filed a lawsuit against Agri-Fintech and its Chief Executive Officer alleging, among other things, fraud and breach of contract for failing to pay Mr. Charlier cash and equity compensation owed to him for his prior service as a director. In December 2023 the SEC filed a complaint against Agri-Fintech, its Chief Executive Officer and certain affiliated entities and obtained a temporary asset freeze and other emergency relief against the defendants, and in January 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that it had unsealed an indictment against the Chief Executive Officer, charging him with securities fraud, among other things.

Marsha Kutkevich has worked in the finance industry for over 20 years, primarily in structured products, emerging markets and capital markets. She has served as a Founder and COO of EMVirya Ltd, an FCA regulated investment advisor based in London, since February 2018. EMVirya Ltd, is a privately held financial services firm with extensive experience in global emerging markets that is positioning itself at the crossroads of Emerging markets and renewable energy. Prior to founding EMVirya, Ms. Kutkevitch worked as a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs from April 2015 to Sept 2016 in London. From 2003 to 2015 Ms. Kutkevitch was a Managing Director at Barclays Capital (Barclays Investment Bank). Ms. Kutkevitch helped to open the local office and integrate the local entity purchased by the bank. She ran a business at both Barclays and Goldman whose clients were corporates, financial institutions and governmental organizations. She advised them on best capital raising practices as well as asset liability management. Ms. Kutkevitch graduated Durham University with BSc in Natural Sciences. We believe that Ms. Kutkevich is qualified to serve as a member of our Board because of her extensive financial and capital markets experience.

Darrell Mays is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Mays//Mock Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm focused on the TMT, Transportation and Energy sectors. The firm targets companies that serve large-SMBs to enterprise customers that want an opportunity to work with Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified companies. Mr. Mays served on the board of directors of American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc., formerly known as Pensare Acquisition Corp., from July 2017 until May 2023. He also served as Chief Executive Officer between July 2021 and August 2022 and also between July 2017 and September 2020. American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in January 2023. Mr. Mays was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of nsoro, a turnkey wireless installation services provider, from 2003 to 2008, which was acquired by MasTec in August 2008. Mr. Mays served as an executive of MasTec from August 2008 to December 2016. Mr. Mays holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Georgia State University. We believe that Mr. Mays is qualified to serve as a member of our Board because of his extensive executive and director experience and prior SPAC experience.

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Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors

We will have five directors upon the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of shareholders) serving a three-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of [•], will expire at our first annual meeting of shareholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of [•], will expire at the second annual meeting of shareholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of [•], will expire at the third annual meeting of shareholders. We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders until after we consummate our initial business combination.

Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association as it deems appropriate.

Director Independence

NASDAQ listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent, subject to certain phase-in provisions. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that each of Mr. Charlier, Ms. Kutkevich and Mr. Mays are “independent directors” as defined in the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.

Officer and Director Compensation

None of our officers or directors has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. We may pay finder’s and consulting fees to our initial shareholders or any of their respective affiliates for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. In addition, our officers, directors, or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our initial shareholders or their affiliates.

After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to shareholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our shareholders in connection with a proposed business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.

Following a business combination, to the extent we deem it necessary, 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.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors will have two standing committees: an audit committee and a compensation committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of NASDAQ and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the rules of NASDAQ require that the compensation committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.

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Audit Committee

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will establish an audit committee of the board of directors. Mr. Charlier, Ms. Kutkevich and Mr. Mays will serve as members of our audit committee, with [•] serving as the Chairman of the audit committee. Under the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least three members of the audit committee, all of whom must be independent, subject to certain phase-in provisions. Each such person meets the independent director standard under NASDAQ listing standards and under Rule 10-A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act.

Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that [•] qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.

We will adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the audit committee, including:

        the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent auditors and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;

        pre-approving all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures;

        reviewing and discussing with the independent auditors all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence;

        setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent auditors;

        setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

        obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent auditors describing (i) the independent auditor’s internal quality-control procedures and (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues;

        reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and

        reviewing with management, the independent auditors, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.

Compensation Committee

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors. Mr. Charlier, Ms. Kutkevich and Mr. Mays will serve as members of our compensation committee, with [•] serving as the chairman of the compensation committee. Under the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two members of the compensation committee, all of whom must be independent, subject to certain phase-in provisions. Each such person meets the independent director standard under NASDAQ listing standards applicable to members of the compensation committee.

We will adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:

        reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;

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        reviewing and approving on an annual basis the compensation of all of our other officers;

        reviewing on an annual basis our executive compensation policies and plans;

        implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;

        assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;

        approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees;

        if required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and

        reviewing, evaluating, and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.

The charter will also provide that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by NASDAQ and the SEC.

Director Nominations

We do not have a standing nominating committee. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(2) of the NASDAQ Rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by the board of directors. The board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.

The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our shareholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of shareholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of shareholders). Our shareholders that wish to nominate a director for election to our board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.

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, our 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 shareholders.

Code of Ethics

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt a Code of Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We will file a copy of our Code of Ethics and our audit and compensation committee charters as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You will be able to review these documents by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

Conflicts of Interest

Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present business combination opportunities to such entity. Accordingly, in the future, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. We do not believe, however, that any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers arising in the future would materially undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination.

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Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.

Our officers may not become an officer or director of any other special purpose acquisition company that publicly files a registration statement for its initial public offering before we enter into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.

Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:

        None of our officers or directors is required to commit his or her full time to our affairs and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among various business activities.

        In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated.

        Our initial shareholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Additionally, our initial shareholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (or such later date if extended by shareholders). If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, the funds held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of only our public shares. The founder shares will not, subject to certain exceptions, be transferred, assigned, sold or released from escrow until six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier, if, subsequent to our initial business combination, we consummate a subsequent liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. Since members of our management may directly or indirectly own ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and/or warrants following this offering, our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to complete our initial business combination.

        Our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.

        The founders’ shares beneficially owned by our initial shareholders and the private warrants purchased by our initial shareholders, and any warrants which our officers or directors may purchase in the aftermarket will expire worthless if a business combination is not consummated. This is because our officers and directors and affiliates will not receive liquidation distributions from the trust account with respect to any of the founders’ shares or warrants.

        Our initial shareholders may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a business combination and financing arrangements as we may obtain loans from our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into working capital warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such working capital warrants would be identical to the private warrants sold in the private placement.

The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.

In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:

        the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;

        the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and

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        it would not be fair to our company and its shareholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.

Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Furthermore, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our initial shareholders or any affiliate of them, subject to certain approvals and consents. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with such a company, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.

In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our shareholders for a vote, our initial shareholders have agreed to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after the offering in favor of our initial business combination (subject to applicable securities laws).

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, willful neglect, civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides for indemnification of our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect. We entered into agreements with our directors and officers to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. We expect to purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.

Our officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account, and have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever (except to the extent they are entitled to funds from the trust account due to their ownership of public shares). Accordingly, any indemnification provided will only be able to be satisfied by us if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination.

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 SHAREHOLDERS

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares included in the units offered by this prospectus, and assuming no purchase of units in this offering, by:

        each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares;

        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 ordinary shares beneficially owned by them. The post-offering numbers and percentages presented assume that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that our sponsor forfeits 656,250 founder shares, that our sponsor and EBC and its designees purchased an aggregate of 4,500,000 private warrants and that there are 13,325,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding after this offering.

 

Shares Beneficially
Owned Prior to this Offering

 

Shares Beneficially
Owned Following this Offering

   

Ordinary Shares

 

% of
Total
Voting
Power
(2)

 

Ordinary Shares

 

Convertible
Preferred Shares

 

% of
Total
Voting
Power
(2)

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)

 

Shares

 

%

 

Shares

 

%

 

Shares

 

%

 

Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd.(3)

 

4,881,250

 

93.3

 

93.3

 

4,225,000

 

31.7

 

 

 

19.1

Kanat Mynzhanov(3)

 

4,881,250

 

93.3

 

93.3

 

4,225,000

 

31.7

 

 

 

19.1

Askar Mametov(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christophe Charlier

 

50,000

 

*

 

*

 

50,000

 

*

 

 

 

*

Marsha Kutkevich

 

50,000

 

*

 

*

 

50,000

 

*

 

 

 

*

Darrell Mays

 

50,000

 

*

 

*

 

50,000

 

*

 

 

 

*

All current executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group (five persons)

 

5,031,250

 

96.2

 

96.2

 

4,375,000

 

32.8

 

 

 

19.8

____________

*        Less than 1%.

(1)      Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Tavia Acquisition Corp., 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711.

(2)      Represents the voting power with respect to all shares of our ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares, voting as a single class. Each ordinary share and each convertible preferred share is entitled to one vote per share. The ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares will vote together on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of shareholders, except under limited circumstances described in “Description of Securities — Convertible Preferred Shares and Preferred Shares.”

(3)      Represents securities held by Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd., our sponsor, of which Mr. Mynzhanov is the controlling shareholder.

(4)      Does not include certain shares indirectly owned by Mr. Mametov as a result of his ownership interest in our sponsor.

Immediately after this offering, our initial shareholders will beneficially own 20% of the then-issued and outstanding shares (including both ordinary and preferred shares but excluding the EBC founder shares and assuming they do not purchase any public units in this offering). If we increase or decrease the size of the offering, we will effect a share dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial shareholders at 20% of our issued and outstanding shares upon the consummation of this offering (excluding the EBC founder shares and any public units purchased in this offering). Because of this ownership block, our initial shareholders may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors, amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approval of significant corporate transactions, including approval of our initial business combination.

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Our initial shareholders have agreed (A) to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination (subject to applicable securities laws), (B) not to redeem any shares owned by them in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination or amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association prior thereto and (C) to waive liquidation rights with respect to their founder shares.

Our sponsor and its controlling individuals and our executive officers are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.

Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares, EBC Founder Shares and Private Warrants

On the date of closing of this offering, the founder shares will be placed into an escrow account maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as escrow agent. The founder shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold or released from escrow until six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier, if, subsequent to our initial business combination, we consummate a subsequent liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, except (a) to our sponsor, officers, directors, any affiliates or family members of any of our sponsor, officers or directors or any members of our initial shareholders, or any affiliate of our initial shareholders; (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 the 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 business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or the organizational documents of our sponsor upon its dissolution; or (g) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreements unless we otherwise consent to a transfer without a continuation of such restrictions.

Our sponsor and EBC have agreed that they and/or their designees will purchase from us an aggregate of 4,500,000 private warrants in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Additionally, our sponsor and EBC have also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they and/or their designees will purchase from us up to an additional 525,000 private warrants on a pro rata basis in an amount that is necessary to maintain in the trust account $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering. The private warrants are identical to the units sold in this offering. Our sponsor and EBC have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private warrants or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the founder shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the founder shares must agree to, each as described herein) until the completion of our initial business combination.

The Company also issued to EBC 200,000 EBC founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $994 on March 7, 2024. The EBC founder shares may not be transferred, assigned or sold (except to the same permitted transferees as the founder shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the founder shares must agree to, each as described herein) until the consummation of an initial business combination.

Registration Rights

The holders of the founder shares, EBC founder shares, private warrants, working capital warrants (if any) and their underlying securities will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities for resale. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

In compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8), the registration rights granted to EBC are limited to demand and “piggy back” rights for periods of five and seven years, respectively, from the effective date of this prospectus and EBC may only exercise its demand rights on one occasion.

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

On March 7, 2024, our sponsor acquired an aggregate of 5,031,250 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. Prior to the consummation of this offering, our sponsor intends to transfer 50,000 founder shares to each of our independent director nominees at their original purchase price. Prior to the initial investment in our company of $25,000 by our sponsor, we had no assets, tangible or intangible. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares upon completion of this offering (including both ordinary and preferred shares but excluding the EBC founder shares). If we increase or decrease the size of the offering, we will effect a share dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial shareholders at 20% of the issued and outstanding shares upon the consummation of this offering (excluding and any public units purchased in this offering). Up to 656,250 founder shares are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.

Our sponsor and EBC have committed, pursuant to written agreements, to purchase an aggregate of 4,500,000 private warrants (2,312,500 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and 2,187,500 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees), at a price of $1.00 per warrant for a total purchase price of $4,500,000 in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor and EBC have also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they and/or their designees will purchase from us up to an additional 525,000 private warrants on a pro rata basis (up to 269,792 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and up to 255,208 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees) at a price of $1.00 per warrant in an amount that is necessary to maintain in the trust account $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering. As such, our sponsor’s interest in this transaction is valued at between $$2,312,500 and $2,582,292, depending on the number of private warrants purchased. The private warrants sold in the private placement (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of private warrants) and the working capital warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of such working capital warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder.

Our initial shareholders, existing officers, directors and advisors, or any of their respective affiliates, may be paid customary, fair and reasonable finder’s and consulting fees for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of an initial business combination. In addition, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our initial shareholders or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.

Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $150,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and is due at the earlier of December 31, 2024, the closing of this offering or our determination not to proceed with this offering. The loans will be repaid upon the closing of this offering out of the offering proceeds not held in the trust account. The value of our sponsor’s and/or its affiliates’ interest in this transaction corresponds to the principal amount outstanding under any such loan.

Our sponsor has agreed that, commencing on the effective date of this prospectus through the earlier of our consummation of our initial business combination or the liquidation of the trust account, it will make available to us certain general and administrative services, including office space, utilities and administrative support, as we may require from time to time. We have agreed to pay $30,000 per month for these services. We believe, based on rents and fees for similar services, that these fees are at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated person.

In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds on a non-interest bearing basis as may be required. If we complete an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into working capital warrants at $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The working capital warrants would be identical to the private warrants sold in the private placement. Except as set forth above, the terms of such loans have not been determined and no written agreements

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exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates 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, but if we do, we will request such lender to provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.

After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to shareholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our shareholders. However, the amount of such compensation may not be known at the time of the shareholder meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K or a periodic report, as required by the SEC.

We will enter into a registration rights agreement with respect to the founder shares, EBC founder shares, private warrants, working capital warrants (if any) and their underlying securities, which is described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Registration Rights.”

Related Party Policy

We have not yet adopted a formal policy for the review, approval or ratification of related party transactions. Accordingly, the transactions discussed above were not reviewed, approved or ratified in accordance with any such policy.

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt a code of ethics requiring us to avoid, wherever possible, all conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by our board of directors (or the appropriate committee of our board) or as disclosed in our public filings with the SEC. Under our code of ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the company. A form of the code of ethics that we will adopt prior to the consummation of this offering is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to a written charter that we will adopt prior to the consummation of this offering, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be required in order to approve a related party transaction. A majority of the members of the entire audit committee will constitute a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the audit committee will be required to approve a related party transaction. A form of the audit committee charter that we expect to adopt prior to the consummation of this offering is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We also require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.

These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.

To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our initial shareholders unless we, or a committee of independent directors, have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. The following payments will be made to our initial shareholders or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:

        Repayment of up to an aggregate of up to $150,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor.

        Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination.

        Payment of a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee upon consummation of an initial business combination for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of such business combination.

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        Repayment of non-interest bearing loans which may be made by our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into working capital warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such working capital warrants are identical to the private warrants sold in the private placement. Except as set forth above, the terms of such loans have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto.

        Payment to our sponsor of $30,000 per month for office space, secretarial and administrative services.

Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our initial shareholders or their affiliates.

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

We are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and our affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act and common law of the Cayman Islands. Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association which will be adopted upon the consummation of this offering, we will be authorized to issue 400,000,000 ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value each, and 100,000,000 preferred shares, $0.0001 par value each. The following description summarizes the material terms of our shares as set out more particularly in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.

Units Sold in this Offering

Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one convertible preferred share and one-half of one warrant. We will not issue fractional shares or warrants and only whole shares and warrants will trade, so unless you purchase units in multiples of two, you will not be able to receive or trade the ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants included in the units.

The ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 90th day following the closing of this offering unless the representative informs us of its decision (based upon, among other things, its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets, of comparably capitalized companies and of blank check companies in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in particular) 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 ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares 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 ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants.

In no event will the ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes this audited balance sheet upon the completion of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days after the date of this prospectus. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

Ordinary Shares

Upon the closing of this offering, 13,325,000 ordinary shares will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of 656,250 founder shares by our sponsor), consisting of:

        8,750,000 ordinary shares underlying the public units;

        4,375,000 ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders; and

        200,000 ordinary shares held by EBC and its designees.

If we increase or decrease the size of the offering, we will effect a capitalization or share surrender or redemption to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of founder shares by our initial shareholders prior to this offering at 20% of the issued and outstanding shares upon the consummation of this offering (including both ordinary and preferred shares but excluding the EBC founder shares and any units purchased in this offering).

Ordinary shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Unless specified in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or as required by applicable provisions of the Companies Act or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our ordinary shares that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our shareholders. Approval of certain actions, will require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law and pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, such actions include amending our amended and restated memorandum and

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articles of association and approving a statutory merger or consolidation with another company. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors. After completion of our initial business combination, the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors. Our shareholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.

Because our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association authorizes the issuance of up to 400,000,000 ordinary shares, if we were to enter into a business combination, we may (depending on the terms of such a business combination) be required to increase the number of ordinary shares which we are authorized to issue at the same time as our shareholders vote on the business combination to the extent we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination.

In accordance with NASDAQ corporate governance requirements, we are required to hold an annual meeting no later than one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NASDAQ. There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual general meetings or general meetings to elect directors. We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.

See “— Public Shares” below for a summary of certain additional terms and provisions applicable to ordinary shares that are public shares.

Convertible Preferred Shares and Preferred Shares

Each whole convertible preferred share will vote with the ordinary shares on all matters requiring a shareholder vote and will not pay any dividends before the initial business combination. It is currently contemplated that commencing upon the completion of our initial business combination, each whole convertible preferred share will pay an annual dividend of $0.60 per share, payable quarterly in cash or in kind at our option. Additionally, after the consummation of our initial business combination, each whole convertible preferred share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) will be (i) convertible into ordinary shares at the option of the holder at any time at a conversion price of $11.50 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) and (ii) mandatorily converted into ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share if the last sales price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $14.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period commencing after the consummation of our initial business combination and the 30-day average daily trading volume ending on (and including) the date of determination is greater than or equal to 100,000 shares during the first two years after the consummation of the business combination and 75,000 shares thereafter. There is no fee to investors associated with the conversion. To illustrate the conversion mechanics, assuming no accrued but unpaid dividend, investor would receive 100 ordinary shares for every 115 convertible preferred shares and the conversion ratio for each preferred share to ordinary share would be approximately 1-to-0.87. The preferred shares have the same redemption rights as the ordinary shares and an investor may choose to redeem any combination of their ordinary and preferred shares as further described below. The payment of dividends on the convertible preferred shares at a certain rate or at all is not guaranteed and is subject to uncertainty as the terms of the convertible preferred shares may be amended in connection with our initial business combination, subject to applicable law and as further described herein and may depend on the post-combination company’s ability to pay such dividends. Further, the ability to pay such dividends in kind at the combined company’s option may result in dilution to existing shareholders. We might also consider amending the terms of the convertible preferred shares, including with respect to dividend rate or conversion price, if we believe it would make the consummation of the business combination more likely or reduce the number of public shares being redeemed in connection with such business combination, provided that any amendment that would alter the terms of the convertible preferred shares in a manner that has a material adverse effect on the rights of the holders of convertible preferred shares would need to be approved by a majority of preferred shareholders.

While our ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares will generally vote together as a single class on matters requiring shareholder approval, Cayman Islands law may require separate class votes of the holders of ordinary shares and/or convertible preferred shares under certain circumstances. For example, if in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination we were to propose a change to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would alter the terms of the convertible preferred shares in a manner that has a material adverse on the rights of the holders of ordinary shares or the holders of convertible preferred shares, the holders of the class of shares that would be adversely affected may have a separate class voting right on such change.

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In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we may issue additional preference shares 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 shareholder approval, issue preference shares with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the ordinary shares and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our board of directors to issue preference shares without shareholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management.

See “— Public Shares” below for a summary of certain additional terms and provisions applicable to convertible preferred shares that are public shares.

Public Shares

We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares (in any combination of ordinary shares and preferred shares) upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. Only whole ordinary and preferred shares can be redeemed and, as a result, an investor must own an even number of units to fully redeem its holdings as each unit contains one-half of one ordinary share and one-half of one preferred share. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.00 per public share (regardless of whether the share is an ordinary share or preferred share). Our initial shareholders have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. If a shareholder vote is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will require these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will 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 shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares, including a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares. voted are voted in favor of the business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of outstanding share of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Due to the initial shareholders’ ownership of the founder shares, our initial business combination may be approved even if a majority of our public shareholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our issued and outstanding shares voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. We intend to give approximately 20 days (but not less than 5 clear days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial shareholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.

If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its excess shares. However, we would not be restricting our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including excess shares) for or against our initial business combination. Our shareholders’ inability to redeem the excess shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination, and such shareholders could suffer a material loss in their investment if they sell such excess shares on the open market. Additionally, such shareholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the excess shares if we complete the business combination. As a result, such shareholders will continue to hold their excess shares and, in order to dispose such shares, would be required to sell their share in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.

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If we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, our initial shareholders have agreed to vote their founder shares as well as any public shares purchased in or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial shareholders’ founder shares, we would need (i) 6,462,501, or 36.9%, of the 17,500,000 public shares, as well as 2,087,501, or 23.9% of the 8,750,000 ordinary shares, sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming all outstanding shares are voted, including the EBC founder shares, the EBC founder shares are voted in favor of the proposed initial business combination (although they are not required to do so) and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or (ii) 943,752, or 5.4%, of the 17,500,000 public shares sold in this offering, to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming that only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted but of those shares, the EBC founder shares are voted in favor of the proposed initial business combination (although they are not required to do so), and the over-allotment option is not exercised). Additionally, each public shareholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether it votes for or against the proposed transaction or abstain from voting (subject to the limitation described in the preceding paragraph).

Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our initial shareholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. In the event of our dissolution and liquidation, the private warrants (and their underlying ordinary shares) will expire and be worthless.

If our initial shareholders acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period.

In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after a business combination, our shareholders 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 share, if any, having preference over the ordinary shares. Our shareholders have no pre-emptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the ordinary shares, except that we will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein.

Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares

The founder shares and EBC founder shares are identical to the ordinary shares included in the public units, and holders of founder shares and EBC founder shares have the same shareholder rights as public shareholders, except that (i) the founder shares and EBC founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below; (ii) our initial shareholders and EBC have agreed (A) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and EBC founder shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (B) to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and EBC founder shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to (a) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (C) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares and EBC founder shares held by them if we fail

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to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering; and (iii) the founder shares and EBC founder shares are entitled to registration rights. If we submit our initial business combination to our public shareholders for a vote, our initial shareholders have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree) to vote any founder shares and any public shares purchased by them in or after this offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination.

On the date of closing of this offering, the founder shares will be placed into an escrow account maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as escrow agent. The founder shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold or released from escrow until six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier, if, subsequent to our initial business combination, we consummate a subsequent liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, except in each case (a) to our sponsor, officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of our sponsor, officers or directors, any members of our initial shareholders, or any affiliate of our initial shareholders; (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 the 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 business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of Singapore or the governing documents of our sponsor upon dissolution of our sponsor; or (g) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreements unless we otherwise consent to a transfer without a continuation of such restrictions.

Warrants

No warrants are currently outstanding. Each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. However, no warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such ordinary shares. Although we are registering our ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants on the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we have agreed that as soon as practicable after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our best efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or a new registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the public warrants is not effective within a 60 day period following the consummation of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. In the event of such cashless exercise, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose will mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the 5 trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise. The warrants will expire on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

The private warrants, as well as any warrants we issue to our sponsor, officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates in payment of working capital loans made to us, will be identical to the warrants underlying the units being offered by this prospectus. Our sponsor and EBC have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private warrants or underlying shares (except to the same permitted transferees as the founder shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the founder shares must agree to, each as described herein) until the completion of our initial business combination.

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We may call the warrants for redemption, in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant:

        at any time after the warrants become exercisable,

        upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder,

        if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations), for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period commencing at any time after the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third business day prior to the notice of redemption to warrant holders; and

        if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the ordinary shares underlying such warrants.

The right to exercise will be forfeited unless the warrants are exercised prior to the date specified in the notice of redemption. On and after the redemption date, a record holder of a warrant will have no further rights except to receive the redemption price for such holder’s warrant upon surrender of such warrant.

The redemption criteria for our warrants have been established at a price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient differential between the then- prevailing share price and the warrant exercise price so that if the share price declines as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the warrants.

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 such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose shall mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the 5 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants.

The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder (i) to cure any ambiguity or correct 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 to cure, correct or supplement any defective provision, or (ii) to add or change any other 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 adversely affect the interests of the registered holders of the warrants, but requires the approval, by written consent or vote, of the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders.

The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend (which does not include dividends on the convertible preferred shares) or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, except as described below, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below their respective exercise prices.

In addition, if (x) we issue additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per ordinary share (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, initial shareholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by them prior to such issuance), (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 our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the Market Value is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the greater of (i) the Market Value or (ii) the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the greater of (i) the Market Value or (ii) the Newly Issued Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no change in the terms of the convertible preferred shares issued in this offering as described herein will result in an adjustment in the exercise price of the warrants.

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The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of ordinary shares and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive ordinary shares. After the issuance of ordinary shares 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 shareholders.

Warrant holders may elect to be subject to a restriction on the exercise of their warrants such that an electing warrant holder would not be able to exercise their warrants to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, such holder would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% of the ordinary shares outstanding.

No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round up to the nearest whole number the number of ordinary shares to be issued to the warrant holder.

Register of Members

Under Cayman Islands law, we must keep a register of members and there will be entered therein:

        the names and addresses of the members, a statement of the shares held by each member (which shall distinguish each share by its number (so long as the share has a number); confirm the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, confirm the number and category of each member and the voting rights of such shares (and whether such voting rights are conditional);

        the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and

        the date on which any person ceased to be a member.

Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e., the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a member registered in the register of members will be deemed as a matter of Cayman Islands law to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members. Upon the closing of this public offering, the register of members will be immediately updated to reflect the issue of shares by us. Once our register of members has been updated, the shareholders recorded in the register of members will be deemed to have legal title to the shares set against their name. However, there are certain limited circumstances where an application may be made to a Cayman Islands court for a determination on whether the register of members reflects the correct legal position. Further, the Cayman Islands court has the power to order that the register of members maintained by a company should be rectified where it considers that the register of members does not reflect the correct legal position. If an application for an order for rectification of the register of members were made in respect of our ordinary shares or our convertible preferred shares, then the validity of such shares may be subject to re-examination by a Cayman Islands court.

Dividends

We have not paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination.

It is currently contemplated that commencing upon the completion of our initial business combination, each whole convertible preference share will pay an annual dividend of $0.60 per share, payable quarterly in cash or in kind at our option. However, the terms of the convertible preferred shares may be amended in connection with our initial business combination, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. Other than the dividends to be paid on our convertible preferred shares, the payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time and we will only pay such dividend out of our profits or share premium (subject to solvency requirements) as permitted under Cayman Islands Law. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

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If we increase the size of the offering, we will effect a share dividend, or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our founder shares immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial shareholders at 20% of our issued and outstanding shares upon the consummation of this offering (excluding the EBC founder shares and any units purchased in this offering). Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent

The transfer agent for our ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares and warrant agent for our warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent and warrant agent, its agents and each of its shareholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the indemnified person or entity.

Certain Differences in Corporate Law

Cayman Islands companies are governed by the Companies Act. The Companies Act is modelled on English law but does not follow recent English law statutory enactments, and differs from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the material differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.

Mergers and Similar Arrangements. In certain circumstances, the Companies Act allows for mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or between a Cayman Islands exempted company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws of that other jurisdiction) so as to form a single surviving company.

Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan or merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution (usually a majority of two-thirds of the votes of shareholders, who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting) of the shareholders of each company; or (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least 90% of the votes at a general meeting of a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company. The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Act (which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar of Companies will register the plan of merger or consolidation. Where the merger or consolidation involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or its property or any part thereof; and (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted. Where the surviving company is the Cayman Islands exempted company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are further required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger or consolidated is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the foreign company; (ii) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived, (b) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company, and (c) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (iii) that the foreign company will, upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction; and (iv) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.

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Where the above procedures are adopted, the Companies Act provides certain limited appraisal rights for dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair value of his or her shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure is as follows: (a) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (b) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (c) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (d) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (b) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; and (e) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree a price within such 30-day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30-day period expires, the company must (and any dissenting shareholder may) file a petition with the Cayman Islands Grand Court to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.

Moreover, Cayman Islands law has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain circumstances, schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement” which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedures for which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by seventy-five percent (75%) in value of the shareholders or class of shareholders, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:

        we are not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of our corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with;

        the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;

        the arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and

        the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act or that would amount to a “fraud on the minority.”

If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights (providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares), which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of U.S. corporations.

Squeeze-out Provisions.    When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer is made within four months, the offer or may, within a two-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion, or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.

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Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through means other than these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, or through contractual arrangements of an operating business.

Shareholders’ Suits.    In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company and as a general rule, a derivative action may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based on English law authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands courts can be expected to follow and apply the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) so that a non-controlling shareholder may be permitted to commence a class action against or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge:

        an act which is illegal or ultra vires with respect to the company and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholders;

        an act which, although not ultra vires, requires authorization by a qualified (or special) majority (that is, more than a simple majority) which has not been obtained; and

        an act which constitutes a “fraud on the minority” where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company.

A shareholder may have a direct right of action against us where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.

Enforcement of Civil Liabilities.    The Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides less protection to investors. Additionally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the Federal courts of the United States.

There is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (i) recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state, and (ii) entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdictions against us or our directors and officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will in certain circumstances recognize such foreign money judgment and treat it as a cause of action in itself which may be sued upon as a debt at common law so that no retrial of the issues would be necessary provided that (i) the court issuing the judgment is of competent jurisdiction; (ii) the judgment is final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, (iii) the judgment given was not in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty or similar fiscal or revenue obligation of the company; (iv) in obtaining the judgment there was no fraud on part of the person in whose favor judgment was given or on part of the court; (v) recognition or enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to public policy in the Cayman Islands; and (vi) the proceeding pursuant to which judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice. A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.

Special Considerations for Exempted Companies.    We are an exempted company with limited liability (meaning our public shareholders have no liability, as members of the Company, for liabilities of the Company over and above the amount paid for their shares) under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:

        annual reporting requirements are minimal and consist mainly of a statement that the company has conducted its operations mainly outside of the Cayman Islands and has complied with the provisions of the Companies Act;

        an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection;

        an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

        an exempted company may not issue negotiable or bearer shares, but may issue shares with no par value;

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        an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);

        an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;

        an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and

        an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.

“Limited Liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).

Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without a special resolution. As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a resolution is deemed to be a special resolution where it has been approved by either (i) at least two-thirds (or any higher threshold specified in a company’s articles of association) of a company’s shareholders who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting for which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given; or (ii) if so authorized by a company’s articles of association, by a unanimous written resolution of all of our shareholders. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that special resolutions must be approved either by at least two-thirds of our shareholders who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting for which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given (i.e., the lowest threshold permissible under Cayman Islands law), or by a unanimous written resolution of all of our shareholders. Our founders, who will collectively beneficially own approximately 20% of our ordinary shares upon the closing of this offering (excluding the EBC founder shares and assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase public units in this offering), will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Specifically, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides, among other things, that:

        If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate;

        Prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares that would entitle the holders thereof to: (i) receive funds from the trust account; or (ii) vote on any initial business combination;

        Although we do not intend to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our initial shareholders, our directors or our officers, we are not prohibited from doing so. In the event we enter into such a transaction, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such a business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view;

        If a shareholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents

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with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act;

        So long as we obtain and maintain listing for our securities on Nasdaq, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our assets held in the trust account (excluding interest income earned on the trust account that is released to us for working capital or to pay taxes) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination;

        If our shareholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us pursuant to permitted withdrawals, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares; and

        We will not complete our initial business combination solely with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.

The Companies Act permits a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands to amend its memorandum and articles of association with the approval of a special resolution which requires the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of such company’s outstanding shares who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting or by way of unanimous written resolution. A company’s articles of association may specify that the approval of a higher majority is required but, provided the approval of the required majority is obtained, any Cayman Islands exempted company may amend its memorandum and articles of association regardless of whether its memorandum and articles of association provides otherwise. Accordingly, although we could amend any of the provisions relating to our proposed offering, structure and business plan which are contained in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we view all of these provisions as binding obligations to our shareholders and neither we, nor our officers or directors, will take any action to amend or waive any of these provisions unless we provide dissenting public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares.

Anti-Money Laundering — Cayman Islands

In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering, we are required to adopt and maintain anti-money laundering procedures, and may require subscribers to provide evidence to verify their identity. Where permitted, and subject to certain conditions, we may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering policies and procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.

We reserve the right to request such information as is necessary to verify the identity of a subscriber. In some cases, the directors may be satisfied that no further information is required since an exemption applies under the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended and revised from time to time (the “Regulations”) or any other applicable law. Depending on the circumstances of each application, a detailed identification and verification of identity might not be required where:

(a)     the subscriber makes the payment for their investment from an account held in the subscriber’s name at a recognized financial institution;

(b)    the subscriber is regulated by a recognized overseas regulatory authority and where such authority is based or incorporated in, or formed under the law of, a recognized jurisdiction; or

(c)     the application is made through an intermediary which is regulated by a recognized overseas regulatory authority and where such authority is based in or incorporated in, or formed under the law of a recognized jurisdiction and an assurance is provided in relation to the procedures undertaken on the underlying investors.

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For the purposes of these exceptions, recognition of a financial institution, recognized overseas regulatory authority or jurisdiction will be determined in accordance with the Regulations by reference to those jurisdictions recognized by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority as having equivalent anti-money laundering regulations.

In the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information required for identification and verification purposes, we may refuse to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally debited.

We also reserve the right to refuse to make any payment to a shareholder if our directors or officers suspect or are advised that the payment to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering or other laws or regulations by any person in any relevant jurisdiction, or if such refusal is considered necessary or appropriate to ensure our compliance with any such laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction.

If any person resident in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or money laundering or is involved with terrorism or terrorist financing and property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering, or (ii) a police officer of the rank of constable or higher, or the Financial Reporting Authority, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and property. Such a report will not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.

Cayman Islands Data Protection

We have certain duties under the Data Protection Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended from time to time and any regulations, codes of practice or orders promulgated pursuant thereto (the “DPA”).

Privacy Notice

Introduction

The company is committed to processing personal data in accordance with the DPA. In its use of personal data, the company will be characterized under the DPA as a ‘data controller’, whilst certain of the company’s service providers, affiliates and delegates may act as ‘data processors’ under the DPA. These service providers may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to the company.

This privacy notice puts our shareholders on notice that, by virtue of making an investment in the company, the company and certain of the company’s service providers may collect, record, store, transfer and otherwise process personal data by which individuals may be directly or indirectly identified.

In the following discussion, the “company” refers to us and our affiliates and/or delegates, except where the context requires otherwise.

Investor Data

Your personal data will be processed fairly and for lawful purposes, including (a) where the processing is necessary for the company to perform a contract to which you are a party or for taking pre-contractual steps at your request (b) where the processing is necessary for compliance with any legal, tax or regulatory obligation to which the company is subject or (c) where the processing is for the purposes of legitimate interests pursued by the company or by a service provider to whom the data are disclosed. As a data controller, we will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it. If we need to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will contact you.

We anticipate that we will share your personal data with the company’s service providers for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. We may also share relevant personal data where it is lawful to do so and necessary to comply with our contractual obligations or your instructions or where it is necessary or desirable to do so in connection with any regulatory reporting obligations. In exceptional circumstances, we will share your personal data with regulatory,

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prosecuting and other governmental agencies or departments, and parties to litigation (whether pending or threatened), in any country or territory including to any other person where we have a public or legal duty to do so (e.g. to assist with detecting and preventing fraud, tax evasion and financial crime or compliance with a court order).

Your personal data shall not be held by the company for longer than necessary with regard to the purposes of the data processing.

We will not sell your personal data. Any transfer of personal data outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the DPA. Where necessary, we will ensure that separate and appropriate legal agreements are put in place with the recipient of that data.

The company will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction or damage to the personal data.

If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation to your investment into the company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should inform such individuals of the content.

You have certain rights under the DPA, including (a) the right to be informed as to how we collect and use your personal data (and this privacy notice fulfils the Company’s obligation in this respect) (b) the right to obtain a copy of your personal data (c) the right to require us to stop direct marketing (d) the right to have inaccurate or incomplete personal data corrected (e) the right to withdraw your consent and require us to stop processing or restrict the processing, or not begin the processing of your personal data (f) the right to be notified of a data breach (unless the breach is unlikely to be prejudicial) (g) the right to obtain information as to any countries or territories outside the Cayman Islands to which we, whether directly or indirectly, transfer, intend to transfer or wish to transfer your personal data, general measures we take to ensure the security of personal data and any information available to us as to the source of your personal data (h) the right to complain to the Office of the Ombudsman of the Cayman Islands and (i) the right to require us to delete your personal data in some limited circumstances.

If you consider that your personal data has not been handled correctly, or you are not satisfied with the company’s responses to any requests you have made regarding the use of your personal data, you have the right to complain to the Cayman Islands’ Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can be contacted by calling +1 (345) 946-6283 or by email at info@ombudsman.ky.

Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that our board of directors will be classified into three classes of directors. As a result, in most circumstances, a person can gain control of our board only by successfully engaging in a proxy contest at two or more annual meetings.

Our authorized but unissued ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares are available for future issuances without shareholder 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 ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise. However, prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares that would entitle the holders thereof to: (i) receive funds from the trust account; or (ii) vote on any initial business combination.

Securities Eligible for Future Sale

Immediately after the consummation of this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) we will have 13,325,000 (or 15,293,750 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) ordinary shares outstanding and 8,750,000 (or 10,062,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) convertible preferred shares outstanding. Of these shares, the 8,750,000 ordinary shares and 8,750,000 convertible preferred shares (or 10,062,500 in each case 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

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4,375,000 founder shares (or 5,031,250 founder shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), all of the 200,000 EBC founder shares and all of the 4,500,000 private warrants (or 5,025,000 private warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering.

The founder shares, EBC founder shares and private warrants are subject to transfer restrictions as set forth elsewhere in this prospectus. The founder shares, EBC founder shares, private warrants, working capital warrants (if any) and their underlying securities will be subject to registration rights as more fully described below under “— Registration Rights.”

Rule 144

Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.

Persons who have beneficially owned restricted ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares 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 ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares, as applicable, then outstanding, which will equal 133,250 ordinary shares and 87,500 convertible preferred shares immediately after this offering (or 152,937 ordinary shares and 100,625 convertible preferred shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full); or

        the average weekly reported trading volume of ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares, as applicable, during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.

Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies

Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:

        the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;

        the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

        the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and materials required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Current Reports on Form 8-K; and

        at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.

As a result, our initial shareholders will be able to sell their founder shares and private warrants including underlying securities, as applicable, pursuant to Rule 144 without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination.

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Registration Rights

The holders of the founder shares, EBC founder shares, private warrants, working capital warrants (if any) and their underlying securities will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering, requiring us to register such securities for resale. The holders of the majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of our initial business combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

In compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8), the registration rights granted to EBC are limited to demand and “piggy back” rights for periods of five and seven years, respectively, from the effective date of this prospectus and EBC may only exercise its demand rights on one occasion.

Listing of Securities

We have applied to have our units listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “[•]” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. Following the date our ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and public warrants are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that our ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and public warrant will be separately listed in the NASDAQ under the symbols “[•]”, “[•]” and “[•]”, respectively.

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TAXATION

The following summary of certain Cayman Islands and U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to an investment in our units, each consisting of one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one preferred share and one-half of one warrant, which we refer to collectively as our securities, is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax considerations relevant to an investment in our ordinary shares, preferred shares and warrants, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws.

Prospective investors should consult their advisors on the possible tax consequences of investing in our securities under the laws of their country of citizenship, residence, or domicile.

Cayman Islands Tax Considerations

The following is a discussion on certain Cayman Islands income tax consequences of an investment in the securities of the Company. The discussion is a general summary of present law, which is subject to prospective and retroactive change. It is not intended as tax advice, does not consider any investor’s particular circumstances, and does not consider tax consequences other than those arising under Cayman Islands law.

Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our securities will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of the securities nor will gains derived from the disposal of the securities be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporate tax. The Cayman Islands currently has no income, corporate or capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax.

No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of our ordinary shares or preferred shares or warrants on an instrument of transfer in respect of such shares or warrants. However, an instrument of transfer in respect of our shares or warrants, is stampable if executed in or brought into the Cayman Islands.

Tax Concessions Act

In accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act, the Financial Secretary undertakes with us:

1.      That no law which is hereafter enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gain or appreciations shall apply to us or our operations; and

2.      In addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable:

2.1    On or in respect of our shares, debentures or other obligations; or

2.1    by way of withholding, in whole or in part, of any relevant payment as defined in the Tax Concessions Act.

These concessions shall be for a period of twenty years.

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

General

The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units (each consisting of one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one preferred share and one-half of one warrant) that are purchased in this offering by U.S. Holders (as defined below) and Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below). Because the components of a unit are generally separable at the option of the holder, the holder of a unit generally should be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying ordinary shares, preferred shares and warrants that comprise the unit. As a result, the discussion below with respect to holders of ordinary shares, preferred shares and warrants should also apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying ordinary shares, preferred shares and warrants that constitute the units).

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This discussion is limited to certain U.S. federal income tax considerations to beneficial owners of our securities who are initial purchasers of a unit pursuant to this offering and hold the unit and each component of the unit as a capital asset under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

This discussion assumes that the ordinary shares, preferred shares and warrants will trade separately and that any distributions made (or deemed made) by us on our ordinary shares and preferred shares and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars. This discussion is general in nature and does not purport to be a complete description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of a unit by a prospective investor in light of its particular circumstances or status, or to prospective investors subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including:

        our initial shareholders;

        banks, financial institutions, or financial services entities;

        broker-dealers;

        taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market accounting rules;

        tax-exempt entities;

        S-corporations;

        governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;

        insurance companies;

        regulated investment companies;

        real estate investment trusts;

        expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States;

        persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more of our shares;

        persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation or in connection with services;

        “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

        persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedging, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction; or

        U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

The discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be repealed, revoked, modified or subject to differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. Furthermore, this discussion does not address the alternative minimum tax or the application of Section 451(b) of the Code, or any aspect of U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as gift, estate or Medicare contribution tax laws, or state, local or non-U.S. tax laws or considerations under any applicable tax treaty.

We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings, or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion. You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of U.S. federal tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction.

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As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of units, ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is created or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (B) it has in effect a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person.

This discussion does not consider the tax treatment of partnerships or other pass-through entities or persons who hold our securities through such entities. If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partner and the partnership. Partnerships holding our securities and partners in such partnerships should consult their own tax advisors.

THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR CAREFUL TAX PLANNING. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS, AS WELL AS ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.

Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit

No statutory, administrative, or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of a unit or instruments similar to a unit for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one preferred share and one-half of one warrant. We intend to treat the acquisition of a unit in this manner, and by purchasing a unit in this offering, a holder agrees to adopt such treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit among the one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one preferred share and one-half of one warrant on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. Under U.S. federal income tax law, each investor must make his or her own determination of such value based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge each investor to consult his or her tax adviser regarding the determination of value for these purposes. The purchase price allocated to each ordinary share, preferred share and warrant should be the shareholder’s tax basis in such ordinary share, preferred share or warrant, as the case may be. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a disposition of one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one preferred share and one-half of one warrant comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated among the ordinary shares, the preferred shares and the warrants based on their respective relative fair market values (as determined by each such unit holder on all the relevant facts and circumstances) at the time of disposition. The separation of ordinary shares, preferred shares and warrants comprising units should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The foregoing treatment of the ordinary shares, the preferred shares and the warrants and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there are no authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult its own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit and its components). The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units, ordinary shares, preferred shares, warrants and the allocation described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

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U.S. Holders

Taxation of Distributions

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in gross income as dividends the amount of any cash or property distribution paid on our ordinary shares or preferred shares to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Such dividends paid by us will be taxable to a corporate U.S. Holder at regular rates and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to domestic corporations in respect of dividends received from other domestic corporations. Distributions in excess of such earnings and profits generally will be applied against and reduce the U.S. Holder’s basis in its ordinary shares or preferred shares, as applicable (but not below zero), and, to the extent in excess of such basis, will be treated as capital gain from the sale or exchange of such ordinary shares (see “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants” below). However, because the company may not maintain calculations of its earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, U.S. Holders should expect that distributions generally will be reported as dividends.

With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, dividends generally will be taxed at the applicable long-term capital gains rate (see “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants” below) only if our ordinary shares or preferred shares, as applicable, are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States (such as NASDAQ) and certain other requirements are met, including that the Company is not treated as a PFIC during the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or in the preceding taxable year. It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of such preferential rate for any dividends paid with respect to our ordinary shares or preferred shares.

In-Kind Distributions on the Preferred Shares

Pursuant to Section 305(a) of the Code, the receipt by a stockholder of stock or a right to acquire stock generally is not included in the taxable income of the recipient. The general rule of nonrecognition in Section 305(a) of the Code is subject to exceptions under Section 305(b) of the Code, which include (i) certain distributions with respect to preferred stock, and (ii) “disproportionate distributions.” Each of these exceptions is discussed further below.

For purposes of Section 305 of the Code, the term “preferred stock” generally refers to stock that, in relation to other classes of stock outstanding, enjoys certain limited rights and privileges that are generally associated with specified dividend and liquidation priorities, and does not participate in corporate growth to any significant extent. Consequently, the determination of whether stock constitutes preferred stock for purposes of Section 305 depends in large part upon whether the stock participates significantly in corporate growth (ignoring for this purpose any conversion right). Whether the preferred shares are treated as preferred stock under Section 305 of the Code is subject to uncertainty. If the preferred shares are treated as preferred stock under Section 305 of the Code, and if the company pays an in-kind distribution on the preferred shares in the form of common shares or preferred shares, such distribution generally will be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the same manner as distributions described above under “Taxation of Distributions.”

In addition, an in-kind distribution on the preferred shares in the form of common shares or preferred shares may be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes if such distribution is treated as a disproportionate distribution. Generally, a disproportionate distribution is a distribution (or series of distributions, including deemed distributions) from a corporation that has the effect of the receipt of cash or property by some stockholders and an increase in the proportionate interest of other stockholders in the corporation’s assets or earnings and profits. Where the receipt of cash or property occurs more than 36 months following a distribution or series of distributions of stock, or where a distribution is made more than 36 months following the receipt of cash or property, such distribution or distributions are presumed not to result in the receipt of cash or property by some stockholders and an increase in the proportionate interest of other stockholders, unless the receipt of cash or property by some stockholders and the distribution or series of distributions are made pursuant to a plan. Therefore, whether an in-kind distribution on the preferred shares is treated as a disproportionate distribution may depend upon, among other things, whether we make distributions on another class of stock in the future and the timing of such distributions.

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If a U.S. Holder is treated as receiving a taxable distribution under Section 305, the amount of such distribution will equal the fair market value on the distribution date of the ordinary shares or preferred shares, as the case may be, distributed to a U.S. Holder on that date. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such distributed ordinary share or preferred share will equal the fair market value of such ordinary share or preferred share, as applicable, on the distribution date, and such U.S. Holder’s holding period for such ordinary share or preferred share will begin on the day following the distribution date.

Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants.

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of our ordinary shares, preferred shares (other than pursuant to a conversion into ordinary shares) or warrants (including on our dissolution and liquidation if we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time period).

Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for such ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose.

The amount of gain or loss recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition generally will be equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants are held as part of units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants based upon the then relative fair market values of the ordinary shares, preferred shares and the warrants included in the units) and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to one ordinary share, one-half of one preferred share or one-half of one warrant, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) reduced by any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. Long-term capital gain realized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder is currently eligible to be taxed at preferential rates. The deduction of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Conversion of Preferred Shares into Ordinary Shares

Generally, a U.S. Holder will not recognize any gain or loss in respect of the receipt of ordinary shares upon the conversion of our preferred shares into ordinary shares of common stock. The adjusted basis of ordinary shares of common stock received on conversion will equal the adjusted tax basis of the preferred shares converted and the holding period of such ordinary shares of common stock received on conversion generally will include the period during which the preferred shares were held by the U.S. Holder prior to conversion.

Redemption of Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, in the event that a U.S. Holder’s ordinary shares or preferred shares are redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under “Description of Securities — Ordinary Shares” or “Description of Securities — Preferred Shares,” or if we purchase a U.S. Holder’s ordinary shares or preferred shares in an open market transaction (referred to herein as a redemption), the treatment of the redemption for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether it qualifies as sale of the shares under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of the shares, the U.S. Holder will be treated as described under “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants” above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of the shares, the U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences described above under “— Taxation of Distributions.” Whether a redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of our shares treated as held by the U.S. Holder (including any shares constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as described in the following paragraph) relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after such redemption. The redemption of shares generally will be treated as a sale of the ordinary shares (rather than as a distribution) if such redemption (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. Holder’s interest in us or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder. These tests are explained more fully below.

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In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only our ordinary shares and preferred shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also our shares that are constructively owned by it. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to shares owned directly, shares owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any shares the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include ordinary shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of warrants. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our outstanding voting shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption of the shares must, among other requirements, be less than 80 percent of the percentage of our outstanding voting shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption. Prior to our initial business combination, the ordinary shares and preferred shares may not be treated as voting shares for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not be applicable. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (i) all of our shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (ii) all of our shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of shares owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other shares of ours. The redemption of the shares will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend with respect to a U.S. Holder if it results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority shareholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” A U.S. Holder should consult with its own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption.

If none of the foregoing tests are satisfied, then the redemption may be treated as a corporate distribution and the tax effects will be as described under “— Taxation of Distributions” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. Holder in the redeemed ordinary shares or preferred shares will be added to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining shares, or, if it has none, to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrants or possibly in other shares constructively owned by it. A U.S. Holder should consult with its own tax advisors as to the allocation of remaining tax basis.

Exercise or Expiration of Warrants

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize income, gain or loss on the exercise of a warrant for cash. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in ordinary shares received upon the exercise of a warrant will equal the sum of (i) the initial tax basis of the warrant exercised (as determined pursuant to the rules discussed above under “Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) and (ii) the exercise price of the warrant. The U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary share received upon exercise of a warrant will begin on the day after such exercise (or possibly on the date of exercise) and will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrant.

The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a warrant are not clear under current law. Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a cashless exercise may not be taxable, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either situation, a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the ordinary shares received generally should equal the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrants exercised therefor. If the cashless exercise was not a realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares received would be treated as commencing on the date of exercise of the warrants or the day following the date of exercise of the warrants; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrants. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the Class A ordinary shares received would include the holding period of the warrants.

It is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. Holder could be deemed to have surrendered a number of warrants equal to the number of ordinary shares having a value equal to the exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. In such case, subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, the U.S. Holder would recognize capital gain or loss with respect to the warrants deemed surrendered in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the ordinary shares that would have been received in a regular exercise of the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrants deemed surrendered. In this case, a U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the

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ordinary shares received would equal the sum of the U.S. Holder’s initial investment in the warrants deemed exercised (i.e., the portion of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the units that is allocated to the warrants, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) and the aggregate exercise price of such warrants. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares would commence on the date of exercise of the warrants or the day following the date of exercise of the warrants; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrants.

Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, there can be no assurance regarding which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise.

If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in the warrant. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations.

Constructive Distributions on Our Warrants

Under Section 305 of the Code, an adjustment to the number of ordinary shares that will be issued on the exercise of our warrants, or an adjustment to the exercise price of such warrants, may be treated as a constructive distribution to a U.S. Holder of the warrants if, and to the extent that, such adjustment has the effect of increasing such U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in our “earnings and profits” or assets, depending on the circumstances of such adjustment (for example, if such adjustment is to compensate for a distribution of cash or other property to holders of our common shares). Adjustments to the exercise price of a warrant made pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula that has the effect of preventing dilution of the interest of the holder of the warrant generally should not result in a constructive distribution. Any constructive distributions generally would be subject to the tax treatment described above under “Taxation of Distributions.”

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

A foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) corporation will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes if either (i) at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year, including its pro rata share of the gross income of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of its assets in a taxable year (ordinarily determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly over the year), including its pro rata share of the assets of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets.

Because we are a blank check company, with no current active business, we believe that it is likely that we will meet the PFIC asset or income test for our current taxable year. However, pursuant to a start-up exception, a corporation will not be a PFIC for the first taxable year the corporation has gross income (the “start-up year”), if (i) no predecessor of the corporation was a PFIC; (ii) the corporation satisfies the IRS that it will not be a PFIC for either of the two taxable years following the start-up year; and (iii) the corporation is not in fact a PFIC for either of those years. The applicability of the start-up exception to us is uncertain and will not be known until after the close of our current taxable year (or possibly not until after the close of the first two taxable years following our start-up year, as described under the start-up exception). After the acquisition of a company or assets in a business combination, we may still meet one of the PFIC tests depending on the timing of the acquisition and the amount of our passive income and assets as well as the passive income and assets of the acquired business. If the company that we acquire in a business combination is a PFIC, then we will likely not qualify for the start-up exception and will be a PFIC for our current taxable year. Our actual PFIC status for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. Accordingly, there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year.

Although our PFIC status is determined annually, an initial determination that our company is a PFIC will generally apply for subsequent years to a U.S. Holder who held ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants while we were a PFIC, whether or not we meet the test for PFIC status in those subsequent years. If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder of our ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants and, in the case of our ordinary shares or preferred shares, the U.S. Holder did

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not make either a qualified electing fund (“QEF”) election or a mark-to-market election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) ordinary shares or preferred shares, as applicable, as described below, such U.S. Holder generally will be subject to special rules with respect to (i) any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of its ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants and (ii) any “excess distribution” made to the U.S. Holder (generally, any distributions to such U.S. Holder during a taxable year of the U.S. Holder that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by such U.S. Holder in respect of the ordinary shares or preferred shares, as applicable, during the three preceding taxable years of such U.S. Holder or, if shorter, such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares).

Under these rules:

        the U.S. Holder’s gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants;

        the amount allocated to the U.S. Holder’s taxable year in which the U.S. Holder recognized the gain or received the excess distribution, or to the period in the U.S. Holder’s holding period before the first day of our first taxable year in which we are a PFIC, will be taxed as ordinary income;

        the amount allocated to other taxable years (or portions thereof) of the U.S. Holder and included in its holding period will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and applicable to the U.S. Holder; and

        an additional tax equal to the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the U.S. Holder with respect to the tax attributable to each such other taxable year of the U.S. Holder.

In general, if we are determined to be a PFIC, a U.S. Holder may avoid the PFIC tax consequences described above in respect of our ordinary shares or preferred shares by making a timely and valid QEF election (if eligible to do so) to include in income its pro rata share of our net capital gains (as long-term capital gain) and other earnings and profits (as ordinary income), on a current basis, in each case whether or not distributed, in the taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which or with which our taxable year ends. A U.S. Holder generally may make a separate election to defer the payment of taxes on undistributed income inclusions under the QEF rules, but if deferred, any such taxes will be subject to an interest charge.

If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF election with respect to its ordinary shares or preferred shares in a year after our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) ordinary shares or preferred shares, then notwithstanding such QEF election, the rules relating to “excess distributions” discussed above, adjusted to take into account the current income inclusions resulting from the QEF election, will continue to apply with respect to such U.S. Holder’s ordinary shares and preferred shares, unless the U.S. Holder makes a purging election under the PFIC rules. Under the purging election, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have sold such shares at their fair market value and any gain recognized on such deemed sale will be treated as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, the U.S. Holder will have additional basis (to the extent of any gain recognized on the deemed sale) and, solely for purposes of the PFIC rules, a new holding period in such shares.

It is not entirely clear how various aspects of the PFIC rules apply to the warrants. However, a U.S. Holder may not make a QEF election with respect to its warrants. As a result, if a U.S. Holder sells or otherwise disposes of such warrants (other than upon exercise of such warrants) and we were a PFIC at any time during the U.S. Holder’s holding period of such warrants, any gain recognized generally will be treated as an excess distribution, taxed as described above. If a U.S. Holder that exercises such warrants properly makes and maintains a QEF election with respect to the newly acquired ordinary shares (or has previously made a QEF election with respect to our ordinary shares), the QEF election will apply to the newly acquired ordinary shares. Notwithstanding such QEF election, the rules relating to “excess distributions” discussed above, adjusted to take into account the current income inclusions resulting from the QEF election, will continue to apply with respect to such newly acquired ordinary shares (which, while not entirely clear, generally will be deemed to have a holding period for purposes of the PFIC rules that includes the period the U.S. Holder held the warrants), unless the U.S. Holder makes a purging election under the PFIC rules. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the application of the rules governing purging elections to their particular circumstances.

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The QEF election is made on a shareholder-by-shareholder basis and, once made, can be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. A U.S. Holder generally makes a QEF election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund), including the information provided in a PFIC annual information statement, to a timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the tax year to which the election relates. Retroactive QEF elections generally may be made only by filing a protective statement with such return and if certain other conditions are met or with the consent of the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a retroactive QEF election under their particular circumstances.

In order to comply with the requirements of a QEF election, a U.S. Holder must receive a PFIC annual information statement from us. If we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, upon written request, we will endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the IRS may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a QEF election, but there is no assurance that we will timely provide such required information. There is also no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of our status as a PFIC in the future or of the required information to be provided.

If a U.S. Holder has made a QEF election with respect to our ordinary shares or preferred shares, and the excess distribution rules discussed above do not apply to such shares (because of a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) such shares or a purge of the PFIC taint pursuant to a purging election, as described above), any gain recognized on the sale of our ordinary shares or preferred shares, as applicable, generally will be taxable as capital gain and no additional interest charge will be imposed under the PFIC rules. As discussed above, if we are a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder of our ordinary shares or preferred shares that has made a QEF election will be currently taxed on its pro rata share of our earnings and profits, whether or not distributed for such year. A subsequent distribution of such earnings and profits that were previously included in income generally should not be taxable when distributed to such U.S. Holder. The tax basis of a U.S. Holder’s shares in a QEF will be increased by amounts that are included in income, and decreased by amounts distributed but not taxed as dividends, under the above rules. In addition, if we are not a PFIC for any taxable year, such U.S. Holder will not be subject to the QEF inclusion regime with respect to our shares for such taxable year.

Alternatively, if we are a PFIC and our ordinary shares or preferred shares constitutes “marketable stock,” a U.S. Holder may avoid the adverse PFIC tax consequences discussed above if such U.S. Holder, at the close of the first taxable year in which it holds (or is deemed to hold) our ordinary shares, makes a mark-to-market election with respect to such shares for such taxable year. Such U.S. Holder generally will include for each of its taxable years as ordinary income the excess, if any, of the fair market value of its ordinary shares or preferred shares, as applicable, at the end of such year over its adjusted basis in its ordinary shares or preferred shares. The U.S. Holder also will recognize an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis of its ordinary shares or preferred shares over the fair market value of its ordinary shares or preferred shares, as applicable, at the end of its taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). The U.S. Holder’s basis in its ordinary shares or preferred shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts, and any further gain recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition of its ordinary shares or preferred shares will be treated as ordinary income. Currently, a mark-to-market election may not be made with respect to rights.

The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” generally, stock that is regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including NASDAQ (on which we have been approved to list the ordinary shares and preferred shares), or on a foreign exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents a legitimate and sound fair market value. If made, a mark-to-market election would be effective for the taxable year for which the election was made and for all subsequent taxable years unless the ordinary shares or preferred shares ceased to qualify as “marketable stock” for purposes of the PFIC rules or the IRS consented to the revocation of the election. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election with respect to our ordinary shares or preferred shares under their particular circumstances.

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If we are a PFIC and, at any time, have a foreign subsidiary that is classified as a PFIC, U.S. Holders generally would be deemed to own a portion of the shares of such lower-tier PFIC, and generally could incur liability for the deferred tax and interest charge described above if we receive a distribution from, or dispose of all or part of our interest in, the lower-tier PFIC or the U.S. Holders otherwise were deemed to have disposed of an interest in the lower-tier PFIC. We will endeavor to cause any lower-tier PFIC to provide to a U.S. Holder the information that may be required to make or maintain a QEF election with respect to the lower-tier PFIC. There can be no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of the status of any such lower-tier PFIC. In addition, we may not hold a controlling interest in any such lower-tier PFIC and thus there can be no assurance we will be able to cause the lower-tier PFIC to provide such required information. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax issues raised by lower-tier PFICs.

A U.S. Holder that owns (or is deemed to own) shares in a PFIC during any taxable year of the U.S. Holder, may have to file an IRS Form 8621 (whether or not a QEF or mark-to-market election is made) and such other information as may be required by the U.S. Treasury Department. Failure to do so, if required, will extend the statute of limitations until such required information is furnished to the IRS.

The rules dealing with PFICs and with the QEF and mark-to-market elections are very complex and are affected by various factors in addition to those described above. Accordingly, U.S. Holders of our ordinary shares, preferred shares and warrants should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of the PFIC rules to our securities under their particular circumstances.

Tax Reporting

Certain U.S. Holders may be required to file an IRS Form 926 (Return by a U.S. Transferor of Property to a Foreign Corporation) to report a transfer of property (including cash) to us. Substantial penalties may be imposed on a U.S. Holder that fails to comply with this reporting requirement and the period of limitations for assessment and collection of U.S. federal income taxes will be extended in the event of a failure to comply. Furthermore, certain U.S. Holders who are individuals and certain entities will be required to report information with respect to such U.S. Holder’s investment in “specified foreign financial assets” on IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets), subject to certain exceptions. Specified foreign financial assets generally include any financial account maintained with a non-U.S. financial institution and should also include the ordinary shares, preferred shares and warrants if they are not held in an account maintained with a U.S. financial institution. Persons who are required to report specified foreign financial assets and fail to do so may be subject to substantial penalties and the period of limitations for assessment and collection of U.S. federal income taxes will be extended in the event of a failure to comply. Potential investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the foreign financial asset and other reporting obligations and their application to an investment in our ordinary shares, preferred shares and warrants.

Non-U.S. Holders

This section applies to you if you are a “Non-U.S. Holder.” As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our units, ordinary shares, preferred shares or warrants who or that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

        a non-resident alien individual (other than certain former citizens and residents of the United States subject to U.S. tax as expatriates);

        a foreign corporation or

        an estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder;

but generally does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or sale or other disposition of our securities.

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Dividends (including constructive dividends) paid or deemed paid to a Non-U.S. Holder in respect of our ordinary shares or preferred shares generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, unless the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains in the United States). In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain attributable to a sale or other disposition of our shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants unless such gain is effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains in the United States).

Dividends (including constructive dividends) and gains that are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the same regular U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to a comparable U.S. Holder and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate.

In general, a Non-U.S. Holder will not be required to recognize income, gain or loss upon the exercise of a warrant by payment of the exercise price. The expiration of a warrant will be treated as if the Non-U.S. Holder sold or exchanged the warrant and recognized a capital loss equal to the Non-U.S. Holder’s basis in the warrant. A Non-U.S. Holder will not be able to utilize a loss recognized upon expiration of a warrant against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, however, unless the loss (i) is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a “permanent establishment” or “fixed base” in the United States) or (ii) is treated as a U.S. source loss and the Non-U.S. Holder is present in the United States 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are met.

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UNDERWRITING

Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters named below, for whom EBC is acting as representative, the following respective numbers of units:

Underwriter

 

Number of
Units

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

 

 

     

Total

 

17,500,000

The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are obligated to purchase all the units in the offering if any are purchased, other than those units covered by the over-allotment option described below. The underwriting agreement provides that following the completion of this offering, the obligations of the underwriters with respect to this offering will be deemed satisfied and the underwriters are not bound by any commitment or obligation to offer or sell to the public any of our securities or of any target business in an initial business combination or otherwise solicit holders of our securities or any target business in an initial business combination to approve the business combination.

We have granted to the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase on a pro rata basis up to 2,625,000 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 underwriters and the selling group members may allow a discount of $             per unit on sales to other broker/dealers. After the initial public offering, the underwriters may change the public offering price and concession and discount to broker/dealers.

The following table shows the underwriting discount to be paid by us to the underwriters. This information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option.

 

Payable by Tavia
Acquisition Corp.

   

No Exercise

 

Full Exercise

Per Unit

 

$

0.20

 

$

0.20

Total

 

$

3,500,000

 

$

4,025,000

We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, not including the underwriting discount, will be approximately $550,000. We have agreed to pay for (i) fees and disbursements of the representative’s counsel (not to exceed $15,000) incurred in registering the offering with FINRA and (ii) an investigative search firm of the representative’s choice to conduct investigations of our principals as shall be mutually selected by the representative and us, up to a maximum of $3,500 per individual, subject to a maximum aggregate payment amount of $[•].

No discounts or commissions will be paid on the sale of the private warrants.

The representative has informed us that the underwriters do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.

We have applied to have our units listed on the NASDAQ, under the symbol “[•]” and, once the ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants begin separate trading, under the symbols “[•]”, “[•]” and “[•],” respectively.

There is currently no public market for our securities. The initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the representative.

The determination of our per unit offering price was more arbitrary than would typically be the case if we were an operating company. Among the factors considered in determining 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 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, ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares 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, ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants will develop and continue after this offering.

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On March 7, 2024, we issued to EBC 200,000 EBC founder shares for a purchase price of approximately $0.005 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $994. EBC has agreed (i) to waive its redemption rights (or right to participate in any tender offer) with respect to such shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.

The EBC founder shares have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of the FINRA Manual. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), these securities will not be sold during the offering, or sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or commencement of sales of the public offering, except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the offering and their bona fide officers or partners, provided that all securities so transferred remain subject to the lockup restriction above for the remainder of the time period.

We have granted the holders of the EBC founder shares the registration rights as described under the section “Description of Securities — Registration Rights.” Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, EBC may only make a demand on one occasion and only during the 5-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In addition, EBC may participate in a “piggy-back” registration only during the seven-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

EBC has committed that it and/or its designees will purchase from us 2,187,500 private warrants for a total purchase price of $2,187,500. This purchase will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. EBC has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, it and/or its designees will purchase from us an additional number of private warrants (up to 255,208 private warrants at $1.00 per private warrant) necessary to maintain in the trust account $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering. Private warrants are identical to units sold in this offering. The private warrants and the underlying securities are deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110I(1). Additionally, the private warrants and underlying securities purchased by EBC may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a 180-day period following the effective date of this prospectus except to any selected dealer participating in the offering and the bona fide officers or partners of the underwriter and any such participating selected dealer. EBC has agreed that the private warrants and underlying securities it purchases will not be sold or transferred by it (except to certain permitted transferees) until we have completed an initial business combination. We have granted the holders of private warrants (and underlying securities), including EBC, the registration rights as described under the section “Description of Securities — Registration Rights.” In compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8), the registration rights granted to EBC are limited to demand and “piggy back” rights for periods of five and seven years, respectively, from the effective date of this prospectus with respect to the registration under the Securities Act of the private warrants (and underlying securities) and the demand rights may only be exercised on one occasion. Additionally, the private warrants may not be exercised by EBC or its designees more than five years from the date of this prospectus in compliance with Rule 5110(g)(8)(A).

Pursuant to a Business Combination Marketing Agreement, we have engaged EBC as an advisor in connection with our initial business combination to assist us in holding meetings with our shareholders to discuss the potential business combination and the target business’ attributes, introduce us to potential investors that are interested in purchasing our securities in connection with our initial business combination and assist us with our press releases and public filings in connection with the business combination. We will pay EBC a cash fee for such services upon the consummation of our initial business combination in an amount equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering as further described in the Business Combination Marketing Agreement. In addition, we will pay EBC a cash fee in an amount equal to 1.0% of the total consideration payable in the initial business combination if it introduces us to the target business with whom we complete our initial business combination; provided that the foregoing fee will not be paid prior to the date that is 60 days from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110.

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We have granted EBC a right of first refusal under certain circumstances for a period commencing from the consummation of this offering until the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination and the liquidation of the trust account in the event that we fail to consummate our initial business combination within the prescribed time period (but in no event longer than three years from consummation of this offering) to act as book running manager, placement agent and/or arranger for all financings where we seek to raise equity, equity-linked, debt or mezzanine financings relating to or in connection with a business combination.

Subject to certain conditions, we have granted EBC, for a period commencing from the consummation of this offering until 12 months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (or the liquidation of the trust account in the event we fail to consummate our initial business combination within the prescribed time), a right of first refusal to act as lead underwriter for any U.S. registered public offering of securities undertaken by our sponsor or any of its members for the purpose of raising capital and placing 90% or more of the proceeds in a trust account (or other similar account) to be used to acquire one or more operating businesses that have not been identified at the time of the public offering.

Regulatory Restrictions on Purchase of Securities

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell units in the open market. The underwriters have advised us that, in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, they may engage in short sale transactions, purchases to cover short positions, which may include purchases pursuant to the over-allotment option, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids in connection with this offering. These activities may have the effect of stabilizing or maintaining the market price of our units at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market.

        Short sales involve secondary market sales by the underwriters of a greater number of units than it is required to purchase in the offering.

        “Covered” short sales are sales of units in an amount up to the number of units represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

        “Naked” short sales are sales of units in an amount in excess of the number of units represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

        Covering transactions involve purchases of units either pursuant to the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions.

        To close a naked short position, the underwriters must purchase units in the open market after the distribution has been completed. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

        To close a covered short position, the underwriters must purchase units in the open market after the distribution has been completed or must exercise the over-allotment option. In determining the source of units to close the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option.

        Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase units so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.

Purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own account, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the units. They may also cause the price of the units to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. Neither we, nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our public shares. The underwriters are not obligated to engage in these activities and, if commenced, any of the activities may be discontinued at any time.

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Other Terms

Except as set forth above, we are not under any contractual obligation to engage any of the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. However, any of the underwriters may, among other things, introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital, as needs may arise in the future. If any underwriter provides services to us after this offering, we may pay the 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 the underwriter and no fees for such services will be paid to the underwriter prior to the date which is 60 days after the date of this prospectus, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriter’s compensation in connection with this offering.

Indemnification

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against some liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in this respect.

Electronic Distribution

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available by e-mail or on the web sites or through online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters or their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of common shares for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriters’ web sites and any information contained in any other web site maintained by any of the underwriters is not part of this prospectus, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriters and should not be relied upon by investors.

Other Activities and Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for us or our affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their various 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 and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities and instruments. 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 at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Selling Restrictions

Canada

Resale Restrictions

We intend to distribute our securities in the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Canadian Offering Jurisdiction”) by way of a private placement and exempt from the requirement that we prepare and file a prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in such Canadian Offering Jurisdiction. Any resale of our securities in Canada must be made under applicable securities laws that will 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. Canadian resale restrictions in some circumstances may apply to resales of interests made outside of Canada. Canadian purchasers are advised to seek legal advice prior to any resale of our securities.

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We may never be a “reporting issuer”, as such term is defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, in any province or territory of Canada in which our securities will be offered and there currently is no public market for any of the securities in Canada, and one may never develop. Canadian investors are advised that we have no intention to file a prospectus or similar document with any securities regulatory authority in Canada qualifying the resale of the securities to the public in any province or territory in Canada.

Representations of Purchasers

A Canadian purchaser will be required to represent to us and the dealer from whom the purchase confirmation is received that:

        the purchaser is entitled under applicable provincial securities laws to purchase our securities without the benefit of a prospectus qualified under those securities laws;

        where required by law, that the purchaser is purchasing as principal and not as agent;

        the purchaser has reviewed the text above under Resale Restrictions; and

        the purchaser acknowledges and consents to the provision of specified information concerning its purchase of our securities to the regulatory authority that by law is entitled to collect the information.

Rights of Action — Ontario Purchasers Only

Under Ontario securities legislation, certain purchasers who purchase a security offered by this prospectus during the period of distribution will have a statutory right of action for damages, or while still the owner of our securities, for rescission against us in the event that this prospectus contains a misrepresentation without regard to whether the purchaser relied on the misrepresentation. The right of action for damages is exercisable not later than the earlier of 180 days from the date the purchaser first had knowledge of the facts giving rise to the cause of action and three years from the date on which payment is made for our securities. The right of action for rescission is exercisable not later than 180 days from the date on which payment is made for our securities. If a purchaser elects to exercise the right of action for rescission, the purchaser will have no right of action for damages against us. In no case will the amount recoverable in any action exceed the price at which our securities were offered to the purchaser and if the purchaser is shown to have purchased the securities with knowledge of the misrepresentation, we will have no liability. In the case of an action for damages, we will not be liable for all or any portion of the damages that are proven to not represent the depreciation in value of our securities as a result of the misrepresentation relied upon. These rights are in addition to, and without derogation from, any other rights or remedies available at law to an Ontario purchaser. The foregoing is a summary of the rights available to an Ontario purchaser. Ontario purchasers should refer to the complete text of the relevant statutory provisions.

Enforcement of Legal Rights

A majority of our directors and officers as well as the experts named herein are 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 of our assets and the assets of those persons are 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.

Collection of Personal Information

If a Canadian purchaser is resident in or otherwise subject to the securities laws of the Province of Ontario, the Purchaser authorizes the indirect collection of personal information pertaining to the Canadian purchaser by the Ontario Securities Commission (the “OSC”) and each Canadian purchaser will be required to acknowledge and agree that the Canadian purchaser has been notified by us (i) of the delivery to the OSC of personal information pertaining to the Canadian purchaser, including, without limitation, the full name, residential address and telephone number of the Canadian purchaser, the number and type of securities purchased and the total purchase price paid in respect of the securities, (ii) that this information is being collected indirectly by the OSC under the authority granted to it in securities legislation, (iii) that this information is being collected for the purposes of the administration and

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enforcement of the securities legislation of Ontario, and (iv) that the title, business address and business telephone number of the public official in Ontario who can answer questions about the OSC’s indirect collection of the information is the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Corporate Finance, the Ontario Securities Commission, Suite 1903, Box 5520, Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3S8, Telephone: (416) 593-8086, Facsimile: (416) 593-8252.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”) and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of the shares may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the shares without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The shares applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring shares must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

This prospectus contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus. The shares to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the shares. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “relevant member state”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the “relevant implementation date”), an offer of units described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units that has been approved by the competent authority in that relevant member state or, where appropriate, approved in another relevant member state and notified to the competent authority in that relevant member state, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that, with effect from and including the relevant implementation date, an offer of our units may be made to the public in that relevant member state at any time:

        to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

        to fewer than 100, or, if the relevant member state has implemented the relevant provisions of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent

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of the relevant Dealer or Dealers nominated by the issuer for any such offer; or natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined below) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriter for any such offer; or

        in any other circumstances that do not require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

Each purchaser of units described in this prospectus located within a relevant member state will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purpose of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the units, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the PD 2010 Amending Directive to the extent implemented by the relevant member state) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state, and the expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/EU.

We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the units as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the units, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the units on behalf of us or the underwriters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company or the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as a “relevant person”). The units are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase or otherwise acquire such units will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

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Notice to Prospective Investors in France

Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units described in this prospectus has been submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers or by the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The units have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units has been or will be:

        released, issued, distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed to the public in France; or

        used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of the units to the public in France. Such offers, sales and distributions will be made in France only:

        to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or to a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs), in each case investing for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Article L.411-2, D.411-1, D.411-2, D.734-1, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Code monétaire et financier;

        to investment services providers authorized to engage in portfolio management on behalf of third parties; or

        in a transaction that, in accordance with article L.411-2-II-1°-or-2°-or 3° of the French Code monétaire et financier and article 211-2 of the General Regulations (Règlement Général) of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, does not constitute a public offer (appel public à l’épargne).

The units may be resold directly or indirectly, only in compliance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 of the French Code monétaire et financier.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The units may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the units may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to units which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The units have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the benefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese Person” shall mean any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the units may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the units be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions

Where the units are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is

        a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

        a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor,

        shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

        to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than $200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA;

        where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or

        where the transfer is by operation of law.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Greenberg Traurig, LLP is acting as counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act, and as such, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus with respect to the units and the warrants. Travers Thorp Alberga is acting as counsel in connection with matters of Cayman Islands law and will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus with respect to the ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares. In connection with this offering, Graubard Miller is acting as counsel to the underwriters.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Tavia Acquisition Corp. as of March 31, 2024, and for the period from March 7, 2024 (inception) through March 31, 2024, appearing in this prospectus have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph related to substantial doubt about the ability of Tavia Acquisition Corp. to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the financial statements) appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.

Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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F-1

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Tavia Acquisition Corp.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2024, the related statement of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the period from March 7, 2024 (inception) through March 31, 2024, 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 March 31, 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from March 7, 2024 (inception) through March 31, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Explanatory Paragraph — Going Concern

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As described in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company is a Special Purpose Acquisition Company that was formed for the purpose of completing a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses within an expected period of twenty four months from the date of a successful completed proposed initial public offering. The Company lacks the capital resources it needs to fund its operations for a reasonable period of time, which is generally considered to be one year from the issuance of the financial statements. These matters raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans with regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that may be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. 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/ Marcum llp

Marcum llp

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2024.

New York, NY
May 15, 2024

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Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
BALANCE SHEET
MARCH 31, 2024

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Current asset – other asset

 

$

994

 

Deferred offering costs

 

 

878,637

 

Total Assets

 

 

879,631

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Accrued expenses

 

$

32,514

 

Accrued offering costs

 

 

137,631

 

Promissory note – related party

 

 

3,027

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

 

173,172

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

Preferred shares, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and
outstanding

 

 

 

Ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 5,231,250 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024(1)

 

 

523

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

746,477

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(40,541

)

Total Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

706,459

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

$

879,631

 

____________

(1)      Includes an aggregate of up to 656,250 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (See Note 5 and 7).

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024

Formation and operating costs

 

$

40,541

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(40,541

)

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding(1)

 

 

4,575,000

 

Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share

 

$

(0.01

)

____________

(1)      Excludes an aggregate of up to 656,250 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (See Note 5 and 7).

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024

 

Ordinary
Shares

 

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

 

Accumulated
Deficit

 

Total
Shareholders’
Equity

   

Shares(1)

 

Amount

 

Balance on March 7, 2024 (inception)

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

$

 

Issuance of ordinary shares to Sponsor

 

5,031,250

 

 

503

 

 

24,497

 

 

 

 

 

25,000

 

Issuance of ordinary shares to underwriters

 

200,000

 

 

20

 

 

721,980

 

 

 

 

 

 

722,000

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(40,541

)

 

 

(40,541

)

Balance as of March 31, 2024

 

5,231,250

 

$

523

 

$

746,477

 

$

(40,541

)

 

$

706,459

 

____________

(1)      Includes an aggregate of up to 656,250 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (See Note 5 and 7).

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(40,541

)

Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities

 

 

 

 

Payment of formation costs through issuance of ordinary shares

 

 

5,000

 

Payment of formation costs through issuance of the promissory note-related party

 

 

3,027

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

32,514

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash

 

 

 

Cash at beginning of period

 

 

 

Cash at the end of period

 

$

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred offering costs included in accrued offering costs

 

$

137,631

 

Deferred offering costs paid by Sponsor in exchange for issuance of ordinary shares

 

$

20,000

 

Fair value of EBC Founder Shares charged to deferred offering costs and other assets

 

$

722,000

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

F-6

Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on March 7, 2024. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”).

The Company is not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination, although the Company intends to primarily direct its attention on target businesses in North America and Europe focused on energy transition, the circular economy and food technologies. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.

The Company’s sponsor is Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd. (the “Sponsor”). As of March 31, 2024, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from March 7, 2024 (inception) through March 31, 2024 relates to the Company’s formation and the proposed initial public offering (“Proposed Public Offering”), which is described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of an initial Business Combination, 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 ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a Proposed Public Offering of 17,500,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the ordinary shares and preferred shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per Unit (or 20,125,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), which is discussed in Note 3, and the sale of 4,500,000 private placement warrants (or 5,025,000 private placement warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised on full) (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant in private placement to the Sponsor and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., the representative of the underwriters in the Proposed Public Offering (“EBC”), 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 the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. The share exchange listing rules require that the Business Combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding income interest earned on the trust account and released to us for working capital, subject to a limit of $1,000,000 per year, or to pay taxes, collectively referred to as “permitted withdrawals”). The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling 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”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.

Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that $10.00 per Unit sold in the Proposed Public Offering, including proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, will be held in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) and invested in U.S. 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 in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. The Company will disclose in each quarterly and annual report filed with the SEC prior to the initial Business Combination whether the proceeds deposited in the Trust Account are invested in U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds or a combination thereof or as cash or cash items, including in demand deposit accounts. Additionally, when the Company determines (based on its management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to the potential status under the Investment Company Act) to hold the funds in the Trust Account as cash or in demand deposit accounts at a bank, the amount of interest received would likely be less.

F-7

Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS (cont.)

The Company will provide the holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “Public Shareholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer in connection with the Business Combination. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely at its discretion. The Public Shareholders 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 then in the Trust Account, net of working capital withdrawals or taxes payable). The Public Shares subject to redemption will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering in accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.”

If the Company seeks shareholder approval of the Business Combination, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company receives an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law approving a Business Combination, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company, or such other vote as required by law or share exchange rule. If a shareholder vote is not required and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and file tender offer documents containing substantially the same information as would be included in a proxy statement with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor has agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of approving a Business Combination. Additionally, each Public Shareholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares, without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against a proposed Business Combination.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company seeks shareholder approval of the Business Combination and the Company does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, a Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder 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 Public Shares without the Company’s prior written consent.

The Sponsor and EBC have agreed (a) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares, EBC Founder Shares (defined below), Private Shares and Private Shares held by them in connection with the completion of a Business Combination, (b) to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares, EBC Founder Shares and private shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to (1) modify the substance or timing of the obligation to provide for the redemption of the public shares in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the public shares if the Company does not complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering or (2) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, and (c) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any founder shares, EBC Founder Shares and private shares held by them if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. If the Company submits the initial Business Combination to the public shareholders for a vote, the Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree) to vote any founder shares, private shares and, subject to applicable securities laws, any public shares purchased by them in or after this Proposed Public Offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of an initial Business Combination.

The Company will have until 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering to consummate a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). However, if the Company has not completed a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of

F-8

Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS (cont.)

winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company pursuant to permitted withdrawals (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the rights of the Public Shareholders as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining Public Shareholders and its Board of Directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

The Sponsor has agreed to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to the Founder Shares it will receive if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Sponsors or any of its respective affiliates acquire Public Shares, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.

In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (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 value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes or fund working capital requirements. This liability will not apply to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and as 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”). 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 (other than 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.

Going Concern Consideration

At March 31, 2024, the Company had a working capital deficit of $172,178 (excluding deferred offering costs). Further, the Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans. The Company lacks the financial resources it needs to sustain operations for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the date of the issuance of the financial statements. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management plans to address this uncertainty through the Proposed Public Offering as discussed in Note 3. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital will be successful. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the Company has access to funds from the Sponsor, and the Sponsor has the financial ability to provide such funds, that are sufficient to fund the working capital needs of the Company until the earlier of the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering and one year from the date of issuance of these financial statements. On March 7, 2024, the Sponsor entered into an agreement with the Company to loan up to an aggregate amount of $150,000, to be used, in part, for transaction costs incurred in connection with the Proposed Public Offering.

F-9

Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Emerging Growth Company

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

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

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US 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.

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Deferred Offering Costs

The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5A — “Expenses of Offering.” Deferred offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees that are related to the Proposed Public Offering. FASB ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options,” addresses the allocation of proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt into its equity and debt components. The Company applies this guidance to allocate Proposed Public Offering proceeds from the Units between Public Shares and warrants, using the residual method by allocating Proposed Public Offering proceeds first to assigned value of the warrants and then to the Public Shares. Offering costs allocated to the Public Shares will be charged to temporary

F-10

Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

equity and offering costs allocated to the Public and Private Placement Warrants will be charged to shareholder’s equity as Public and Private Placement Warrants after management’s evaluation will be accounted for under equity treatment. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.

Income Taxes

The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of March 31, 2024. 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 considered to be an exempted Cayman Islands company with no connection to any other taxable jurisdiction and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Company’s tax provision was zero for the period presented.

Net Loss per Ordinary Share

Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, excluding ordinary shares subject to forfeiture. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 656,250 ordinary shares that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Notes 5 and 7). At March 31, 2024, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the period presented.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows the guidance in ASC 820 for its financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at each reporting period, and non-financial assets and liabilities that are-measured and reported at fair value at least annually.

The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data

F-11

Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net cash settlement or conversion of the instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date. The underwriters’ over-allotment option is deemed to be a freestanding financial instrument indexed on the contingently redeemable shares and will be accounted for as a liability pursuant to ASC 480 if not fully exercised at the time of the Proposed Public Offering.

Warrant Instruments

The Company will account for the Public and Private Warrants to be issued in connection with the Proposed Public Offering and the private placement in accordance with the guidance contained in FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. Accordingly, the Company evaluated and will classify the warrant instrument under equity treatment at its assigned value. There are no Public or Private Warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2024

Recent Accounting Standards

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, 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 intends to offer for sale 17,500,000 Units (or 20,125,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one convertible preferred share, and one-half of one warrant (“Public Warrant”). The Company will not issue fractional ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares or warrants and only whole ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and warrants will trade.

NOTE 4 — PRIVATE PLACEMENTS

The Sponsor and EBC have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 4,500,000 Private Placement Warrants (2,312,500 Private Placement Warrants to be purchased by the Sponsor and 2,187,500 Private Placement Warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees), or 5,025,000 Private Placement Warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised in full (2,582,292 Private Placement Warrants to be purchased by the Sponsor and 2,442,708 Private Placement Warrants

F-12

Table of Contents

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 4 — PRIVATE PLACEMENTS (cont.)

to be purchased by EBC or its designees), at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant ($4,500,000, or an aggregate of $5,025,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised in full) from the Company in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. The proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will be added to the net proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law). The Private Placement Warrants (including the underlying ordinary shares) are identical to the Public Warrants (including the underlying Public Shares) sold in the Proposed Public Offering. The Sponsor and EBC have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Private Placement warrants or underlying shares (except to the same permitted transferees as the founder shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the founder shares must agree to, each as described herein) until the completion of the initial Business Combination.

NOTE 5 — RELATED PARTIES

Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares

On March 7, 2024, the Sponsor made a capital contribution of $25,000, or approximately $0.005 per share, to cover certain of the Company’s expenses, for which the Company issued 5,031,250 Founder Shares to the Sponsor. Up to 656,250 of such Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment is not exercised in full.

On March 7, 2024, the Company issued to EBC 200,000 ordinary shares (“EBC Founder Shares”) for a purchase price of $0.005 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $994. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had not yet received payment for the purchase of the EBC Founder Shares and is denoted as an other asset. The Company estimated the fair value of the EBC Founder Shares to be $722,000 or $3.61 per share. Accordingly, $721,006 (the total $722,000 fair value less $994 to be paid by EBC) has been recorded as a deferred offering costs in the accompanying balance sheet as of March 31, 2024, with a corresponding increase in additional paid-in capital. The Company established the initial fair value for the EBC Founder Shares on March 7, 2024, the date of the issuance, using a calculation prepared by management which takes into consideration the probability of completion of the Proposed Public Offering, an implied probability of the completion of a Business Combination and a Discount for Lack of Marketability calculation. The EBC Founder Shares are classified as Level 3 at the measurement date due to the use of unobservable inputs including the probability of a business combination, the probability of the initial public offering, and other risk factors.

The Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares are identical to the ordinary shares included in the Public Units, and holders of Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares have the same shareholder rights as public shareholders, except that (i) the Founder Shares and EBC Founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described below; (ii) the initial shareholders and EBC have agreed (A) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination, (B) to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to (a) modify the substance or timing of the obligation to provide for the redemption of the Public Shares in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company does not complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, and (C) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares held by them if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering; and (iii) the Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares are entitled to registration rights. If the Company submits the initial Business Combination to the public shareholders for a vote, the initial shareholders have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree) to vote any Founder Shares and any Public Shares purchased by them in or after the Proposed Public Offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of the initial Business Combination.

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TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 5 — RELATED PARTIES (cont.)

The Sponsor has agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) six months after the completion of the initial Business Combination and (B) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our public shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.

Promissory Note — Related Party

On March 7, 2024, the Sponsor issued an unsecured promissory note to the Company (the “Promissory Note”), pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $150,000. The Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2024, or (ii) the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering. As of March 31, 2024, there was $3,027 outstanding under the Promissory Note.

Administration Fee

Commencing on the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering, the Company will enter into an agreement with the Sponsor to pay an aggregate of $30,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services. Upon completion of the initial Business Combination or a liquidation event, the Company will cease paying these monthly fees.

NOTE 6 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Registration Rights

The holders of the Founder Shares, EBC Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, working capital warrants (if any), and their underlying securities will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of Proposed Public Offering. The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that the Company register such securities for resale. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to completion of a Business Combination 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 Proposed Public Offering to purchase up to 2,625,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Proposed Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

The underwriters will be entitled to a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $3,500,000 in the aggregate (or $4,025,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering.

Business Combination Marketing Agreement

The Company has engaged EBC as an advisor in connection with its Business Combination to assist in holding meetings with the Company shareholders to discuss the potential Business Combination and the target business’ attributes, introduce the Company to potential investors that are interested in purchasing its securities in connection with its initial Business Combination and assist with press releases and public filings in connection with the Business Combination. The Company will pay EBC a cash fee for such services upon the consummation of its initial Business Combination in an amount equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering. In addition, the Company will pay EBC a cash fee in an amount equal to 1.0% of the total consideration payable in the initial Business Combination if it introduces the Company to the target business with whom it completes an initial Business

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TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 6 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (cont.)

Combination; provided that the foregoing fee will not be paid prior to the date that is 60 days from the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with the Proposed Public Offering pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110.

Risks and Uncertainties

United States and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the geopolitical instability resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the recent escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”) deployed additional military forces to eastern Europe, and the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries have announced various sanctions and restrictive actions against Russia, Belarus and related individuals and entities, including the removal of certain financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payment system. Certain countries, including the United States, have also provided and may continue to provide military aid or other assistance to Ukraine and to Israel, increasing geopolitical tensions among a number of nations. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the resulting measures that have been taken, and could be taken in the future, by NATO, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Israel and its neighboring states and other countries have created global security concerns that could have a lasting impact on regional and global economies. Although the length and impact of the ongoing conflicts are highly unpredictable, they could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions and increased cyber-attacks against U.S. companies. Additionally, any resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets.

Any of the above-mentioned factors, or any other negative impact on the global economy, capital markets or other geopolitical conditions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict and subsequent sanctions or related actions, could adversely affect the Company’s search for an initial business combination and any target business with which the Company may ultimately consummate an initial business combination.

NOTE 7 — SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

Preferred Shares — The Company is authorized to issue 100,000,000 preferred shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of March 31, 2024, there were no preferred shares issued or outstanding.

Each whole convertible preferred share will be convertible into one ordinary share, at the option of the holder, and initially will not pay any dividends. It is currently contemplated that commencing upon the completion of our initial business combination, each whole convertible preferred share will pay an annual dividend of $0.60 per share, payable quarterly in cash or in kind at our option. Additionally, each whole convertible preferred share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) will be (i) convertible after the consummation of our initial business combination into ordinary shares at the option of the holder at any time at a conversion price of $11.50 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) and (ii) mandatorily converted into ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share if the last sales price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $14.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period commencing after the consummation of an initial Business Combination and the 30-day average daily trading volume ending on (and including) the date of determination is greater than or equal to 100,000 shares during the first two years after the consummation of the Business Combination and 75,000 shares thereafter. However, the terms of the preferred shares may be amended in connection with the initial Business Combination, subject to applicable law.

In addition, the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that the Company may issue additional preferred shares from time to time in one or more series. The 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. The board of

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TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 7 — SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT (cont.)

directors will be able to, without shareholder approval, issue preferred shares with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the ordinary shares and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of the board of directors to issue preferred shares without shareholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management.

Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue 400,000,000 ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of ordinary shares were entitled to one vote for each share.

As of March 31, 2024, there were 5,231,250 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, of which an aggregate of up to 656,250 ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part so that the number of Founder Shares will equal 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding ordinary shares after the Proposed Public Offering (excluding private placement shares).

Ordinary shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Unless specified in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, or as required by applicable provisions of the Companies Act or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of the ordinary shares that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by the shareholders. Approval of certain actions, will require a special resolutions under Cayman Islands law and pursuant to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, such actions include amending the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and approving a statutory merger or consolidation with another company. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors. After completion of the initial Business Combination, the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors. The shareholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.

Warrants

No warrants are currently outstanding. Each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, at any time commencing 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination. However, no warrants will be exercisable for cash unless the Company has an effective and current registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such ordinary shares. Although the Company is registering its ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants on the registration statement of this Proposed Public Offering, the Company has agreed that as soon as practicable after the closing of the initial Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the public warrants is not effective within a 60 day period following the consummation of the initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. In the event of such cashless exercise, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose will mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the 5 trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise. The warrants will expire on the fifth anniversary of the completion of an initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

Redemption of Warrants When the Price per Ordinary Share Equals or Exceeds $18.00 — once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding Public Warrants:

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TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 7 — SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT (cont.)

        in whole and not in part;

        at a price of $0.01 per Public Warrant;

        upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder;

        if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations), for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period commencing at any time after the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third business day prior to the notice of redemption to warrant holders; and

        if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the ordinary shares underlying such warrants.

If the Company call the warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose shall mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the 5 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants.

In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per ordinary share (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, initial shareholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the Company’s initial business combination on the date of the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Company’s ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial business combination (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 of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the greater of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

The Private Placement Warrants, as well as any warrants issued to the Sponsor, officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates in payment of working capital loans, will be identical to the warrants underlying the Units sold in the Proposed Public Offering.

NOTE 8 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through May 15, 2024, the date that the financial statements were available to be issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.

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$175,000,000

17,500,000 Units

Tavia Acquisition Corp

_________________________

PROSPECTUS

_____________________

Book-Running Manager

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

[•], 2024

Until [•], 2024 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our ordinary shares or convertible preferred shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

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PART II — INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13.     Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the various expenses expected to be incurred in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, all of which will be borne by the Company.

SEC registration fee

 

 

[•]

Accounting fees and expenses

 

 

*

Legal fees and expenses

 

 

*

Financial printing expenses

 

 

*

Transfer agent’s fees and expenses

 

 

*

Miscellaneous expenses

 

 

*

Total expenses

 

$

*

____________

*        Estimated expenses not presently known.

Item 14.     Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, willful neglect, civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide for indemnification of our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect. We expect to purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.

Our officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account, and have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever (except to the extent they are entitled to funds from the trust account due to their ownership of public shares). Accordingly, any indemnification provided will only be able to be satisfied by us if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination.

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.

We will enter into indemnity agreements with each of our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a form of which is to be filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Cayman Islands law and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement 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.

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Item 15.     Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

On March 7, 2024, Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd., our sponsor, acquired an aggregate of 5,031,250 ordinary shares (“founder shares”) in exchange for a total capital contribution of $25,000. Up to 656,250 founder shares are subject to forfeiture if the underwriters’ over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part. On March 7, 2024, we also issued to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. and its designees an aggregate of 200,000 ordinary shares for an aggregate purchase price of $994, or approximately $0.005 per share. Such securities were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

In addition, our sponsor and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. have agreed that they and/or their designees will purchase from us an aggregate of 4,500,000 private warrants (2,312,500 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and 2,187,500 private warrants to be purchased by EBC or its designees) at a price of $1.00 per warrant for a total purchase price of $4,500,000 in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. have also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they and/or their designees will purchase from us up to an additional 525,000 private warrants on a pro rata basis (269,792 private warrants to be purchased by our sponsor and 255,208 private warrants to be purchased by EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. and its designees) at a price of $1.00 per warrant in an amount that is necessary to maintain in the trust account $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with this offering. The issuance will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.

Item 16.     Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

The financial statements filed as part of this registration statement are listed in the index to the financial statements immediately preceding such financial statements, which index to the financial statements is incorporated herein by reference.

Exhibit Number

 


Description

1.1

 

Form of Underwriting Agreement.

3.1

 

Memorandum and Articles of Association.*

3.2

 

Form of Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.*

4.1

 

Specimen Unit Certificate.

4.2

 

Specimen Ordinary Share Certificate.

4.3

 

Specimen Convertible Preferred Share Certificate.

4.4

 

Specimen Warrant Certificate.

4.5

 

Form of Warrant Agreement by and between the Registrant and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent.*

5.1

 

Opinion of Travers Thorp Alberga.

5.2

 

Opinion of Greenberg Traurig LLP.

10.1

 

Form of Letter Agreement between the Registrant and its initial shareholders.

10.2

 

Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and certain securityholders.*

10.3

 

Form of Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant.

10.4

 

Form of Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and the Sponsor.

10.5

 

Form of Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

10.6

 

Form of Indemnity Agreement.

10.7

 

Form of Share Escrow Agreement among the Registrant, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Initial Shareholders.

10.8

 

Form of Business Combination Marketing Agreement between the Registrant and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

10.9

 

Form of Administrative Services Agreement.

14.1

 

Form of Code of Ethics.

23.1

 

Consent of Travers Thorp Alberga (to be included in Exhibit 5.1).

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Exhibit Number

 


Description

23.2

 

Consent of Greenberg Traurig LLP (to be included in Exhibit 5.2).

23.3

 

Consent of Marcum LLP

99.1

 

Form of Audit Committee Charter.

99.2

 

Form of Compensation Committee Charter.

99.3

 

Consent of Chistophe Charlier.

99.4

 

Consent of Marsha Kutkevich.

99.5

 

Consent of Darrell Mays.

107

 

Filing fee exhibit.

____________

*        Previously filed.

Item 17.     Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)    to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser;

(2)    that, 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;

(3)    that, 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;

(4)    that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser: 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; and

(5)    that, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the 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:

(a)     any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(b)    any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

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(c)     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 an undersigned registrant; and

(d)    any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

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 Securities Act of 1933 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 Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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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 Almaty, Kazakhstan on July 9, 2024.

 

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.

   

/s/ Kanat Mynzhanov

   

Kanat Mynzhanov
Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

/s/ Kanat Mynzhanov

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

July 9, 2024

Kanat Mynzhanov

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

   

/s/ Askar Mametov

 

Chief Financial Officer and Director

 

July 9, 2024

Askar Mametov

 

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)

   

II-5

Table of Contents

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned has signed this registration statement, solely in his capacity as the duly authorized representative of Tavia Acquisition Corp., in Newark, Delaware on the 9th day of July 2024.

 

By:

 

/s/ Donald J. Puglisi

   

Name:

 

Donald J. Puglisi
Managing Director
Puglisi & Associates

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Exhibit 1.1

 

17,500,000 Units

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

New York, New York

______________, 2024

 

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

366 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

As Representative of the Underwriters named on Schedule A hereto

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (“EarlyBird” or the “Representative”) and with the other underwriters named on Schedule A hereto (if any), for which the Representative is acting as representative (the Representative and such other underwriters being collectively referred to herein as the “Underwriters” or, each underwriter individually, an “Underwriter”; provided that, if only EarlyBird is listed on such Schedule A, any references to the Underwriters shall refer exclusively to EarlyBird), as follows:

 

1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.

 

1.1. Units.

 

1.1.1. Purchase of Units. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, severally and not jointly, an aggregate of 17,500,000 units of the Company (the “Firm Units”) at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $9.80 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of one-half of one ordinary share, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), one-half of one convertible preferred share (“Preferred Shares”) and one-half of one warrant (the “Warrant(s)”). The Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants included in the Firm Units will not be separately tradable until 90 days after the date hereof unless the Representative informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to the Company filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) containing an audited balance sheet (the “Audited Balance Sheet”) reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the Offering (defined below) and the sale of the Private Warrants (defined below) and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Units set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A. The Firm Units are to be offered initially to the public (the “Offering”) at the offering price of $10.00 per Firm Unit.

 

 

 

 

1.1.2. Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the second (2nd) Business Day (as defined below) following the commencement of trading of the Firm Units, or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The closing of the Offering is referred to herein as the “Closing” and the hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds. Of the proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Firm Units and the Private Warrants (as defined in section 1.3.3), an aggregate of $175,000,000 shall be deposited on the Closing Date into the trust account (the “Trust Account”) established by the Company for the benefit of the Public Shareholders, as described in the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below) and pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (“CST&T”), substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The remaining proceeds (less actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement) shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery of certificates (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of DTC for the account of the Representative). The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package the Firm Units for delivery at least one (1) full Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units. As used herein, the term “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in the City of New York are generally open for use by customers on such day, the term “Public Shareholders” means the holders of Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares sold in the Offering or acquired in the aftermarket, including any of the Insiders (as defined in Section 1.3.1 below) to the extent they acquire such Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares in the Offering or in the aftermarket (and solely with respect to such shares) and the term “Public Shares” means the Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares sold in the Offering.

 

1.2. Over-Allotment Option

 

1.2.1. The Representative shall have the option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) to purchase all or less than all of an additional 2,625,000 Units (the “Option Units”) solely for the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units. Such Option Units shall, at the Representative’s election, be purchased for each account of the several Underwriters in the same proportion as the number of Firm Units set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name on Schedule A hereto (subject to adjustment by the Representative to eliminate fractions). Such Option Units shall be identical in all respects to the Firm Units. The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Public Securities.” No Option Units shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Units previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Option Units, or any portion thereof, may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representative to the Company. The purchase price to be paid for each Option Unit (net of discounts and commissions) will be $9.80 per Option Unit.

 

1.2.2. Exercise of Option. The Over-Allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below). The Representative will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company by the Representative, which must be confirmed in accordance with Section 10.1 herein setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units, if other than the Closing Date (the “Option Closing Date”), which shall not be earlier than the Closing Date or be later than ten (10) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. Upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Representative, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Representative will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.

 

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1.2.3. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds, payable as follows: $9.80 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Representative). The certificates representing the Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative requests not less than two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and will be made available to the Representative for inspection, checking and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one (1) full Business Day prior to such Closing Date.

 

1.3. Private Placements.

 

1.3.1. In March 2024, the Company issued to Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd. (the “Sponsor”) for aggregate consideration of $25,000, an aggregate of 5,031,250 Ordinary Shares (the “Founder Shares”) in a private placement intended to be exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the sale of the Founder Shares. The Founder Shares shall be held in escrow and subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Registration Statement. The Sponsor shall have no right to any liquidation distributions with respect to any portion of the Founder Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate any proposed initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”) within the required time period except with respect to any funds held outside of the Trust Account remaining after payment of all fees and expenses. The Sponsor shall not have redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares nor shall it be entitled to sell such Founder Shares to the Company in any tender offer in connection with a proposed Business Combination. To the extent that the Over-allotment Option is not exercised by the Underwriters in full or in part, up to 656,250 of the Founder Shares shall be forfeited in an amount necessary to maintain the 20% ownership interest in the Ordinary Shares of the Sponsor, officers, directors and advisors of the Company (collectively, the “Insiders”) after giving effect to the Offering and exercise, if any, of the Underwriters’ Over-allotment Option (and excluding the EBC Founder Shares (defined below) and any shares purchased in the Offering by the Insiders).

 

1.3.2. In March 2024, the Company issued to the Representative and its designees, for an aggregate purchase price of $994, an aggregate of 200,000 Ordinary Shares (the “EBC Founder Shares”) in a private placement intended to be exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Act. No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the sale of the EBC Founder Shares. The holders of the EBC Founder Shares have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any EBC Founder Shares without the Company’s prior consent until the completion of an initial Business Combination. The EBC Founder Shares are identical to the Ordinary Shares included in the Firm Units except the holders (i) shall not be entitled to exercise any redemption rights with respect to such EBC Founder Shares and shall not be entitled to sell any such shares to the Company in any tender offer in connection with a proposed Business Combination or amendment to the Charter Documents (as defined in Section 2.11) relating to pre-Business Combination activity and (ii) will have no right to any liquidation distributions with respect to any portion of the EBC Founder Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period. The holders of the EBC Founder Shares will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate any of the EBC Founder Shares for a period of 180 days pursuant to FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(e)(1) following the effective date of the Registration Statement to anyone other than (i) the Representative or an Underwriter or selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Representative or of any such Underwriter or selected dealer. Additionally, pursuant to FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(e), the EBC Founder Shares will not be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the Registration Statement. The certificates for the EBC Founder Shares (or uncertificated book-entry forms if no certificates are prepared) shall contain legends to reflect the above FINRA and contractual transfer restrictions. The holders of the EBC Founder Shares shall have registration rights as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.5).

 

1.3.3. Simultaneously with the Closing Date, the Sponsor, the Representative and/or their designees will purchase from the Company pursuant to Purchase Agreements (as defined in Section 2.24.2 below), an aggregate of 4,500,000 warrants (the “Private Warrants”), with the Sponsor purchasing 2,312,500 Private Warrants and the Representative and/or its designees purchasing 2,187,500 Private Warrants, at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Warrant in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) intended to be exempt from registration under the Act. The terms of the Private Warrants are as described in the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below). No underwriting discounts, commissions or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Private Placement. The Sponsor and the Representative have also agreed that, in the event the Over-allotment Option is exercised, they and/or their designees will purchase up to 525,000 additional Private Warrants, with the Sponsor purchasing 269,792 Private Warrants and the Representative purchasing 255,208 Private Warrants, and the Company shall cause to be deposited an amount of additional proceeds from the sale of such additional Private Warrants into the Trust Account such that the amount of funds in the Trust Account shall be $10.00 per Public Share sold in the Offering.

 

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1.4. Working Capital; Trust Account Proceeds.

 

1.4.1. Working Capital. Upon consummation of the Offering, it is intended that approximately $450,000 of the proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units and Private Warrants will be released to the Company and held outside of the Trust Account to fund the working capital requirements of the Company.

 

1.4.2. Trust Account Proceeds. Prior to the liquidation of the Trust Account in accordance with the Trust Agreement, interest income on the funds held in the Trust Account may be released to the Company from the Trust Account only in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement to pay any taxes incurred by the Company, up to $1,000,000 per year for working capital needs and up to $1,000,000 for liquidation and dissolution expenses, all as more fully described in the Prospectus.

 

1.5. No Additional Obligations. Following the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, the obligations of the Underwriters with respect to the Offering will be deemed completed and satisfied and the Underwriters are not bound by any further commitment or obligation under this Agreement to (i) offer or sell any securities of the Company or of any prospective target business in a Business Combination, (ii) solicit holders of the Company’s securities or of any target business to approve such Business Combination, or (iii) otherwise assist the Company or any target business in any manner in connection with such Business Combination except as set forth in the Business Combination Marketing Agreement (as defined in Section 2.26 below).

 

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows:

 

2.1. Filing of Registration Statement.

 

2.1.1. Pursuant to the Act. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-______), including any related preliminary prospectus (the “Preliminary Prospectus”, including any prospectus that is included in the registration statement immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement), for the registration of the Public Securities under the Act, which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (the “Regulations”) of the Commission under the Act. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement was declared effective by the Commission (“Effective Date”) (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement,” and the form of the final prospectus dated the Effective Date included in the Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the form of final prospectus containing information permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule 430A of the Regulations, filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Time of Sale,” as used in the Act, means 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on the date of this Agreement. Prior to the Time of Sale, the Company prepared a Preliminary Prospectus, which was included in the Registration Statement filed on ______, 2024, for distribution by the Underwriters (such Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Time of Sale, the “Statutory Prospectus”). Unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include any Registration Statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional securities (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”). Other than the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and the Form 8-A referred to below in Section 2.1.2, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission. All of the Public Securities have been or will be registered under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof. If, subsequent to the date of this Agreement, the Company or the Representative has determined that at the Time of Sale the Statutory Prospectus included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and have agreed to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Firm Units to terminate their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase contracts, then the Statutory Prospectus will be deemed to include any additional information available to purchasers at the time of entry into the first such new purchase contract.

 

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2.1.2. Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001--____) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Units, Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants. The registration of the Units, Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.

 

2.2. No Stop Orders, etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any foreign or state regulatory authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Statutory Prospectus or Prospectus or has instituted or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.

 

2.3. Disclosures in Registration Statement.

 

2.3.1. 10b-5 Representation. At the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or at the effective time of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) and at all times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus contained or will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, and did or will, in all material respects, conform to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations. On the Effective Date and at the Time of Sale, the Registration Statement did not, and on the Closing Date it will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and at the Time of Sale, the Statutory Prospectus does 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representation and warranty made in this Section 2.3.1 does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, which information, it is agreed, shall consist solely of the names of the Underwriters, the eighth, tenth and eleventh paragraphs of the section captioned “Underwriting,” and the subsections titled “Regulatory Restrictions on Purchase of Securities” and “Selling Restrictions” included in the section captioned “Underwriting.”

 

2.3.2. Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in all material respects in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and none of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.

 

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2.3.3. Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s formation, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.

 

2.3.4. Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

2.4. Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.

 

2.4.1. No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or business prospects of the Company; (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) no member of the Company’s board of directors or management has resigned from any position with the Company; and (iv) no event or occurrence has taken place which materially impairs, or would likely materially impair, with the passage of time, the ability of the members of the Company’s board of directors or management to act in their capacities with the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

2.4.2. Recent Securities Transactions, etc. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its shares.

 

2.5. Independent Accountants. Marcum LLP (“Marcum”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants as required by the Act, the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”), including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity. To the Company’s knowledge, Marcum is duly registered and in good standing with the PCAOB. Marcum has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.

 

2.6. Financial Statements; Statistical Data.

 

2.6.1. Financial Statements. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, fairly present in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein in conformity with the Regulations. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus disclose all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, prospects, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements which are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X of the Regulations which have not been included as so required.

 

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2.6.2. Statistical Data. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and/or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

 

2.7. Authorized Capital; Options, etc. The Company had at the date or dates indicated in each of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted share capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued Ordinary Shares or any security convertible into Ordinary Shares, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Ordinary Shares or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.

 

2.8. Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.

 

2.8.1. Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company, including the Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares, have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities 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 outstanding Ordinary Shares, including the Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares, conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. All offers, sales and any transfers of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company, including the Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares, were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws (based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of the Ordinary Shares) or exempt from such registration requirements.

 

2.8.2. Securities To Be Sold.

 

2.8.2.1. The Public Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non- assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; except as may be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Public Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Public Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Public Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be.

 

2.8.2.2. The Private Warrants (and underlying Ordinary Shares) have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with the Purchase Agreements, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Private Warrants are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Private Warrants has been duly and validly taken. The Private Warrants conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be. The offer and sale of the Private Warrants was exempt from the registration requirements of the Act.

 

2.8.3. No Integration. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the Public Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

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2.9. Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, 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.

 

2.10. Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Purchase Agreements, the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, the Services Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.6), the Warrant Agreement (as defined in Section 2.27), the Escrow Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24.7) and the Registration Rights Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, will constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

2.11. No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a breach or violation of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company is a party or bound or to which its property is subject except pursuant to the Trust Agreement; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, as amended (collectively, the “Charter Documents”); or (iii) violate any existing applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, business or assets.

 

2.12. No Defaults; Violations. No material default or violation exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Charter Documents or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses.

 

2.13. Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.

 

2.13.1. Conduct of Business. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business for the purposes described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on the Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since its formation and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Company has conducted no business and has incurred no liabilities other than in connection with its formation and in furtherance of the Offering.

 

2.13.2. Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body, foreign or domestic, is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery, of the Public Securities, Private Warrants, Founder Shares and EBC Founder Shares and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by the Transaction Documents and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus, except with respect to applicable foreign, federal and state securities laws, the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

 

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2.14. D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s officers and directors prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement and provided to the Representative, as such Questionnaires may have been updated from time to time and confirmed by each of the respondents, as well as in the biographies previously provided to the Representative, 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 to become inaccurate and incorrect.

 

2.15. Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Company’s executive officers and directors, that is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and which has not been disclosed therein.

 

2.16. Good Standing. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties 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) (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

2.17. No Contemplation of a Business Combination. The Company does not have any specific Business Combination under consideration and it has not (nor has anyone on its behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any target business (“Target Business”) or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction with the Company.

 

2.18. Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.

 

2.18.1. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “FINRA Questionnaires”) completed by each Company Affiliate (defined below) and provided to the Representative, as such FINRA Questionnaires may have been updated from time to time and confirmed by each of the respondents, is true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the FINRA Questionnaires to become inaccurate and incorrect.

 

2.18.2. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Company Affiliate with respect to the sale of the Public Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Insider that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.

 

2.18.3. Except as described herein or in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration for such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any “participating member,” as defined in FINRA Rule 5110, with respect to the Offering (“Participating Member”); or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any Participating Member, within the one hundred eighty (180)-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission.

 

2.18.4. To the Company’s knowledge, except as set forth in the FINRA Questionnaires, no executive officer or director of the Company or any direct or indirect beneficial owner of 5% or greater of any class of the Company’s securities, excluding the Representative but including the Insiders and holders of securities to be purchased in the Private Placement (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 Participating Member or a person associated or affiliated with a Participating Member.

 

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2.18.5. To the Company’s knowledge, except as set forth in the FINRA Questionnaires, no Company Affiliate is an owner of stock or other securities of any Participating Member (other than securities purchased on the open market).

 

2.18.6. To the Company’s knowledge, except as set forth in the FINRA Questionnaires, no Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any Participating Member.

 

2.18.7. No proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities or Private Warrants (excluding underwriting compensation) will be paid to any Participating Member, or any persons associated or affiliated with a Participating Member, except as specifically authorized herein.

 

2.18.8. Other than the EBC Founder Shares, the Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly to anyone who is a Participating Member within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

2.18.9. To the Company’s knowledge, except as set forth 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 with the Commission has any relationship or affiliation or association with any Participating Member.

 

2.18.10. To the Company’s knowledge, no Participating Member has a conflict of interest (as defined by FINRA rules) with the Company.

 

2.18.11. Except with respect to the Representative in connection with the Offering, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, any consulting agreement or any other type of agreement) during the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission, which arrangement or agreement provides for the receipt of any item of value and/or the transfer or issuance of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Company to a Participating Member, any person associated with a Participating Member, any potential underwriters in the Offering and/or any related persons.

 

2.19. Taxes.

 

2.19.1. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Cayman Islands law, U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Public Securities.

 

2.19.2. The Company has filed all non-U.S. and U.S. federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof, except in any case in which the failure to so file would not have a Material Adverse Effect, 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 or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

2.19.3. Assuming the Company satisfies the “start up exception” (as described in the Registration Statement) to the “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and subject to the discussion of PFICs and other Federal income tax issues set forth in the Registration Statement under the heading “Taxation”, the Company will not be a PFIC for Federal income tax purposes for its initial taxable year ending December 31, 2024.

 

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2.20. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Company’s officers or directors or any other person acting on behalf of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that: (i) would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) or otherwise subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding; (ii) if not done in the past, might reasonably be expected to have had a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) if not continued in the future, might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the assets, business or operations of the Company, including, without limitation, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction). The Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures are sufficient in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established and to comply with the FCPA.

 

2.21. Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the 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 best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

2.22. Bank Secrecy Act; Money Laundering; Patriot Act. Neither the Company, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any Company Affiliate, has violated: (i) the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, (ii) the Money Laundering Laws or (iii) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.

 

2.23. Officer’s Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to its counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

 

2.24. Agreements With Company Affiliates.

 

2.24.1. Insider Letters. The Company has caused to be duly executed legally binding and enforceable agreements (except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification contribution provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought) in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Insider Letters”), pursuant to which each of the Insiders agrees to certain matters, including but not limited to, the voting of the Ordinary Shares held by them and certain other matters described as being agreed to by them under the “Proposed Business” section of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus.

 

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2.24.2. Purchase Agreements. The Sponsor and the Representative have executed and delivered purchase agreements, the forms of which are annexed as exhibits to the Registration Statement (the “Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which the Sponsor and the Representative have agreed, among other things, that they and/or their designees will purchase on the Closing Date the Private Warrants in the Private Placement. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreements, the Sponsor and the Representative have waived any and all rights and claims they may have to any proceeds, and any interest thereon, held in the Trust Account as described in such Purchase Agreements.

 

2.24.3. Non-Competition/Solicitation. To the Company’s knowledge, no executive officer or director of the Company is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect such individual’s ability to be and act in the capacity of a director or executive officer of the Company, as applicable.

 

2.24.4. Loans. The Sponsor has agreed to make loans to the Company in the aggregate amount of up to $150,000, as described in the Registration Statement (the “Insider Loan”). The Insider Loan will not bear any interest and will be repayable by the Company on the consummation of the Offering.

 

2.24.5. Registration Rights Agreement. The Company, the holders of the Founder Share and the holders of the EBC Founder Shares have entered into a registration rights agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby such parties will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to their securities, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement.

 

2.24.6. Services Agreement. The Company has entered into an agreement (“Services Agreement”) with the Sponsor, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which such entity will make available to the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, certain, administrative, operating and other services, including office space, in consideration for payment by the Company of an aggregate of $30,000 per month.

 

2.24.7. Escrow Agreement. The Company has caused the holders of the Founder Shares to enter into an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) with CST&T substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement whereby the Founder Shares will be held in escrow by CST&T for a period of time as described in the Registration Statement (the “Escrow Period”). During the Escrow Period, such parties shall be prohibited from selling or otherwise transferring such Founder Shares, except in certain limited circumstances set forth in the Escrow Agreement. To the Company’s knowledge, the Escrow Agreement is enforceable against the holders of Founder Shares and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, result in a breach of, or conflict with, any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, an agreement or instrument to which the holders of the Founder Shares is a party.

 

2.25. Investment Management Trust Agreement. The Company has entered into the Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the funds held in the Trust Account may be released under limited circumstances. The Trust Agreement shall not be amended, modified or otherwise changed in any way that modifies the rights or obligations of the Company without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

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2.26. Business Combination Marketing Agreement. The Company and the Representative have entered into a separate business combination marketing agreement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Business Combination Marketing Agreement”).

 

2.27. Warrant Agreement. The Company has entered into a warrant agreement with respect to the Warrants, Private Warrants and any other warrants that may be issued by the Company with CST&T substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”).

 

2.28. Investments. No more than 45% of the “value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”)) of the Company’s total assets (exclusive of cash items and “Government Securities,” as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act) consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income after taxes is derived from, securities other than Government Securities.

 

2.29. Investment Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Public Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.

 

2.30. Subsidiaries. The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business entity.

 

2.31. Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or any Company Affiliate, on the one hand, and any director, officer, customer or supplier of the Company or any Company Affiliate, on the other hand, which is required by the Act, the Exchange Act or the Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, which is not so described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the executive officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the 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 executive officer of the Company.

 

2.32. No Influence. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Firm Units to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (a) a customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.

 

2.33. Sarbanes-Oxley. The Company is in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (“SOX”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by any governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency, that are applicable to it as of the date hereof.

 

2.34. NASDAQ Eligibility. As of the Effective Date, the Public Securities have been approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with (as and when applicable), and immediately following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement the Company will be in compliance with, the rules of NASDAQ, as amended.

 

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2.35. Emerging Growth Status. From the date of the Company’s formation through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

 

2.36. Free-Writing Prospectus and Testing-the-Waters. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405. The Company (a) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the- Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act and (b) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications other than its officers and the Representative and individuals engaged by the Representative. The Company has not distributed any written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule B hereto. As used herein, “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.

 

2.37. Disclosure Controls and Procedures. 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).

 

2.38. Definition of “Knowledge”. As used in herein, the term “knowledge of the Company” (or similar language) shall mean the knowledge of the Company’s executive officers and directors, with the assumption that such officers and directors shall have made reasonable and diligent inquiry of the matters presented.

 

3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

 

3.1. Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company will deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and shall not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.

 

3.2. Federal Securities Laws.

 

3.2.1. Compliance. During the time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Public Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Public Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary during such period to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

 

3.2.2. Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will promptly file the Prospectus (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.

 

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3.2.3. Exchange Act Registration. For a period of five years from the Effective Date (except in connection with a going private transaction), or until such earlier time upon which the Trust Account is to be liquidated if a Business Combination has not been consummated as required by its Charter Documents (the “Termination Date”): the Company (i) will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange Act and (ii) will not deregister the Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares or Warrants under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

3.2.4. Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that it will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act.

 

3.2.5. Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. As soon as it is legally required to do so, the Company shall take all actions necessary to obtain and thereafter maintain material compliance with each applicable provision of SOX and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by any other governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency with jurisdiction over the Company.

 

3.3. Emerging Growth Company Status. The Company will promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the earlier of five years after the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination, and the liquidation of the Trust Account if a Business Combination is not consummated by the Termination Date.

 

3.4. Intentionally Omitted.

 

3.5. Delivery of Materials to Underwriters. The Company will deliver to each of the several Underwriters, without charge and from time to time during the period when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act, such number of copies of each Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents as such Underwriters may reasonably request.

 

3.6. Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective and will notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing of the: (i) effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) issuance by any foreign or state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) happening of any event during the period described in this Section 3.6 hereof that, in the judgment of the Company or its counsel, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, (with respect to the Prospectus and the Statutory Prospectus and in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading. If the Commission or any foreign or state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.

 

3.7. Review of Financial Statements. Until the earlier of five years from the Effective Date, or until the liquidation of the Trust Account if a Business Combination is not consummated by the Termination Date, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent certified public accountants 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.

 

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3.8. Affiliated Transactions.

 

3.8.1. Business Combinations. The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with an entity that is affiliated with any Insider unless in each case the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that the Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view and a majority of the Company’s disinterested and independent directors (if there are any) approve such transaction.

 

3.8.2. Compensation. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Company shall not pay any Insider or Company Affiliate or any of their affiliates any fees or compensation for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, either the Offering or the Business Combination.

 

3.9. Intentionally Omitted.

 

3.10. Intentionally Omitted.

 

3.11. Reports to the Representative.

 

3.11.1. Periodic Reports, etc. For a period of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated and dissolved, the Company will furnish or make available to the Representative and its counsel copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish or make available to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission; (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Current Report on Form 8-K and any Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company (other than a Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G filed by or on behalf of the Representative and its designees); (iv) five copies of each registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act; and (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided that the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and its counsel in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this section.

 

3.11.2. For a period of five years following the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and warrant agent reasonably acceptable to the Representative. CST&T is acceptable to the Underwriters.

 

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3.12. Payment of Expenses. The Company hereby agrees to pay for, on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at Closing Date, or such later date as may be agreed to by the Representative in its sole discretion, all fees and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (i) the preparation, printing, filing and mailing (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, and the final Prospectus and mailing of this Agreement and related documents, including the cost of all copies thereof and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the Underwriters in quantities as may be required by the Underwriters; (ii) the printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants included in the Units, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon; (iii) NASDAQ filing fees or, if necessary, the qualification of the Public Securities under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws; (iv) fees and expenses incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA (including legal fees of the Representative’s counsel, not to exceed $15,000); (v) fees and disbursements of the transfer and warrant agent; (vi) all costs and expenses of the Company associated with “road show” marketing and “due diligence” trips for the Company’s management to meet with prospective investors, including without limitation, all travel, food and lodging expenses associated with such trips incurred by the Company or such management; and (vii) all other costs and expenses customarily borne by an issuer incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 3.12. The Company also agrees that it will pay up to $3,500 per individual for an investigative search firm of the Representative’s choice to conduct an investigation of the principals of the Company as shall be mutually selected by the Representative and the Company. If the Offering is consummated, the Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date the expenses set forth above (which shall be mutually agreed upon between the Company and the Representative prior to the Closing Date) to be paid by the Company to the Representative and others. If the Offering is not consummated for any reason (other than a breach by the Representative of any of its obligations hereunder), then the Company shall reimburse the Representative in full for its out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred through such date, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Representative.

 

3.13. Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner substantially consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.

 

3.14. Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the sixteenth full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.

 

3.15. Notice to FINRA.

 

3.15.1. Assistance with Business Combination. For a period of sixty (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 Business Combination candidate or to provide any similar Business Combination-related services, the Company will provide the following information (the “Business Combination Information”) to the Representative: (i) complete details of all services and copies of agreements governing such services (which details or agreements may be appropriately redacted to account for privilege or confidentiality concerns); and (ii) justification as to why the person or entity providing the Business Combination-related services should not be considered an “underwriter and related person” with respect to the Company’s initial public offering, as such term is defined in Rule 5110 of FINRA’s Conduct Rules. The Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the proxy statement which the Company will file for purposes of soliciting shareholder approval for the Business Combination. Upon the Company’s delivery of the Business Combination Information to the Representative, the Company hereby expressly authorizes the Representative to provide such information directly to FINRA as a result of representations the Representative have made to FINRA in connection with the Offering.

 

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3.15.2. Broker/Dealer. In the event the Company intends to register as a broker/dealer, merge with or acquire a registered broker/dealer, or otherwise become a member of FINRA, it shall promptly notify the Representative.

 

3.16. Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, officers, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.

 

3.17. Internal Controls. From and after the Closing Date, the Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

3.18. Accountants. For a period of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Trust Account is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain Marcum or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Representative.

 

3.19. Form 8-Ks. The Company has retained Marcum 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 and the Private Placement. Within four (4) Business Days of the Closing Date, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Balance Sheet. If the Over-Allotment Option has not been exercised on the Effective Date, the Company will also file an amendment to the Form 8-K, or a new Form 8-K, to provide updated financial information of the Company to reflect the exercise and consummation of the Over-Allotment Option.

 

3.20. FINRA. Until the Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall advise the Representative if it is aware that any 10% or greater shareholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the distribution of the Public Securities.

 

3.21. Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been done to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel for the Underwriters.

 

3.22. Investment Company. The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only as set forth in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Company will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it will be engaged in a business other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.

 

3.23. Press Releases. The Company agrees that it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), for a period of twenty-five (25) days after the Closing Date; provided that in no event shall the Company be prohibited from issuing any press release or engaging in any other publicity required by law.

 

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3.24. Electronic Prospectus. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Representative, at its expense, promptly, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days from the effective date of this Agreement, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “Electronic Prospectus” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the other Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Ordinary Shares for at least the period during which a Prospectus relating to the Ordinary Shares is required to be delivered under the Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative within the period when a prospectus relating to the Ordinary Shares is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Prospectus.

 

3.25. Future Financings. The Company agrees that neither it, nor any successor or subsidiary of the Company, will consummate any public or private equity or debt financing prior to or in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, unless all investors in such financing expressly waive, in writing, any rights in or claims against the Trust Account.

 

3.26. NASDAQ Maintenance. Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing by NASDAQ of the Units and the Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants included within the Units.

 

3.27. Private Placement Proceeds. On the Closing Date, the Company shall cause to be deposited $4,500,000 of proceeds from the Private Placement into the Trust Account. On the Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall cause to be deposited an amount of additional proceeds from the additional Private Warrants sold on the Option Closing Date into the Trust Account such that the amount of funds in the Trust Account shall be $10.00 per Public Share sold in the Offering.

 

3.28. Reservation of Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable pursuant to the Warrants and Private Warrants (as well as any other warrants that may be issued and covered by the Warrant Agreement) outstanding from time to time.

 

3.29. Testing-the-Waters Communications. 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 existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly (i) notify the Representative 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 Representative in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.

 

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3.30. Rights of First Refusal.

 

3.30.1. The Representative is hereby granted a right of first refusal for a period commencing on the consummation of the Offering and continuing until the earlier of the consummation of an initial Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust Account in the event that the Company fails to consummate an initial Business Combination within the prescribed time period (but in no event longer than three years from the consummation of the Offering), to act as book running manager, placement agent and/or arranger (with the Representative on the cover page of any offering materials related to such financing and holding the role and responsibilities conventionally understood to be associated with such name placement, including, without limitation, billing, directory and stabilization), as the case may be, for all financings where the Company seeks to raise equity, equity-linked, debt or mezzanine financings relating to or in connection with a Business Combination. The fees in any and all such financings shall be mutually determined in good faith by the Company and the Representative and based on the prevailing market for similar transactions.

 

3.30.2. For a period commencing on the consummation of the Offering and continuing until one year after the consummation of the Business Combination, the Representative shall have the right to act as lead underwriter for the next U.S.-registered public offering of securities undertaken by any of the Insiders for the purpose of raising capital and placing 90% or more of the proceeds in a trust (or similar) account to be used to acquire one or more operating businesses which have not been identified at the time of the capital raising transaction. The terms of such offering shall be mutually determined in good faith by the applicable Insider(s) and the Representative and will be based on the prevailing market for similar offerings.

 

3.31. Business Combination Securities Disclosure Documents. The Company agrees that at the time of any applicable offer, issuance or distribution of any securities by any person in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination (the “Business Combination Securities”), no registration statement, preliminary or final prospectus, proxy statement, tender offer document or offering memorandum, including, without limitation, any document incorporated by reference into any of the foregoing, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or any other marketing document used by the Company or any Registrant (as defined below) or filed with or furnished to the Commission in connection with the Business Combination (each a “Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document”), in each case relating to such offer, issuance or distribution, will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading. The Company further represents and warrants that any projections or other information provided by any Registrant (as defined below) or its representatives to the Representative or contained in any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document will have been prepared in good faith and will be based upon assumptions which, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, are reasonable. In the event that the Representative resigns from its role or roles in connection with the Business Combination (if any), the Company shall include disclosure regarding such resignation in any registration statement, statutory prospectus, prospectus and proxy statement filed subsequent to such resignation in connection with the Business Combination, provide such Representative with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment thereon and give reasonable consideration to any comments made by such Representative and its representatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Representative to limit its rights to compensation or to reimbursement of expenses without its express agreement or otherwise to assume any liability other than as may be expressly required under the Securities Act.

 

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3.32. Obligations in Connection with Business Combination. If requested by the Representative:

 

3.32.1. Prior to and after entering into any definitive agreement with respect to the Business Combination and until such time as such Business Combination is consummated:

 

  a. The Company will furnish or arrange to have furnished to the Representative all information concerning the Company, the target business of such proposed Business Combination, any entity that succeeds or will succeed the Company as a public company in connection with the Business Combination, or any direct or indirect parent or subsidiary of any of them (any such issuer or co- issuer, a “Registrant”) and the proposed Business Combination that the Representative deems appropriate and will provide the Representative with reasonable access to the officers, directors, employees, affiliates, appraisers, independent accountants, financial advisors, legal counsel and other agents, consultants and advisors (“Registrant Representatives”) and properties of any Registrant, during normal business hours, as requested by the Representative. The Company shall take all reasonable steps requested by the Representative to ensure that each Registrant and each of the Registrant Representatives cooperate fully with all reasonable requests by the Representative for such information and access.
     
  b. The Company agrees to notify the Representative with respect to, and to permit the Representative, at its request, to participate in all diligence sessions with any Registrant or its Registrant Representatives.
     
  c. The Company shall provide drafts of all Business Combination Securities Disclosure Documents to the Representative and its legal counsel reasonably in advance of the filing of any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document with the Commission or the circulation of any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document to any prospective investor, sufficient to allow the Representative and its legal counsel a reasonable time to request changes determined by them to be necessary or appropriate to such Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document before its filing or circulation. The Company shall not permit the filing with or furnishing to the Commission of any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Documents, in each case relating to the issuance of Business Combination Securities, without the prior written consent of the Representative, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, delayed or conditioned.

 

3.32.2. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, in connection with any Business Combination, the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to (i) require counsel to the Company and the Registrant to provide negative assurance letters to the Representative as of the consummation of the Business Combination in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, (ii) require the accounting firm or firms that have audited any financial statements set forth in any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document to provide “comfort letters” to the Representative pursuant to AU 634 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as of the effectiveness of any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document that was filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission, and as of the consummation of the Business Combination, and (iii) take any other actions reasonably requested by the Representative. The Company agrees that it shall be responsible for the payment of all costs associated therewith and shall promptly reimburse the Representative for up to $150,000 of the out-of-pocket costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Representative in connection with the foregoing, including the cost of any counsel retained by the Representative as it may deem necessary or desirable.

 

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3.32.3. In connection with the Business Combination, the Company will retain a firm (“the Fairness Opinion Provider”) to prepare a report and provide an opinion (the “Fairness Opinion”) concerning the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Business Combination to the Company and its unaffiliated shareholders based upon, among other things, a financial review of the target business in the Business Combination (“Target Business”) and its business and operations, the Company shall disclose in reasonable detail in a Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document the results of that report and, as necessary or appropriate, shall include therein a copy of that report. Each Registrant shall provide the Fairness Opinion Provider with all information and access to persons and documents that the Fairness Opinion Provider deems reasonably necessary and appropriate in connection with the preparation of its Fairness Opinion.

 

3.32.4. In connection with the Business Combination, the Company will engage an investigative search firm to conduct an investigation of the directors and executive officers of the Target Business, the Company shall provide copies of the search reports to the Representative.

 

3.32.5. Prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, if the Business Combination does not directly or indirectly provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations hereunder and the Company is not and will not be the surviving public company of such Business Combination, the Company shall ensure that each Target Business or other Registrant agrees to execute and deliver to the Representative a joinder agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative (such satisfaction not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), pursuant to which it shall join this Agreement as a signatory and a party and thus to be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement that remain in full force and effect after consummation of the Business Combination. In addition, in connection with the Business Combination, the Company will, and will use all reasonable efforts to cause each Registrant to, comply with the obligations and covenants of the Company set forth in this Agreement that then remain in full force and effect and comply in all material respects with all laws, rules and regulations applicable either to any Registrant and its business activities or to the Business Combination, as such laws, rules and regulations may be in effect at the time of the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

3.32.6. To the extent that the Representative determines, in its sole judgment, that the Underwriters are required to make any filing with FINRA other than in connection with the Offering (as referred to in Section 3.12(iv)) or otherwise to comply with FINRA rules in connection with the Business Combination, the Company shall, upon the reasonable request of the Underwriters accompanied by a reasonable explanation of the applicable requirement(s), provide all necessary cooperation to the Representative and shall provide or cause to be provided to the Representative all information that the Representative deems necessary in order to make any such filings and in order to comply with FINRA rules. The Company shall be responsible for the fees and expenses of the Representative in connection with such filings, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel up to $15,000 and all filing fees associated therewith.

 

3.32.7. The Company acknowledges and agrees that, except as required by the Business Combination Marketing Agreement, nothing in this Section 3.32 shall be interpreted to obligate the Underwriters to take any action, or to refrain from taking any action, in connection with the Business Combination and any such actions will be undertaken by each Underwriter, in respect of itself, in its sole discretion and may be governed by a separate, definitive written agreement between such Underwriter and the Company or another Registrant as such parties may mutually agree.

 

4. Conditions.

 

4.1. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Public Securities, as provided herein, shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following conditions:

 

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4.1.1. Regulatory Matters.

 

4.1.1.1. Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representative, and, at the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for the purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with.

 

4.1.1.2. FINRA Clearance. By the Effective Date, the Representative shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.

 

4.1.1.3. No Commission Stop Order. At the Closing Date, the Commission has not issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any part thereof, and has not instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.

 

4.1.1.4. NASDAQ Listing. The Public Securities shall have been approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.

 

4.1.2. Company Counsel Matters.

 

4.1.2.1. Opinions of Company Counsel. On each of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions (along with negative assurance letters) of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Travers Thorp Alberga, counsels to the Company, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form mutually agreed to by the Company and the Representative.

 

4.1.2.2. Reliance. In rendering such opinions, such counsels may rely: (i) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsels deem proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representative, familiar with the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdiction having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to the Underwriters’ counsel if requested. The opinions of counsels for the Company and any opinion relied upon by such counsel for the Company shall include a statement to the effect that it may be relied upon by counsel for the Underwriters in its opinion delivered to the Underwriters.

 

4.1.3. Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects (including the non-material nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below) to the Representative from Marcum dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any:

 

(i) Confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable Regulations and that they have not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act;

 

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(ii) Stating that in their opinion the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published Regulations thereunder;

 

(iii) Stating that, on the basis of a limited review which included a reading of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements of the Company (with an indication of the date of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements), a reading of the latest available minutes of the shareholders and board of directors and the various committees of the board of directors, consultations with officers and other employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that: (a) the unaudited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Regulations or are not fairly presented in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus; or (b) at a date immediately prior to the Effective Date or Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any change in the capital stock or long- term debt of the Company, or any decrease in the shareholders’ equity of the Company as compared with amounts shown in the March 31, 2024 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease, and (c) during the period from March 31, 2024 to a specified date immediately prior to the Effective Date or Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any changes in revenues, net earnings (losses), or net earnings (losses) per share, in each case as compared with the Statement of Operations for the period from March 7, 2024 (Inception) to March 31, 2024 included in the Registration Statement, or, if there was any such change, setting forth the amount of such change;

 

(iv) Stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the Registration Statement in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) set forth in the letter and found them to be in agreement; and

 

(v) Statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

4.1.4. Officers’ Certificates.

 

4.1.4.1. Officers’ Certificate. As of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chairman of the Board or President (in their capacities as such), respectively, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date and that the conditions set forth in Section 4 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

4.1.4.2. Secretary’s Certificate. As of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary of the Company, respectively, certifying: (i) that the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; (iv) all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and NASDAQ; and (v) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.

 

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4.1.5. No Material Changes. Prior to each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus; (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Company Affiliate before or by any court or foreign, federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act against the Company and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, and none of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.

 

4.1.6. Delivery of Agreements. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Transaction Documents.

 

4.1.7. Private Warrants. On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Private Warrants have been purchased as provided for in the Purchase Agreements and a portion of the purchase price for such securities shall be deposited into the Trust Account.

 

5. Indemnification.

 

5.1. Indemnification of Underwriters.

 

5.1.1. General. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each of its directors, officers, partners and employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter (a “Controlling Person”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, 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, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriters and the Company or between any of the Underwriters and any third party or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other foreign, federal, state or local statute, law, rule, regulation or ordinance or at common law or otherwise or under the laws, rules and regulations of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained or included in, or an omission or an alleged omission to state a material fact in, (i) the Registration Statement or any amendments or supplements thereto, required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) (A) any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5 collectively called “application”) executed by the Company (or based upon written information furnished by the Company for use in such application) specifically for the purpose of qualifying the Public Securities under the securities laws of any jurisdiction, necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), other than statements contained or included therein under the section captioned “Underwriting—Selling Restrictions”; or (iii) any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereof), or in any application or Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter specifically for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereof), or in any application or Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document, as the case may be, which furnished written information, it is expressly agreed, consists solely of the information described in the proviso of the last sentence of Section 2.3.1 with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement and Prospectus. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Public Securities to such person as required by the Act and the Regulations, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or controlling persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Public Securities or in connection with the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any Business Combination Securities Disclosure Document.

 

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5.1.2. Procedure. If any action is brought against an Underwriter or Controlling Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 5.1.1, such Underwriter shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of such Underwriter or Controlling Person, as applicable) and payment of actual expenses. Such Underwriter or Controlling Person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such Controlling Person unless: (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action; (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action; or (iii) counsel to such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by such Underwriter and/or Controlling Person shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any such Underwriter or Controlling Person shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

5.2. Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, officers, and employees and agents who control the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to such Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in such Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any such application, which furnished written information, it is expressly agreed, consists solely of the information described in the proviso of the last sentence of Section 2.3.1. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters by the provisions of Section 5.1.2.

 

5.3. Contribution.

 

5.3.1. Contribution Rights. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled to indemnification under this Section 5 makes a claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 5 provides for indemnification in such case; or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5 but is unavailable, then, and in each such case, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Underwriters, as incurred, in such proportions that the Underwriters are responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial offering price appearing thereon and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a 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. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.3.1, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Public Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay in respect of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer and employee of an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriters or the Company, as applicable.

 

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5.3.2. Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen (15) days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representatives) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“contributing party”), notify the contributing party of the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the contributing party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a contributing party or its representatives of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen (15) days, the contributing party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other contributing party similarly notified. Any such contributing party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such contributing party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5.3 are several and not joint.

 

6. Default by an Underwriter.

 

6.1. Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Units. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Units and if the number of the Firm Units with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Units that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Units to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.

 

6.2. Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Units. In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 above relates to more than 10% of the Firm Units, the Representative may, in its discretion, arrange for it or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Units to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Units the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to the Representative to purchase said Firm Units on such terms. In the event that neither the Representative nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.12 and 5 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other several Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

 

6.3. Postponement of Closing Date. In the event that the Firm Units to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to, or to supplement, the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such securities.

 

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7. Additional Covenants.

 

7.1. Additional Shares or Options. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Company hereby agrees that until the Company consummates a Business Combination, it shall not issue any Ordinary Shares or any options or other securities convertible into Ordinary Shares or any preferred shares which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote on a Business Combination.

 

7.2. Trust Account Waiver Acknowledgments. The Company hereby agrees that, prior to commencing its due diligence investigation of any Target Business or obtaining the services of any vendor, it will use its reasonable best efforts to have such Target Business or vendor acknowledge in writing, whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that (a) it has read the Prospectus, and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $175,000,000 for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Shareholders in the event of the redemption of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Charter relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Shareholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iii) to the Company and others concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination, and (b) for and in consideration of the Company (1) agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it or (2) agreeing to engage the services of the vendor, as the case may be, such Target Business or vendor agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies of the Trust Account, including any monies distributed by the Company to Public Shareholders from the Trust Account in connection with liquidation or business combination (“Claim”) and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The foregoing letters shall substantially be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and B, respectively.

 

7.3. Insider Letters. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of any of the Insider Letters executed between each Company Affiliate and the Representative and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, such Insider Letters without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

7.4. Rule 419. The Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the Act prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, including, but not limited to, using its best efforts to prevent any of the Company’s outstanding securities from being deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a-51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.

 

7.5. Target Fair Market Value. The Company agrees that the Target Business that it acquires must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (excluding any taxes) at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the Business Combination with such Target Business. The fair market value of such business must be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and book value. If the Board of Directors of the Company is not able to independently determine that the target business meets such fair market value requirement, the Company will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions. The Company is not required to obtain such an opinion as to the fair market value if the Company’s Board of Directors independently determines that the Target Business does have sufficient fair market value.

 

8. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. Except as the context otherwise requires, all representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements at the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as applicable, and such representations, warranties and agreements of the Underwriters and Company, including the indemnity agreements contained in Section 5 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any controlling person, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Public Securities to the several Underwriters until the earlier of the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations and the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Closing Date, at which time the representations, warranties and agreements shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.

 

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9. Effective Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof.

 

9.1. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date at the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.

 

9.2. Termination. The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date: (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted or, in the Representative’s sole opinion, will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, NASDAQ or on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor trading market) shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required on the OTC Bulletin Board or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a war or an increase in existing major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities market, or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s sole opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Firm Units, (vii) if any of the Company’s representations, warranties or covenants hereunder are breached, or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities or any other calamity or crisis either within or outside the United States after the date hereof, or any increase in any of the foregoing, as in the Representative’s sole judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Firm Units or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Firm Units.

 

9.3. Expenses. In the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the obligations of the Company to pay the out of pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 3.12 hereof.

 

9.4. Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way effected by, such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.

 

29

 

 

10. Miscellaneous.

 

10.1. Notices. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed by certified mail (with return receipt), delivered by hand or reputable overnight courier, delivered by facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed, or by electronic transmission via PDF and shall be deemed given when so mailed, delivered, or faxed or transmitted (or if mailed, five days after such mailing):

 

If to the Representative:

 

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

366 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Fax No.: (212) 661-4936

Attn: Investment Banking Department

Email: slevine@ebcap.com

 

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue, 44th Floor

New York, New York 10174

Fax No.: (212) 818-8881

Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.; Jeffrey M. Gallant, Esq.

Email: dmiller@graubard.com; jgallant@graubard.com

 

If to the Company, to:

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

850 Liberty Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, Delaware 19711

Attn:

Email:

 

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Greenberg Traurig LLP

1750 Tysons Blvd., Suite 1000

McLean, Virginia 22102

Attn: Jason Simin, Esq.

Email: Jason.Simon@gtlaw.com

 

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10.2. Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

 

10.3. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

10.4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

10.5. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained.

 

10.6. Governing Law, Venue, etc.

 

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to conflict of laws.

 

In the event of any dispute under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a failure by the Company to pay any fees to the Underwriters, and/or then and in such event, each party hereto agrees that the dispute shall either be (i) resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) or (ii) brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York, County of New York under the accelerated adjudication procedures of the Commercial Division, or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in each event at the discretion of the party initiating the dispute. Once a party files a dispute (if arbitration, by sending JAMS a Demand for Arbitration) or commences an action in one of the above forums, the parties agree that all issues regarding such dispute or this Agreement must be resolved before such forum rather than seeking to resolve it through another alternative forum set forth above.

 

In the event the dispute is brought before the AAA, the arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel. Each of the parties agrees that the decision and/or award made by the arbitrators shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. Furthermore, the parties to any such arbitration shall be entitled to make one motion for summary judgment within 60 days of the commencement of the arbitration, which shall be decided by the arbitrator[s] prior to the commencement of the hearings. The prevailing party shall move to confirm any arbitration award within ten (10) business days of receipt of the award and the losing party shall not oppose such application or seek to vacate the award.

 

In the event the dispute is brought by a party in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, each party irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. Each party hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process, summons and/or complaint to be served upon a party may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by Federal Express or other overnight courier, addressed to such party at the address set forth at the beginning of this Agreement. Such delivery shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the party being served in any action, proceeding or claim. The parties agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in such action, proceeding or arbitration.

 

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In the alternative, the Company hereby appoints Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 1750 Tysons Blvd., Suite 1000, McLean, Virginia 22102, Attn: Jason Simon, Esq., as its agent to accept and acknowledge on its behalf service of any and all process which may be served in any arbitration, action, proceeding or counterclaim in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement. The Company further agrees to (i) take any and all action as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect for a period of seven years from the date of this Agreement or (ii) notify the Representative in writing of the name and address of a replacement agent in the United States to accept service of process and any other documents on the Company’s behalf.

 

THE COMPANY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS.

 

10.7. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by fax or email/.pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.

 

10.8. Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non- compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

 

10.9. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the offering of the Public Securities. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the offering of the Public Securities, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Public Securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

 

  Very Truly Yours,
   
  TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:                                 
  Name:   
  Title:  

 

Agreed to and accepted

as of the date first written above:

EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC., as Representative of the several Underwriters

 

By:    
Name:     
Title:    

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement, dated _______, 2024]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.

17,500,000 Units

 

Underwriter  Number of
Firm Units
to be
Purchased
 
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.                 
      
TOTAL   17,500,000 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE B

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

Form of Target Business Letter

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), dated _________, 2024 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $175,000,000, for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Shareholders in the event of the redemption of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Shareholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iii) to the Company concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination.

 

For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to evaluate the undersigned for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account including any monies distributed by the Company to Public Shareholders from the Trust Account (each, a “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

   
  Print Name of Target Business
   
   
  Authorized Signature of Target Business

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

Form of Vendor Letter

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), dated ______, 2024 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $175,000,000, for the benefit of the Public Shareholders and that, except for the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Shareholders in the event of the redemption of their shares upon consummation of a Business Combination or amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to pre-Business Combination activity, (ii) to the Public Shareholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation in the event the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period or (iii) to the Company concurrently with, or after it consummates a Business Combination.

 

For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to use the services of the undersigned, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account including any monies distributed by the Company to Public Shareholders from the Trust Account (each, a “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

   
  Print Name of Vendor
   
   
  Authorized Signature of Vendor

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

NUMBER

 

U-__________

      UNITS
         
SEE REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
  TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.    

 

CUSIP [●]

 

UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE-HALF OF ONE ORDINARY SHARE, ONE-HALF OF ONE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARE AND ONE-HALF OF ONE WARRANT

 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT____________________________________________________________________is the owner of_____________________________________________________________________ Units. Each Unit (“Unit”) consists of one-half of one (1) ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Share”), of Tavia Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), one-half of one (1) convertible preferred share, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Share”), and one-half of one (1) warrant (“Warrant”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Ordinary Share for $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). Each whole Warrant will become exercisable 30 days after the Company’s completion of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, or reorganization or engaging in any other similar initial business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”) and will expire unless exercised before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the fifth anniversary of the Company’s completion of an initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. The Ordinary Share(s), Preferred Share(s) and Warrant(s) comprising the Unit(s) represented by this certificate are not transferable separately until 90 days following the date of the final prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”), unless the underwriters inform the Company of their decision to allow earlier separate trading, except that in no event will the Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares and Warrants be separately tradeable until the Company has filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of its IPO and issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. The terms of the Warrants are governed by a Warrant Agreement, dated as of [•], 2024, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and are subject to the terms and provisions contained therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, and are available to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost.

 

This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company.

 

Witness the facsimile signature of a director of the Company.

 

By:      
       
  Chief Executive Officer   Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of each class of shares 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  
TEN ENT – as tenants by the entireties     (Cust) (Minor)
JT TEN – as joint tenants with right of survivorship     under Uniform Gifts to Minors
  and not as tenants in common   Act  
        (State)  

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

For value received, ___________________________ hereby sells, assigns, and transfers unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER

IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

   

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
 
 
 
 
Units represented by the within Certificate, and 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 whatever.

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION  
(BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH
MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM,
PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15).

 

In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated [•], 2024, 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 ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial business combination within the period of time set forth in, or such later time as the shareholders of the Company may approve in accordance with, the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time, (ii) the Company redeems the ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide for the redemption of ordinary shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the ordinary shares if it does not consummate an initial business combination within the time period set forth therein (or such later time as the shareholders of the Company may approve), or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective ordinary shares in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks shareholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

SPECIMEN ORDINARY SHARE CERTIFICATE 

 

NUMBER   SHARES
     
     

 

tavia acquisition corp.

 

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

 

ORDINARY SHARES

 

  SEE REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

This Certifies that CUSIP [●]
   
is the owner of  

 

 

 

 

FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE ORDINARY SHARES OF THE PAR VALUE OF US $0.0001

 

tavia acquisition corp. (the “company”)

 

transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed.

The Company will be forced to liquidate and redeem all of the ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering if it is unable to complete an initial business combination within the time period set forth in, or such later time as the shareholders of the Company may approve in accordance with, the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time, all as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated [●], 2024.

This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.

Witness the facsimile signature of a director of the Company.

 

Dated: [●], 2024

 

 
Chief Executive Officer Cayman Islands Chief Financial Officer

 

2

 

 

tavia acquisition corp.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of each class of shares or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences, and/or rights. This certificate and the shares represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Company’s board of directors providing for the issue of ordinary shares (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company), to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM – as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - _____ Custodian ______
TEN ENT – as tenants by the entireties (Cust)                  (Minor)
JT TEN – as joint tenants with right of survivorship under Uniform Gifts to Minors
  and not as tenants in common Act _______________
    (State)

 

Additional Abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

3

 

 

For value received, ___________________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER

IDENTIFYING NUMBER(S) OF ASSIGNEE(S)

 

 
   

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
 
 
 
 
shares represented by the within Certificate, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
  Attorney
to transfer the said shares on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premise

 

Dated        
      Shareholder  

 

   
  Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

By:  
   
   

 

   

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION
(BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH
MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT
TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15).

 

In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated [●], 2024, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established in connection with its initial public offering only in the event (i) the Company redeems the ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not complete an initial business combination within the period of time set forth in, or such later time as the shareholders of the Company may approve in accordance with, the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, (ii) the Company redeems the ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the ordinary shares if it does not complete an initial business combination within the time period set forth therein (or such later time as the shareholders of the Company may approve) or (b) with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of holders of the Company’s ordinary shares or pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective ordinary shares in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks shareholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

 

4

 

Exhibit 4.3

 

SPECIMEN CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARE CERTIFICATE 

 

NUMBER

___________

  SHARES

 

tavia acquisition corp.

 

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

 

CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHAREs

 

 

 

SEE REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

This Certifies that CUSIP [●]
   
is the owner of  

 

FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES OF THE PAR VALUE OF US $0.0001

 

tavia acquisition corp. (the “company”)

 

transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed.
The Company will be forced to liquidate and redeem all of the convertible preferred shares sold in its initial public offering if it is unable to complete an initial business combination within the time period set forth in, or such later time as the shareholders of the Company may approve in accordance with, the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time, all as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated [●], 2024.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.
Witness the facsimile signature of a director of the Company.

 

Dated: [●], 2024

   

 

 

   
  Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer  
    Cayman Islands  

 

 

 

 

tavia acquisition corp.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of each class of shares or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences, and/or rights. This certificate and the shares represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Company’s board of directors providing for the issue of convertible preferred shares (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company), to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM – as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - _____ Custodian ______
TEN ENT – as tenants by the entireties (Cust)                  (Minor)
JT TEN – as joint tenants with right of survivorship under Uniform Gifts to Minors
  and not as tenants in common Act _______________
    (State)

 

Additional Abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

2

 

 

For value received, ___________________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER(S) OF ASSIGNEE(S)
 
   
   

 

 
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES), INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE(S)
 
 
 

shares represented by the within Certificate, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

  Attorney

to transfer the said shares on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated   _______________________________________

Shareholder

 

   
  Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

By:

 

________________________________

 

________________________________

 
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15).

 

In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated [●], 2024, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established in connection with its initial public offering only in the event (i) the Company redeems the convertible preferred shares sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not complete an initial business combination within the period of time set forth in, or such later time as the shareholders of the Company may approve in accordance with, the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, (ii) the Company redeems the convertible preferred shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the convertible preferred shares if it does not complete an initial business combination within the time period set forth therein (or such later time as the shareholders of the Company may approve) or (b) with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of holders of the Company’s convertible preferred shares or pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective convertible preferred shares in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks shareholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

 

 

3

 

 

Exhibit 4.4

 

SPECIMEN WARRANT CERTIFICATE

 

[FACE]

 

Number Warrants

 

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

 

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.

Incorporated Under the Laws of the Cayman Islands

 

CUSIP [●]

 

Warrant Certificate

 

This Warrant Certificate certifies that [●], or registered assigns, is the registered holder of [●] warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value (“Ordinary Shares”), of Tavia Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and nonassessable Ordinary Shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Each Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Share. Fractional shares shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Warrant holder. The number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The initial Exercise Price per one Ordinary Share for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

1

 

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement. This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

  TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name:                              
  Title:  
     
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, AS WARRANT AGENT
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

2

 

 

[REVERSE]

 

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive [●] Ordinary Shares and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of [●], 2024 (the “Warrant Agreement”), entered into by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the registered holders or registered holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Ordinary Shares is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

 

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the registered holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the registered holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.

 

3

 

 

Election to Purchase

 

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive [●] Ordinary Shares and herewith tenders payment for such Ordinary Shares to the order of Tavia Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) in the amount of $[●] in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [●], whose address is [●] and that such Ordinary Shares be delivered to [●] whose address is [●]. If said [●] number of Ordinary Shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [●], whose address is [●]and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [●], whose address is [●].

 

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) 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 Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement through cashless exercise, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for will be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and 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 Ordinary Shares. If said number of shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of [●], whose address is [●] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [●], whose address is [●].

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

4

 

 

Date: [●], 20[●]

 

   
  (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 S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).

 

 

5

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 
   
 

 

Our Ref: T0865  
E-mail: cbuchan@traversthorpalberga.com  
     
By Email 9 July, 2024

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

Harbour Place

P.O. Box 472

103 South Church Street

Grand Cayman KY1-1106

Cayman Islands

 

Dear Sirs,

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

 

We are Attorneys-at-Law admitted to practice in the Cayman Islands. We act as Cayman Islands law counsel to Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, including all amendments and supplements thereto, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) (including its exhibits, the “Registration Statement”) for the purposes of registering with the Commission under the 1933 Act the offering and sale to the public of:

 

(a)up to 20,125,000 units (including units consisting of one-half of one ordinary share and one-half of one preference share and one-half of one warrant, which the underwriters (“Underwriters”), for whom EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. is acting as representative, have a 45-day option to purchase from the Company to cover over-allotments, if any) (“Units”) at an offering price of US$10 per Unit, each Unit consisting of:

 

(i)one-half of one ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 of the Company (“Ordinary Shares”);

 

(ii)one-half of one preference share of a par value of US$0.0001 each of the Company (“Preference Shares”);

 

(iii)one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant exercisable to purchase one-half of one Ordinary Share at a price of US$11.50 per Ordinary Share (“Warrants”); and

 

(b)all Ordinary Shares and Preference Shares and Warrants issued as part of the Units.

 

 

 

 

The following opinion is given in accordance with the terms of the Legal Matters section of the Registration Statement. The opinion is based on circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion. This opinion only relates to the laws of the Cayman Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion.

 

DOCUMENTS REVIEWED

 

We have reviewed originals, copies or conformed copies of the documents listed in Schedule 1 to this opinion. Save as aforesaid we have not been instructed to undertake and have not undertaken any further enquiry or due diligence in relation to the transactions the subject of this opinion letter.

 

ASSUMPTIONS

 

In giving this opinion, we have relied upon the assumptions set out in Schedule 2 and elsewhere in this opinion, which we have not independently verified. In giving the following opinions, we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy, as at the date of this opinion letter, of the Director’s Certificate and the Certificate of Good Standing.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

The opinions expressed below are subject to the qualifications set out in Schedule 3 to this opinion.

 

OPINIONS

 

Based upon, and subject to, the assumptions and qualifications in this opinion, and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar of Companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

2.The Ordinary Shares and the Preference Shares to be offered and issued by the Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement (including the issuance of the Ordinary Shares upon (1) the conversion of the Preference Shares and (2) the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Documents) have been duly authorised for issue, and when issued by the Company against payment in full of the consideration set out in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the terms set out in the Registration Statement (including the issuance of the Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Documents) such Ordinary Shares and Preference Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a share is only issued when it has been entered in the register of members.

 

3.The execution, delivery and performance of the Unit Certificate and the Warrant Documents have been authorised by and on behalf of the Company and, once the Unit Certificate and the Warrant Documents have been executed and delivered by any director or officer of the Company, the Unit Certificate and the Warrant Documents will be duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

2

 

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to references to or firm in the prospectus include in the Registration Statement in providing our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

This opinion letter is addressed to you and may be relied upon by you, your counsel and purchasers of Units pursuant to the Registration Statement. This opinion letter is limited to matters detailed herein and is not to be read as an opinion with respect to any other matter.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

/s/ TRAVERS THORP ALBERGA

 

TRAVERS THORP ALBERGA

 

3

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

List of Documents Reviewed

 

We have reviewed originals, copies, drafts or conformed copies of the following documents:

 

1.The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated 7 March 2024.

 

2.A draft of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company draft dated 9 July, 2024.

 

3.The register of the directors of the Company.

 

4.The written resolutions of the directors of the Company dated 7 March, 2024 and the corporate records of the Company maintained at its registered office in the Cayman Islands.

 

5.A certificate of good standing in respect of the Company issued by the Registrar of Companies dated 8 July, 2024 (the “Certificate of Good Standing”).

 

6.A certificate from a director of the Company, a copy of which is attached to this opinion letter (the “Director’s Certificate”).

 

7.The Registration Statement.

 

8.A draft of the form of the unit certificate representing the Units (the “Unit Certificate”).

 

9.A draft of the form of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate constituting the Warrants (the “Warrant Documents”).

 

10.A draft of the underwriting agreement between the Company and the Underwriters representatives.

 

The documents listed in paragraphs 8 to 10 inclusive above shall be referred to collectively herein as the “Documents”.

 

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SCHEDULE 2

 

Assumptions

 

We have relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:

 

1.The Documents have been or will be authorised and duly executed and unconditionally delivered by or on behalf of all relevant parties in accordance with all relevant laws (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws of the Cayman Islands).

 

2.The Documents are, or will be, legal, valid, binding and enforceable against all relevant parties in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of New York and all other relevant laws (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws of the Cayman Islands).

 

3.The choice of the State of New York as the governing law of the Documents has been made in good faith and will be regarded as a valid and binding selection which will upheld by the courts of the State of New York and any other relevant jurisdiction (other than the Cayman Islands) as a matter of the laws of the State of New York and all other relevant laws (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

4.The capacity, power, authority and legal right of all parties under all relevant laws and regulations (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands) to enter into, execute, deliver and perform their respective obligations under the Documents.

 

5.There is no contractual or other prohibition or restriction (other than arising under Cayman Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting or restricting it from entering into an performing its obligations under the Documents.

 

6.No monies paid to or for the account of any party under the Documents or any property received or disposed of by any party to the Documents, in each case in connection with the Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, represent or will represent proceeds of criminal conduct or criminal property or terrorist property (as defined in the Proceeds of Crime Act (as revised) and the Terrorism Act (as revised, respectively).

 

7.There is nothing under any law (other than the law of the Cayman Islands) which would or might affect the opinions given herein. Specifically, we have made no independent investigation of the laws of the State of New York.

 

8.The Company will receive money or money’s worth in consideration for the issue of the Ordinary Shares and the Preference Shares and none of the Ordinary Shares or the Preference Share were or will be issued for less than par value.

 

9.Copies of documents conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of the originals and all signatures, initials and seals are genuine.

 

10.No invitation has been made or will be made by or on behalf of the Company to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for any of the Units, the Warrants, the Ordinary Shares or the Preference Shares.

 

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SCHEDULE 3

 

Qualifications

 

The opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:

 

1.The term “enforceable” as used above means that the obligations assumed by the Company under the Documents are of a type which the courts of the Cayman Islands will enforce. It does not mean that those obligations will necessarily be enforced in all circumstances in accordance with their terms. In particular:

 

(a)enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, adjustment of debts or moratorium or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the rights of creditors.
   
(b)enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity. For example, equitable remedies such as specific performance may not be available, inter alia, where damages are considered to be an adequate remedy;
   
(c)where obligations are to be performed in a jurisdiction outside of the Cayman Islands, they may not be enforceable in the Cayman Islands to the extent that performance would be illegal under the laws of that jurisdiction; and
   
(d)some claims may become barred under relevant statutes of limitation or may become subject to defences of set of, counterclaim, estoppel and similar defences.

 

2.To maintain the Company in good standing with the Registrar of Companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands, annual filing fees must be paid and returns made to the Registrar of Companies within the time fame prescribed be law.

 

3.Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members is prima facie evidence of title to shares and this register would not record a third party interest in such shares. However, there are certain limited circumstances where an application may be made to a Cayman Islands court for a determination on whether the register of members reflects the correct legal position. Further, the Cayman Islands court has the power to order that the register of members maintained by a company should be rectified where it considers that the register of members does not reflect the correct legal position. As far as we are aware, such applications are rarely made in the Cayman Islands and for the purposes of the opinion given in paragraph 2 under the heading “Opinions” in this opinion letter, there are no circumstances or matters of fact known to us on the date of this opining letter which would properly form the basis for an application for an order for rectification of the register of members of the Company, but if such an application was made in respect the Ordinary Shares or the Preference Shares, then the validity of such shares may be subject to re-examination by a Cayman Islands court.

 

4.Except as specifically stated herein, we make no comment with respect to any representations and warranties which may be made by or with respect to the Company in any of the documents or instruments cited in this opinion letter otherwise with respect to the commercial terms of the transactions the subject of this opinion letter.

 

5.In this opinion letter, the term “non-assessable” means, with respect to shares in the Company, that a shareholder shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder, be liable for additional assessments or calls on the shares by the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to piece or lift the corporate veil).

 

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Exhibit 5.2

 

 

Greenberg Traurig, LLP
1750 Tysons Blvd., Suite 1000
McLean, VA 22102
Tel: (703) 749-1300

 

July 9, 2024

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
Newark, DE 19711 

 

Re: Tavia Acquisition Corp.  
  Registration Statement on Form S-1

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-) (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), covering up to 20,125,000 units of the Company (the “Units”) (including up to 2,625,000 Units subject to the Underwriter (as defined below) over-allotment option), with each Unit consisting of (i) one-half of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Share”) for an aggregate of up to 10,062,500 Ordinary Shares (including up to 1,312,500 Ordinary Shares included in the Units subject to the Underwriters’ over-allotment option), (ii) one-half of one warrant (“Warrant”), each whole Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Ordinary Share, at a price of $11.50 per share, for an aggregate of up to 10,062,500 Warrants (including up to 1,312,500 Warrants included in the Units subject to the Underwriters’ over-allotment option) to be issued under a Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into by the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and (iii) one-half of one convertible preference share of the Company, par value $0.0001 (“Preferred Share”) for an aggregate of up to 10,062,500 Preferred Shares (including up to 1,312,500 Preferred Shares included in the Units subject to the Underwriters’ over-allotment option), to be issued pursuant to the terms of an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be executed by the Company and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “Underwriter”).

 

We have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and this opinion is being furnished in accordance with the “Legal Matters” section of the Registration Statement, as it pertains to the portions of New York law set forth below and with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

 

We have examined copies of such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments of the Company and other certificates and documents of officials of the Company, public officials, and others, as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of this letter. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed, certified, or reproduced copies. We have also assumed that (i) upon sale and delivery of the Units, the Ordinary Shares, Warrants, and the Preferred Shares, the certificates representing such Units, Ordinary Shares, Warrants and Preferred Shares will conform to the specimens thereof filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and will have been duly countersigned by the transfer agent and duly registered by the registrar or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations for the issuance of the Units, Ordinary Shares, the Warrants and the Preferred Shares in uncertificated form will have been duly made in the register of the Company and (ii) at the time of execution, countersigning, issuance, and delivery of the Warrants, the Warrant Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of the Warrant Agent, enforceable against the Warrant Agent in accordance with its terms. In addition, in providing the opinions herein, we have relied, with respect to matters related to the Company’s existence, upon the certificates referenced above.

 

 

 

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications, and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1. When the Units have been duly executed, issued and delivered by the respective parties thereto and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriter pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Units will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

2. When the Warrants have been duly executed, issued and delivered by the respective parties thereto and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriter pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

The opinions and other matters in this letter are qualified in their entirety and subject to the following:

 

A. We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

 

B. The matters expressed in this letter are subject to and qualified and limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally; and (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

C. This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no opinion is to be inferred or implied beyond the opinions expressly set forth herein. We undertake no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any changes in any matter set forth herein, whether based on a change in the law, a change in any fact relating to the Company or any other person or any other circumstance.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus comprising a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,  
   
/s/ GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A.  
GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A.  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

[   ], 2024

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, DE 19711

 

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

366 Madison Ave., 8th Floor

New York, New York 10017

 

  Re: Initial Public Offering.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into by and between Tavia Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. as representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “IPO”) of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each comprised of one-half of one of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), one-half of one of the Company’s convertible preferred shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Convertible Preferred Shares”), and one-half of one warrant, each whole warrant exercisable for one Ordinary Share (each, a “Warrant”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 15 hereof.

 

In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the IPO, and in recognition of the benefit that such IPO will confer upon the undersigned, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:

 

1. If the Company solicits approval of its shareholders of a Business Combination, the undersigned will vote all Ordinary Shares and Convertible Preferred Shares beneficially owned by him, her or it, whether acquired before, in, or after the IPO, in favor of such Business Combination.

 

2. (a) In the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “MAA”), the undersigned will, as promptly as possible, cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible, but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding IPO Shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including any interest earned on the Trust Account not previously released to the Company but net of taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding IPO Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in the cases of clauses (ii) and (iii) to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

 

(b) The undersigned hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distribution of the Trust Account (“Claim”) with respect to the Founder Shares and Private Warrants owned by the undersigned and hereby waives any Claim the undersigned may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that there will be no distribution from the Trust Account with respect to any Warrants, all rights of which will terminate on the Company’s liquidation.

 

 

 

 

(c) In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account, the Sponsor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company for any debts and obligations to target businesses or vendors or other entities that are owed money by the Company for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to the Company, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that such debt or obligation does not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account below $10.00 per share; provided that such indemnity shall not apply (i) if such vendor or prospective target business executed an agreement waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, or (ii) as to any claims under the Company’s obligation to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

3. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with any Insiders of the Company or their affiliates, such transaction must be approved by a majority of the Company’s disinterested independent directors and the Company must obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, that such Business Combination is fair to the Company’s unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.

 

4. During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, each of the undersigned shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Units, Ordinary Shares, Convertible Preferred Shares, Founder Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, Ordinary Shares, Convertible Preferred Shares, Founder Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii).

 

5. Neither the undersigned nor any affiliate of the undersigned will be entitled to receive and will not accept any compensation or other cash payment or fees of any kind, including finder’s, consulting fees and other similar fees, prior to, or for services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of the Business Combination; provided that the Company shall be allowed to make the payments set forth in the Registration Statement under the caption “Prospectus Summary – The Offering – Limited payments to insiders.”

 

6. (a) The undersigned will place into escrow all Founder Shares owned by him/her/it pursuant to the terms of a Stock Escrow Agreement which the Company will enter into with the undersigned, as applicable, and an escrow agent.

 

(b) The undersigned agrees that all Private Warrants owned by him/her/it, as applicable, will be subject to the transfer restrictions described in the Subscription Agreement relating to the Private Warrants.

 

7. To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 2,625,000 Units within 45 days from the date of the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement (and as further described in the Registration Statement), the Sponsor agrees to forfeit, at no cost, a number of Founder Shares in the aggregate equal to 656,250 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 2,625,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 2,625,000. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriters so that the Company’s initial shareholders will own an aggregate of 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the IPO (assuming the initial shareholders do not purchase any Units in the IPO).

 

8. (a) In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest that may arise from multiple corporate affiliations, the undersigned hereby agrees that until the earliest of the Company’s initial Business Combination, the Company’s liquidation or the time that the undersigned ceases to be an officer or director of the Company, as applicable, the undersigned shall present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any suitable target business, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations the undersigned might have.

 

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(b) The undersigned hereby agrees and acknowledges that (i) each of the Underwriters and the Company may be irreparably injured in the event of a breach of any of the obligations contained in this letter, (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.

 

9. The undersigned agrees to be an officer and/or director of the Company, as applicable, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination, the liquidation of the Trust Account or his or her removal, death or incapacity. In the event of the removal or resignation of the undersigned as an officer and/or director of the Company, as applicable, the undersigned agrees that he or she will not, prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, without the prior express written consent of the Company, (i) use for the benefit of the undersigned or to the detriment of the Company or (ii) disclose to any third party (unless required by law or governmental authority), any information regarding a potential target of the Company that is not generally known by persons outside of the Company, the Sponsor, or their respective affiliates. The undersigned’s biographical information previously furnished to the Company and the Representative, as applicable, is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to the undersigned’s background. The undersigned’s FINRA Questionnaire previously furnished to the Company and the Representative is true and accurate in all respects. The undersigned represents and warrants that:

 

  (a)

he/she/it has never had a petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law been filed by or against (i) him/her/it or any partnership in which he/she/it was a general partner at or within two years before the time of filing; or (ii) any corporation or business association of which he/she/it was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing;

 

  (b)

he/she/it has never had a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer been appointed by a court for his/her/its business or property, or any such partnership;

 

  (c)

he/she/it has never been convicted of fraud in a civil or criminal proceeding;

 

  (d)

he/she/it/ has never been convicted in a criminal proceeding or named the subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and minor offenses);

 

  (e) he/she/it has never been the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining or otherwise limiting him/her/it from (i) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with any such activity; or (ii) engaging in any type of business practice; or (iii) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities or federal commodities laws;

 

  (f)

he/she/it has never been 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 his/her/its right to engage in any activity described in paragraph 9(e)(i) above, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;

 

  (g) he/she/it has never been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated any federal or state securities law, where the judgment in such civil action or finding by the SEC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;

 

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  (h)

he/she/it has never been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the CFTC to have violated any federal commodities law, where the judgment in such civil action or finding by the CFTC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;

 

  (i)

he/she/it has never been 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 an alleged violation of (i) any Federal or State securities or commodities law or regulation, (ii) any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and desist order, or removal or prohibition order or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity;

 

  (j)

he/she/it has never been the subject of, or party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, or any self-regulatory organization, any registered entity, or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member;

 

  (k)

he/she/it has never been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) involving the making of any false filing with the SEC; or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment advisor or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities;

 

  (l)

he/she/it was never subject to a final order of a state securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state authority that supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state performing like functions); an appropriate federal banking agency; the CFTC; or the National Credit Union Administration that is based on a violation of any law or regulation that prohibits fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive conduct;

 

  (m)

he/she/it has never been subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, that, at the time of such sale, restrained or enjoined him/her/it from engaging or continuing to engage in any conduct or practice: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) involving the making of any false filing with the SEC; or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment adviser or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities;

 

  (n) he/she/it has never been subject to any order of the SEC that orders him/her/it to cease and desist from committing or causing a future violation of: (i) any scienter-based anti-fraud provision of the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, Section 17(a)(1) of the Securities Act, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Section 206(1) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), or any other rule or regulation thereunder; or (ii) Section 5 of the Securities Act;

 

  (o)

he/she/it has never been named as an underwriter in any registration statement or Regulation A offering statement filed with the SEC that was the subject of a refusal order, stop order, or order suspending the Regulation A exemption, or is, currently, the subject of an investigation or proceeding to determine whether a stop order or suspension order should be issued;

 

  (p)

he/she/it has never been subject to a United States Postal Service false representation order, or is currently subject to a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction with respect to conduct alleged by the United States Postal Service to constitute a scheme or device for obtaining money or property through the mail by means of false representations;

 

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  (q) he/she/it is not subject to a final order of a state securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state authority that supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state performing like functions); an appropriate federal banking agency; the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; or the National Credit Union Administration that bars the undersigned from: (i) association with an entity regulated by such commission, authority, agency or officer; (ii) engaging in the business of securities, insurance or banking; or (iii) engaging in savings association or credit union activities;

 

  (r) he/she/it is not subject to an order of the SEC entered pursuant to section 15(b) or 15B(c) of the Exchange Act or section 203(e) or 203(f) of the Advisers Act that: (i) suspends or revokes the undersigned’s registration as a broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment adviser; (ii) places limitations on the activities, functions or operations of, or imposes civil money penalties on, such person; or (iii) bars the undersigned from being associated with any entity or from participating in the offering of any penny stock; and

 

  (s) he/she/it has never been suspended or expelled from membership in, or suspended or barred from association with a member of, a securities self-regulatory organization (e.g., a registered national securities exchange or a registered national or affiliated securities association) for any act or omission to act constituting conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade.

 

10. The undersigned has full right and power, without violating any agreement by which he, she or it is bound, to enter into this letter agreement and to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company, as applicable.

 

11. The undersigned hereby waives any right to exercise conversion rights with respect to any Ordinary Shares or Convertible Preferred Shares owned or to be owned by the undersigned, directly or indirectly (or to sell such shares to the Company in a tender offer), whether acquired before, in or after the IPO but before the Business Combination, and agrees not to seek conversion with respect to such shares in connection with any vote to approve a Business Combination (or sell such shares to the Company in a tender offer in connection with such a Business Combination) or any amendment to the MAA prior thereto (although the undersigned shall be entitled to conversion rights with respect to any IPO Shares he/she/it holds if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the MAA).

 

12. The undersigned hereby agrees to not propose, or vote in favor of, any amendment to the MAA (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligations with respect to conversion rights as described in the Registration Statement or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, unless the Company provides public shareholders with the opportunity to convert their IPO Shares upon the approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company but net of taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding IPO Shares.

 

13. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination and must liquidate and its remaining net assets are insufficient to complete such liquidation, the Sponsor agrees to advance such funds necessary to complete such liquidation and agrees not to seek repayment for such expenses.

 

14. This letter agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. Each of the Company and the undersigned hereby (i) agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against him arising out of or relating in any way to this letter agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive and (ii) waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

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15. As used herein, (i) a “Business Combination” means a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities; (ii) “Insiders” means the Sponsor and all officers, directors and initial shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the IPO; (iii) “Founder Shares” means all of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company issued prior to the consummation of the IPO; (iv) “IPO Shares” means the Ordinary Shares and the Convertible Preferred Shares issued in the Company’s IPO; (v) “Private Warrants” means the warrants of the Company that the Sponsor and certain other investors have agreed to purchase in a private placement simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, and (vi) “Trust Account” means the trust account into which a portion of the net proceeds of the IPO will be deposited; (vii) “Registration Statement” means the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-280275) filed with the SEC and (viii) “Sponsor” means Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd.

 

This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This letter agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

17. Each of the undersigned acknowledges and understands that the Underwriters and the Company will rely upon the agreements, representations and warranties set forth herein in proceeding with the IPO. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to render the Underwriters a representative of, or a fiduciary with respect to, the Company, its shareholders or any creditor or vendor of the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

18. No party hereto may assign either this letter agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This letter agreement shall be binding on each of the undersigned and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

19. Nothing in this letter agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this letter agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this letter agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

20. This letter agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

21. 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.

 

22. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this letter agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or electronic transmission.

 

23. This letter agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the restrictions set forth in paragraph 6 hereof or (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided that paragraph 2(c) of this letter agreement shall survive such liquidation.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

6

 

 

  Sincerely,
   
  Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd.
   
  By:        
    Name:                    
    Title:  
     
  earlybirdcapital, inc.
   
  By:                      
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

Acknowledged and Agreed:
   
  Tavia acquisition corp.
   
  By:   
    Name:  Kanat Mynzhanov
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of __, 2024, by and between Tavia Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (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. 333-280275 (the “Registration Statement”) for its initial public offering of securities (“IPO”) has been declared effective as of the date hereof (the “Effective Date”) by the Securities and Exchange Commission (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Registration Statement); and

 

WHEREAS, EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. is acting as the representative (the “Representative”) of the underwriters in the IPO; and

 

WHEREAS, as described in the Registration Statement, and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “MAA”), $175,000,000 ($201,250,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) of the proceeds from the IPO and a simultaneous private placement of warrants will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Shares”) and convertible preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Shares”), issued in the IPO as hereinafter provided (the proceeds to be delivered to the Trustee will be referred to herein as the “Property”; the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Shareholders,” and the Public Shareholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); 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;

 

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 initially at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more) in the United States, maintained by Trustee, 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, (i) invest and reinvest the Property solely in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), 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 (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations or (ii) deposit the Property into an interest bearing or non-interest bearing bank demand deposit account at a U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company, 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 and while the account funds are invested or uninvested, the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration during such periods;

 

(d) Collect and receive, when due, all principal, interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;

 

(e) Promptly notify the Company and the Representative of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;

 

(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account;

 

 

 

 

(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as, and when instructed by the Company to do so;

 

(h) Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of and amounts in the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;

 

(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter (“Termination Letter”), in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, signed on behalf of the Company and, in the case of a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, jointly acknowledged and agreed to by the Representative, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein; provided, however, that in the event that a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee within the period of time (the “Last Date”) provided in the Company’s MAA, the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B hereto and distributed to the Public Shareholders of record as of the Last Date;

 

(j) Upon receipt of a letter (an “Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction”) in the form of Exhibit C, signed on behalf of the Company by an authorized officer, distribute to Public Shareholders who exercised their conversion rights in connection with an amendment to the Company’s MAA (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligations with respect to conversion rights as described in the Registration Statement or (B) [with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination (as defined below) activity (an “Amendment”) an amount equal to the pro rata portion of the Property relating to the Ordinary Shares for which such Public Shareholders have exercised conversion rights in connection with such Amendment.]; and

 

(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 E (a “Working Capital Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company up to an aggregate of $1,000,000 during every twelve month period after the Effective Date of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to fund working capital (a “Working Capital Withdrawal”), which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company to fund its working capital purposes, so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient interest income in the form of cash in the Trust Account to fund such Working Capital Withdrawal, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The 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.

 

2. Limited Distributions of Income from Trust Account.

 

(a) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D, the Trustee shall distribute to the Company the amount of interest income earned on the Trust Account requested by the Company to cover any income or other tax obligation owed by the Company.

 

(b) The limited distributions referred to in Section 2(a) above shall be made only from income collected on the Property. Except as provided in Section 2(a) above, no other distributions from the Trust Account shall be permitted except in accordance with Sections 1(i) or 1(j) hereof.

 

3. Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees and covenants to:

 

(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by any one of the Company’s authorized officers. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), 1(j), and 2(a) above, 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 the provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any claim, potential claim, action, suit, or other proceeding brought against the Trustee which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any income earned from investment of the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence 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 paragraph, it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim, provided, that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;

 

2

 

 

(c) Pay the Trustee an initial acceptance fee, an annual fee, and a transaction processing fee for each disbursement made pursuant to Section 2(a) as set forth on Schedule A hereto, which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees and further agreed that any fees owed to the Trustee shall be deducted by the Trustee from the disbursements made to the Company pursuant to Section 1(i) solely in connection with the consummation of a business combination (a “Business Combination”). The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and first annual fee at the consummation of the IPO and thereafter on the anniversary of the Effective Date;

 

(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding a Business Combination, provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of a firm regularly engaged in the business of soliciting proxies and/or tabulating shareholder votes verifying the vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding such Business Combination;

 

(e) In the event that the Company directs the Trustee to commence liquidation of the Trust Account pursuant to Section 1(i), the Company agrees that it will not direct the Trustee to make any payments that are not specifically authorized by this Agreement;

 

(f) If the Company has an Amendment approved by its shareholders, provide the Trustee with a Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction in the form of Exhibit C providing instructions for the distribution of funds to Public Shareholders who exercise their conversion rights in connection with such Instruction; and

 

(g) Provide the Representative with a copy of any Termination Letter, Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction, and/or any other correspondence that it issues to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after such issuance.

 

4. Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:

 

(a) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Sections 1 and 2 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;

 

(b) Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in, or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until the Trustee 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;

 

(c) Change the investment of any Property, other than in compliance with Section 1(c);

 

(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 the Trustee, or any action suffered by the Trustee to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the exercise of 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), 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 is believed by the Trustee, 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;

 

3

 

 

(g) Verify the correctness of the information set forth in the Registration Statement or to confirm or assure that any Business Combination consummated by the Company or any other action taken by it is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

 

(h) File local, state, and/or federal tax returns or information returns with any taxing authority on behalf of the Trust Account or deliver payee statements to the Company documenting the taxes, if any, payable by the Company or the Trust Account, relating to the income earned on the Property;

 

(i) Pay any taxes on behalf of the Trust Account (it being expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay any such taxes and that such taxes, if any, shall be paid by the Company from funds not held in the Trust Account or released to it under Section 2(a) hereof);

 

(j) Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire, or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein; or

 

(k) Verify calculations, qualify, or otherwise approve Company requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j), or 2(a) above.

 

5. 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 3(b) or Section 3(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.

 

6. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:

 

(a) If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee during which time the Trustee shall act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed by the Company and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that, in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or

 

(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account 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 3(b) and Section 5.

 

7. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to funds being transferred to or from the Trust Account 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 information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee will rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a beneficiary, beneficiary’s bank, or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability, or expense resulting from any error in the information supplied to it or funds transferred based on such information.

 

(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, 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.

 

4

 

 

(c) This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.

 

(d) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Sections 1(i) and 1(j) (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two thirds of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares in respect of which votes are cast at a duly convened general meeting of the Company; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Shareholder who has otherwise indicated his, her or its election to convert his, her or its shares of Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote sought to amend this Agreement, including a corresponding change to the Company’s MAA), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that no such change, amendment or modification may be made without the prior written consent of the Representative. The Trustee may require from Company counsel an opinion as to the propriety of any proposed amendment.

 

(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 email or by facsimile transmission:

 

if to the Trustee, to:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

Email: fwolf@continentalstock.com and cgonzalez@continentalstock.com

 

if to the Company, to:

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

850 Liberty Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, Delaware 19711

Attn: Kanat Mynzhanov

Email: kanat@tavia.co

 

in either case with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

1750 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1000

McLean, VA 22102

Attn: Jason Simon, Esq.

Email: simonj@gtlaw.com

 

and

 

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

366 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Steven Levine

Email: slevine@ebccap.com

 

and

 

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10174

Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.

Email: dmiller@graubard.com

 

(f) This Agreement may not be assigned by the Trustee without the prior consent of the Company.

 

(g) Each of the Trustee and the Company hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder.

 

(h) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledge that the Representative is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

5

 

 

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

 

  TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
    Name:  Kanat Mynzhanov
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]

 

6

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Fee Item   Time and method of payment   Amount
Initial acceptance fee   Initial closing of IPO by wire transfer $ 3,500.00
Annual fee   First year, initial closing of IPO by wire transfer; thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the IPO by wire transfer or check $ 10,000.00
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Section 2   Billed to Company following disbursement made to Company under Section 2

$

250.00

Paying Agent services as

required pursuant to Sections 1(i) and 1(j)

  Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(j)   Prevailing rates

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account – Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [ ], 2024 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [ ] (the “Target Business”) to consummate a business combination with the Target Business (“Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least (72) hours in advance (or such shorter time as you may agree) of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined 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 transfer the proceeds to a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the trust operating account at JP Morgan Chase NA (the “Trust Operating Account”) will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that 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 awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends.

 

On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated 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) [an affidavit] [a certificate] by the Chief Executive Officer, which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s shareholders, if a vote is held and (b) joint written instructions from the Company and the Representative with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of amounts owed to Public Shareholders who have properly exercised their conversion rights (“Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the you of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in such notice as soon thereafter as possible.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

A-1

 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

AGREED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY:

 
EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC.
   
By:                             
Name:    
Title:    

 

A-2

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account - Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [ ], 2024 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a Business Combination with a target business within the time frame specified in the Company’s MAA, as described in the Company’s prospectus relating to its IPO. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account and transfer the total proceeds into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to await distribution to the Public Shareholders. The Company has selected [ , 20 ]1 as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Shareholders 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 Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Company’s MAA. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  TAVIA Acquisition Corp.
   
  By:               
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

cc: EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

 

 

1 24 months from the closing of the IPO

 

B-1

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account – Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [    ], 2024 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to inform you that in connection with the shareholder vote to approve an Amendment to the Company’s MAA, Public Shareholders holding [____] shares of the Company’s Ordinary Shares and [____] shares of the Company’s Preferred Shares have properly requested conversion of such shares for their pro rata portion of the Property held in the Trust Account. Capitalized words used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate such investments in the Trust Account on [___, 20_], as required to pay an aggregate of $[_________], or $[_________] per share, to the Public Shareholders that have properly requested conversion of their shares of Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares for their pro rata portion of the Property held in Trust Account and to transfer the total proceeds into the trust operating account at [●] to await distribution to such Public Shareholders. 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 Public Shareholders that have properly requested conversion of their shares of the Company’s Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Company’s MAA.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  TAVIA Acquisition Corp.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

cc: EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

 

C-1

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account – Withdrawal Instruction

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of [ ], 2024 (“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 words used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them 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,
   
  TAVIA Acquisition Corp.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

cc: EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

 

D-1

 

 

EXHIBIT E

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf& Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account - Working Capital Withdrawal Instruction

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) between Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [●], 2024, (the “Effective Date”) 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 for working capital purposes, subject to a limit of $[●] during every twelve month period after the Effective Date. For the current year ending [●], $[●] has been disbursed to date (including the amounts requested hereunder). 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 TO BE INCLUDED]

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  TAVIA Acquisition Corp.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

cc: EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

 

 

E-1

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

[   ], 2024

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, DE 19711

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”), intends to register its securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”). The Company currently anticipates selling units in the IPO, each comprised of one-half of one ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Ordinary Share(s)”), one-half of one convertible preferred share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and one-half of one warrant (“Warrant”), each whole Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share.

 

The undersigned hereby commits to purchase an aggregate of 2,312,500 warrants of the Company (“Initial Warrants”) at $1.00 per Initial Warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $2,312,500 (the “Initial Purchase Price”). Additionally, if the underwriters in the IPO (“Underwriters”) exercise their over-allotment option in full or in part, the undersigned further commits to purchase up to an additional 269,792 warrants (“Additional Warrants” and together with the Initial Warrants, the “Private Warrants”) at $1.00 per Additional Warrant, for an aggregate purchase price of up to $269,792 (the “Over-Allotment Purchase Price” and together with the Initial Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”). The Private Warrants will be identical to the Warrants except as described below.

 

On the date of the closing of the IPO (the “IPO Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the undersigned, and the undersigned shall purchase from the Company, the Initial Warrants for the Initial Purchase Price. At least one (1) business day prior to the date the Company’s registration statement filed in connection with the IPO (“Registration Statement”) is declared effective, the undersigned will cause the Purchase Price to be delivered by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts designated by the Company, including to the trust account at a financial institution to be chosen by the Company, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions. On the IPO Closing Date, the Initial Purchase Price shall be released to the Company and the Company shall effect delivery of the Initial Warrants to the undersigned in book-entry form.

 

On the date of the closing of the over-allotment option, if any, in connection with the IPO (each such date, an “Over-Allotment Closing Date,” and each Over-Allotment Closing Date (if any) and the IPO Closing Date, a “Closing Date”), the Over-Allotment Purchase Price shall be released to the Company and the Company shall issue and sell to the undersigned, and the undersigned shall purchase from the Company, the Additional Warrants (or, to the extent the over-allotment option is not exercised in full, a lesser number of Additional Warrants in proportion to portion of the over-allotment option that is exercised). On each Over-Allotment Closing Date, if any, subject to receipt of funds pursuant to the immediately prior sentence, the Company shall effect delivery of the Additional Warrants to the undersigned in book-entry form.

 

The Private Warrants will be identical to the Warrants to be sold by the Company in the IPO, except that:

 

  the Private Warrants will not be transferable by the undersigned until the consummation of a Business Combination (subject to certain exceptions as described in the Registration Statement and set forth in the warrant agreement governing the Private Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”));

 

 

 

 

 

the Private Warrants and underlying securities will be subject to customary registration rights, pursuant to a registration rights agreement on terms agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”); and

 

  the Private Warrants and the underlying securities will include any additional terms or restrictions as is customary in other similarly structured blank check company offerings or as may be reasonably required by the Underwriters in order to consummate the IPO, which terms or restrictions will be described in the Registration Statement.

 

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that it will execute agreements in form and substance typical for transactions of this nature necessary to effectuate the foregoing agreements and obligations prior to the consummation of the IPO as are reasonably acceptable to the undersigned, including but not limited to (i) an insider letter and (ii) the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:

 

  (a)

it has been advised that the Private Warrants and, upon exercise of the Private Warrants, the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”), have not been registered under the Securities Act;

 

  (b)

it is acquiring the Securities for its own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof;

 

  (c)

it understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the undersigned’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the undersigned set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the undersigned to acquire such Securities;

 

  (d)

it is an “accredited investor” as defined by Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, and it has not experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act. The undersigned did not decide to enter into this letter agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act;

 

  (e)

it 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 undersigned. The undersigned has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Company. The undersigned 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;

 

  (f) it 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 undersigned nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities;

 

2

 

 

  (g) it understands that: (A) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (B) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. In this regard, the undersigned understands that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has taken the position that promoters or affiliates of a blank check company and their transferees, both before and after an initial Business Combination, are deemed to be “underwriters” under the Securities Act when reselling the securities of a blank check company. Based on that position, Rule 144 adopted pursuant to the Securities Act would not be available for resale transactions of the Securities despite technical compliance with the requirements of such Rule, and the Securities can be resold only through a registered offering or in reliance upon another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act;

 

  (h)

it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The undersigned 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 undersigned can afford a complete loss of its investments in the Securities;

 

  (i)

it has full power, authority and legal capacity to execute and deliver this letter agreement and any documents contemplated herein or needed to consummate the transactions contemplated in this letter agreement;

 

  (j)

it understands that the Private Warrants shall bear the legend substantially in the form set forth in the Warrant Agreement and be subject to appropriate “stop transfer restrictions”;

 

  (k)

this letter agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned, 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); and

 

(l)the execution and delivery by the undersigned of this letter agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the undersigned do not and shall not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach by the undersigned 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 undersigned’s equity or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to the undersigned’s organizational documents in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated IPO, or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the undersigned is subject, or any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the undersigned is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.

 

All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive each Closing Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this letter 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 letter agreement, other than assignments by the undersigned to affiliates thereof (including, without limitation one or more of its members). This letter agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.

 

3

 

 

Whenever possible, each provision of letter agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this letter 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 letter agreement. This letter 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.

 

Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this letter agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or electronic transmission.

 

This letter agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

This letter agreement may be terminated by the Company or the undersigned at any time after [ ], 2024 upon written notice to the other party hereto if the closing of the IPO does not occur prior to such date.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

4

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

   
 

TAVIA SPONSOR PTE. LTD.

   
  By:
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

Accepted and Agreed:

 
 

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.

 
  By:
    Name: Kanat Mynzhanov
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement for Private Warrants]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

[   ], 2024

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, DE 19711

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”), intends to register its securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”). The Company currently anticipates selling units in the IPO, each comprised of one-half of one ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Ordinary Share(s)”), one-half of one convertible preferred share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and one-half of one warrant (“Warrant”), each whole Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Share. 

 

The undersigned hereby commits to purchase an aggregate of 2,187,500 warrants of the Company (“Initial Warrants”) at $1.00 per Initial Warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $2,187,500 (the “Initial Purchase Price”). Additionally, if the underwriters in the IPO (“Underwriters”) exercise their over-allotment option in full or in part, the undersigned further commits to purchase up to an additional 255,208 warrants (“Additional Warrants” and together with the Initial Warrants, the “Private Warrants”) at $1.00 per Additional Warrant, for an aggregate purchase price of up to $255,208 (the “Over-Allotment Purchase Price” and together with the Initial Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”). The Private Warrants will be identical to the Warrants except as described below.

 

On the date of the closing of the IPO (the “IPO Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the undersigned, and the undersigned shall purchase from the Company, the Initial Warrants for the Initial Purchase Price. At least one (1) business day prior to the date the Company’s registration statement filed in connection with the IPO (“Registration Statement”) is declared effective, the undersigned will cause the Purchase Price to be delivered by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts designated by the Company, including to the trust account at a financial institution to be chosen by the Company, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions. On the IPO Closing Date, the Initial Purchase Price shall be released to the Company and the Company shall effect delivery of the Initial Warrants to the undersigned in book-entry form.

 

On the date of the closing of the over-allotment option, if any, in connection with the IPO (each such date, an “Over-Allotment Closing Date,” and each Over-Allotment Closing Date (if any) and the IPO Closing Date, a “Closing Date”), the Over-Allotment Purchase Price shall be released to the Company and the Company shall issue and sell to the undersigned, and the undersigned shall purchase from the Company, the Additional Warrants (or, to the extent the over-allotment option is not exercised in full, a lesser number of Additional Warrants in proportion to portion of the over-allotment option that is exercised). On each Over-Allotment Closing Date, if any, subject to receipt of funds pursuant to the immediately prior sentence, the Company shall effect delivery of the Additional Warrants to the undersigned in book-entry form. 

  

The Private Warrants will be identical to the Warrants to be sold by the Company in the IPO, except that:

 

the Private Warrants will not be transferable by the undersigned until the consummation of a Business Combination (subject to certain exceptions as described in the Registration Statement and set forth in the warrant agreement governing the Private Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”));

 

the Private Warrants and the underlying securities will be subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110I(1). Additionally, the Private Warrants and underlying securities may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities by any person for a 180-day period following the effective date of the Registration Statement except to any selected dealer participating in the IPO and the bona fide officers or partners of the undersigned and any such participating selected dealer;

 

 

 

 

the Private Warrants may not be exercised by the undersigned or its designees more than five years from the date of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(A);

 

the Private Warrants and underlying securities will be subject to customary registration rights, pursuant to a registration rights agreement on terms agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”); and

 

the Private Warrants and the underlying securities will include any additional terms or restrictions as is customary in other similarly structured blank check company offerings or as may be reasonably required by the Underwriters in order to consummate the IPO, which terms or restrictions will be described in the Registration Statement.

  

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that it will execute agreements in form and substance typical for transactions of this nature necessary to effectuate the foregoing agreements and obligations prior to the consummation of the IPO as are reasonably acceptable to the undersigned, including but not limited to (i) an insider letter and (ii) the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:

 

(a)it has been advised that the Private Warrants and, upon exercise of the Private Warrants, the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”), have not been registered under the Securities Act;

 

(b)it is acquiring the Securities for its own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof;

 

(c)it understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the undersigned’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the undersigned set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the undersigned to acquire such Securities;

 

(d)it is an “accredited investor” as defined by Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, and it has not experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act. The undersigned did not decide to enter into this letter agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act;

 

(e)it 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 undersigned. The undersigned has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Company. The undersigned 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;

 

2

 

 

(f)it 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 undersigned nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities;

 

(g)it understands that: (A) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (B) except as specifically set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. In this regard, the undersigned understands that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has taken the position that promoters or affiliates of a blank check company and their transferees, both before and after an initial Business Combination, are deemed to be “underwriters” under the Securities Act when reselling the securities of a blank check company. Based on that position, Rule 144 adopted pursuant to the Securities Act would not be available for resale transactions of the Securities despite technical compliance with the requirements of such Rule, and the Securities can be resold only through a registered offering or in reliance upon another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act;

 

(h)it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The undersigned 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 undersigned can afford a complete loss of its investments in the Securities;

 

(i)it has full power, authority and legal capacity to execute and deliver this letter agreement and any documents contemplated herein or needed to consummate the transactions contemplated in this letter agreement;

 

(j)it understands that the Private Warrants shall bear the legend substantially in the form set forth in the Warrant Agreement and be subject to appropriate “stop transfer restrictions”;

 

(k)this letter agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned, 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); and

 

(l)the execution and delivery by the undersigned of this letter agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the undersigned do not and shall not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach by the undersigned 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 undersigned’s equity or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to the undersigned’s organizational documents in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated IPO, or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the undersigned is subject, or any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the undersigned is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.

 

3

 

 

All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive each Closing Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this letter 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 letter agreement, other than assignments by the undersigned to affiliates thereof (including, without limitation one or more of its members). This letter agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.

 

Whenever possible, each provision of letter agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this letter 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 letter agreement. This letter 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.

 

Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this letter agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or electronic transmission.

 

This letter agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

This letter agreement may be terminated by the Company or the undersigned at any time after [  ], 2024 upon written notice to the other party hereto if the closing of the IPO does not occur prior to such date.

  

[Signature Page Follows]

 

4

 

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC.
     
  By:                              
    Name:
    Title:

 

Accepted and Agreed:  
     
tavia ACQUISITION CORP.  
     
By:    
  Name:  Kanat Mynzhanov  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement for Private Warrants]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of [    ], 2024, by and between Tavia Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and ________________ (“Indemnitee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of such corporations;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Charter”) of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable Cayman Islands law. The Charter provides that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement and reimbursement rights;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s shareholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so protected against liabilities;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Charter of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder;

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as an officer or director, advisor or in another capacity without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he or she be so indemnified; and

  

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein and subject to the provisions of the letter agreement, dated the date hereof, among the Company, Indemnitee and the other parties thereto, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

1. SERVICES TO THE COMPANY. In consideration of the Company’s covenants and obligations hereunder, Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as an officer, director, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as applicable, for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or retained or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation or until Indemnitee is removed. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, officer, advisor, key employee or in any other capacity of the Company, as provided in Section 17. This Agreement, however, shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.

 

2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement:

 

(a) References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, advisor, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b) The terms “Beneficial Owner” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below) as in effect on the date hereof.

 

(c) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

(i) Acquisition of Shares by Third Party. Other than an affiliate or member of Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd. (the “Sponsor”), any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors (as defined below) and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition;

 

(ii) Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors on the date hereof or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the “Continuing Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

(iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries (as defined below)) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) other than a member or an affiliate of the Sponsor, no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business Combination;

 

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(iv) Liquidation. The approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than factoring the Company’s current receivables or escrows due (or, if such shareholder approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or

 

(v) Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or any successor rule) (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

(d) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise (as defined below) which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(e) “Cayman Court” shall mean the courts of the Cayman Islands.

 

(f) “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(g) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.

 

(h) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(i) “Expenses” shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding (as defined below), including reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding (as defined below), including without limitation the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(j) References to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

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(k) “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience in matters of corporation law and that neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding (as defined below) giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

(l) The term “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiaries (as defined below) of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company.

 

(m) The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative or related nature, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by him or her or of any action (or failure to act) on his or her part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he or she is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

 

(n) The term “Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person.

 

(o) The phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to: (a) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the provision of the Cayman Islands law that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the Cayman Islands law, and (b) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the Cayman Islands law adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

3. INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually, and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful; provided, in no event shall Indemnitee be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless or advanced any amounts hereunder in respect of any Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (if any) that Indemnitee may incur by reason of his or her own actual fraud or intentional misconduct. Indemnitee shall not be found to have committed actual fraud or intentional misconduct for any purpose of this Agreement unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect.

 

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4. INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Cayman Court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, to be held harmless or to exoneration.

 

5. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness or deponent in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee was or is not a party or threatened to be made a party, he or she shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith.

 

7. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION, HOLD HARMLESS AND EXONERATION RIGHTS.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, except for Section 27, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights shall be available under this Section 7(a) on account of Indemnitee’s conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its shareholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, 5 or 7(a), except for Section 27, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

 

8. CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY.

 

(a) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying, holding harmless or exonerating Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.

 

(b) The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.

 

(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

 

9. EXCLUSIONS. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement (except for section 27), the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification, advance expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a) for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity or advancement provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise;

 

(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or

 

(c) except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(f) and (g) hereof, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law. Indemnitee shall seek payments or advances from the Company only to the extent that such payments or advances are unavailable from any insurance policy of the Company covering Indemnitee.

 

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10. ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 27, and to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall pay the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, prior to the final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. To the fullest extent required by applicable law, such payments of Expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon the Company’s receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to repay the advanced amounts to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Charter, applicable law or otherwise. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that Indemnitee was not so entitled to indemnification, any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnitee. This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which an indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment is excluded pursuant to Section 9 but shall apply to any Proceeding referenced in Section 9(b) prior to a final determination that Indemnitee is liable therefor.

 

(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

(c) The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

 

11. PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.

 

(a) Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding, claim, issue or matter therein which may be subject to indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights, or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise.

 

(b) Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his or her sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

12. PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.

 

(a) A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, (iii) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if such directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (iv) by vote of the shareholders. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

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(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Cayman Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Cayman Court, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c) The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

13. PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.

 

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

 

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(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

(d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, manager, or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

14. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.

 

(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6, 7 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vii) payment to Indemnitee pursuant to any hold harmless or exoneration rights under this Agreement or otherwise is not made in accordance with this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Cayman Court to such indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Cayman Islands law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.

 

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(c) In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).

 

(d) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(f) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt of such written request) pay to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee: (i) to enforce his or her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Charter now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of the outcome and whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration right, advancement, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be (unless such judicial proceeding or arbitration was not brought by Indemnitee in good faith).

 

(g) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the legal rate under Cayman Islands law for amounts which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless or exonerates, or advances, or is obliged to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate or advance for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee requests indemnification, to be held harmless, exonerated, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

15. SECURITY. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except for Section 27, to the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

 

16. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION.

 

(a) The rights of Indemnitee as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, any agreement, a vote of shareholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any Proceeding (regardless of when such Proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) or claim, issue or matter therein arising out of, or related to, any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Charter or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

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(b) The Cayman Islands law and the Charter permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (“Indemnification Arrangements”) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against him or her or incurred by or on behalf of him or her or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the Cayman Islands law, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement.

 

(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managers, managing members, fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(d) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights. No such payment by the Company shall be deemed to relieve any insurer of its obligations.

 

(e) The Company’s obligation to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payments or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 27, (i) Indemnitee shall have no obligation to reduce, offset, allocate, pursue or apportion any indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement, contribution or insurance coverage among multiple parties possessing such duties to Indemnitee prior to the Company’s satisfaction and performance of all its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the Company shall perform fully its obligations under this Agreement without regard to whether Indemnitee holds, may pursue or has pursued any indemnification, advancement, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or insurance coverage rights against any person or entity other than the Company.

 

(f) Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the Company is the primary indemnitor, and any indemnification or advancement obligation of the Sponsor or its affiliates or members or any other Person is secondary.

 

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17. DURATION OF AGREEMENT. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of his or her Corporate Status, whether or not he or she is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.

 

18. SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

19. ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.

 

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company.

 

(b) Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Charter of the Company as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

(c) The indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise at the Company’s request, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his or her spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

 

(d) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

(e) The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, enforce this Agreement by seeking, among other things, injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he or she may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court of competent jurisdiction, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

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20. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

21. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, on such delivery, or (ii) if mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.

 

(b) If to the Company, to:

 

  Tavia Acquisition Corp.
  850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
  Newark, DE 19711
  Attn: Kanat Mynzhanov, Chief Executive Officer
  Email:

kanat@tavia.co

     
 

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

   
  Greenberg Traurig, LLP
  1750 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1000
  McLean, VA 22102
  Attn: Jason Simon, Esq.
  Email:

simonj@gtlaw.com

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.

 

22. APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Cayman Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Cayman Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Cayman Court; and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Cayman Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the parties hereby agree that the mailing of process and other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided by Section 21 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

 

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23. IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

24. MISCELLANEOUS. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

25. PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.

 

26. ADDITIONAL ACTS. If for the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.

 

27. WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO TRUST ACCOUNT. Indemnitee hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (each, a “Claim”) in or to any monies in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering for the benefit of the Company and holders of shares issued in such offering, and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, Indemnitee acknowledges and agrees that any indemnification provided hereto will only be able to be satisfied by the Company if (i) the Company has sufficient funds outside of the trust account to satisfy its obligations hereunder or (ii) the Company consummates a Business Combination.

 

28. MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect during the entire period for which the Company is obligated to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement, one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the officers/directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director or officer under such policy or policies. In all such insurance policies, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors and officers.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indemnity Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  tavia ACQuisition Corp.
     
  By:                                                  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  INDEMNITEE
     
  By:                      
  Name:  
  Address:  

 

[Signature Page to Indemnity Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

STOCK ESCROW AGREEMENT

 

STOCK ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of [   ], 2024 (the “Agreement”), by and among tavia Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd. (the “Sponsor”), the shareholders of the Company listed on Exhibit A hereto (together with Sponsor and any permitted transferee of the Sponsor or such shareholders after the date hereof in accordance with the terms hereof being referred to as, the “Founders”) and CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, a New York limited purpose trust company (the “Escrow Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination (a “Business Combination”) with one or more businesses or entities.

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated as of [ ], 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), with EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “Representative”) acting as representative of the several underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which, among other matters, the Underwriters have agreed to purchase 17,500,000 units (the “Units”) of the Company, plus an additional 2,625,000 Units if the Underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full. Each Unit consists of one-half of one of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Shares”), one-half of one convertible preferred share, par value $0.0001 per share, and one warrant (“Warrant”), each whole Warrant to purchase one Ordinary Shares, all as more fully described in the Company’s prospectus, comprising part of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-280275) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), declared effective on [ ], 2024 (the “Effective Date”).

 

WHEREAS, the Founders have agreed as a condition of the sale of the Units to deposit their Ordinary Shares of the Company (“Founder Shares”) in escrow as hereinafter provided.

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Founders desire that the Escrow Agent accept the Founder Shares, in escrow, to be held and disbursed as hereinafter provided.

 

IT IS AGREED:

 

1. Appointment of Escrow Agent. The Company and the Founders hereby appoint the Escrow Agent to act in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act in accordance with and subject to such terms.

 

2. Deposit of Shares. On or before the Effective Date, the Founders’ respective Founder Shares set forth on Exhibit A hereto shall be deposited in escrow, to be held and disbursed subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Founders acknowledge that the shares deposited in escrow will be legended to reflect the deposit of such shares under this Agreement.

 

3. Disbursement of the Escrow Shares.

 

3.1 If the over-allotment option to purchase all or a portion of the additional 2,625,000 Units of the Company is not exercised in full within 45 days of the date of the Registration Statement (as described in the Underwriting Agreement), the Sponsor agrees that the Escrow Agent shall return to the Company for cancellation, at no cost, the number of Founder Shares held by the Sponsor determined by multiplying 656,250 by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 2,625,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of the over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 2,625,000. The Company shall promptly provide notice to the Escrow Agent of the expiration or termination of the over-allotment option and the number of Units, if any, purchased by the Underwriters in connection with the exercise thereof.

 

 

 

 

3.2 Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Escrow Agent shall hold the Founder Shares remaining after any cancellation required pursuant to Section 3.1 above (such remaining shares to be referred to herein as the “Escrow Shares”) until six months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or earlier, if, subsequent to a Business Combination, the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property (such period of time during which the Escrow Shares are held in escrow, the “Escrow Period”). The Company shall promptly provide notice of the consummation of an initial Business Combination to the Escrow Agent. Upon completion of the Escrow Period, the Escrow Agent shall disburse such amount of each Founder’s Escrow Shares to the applicable Founder. The Escrow Agent shall have no further duties hereunder after the disbursement of the Escrow Shares in accordance with this Section 3.2.

 

3.3 If the Escrow Agent is notified by the Company pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof that the Company’s Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Escrow Agent as trustee thereunder) is being liquidated, then the Escrow Agent shall deliver the certificates representing the Escrow Shares to the Founders promptly after the public shareholders are paid the liquidating distributions and shall have no further duties hereunder.

 

4. Rights of Founders in Escrow Shares.

 

4.1 Voting Rights as a Shareholder. Subject to the terms of the Insider Letter described in Section 4.4 hereof and except as herein provided, the Founders shall retain all of their rights as shareholders of the Company as long as any shares are held in escrow pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to vote such shares.

 

4.2 Dividends and Other Distributions in Respect of the Escrow Shares. For as long as any shares are held in escrow pursuant to this Agreement, all dividends payable in cash with respect to the Escrow Shares shall be paid to the Founders, but all dividends payable in stock or other non-cash property (“Non-Cash Dividends”) shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent to hold in accordance with the terms hereof. As used herein, the term “Escrow Shares” shall be deemed to include the Non-Cash Dividends distributed thereon, if any.

 

4.3 Restrictions on Transfer. During the Escrow Period, the only permitted transfers of the Escrow Shares will be (i) among the Founders or to the Company’s or the Founders’ members, officers, directors, consultants or their affiliates, (ii) by bona fide gift to a member of a Founder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a Founder or a member of a Founder’s immediate family, in each case for estate planning purposes, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (iv) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, or (v) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (vi) in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Escrow Shares were originally purchased, or (vii) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or the organizational documents of our sponsor upon its dissolution; provided, however, that except for clause (v) or with the Company’s prior written consent, such permitted transfers may be implemented only upon the respective transferee’s written agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Insider Letter.

 

4.4 Insider Letter. The Founders have executed a letter agreement with the Company, dated as of the date hereof, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (“Insider Letter”), respecting the rights and obligations of such Founders in certain events, including, but not limited to, the liquidation of the Company.

 

5. Concerning the Escrow Agent.

 

5.1 Good Faith Reliance. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment, and 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 Escrow Agent), 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 is believed by the Escrow Agent in good faith to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement unless evidenced by a writing delivered to the Escrow Agent signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Escrow Agent are affected, unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto.

 

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5.2 Indemnification. Subject to Section 5.8 below, the Escrow Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the Escrow Agent in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding involving any claim which in any way, directly or indirectly, arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Escrow Agent hereunder, or the Escrow Shares held by it hereunder, other than expenses or losses arising from the gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct of the Escrow Agent. Promptly after the receipt by the Escrow Agent of notice of any demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, the Escrow Agent shall notify the other parties hereto in writing. In the event of the receipt of such notice, the Escrow Agent, in its sole discretion, may commence an action in the nature of interpleader in an appropriate court to determine ownership or disposition of the Escrow Shares or it may deposit the Escrow Shares with the clerk of any appropriate court or it may retain the Escrow Shares pending receipt of a final, non-appealable order of a court having jurisdiction over all of the parties hereto directing to whom and under what circumstances the Escrow Shares are to be disbursed and delivered. The provisions of this Section 5.2 shall survive in the event the Escrow Agent resigns or is discharged pursuant to Sections 5.5 or 5.6 below.

 

5.3 Compensation. Subject to Section 5.8 below, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Company for all services rendered by it hereunder. The Escrow Agent shall also be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by it in the administration of its duties hereunder including, but not limited to, all counsel, advisors’ and agents’ fees and disbursements and all taxes or other governmental charges.

 

5.4 Further Assurances. From time to time on and after the date hereof, the Company and the Founders shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent such further documents and instruments and shall do or cause to be done such further acts as the Escrow Agent shall reasonably request to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes of this Agreement, to evidence compliance herewith or to assure itself that it is protected in acting hereunder.

 

5.5 Resignation. The Escrow Agent may resign at any time and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent hereunder by its giving the other parties hereto written notice and such resignation shall become effective as hereinafter provided. Such resignation shall become effective at such time that the Escrow Agent shall turn the Escrow Shares over to a successor escrow agent appointed by the Company and approved by the Representative, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If no new escrow agent is so appointed within the 60-day period following the giving of such notice of resignation, the Escrow Agent may deposit the Escrow Shares with any court it reasonably deems appropriate in the State of New York.

 

5.6 Discharge of Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall resign and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent hereunder if so requested in writing at any time by all of the other parties hereto; provided, however, that such resignation shall become effective only upon the appointment of a successor escrow agent selected by the Company and approved by the Representative, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

5.7 Liability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall not be relieved from liability hereunder for its own gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct.

 

5.8 Waiver. The Escrow Agent hereby waives any 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 and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

6. Miscellaneous.

 

6.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, 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.

 

6.2 Third Party Beneficiaries. Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledges that the Representative is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

6.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and, except as expressly provided herein, may only be changed, amended, or modified by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

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6.4 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation thereof.

 

6.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective parties hereto and their legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

6.6 Notices. 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 email or by electronic transmission:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

  Tavia Acquisition Corp.
  850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
  Newark, DE 19711
  Attn: Kanat Mynzhanov, Chief Executive Officer
  Email:

kanat@tavia.co

     
 

If to a Founder, to his/her/its address set forth in Exhibit A.

   
  and if to the Escrow Agent, to:
 
  Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
  1 State Street
  New York, New York 10004
  Attn:
  Email:

     
  A copy of any notice sent hereunder shall be sent to:
     
  EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
  366 Madison Ave., 8th Floor
  New York, NY 10017
  Attn: Steven Levine
  Email: slevine@ebccap.com
     
  with a copy to:
     
  Greenberg Traurig, LLP
  1750 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1000
  McLean, VA 22102
  Attn: Jason Simon, Esq.
  Email:  simonj@gtlaw.com
     
  and:  
     
  Graubard Miller
  The Chrysler Building
  405 Lexington Avenue
  New York, New York 10174
  Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.
  Fax No.: (212) 818-8881
  Email: dmiller@graubard.com

 

The parties may change the persons and addresses to which the notices or other communications are to be sent by giving written notice to any such change in the manner provided herein for giving notice.

 

6.7 Liquidation of the Trust Account. The Company shall give the Escrow Agent written notification of the liquidation of the Trust Account in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

6.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original and may be delivered by facsimile transmission and together shall constitute one instrument.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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WITNESS the execution of this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:
    Name:  Kanat Mynzhanov
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
  COMPANY, as Escrow Agent
     
  By:
    Name:  
    Title:  
     
  FOUNDERS:
     
  TAVIA SPONSOR PTE. LTD.
     
  By:  
    Name: Kanat Mynzhanov
    Title:  
     
     
    Marsha Kutkevich
     
     
    Christophe Charlier
     
     
    Darrell Mays

 

[Signature Page to Stock Escrow Agreement]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Name and Address of Founder  Number of
Shares
 
     
Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd. 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711   4,881,250 
      
Marsha Kutkevich   50,000 
      
Chritophe Charlier
   50,000 
      
Darrell Mays   50,000 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.8

 

EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC.

366 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

___________, 2024

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

[Address]

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This is to confirm our agreement (this “Agreement”) whereby Tavia Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Company”), has requested EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “Advisor”) to assist it in connection with the Company’s merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination (in each case, a “Business Combination”) with one or more businesses or entities (each a “Target”) as described in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-_____) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Registration Statement”) in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”).

 

1. Services and Fees.

 

(a) The Advisor will, if requested by the Company:

 

(i) Assist the Company in the transaction structuring and negotiation of a definitive purchase agreement with respect to the Business Combination;

 

(ii) Hold meetings to discuss the Business Combination and the Target’s attributes with Company shareholders who request such meetings;

 

(iii) Attempt to introduce the Company to potential investors to purchase the Company’s securities in connection with the Business Combination; and

 

(iv) Assist the Company with relevant financial analysis, presentations, press releases and filings related to the Business Combination.

 

(b) As compensation for the foregoing services, the Company will pay the Advisor a cash fee equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds received by the Company in the IPO (“Transaction Fee”), subject to reduction as follows: (i) 1.0% (of the 3.5%) shall be paid to the Advisor, in cash, in proportion to the amount of capital retained in the Trust Account (defined below) and (ii) 1.0% (of the 3.5%) may be reallocated to other third parties not participating in the IPO (but who are members of FINRA) that assist the Company in consummating a Business Combination.

 

(c) In addition to the Transaction Fee, the Company shall pay to Advisor a cash fee equal to 1.0% of the Total Consideration (as the term “Total Consideration” is defined below) in the event Advisor introduces the Company to the Target with which the Company completes a Business Combination (“Finder Fee” and together with the Transaction Fee, the “Fee”).

 

(d) The Transaction Fee and any Finder Fee, if applicable, shall be payable in cash and is due and payable to the Advisor by wire transfer at the closing of the Business Combination (“Closing”) from the Trust Account (defined below); provided that the Finder Fee shall not be paid prior to the date that is 60 days from the effective date of the Registration Statement unless the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with the IPO If a proposed Business Combination is not consummated for any reason, no Fee shall be due or payable to the Advisor hereunder.

 

 

 

(e) For purposes of this Agreement, “Total Consideration” shall mean the total value of all cash, securities, or other property paid or transferred at the Closing (or Closings) by or to the Company, the Target and/or their respective shareholders or to be paid or transferred in the future to such parties with respect to such Business Combination (other than payments of interest or dividends), including, without limitation, any value paid in respect of (i) the assets of the Company or Target, (ii) the share capital of the Company or Target (and any securities convertible into share capital, including options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares), and (iii) the assumption, retirement or defeasance, directly or indirectly (by operation of law or otherwise), of any long-term liabilities of the Company or Target or repayment of indebtedness, including, without limitation, indebtedness secured by the assets of the Company or Target, capital leases or preferred shares obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Business Combination contemplates the Target or newly formed holding company being the surviving entity in the Business Combination and issuing its securities to the Company as consideration, the Total Consideration will be deemed to be the fair market value of the Target as indicated in the Business Combination’s definitive acquisition agreement and proxy materials. If Total Consideration paid or transferred in the Business Combination includes non-cash consideration consisting of ordinary shares, options, warrants or rights for which a public trading market existed prior to the Closing, then the value of such securities shall be determined by the closing or last sales price thereof on the date that is two business days prior to the record date for the vote on the Business Combination. If all or a portion of the Total Consideration paid or transferred in the Business Combination is other than cash and securities (as described above), then the value of such other consideration shall be the fair market value thereof on the Closing as mutually agreed upon in good faith by the Company and Advisor.. If all or a portion of the Total Consideration payable or transferable in connection with a Business Combination includes future payments, whether or not in escrow, then the Company shall pay Advisor any additional cash fee, determined in accordance with this Section 1, when, and if such payments are made.

 

2. Expenses.

 

At the Closing, the Company shall reimburse the Advisor up to $20,000 for its reasonable costs and expenses incurred (including its fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with the performance of its services hereunder; provided, however, all expenses in excess of $5,000 in the aggregate shall be subject to the Company’s prior written approval, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld. Reimbursable expenses shall be due and payable to the Advisor by wire transfer at the Closing from the Trust Account.

 

 

3. Company Cooperation.

 

The Company will cooperate with the Advisor including, but not limited to, providing to the Advisor and its counsel, on a timely basis, all documents and information regarding the Company and Target that the Advisor may reasonably request or that are otherwise relevant to the Advisor’s performance of its obligations hereunder (collectively, the “Information”); making the Company’s management, auditors, consultants and advisors available to the Advisor; and, using commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Advisor with reasonable access to the management, auditors, suppliers, customers, consultants and advisors of Target. The Company will promptly notify the Advisor of any change in facts or circumstances or new developments affecting the Company or Target or that might reasonably be considered material to the Advisor’s engagement hereunder.

 

Additionally, the Company hereby acknowledges and confirms its obligations under Sections 3.31 and 3.32 of the Underwriting Agreement executed by the Company and the Advisor on the date hereof.

 

4. Representations; Warranties and Covenants.

 

The Company represents, warrants and covenants to the Advisor that all Information it makes available to the Advisor by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the date thereof and as of the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

5. Indemnity.

 

The Company shall indemnify the Advisor and its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, representatives and agents in accordance with the indemnification provisions set forth in Annex I hereto, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

2

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing and Annex I, the Advisor agrees, if there is no Closing, (i) that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Company’s trust account established in connection with the IPO (“Trust Account”) with respect to this Agreement (each, a “Claim”); (ii) to waive any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company hereunder; and (iii) to not seek recourse against the Trust Account with respect to the Fee.

 

6. Use of Name and Reports.

 

Without the Advisor’s prior written consent, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (nor any director, officer, manager, partner, member, employee, representative or agent thereof) shall quote or refer to, in any filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any advice rendered by the Advisor to the Company or any communication from the Advisor, in each case, in connection with performance of the Advisor’s services hereunder; provided that, if any such quote or reference is required by applicable federal or state law, regulation or securities exchange rule, then (i) the Company shall provide Advisor with a draft of such disclosure prior to the filing being made; (ii) Advisor shall be given the opportunity to comment on same; and (iii) Advisor’s consent to such disclosure shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

7. Status as Independent Contractor.

 

Advisor shall perform its services as an independent contractor and not as an employee of the Company or affiliate thereof. It is expressly understood and agreed to by the parties that the Advisor shall have no authority to act for, represent or bind the Company or any affiliate thereof in any manner, except as may be expressly agreed to by the Company in writing. In rendering such services, the Advisor will be acting solely pursuant to a contractual relationship on an arm’s-length basis. This Agreement is not intended to create a fiduciary relationship between the parties and neither the Advisor nor any of the Advisor’s officers, directors or personnel will owe any fiduciary duty to the Company or any other person in connection with any of the matters contemplated by this Agreement.

 

8. Potential Conflicts.

 

The Company acknowledges that the Advisor is a full-service securities firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities and providing investment banking and advisory services from which conflicting interests may arise. Subject to applicable law, in the ordinary course of business, the Advisor and its affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions, and may trade or otherwise effect transactions, for their own account or the accounts of customers, in debt or equity securities of the Company, its affiliates or other entities that may be involved in the transactions contemplated hereby. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit or restrict the Advisor or any of its affiliates in conducting such business to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

9. No Legal Advice.

 

The Company acknowledges that Advisor: (i) will not be opining or passing upon (A) the fairness to the Company or its shareholders of any Business Combination, or (B) the relative merits of a Business Combination with a particular Target as compared to any alternative transaction; (ii) will rely upon and assume, without independently verifying, the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial and other information that is supplied or otherwise made available to it and will further rely upon the assurances of the Company’s and Target’s management that they were not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make any such information inaccurate or misleading; and (iii) is not a legal, tax, accounting, environmental or regulatory advisor and will not express any views as to any legal, tax, accounting, environmental or regulatory matters relating to a Business Combination and will assume that the Company has obtained or will obtain such advice as it deems necessary or appropriate from qualified legal, tax, accounting, environmental and regulatory experts; (iv) will assume that any projections or financial forecasts provided to it were reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of the Company and the Target with respect to future financial performance; and (v) is not required to physically inspect any of Target’s properties or facilities and is not required to make or obtain any evaluations or appraisals of the Target’s assets or liabilities..

 

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10. Entire Agreement.

 

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect thereto. This Agreement may not be modified or terminated orally or in any manner other than by an agreement in writing signed by the parties hereto.

 

11. Notices.

 

Any notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when mailed by Federal Express or other overnight courier addressed to each party at its respective addresses set forth above or to such other address as may be given by a party in a notice provided pursuant to this Section. In addition, notice to the Company may also be provided to Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 1750 Tysons Blvd., Suite 1000, McLean, Virginia 22102, Attn: Jason Simon, Esq. via Federal Express or other overnight courier or by e-mail to jason.simon@gtlaw.com, or to such other representative and/or agent in the United States as designated by the Company.

 

12. Successors and Assigns.

 

This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and, except where prohibited, to their successors and assigns.

 

13. Non-Exclusivity.

 

Nothing herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the engagement by the Company of other consultants providing the same or similar services or the payment by the Company of fees to such other consultants. The Company’s engagement of any other consultant(s) shall not affect the Advisor’s right to receive the Fee and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to this Agreement.

 

14. Applicable Law; Venue.

 

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to conflict of laws.

 

In the event of any dispute under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a failure by the Company to pay the Fee to Advisor, and/or then and in such event, each party hereto agrees that the dispute shall either be (i) resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) or (ii) brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York, County of New York under the accelerated adjudication procedures of the Commercial Division, or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in each event at the discretion of the party initiating the dispute. Once a party files a dispute (if arbitration, by sending JAMS a Demand for Arbitration) or commences an action in one of the above forums, the parties agree that all issues regarding such dispute or this Agreement must be resolved before such forum rather than seeking to resolve it through another alternative forum set forth above.

 

In the event the dispute is brought before the AAA, the arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel. Each of the parties agrees that the decision and/or award made by the arbitrators shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. Furthermore, the parties to any such arbitration shall be entitled to make one motion for summary judgment within 60 days of the commencement of the arbitration, which shall be decided by the arbitrator[s] prior to the commencement of the hearings. The prevailing party shall move to confirm any arbitration award within ten (10) business days of receipt of the award and the losing party shall not oppose such application or seek to vacate the award.

 

4

 

In the event the dispute is brought by a party in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, each party irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. Each party hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process, summons and/or complaint to be served upon a party may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by Federal Express or other overnight courier, addressed to such party at the address set forth at the beginning of this Agreement. Such delivery shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the party being served in any action, proceeding or claim. The parties agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in such action, proceeding or arbitration.

 

THE COMPANY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS.

 

15. Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Advisor and the Company with respect to the foregoing, please so indicate your agreement by signing in the place provided below, at which time this letter shall become a binding contract.

 

  EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC
     
  By:                             
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY:

 

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP

 
   
By:                      
Name:    
Title:    

 

5

 

ANNEX I

 

Indemnification

 

In connection with the engagement of EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (the “Advisor”) pursuant to that certain letter agreement (“Agreement”) of which this Annex forms a part, Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) hereby agrees, subject to the second paragraph of Section 5 of the Agreement, to indemnify and hold harmless the Advisor and its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, shareholders, agents and employees of any of the foregoing (collectively the “Indemnified Persons”), from and against any and all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (including those of shareholders), damages, liabilities and expenses incurred by any of them (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), as incurred, (collectively a “Claim”), that (A) are related to or arise out of (i) any actions taken or omitted to be taken (including any untrue statements made or any statements omitted to be made) by the Company, or (ii) any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any Indemnified Person in connection with the Company’s engagement of the Advisor, or (B) otherwise relate to or arise out of the Advisor’s activities on the Company’s behalf under the Agreement, and the Company shall reimburse any Indemnified Person for all expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) as incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether or not in connection with pending or threatened litigation in which any Indemnified Person is a party.

 

The Company will not, however, be responsible for any Claim that is finally judicially determined to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any person seeking indemnification for such Claim. The Company further agrees that no Indemnified Person shall have any liability to the Company for or in connection with the Company’s engagement of the Advisor except for any Claim incurred by the Company as a result of such Indemnified Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

The Company further agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the Advisor which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened Claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Person is an actual or potential party to such Claim), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional, irrevocable release of each Indemnified Person from any and all liability arising out of such Claim.

 

Promptly upon receipt by an Indemnified Person of notice of any complaint or the assertion or institution of any Claim with respect to which indemnification is being sought hereunder, such Indemnified Person shall notify the Company in writing of such complaint or of such assertion or institution but failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have hereunder, except and only to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the Company of substantial rights and defenses. If the Company so elects or is requested by such Indemnified Person, the Company will assume the defense of such Claim, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person and the payment of the fees and expenses of such counsel. In the event, however, that legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably determines that having common counsel would present such counsel with a conflict of interest or if the defendant in, or target of, any such Claim, includes an Indemnified Person and the Company, and legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably concludes that there may be legal defenses available to it or other Indemnified Persons different from or in addition to those available to the Company, then such Indemnified Person may employ its own separate counsel to represent or defend him, her or it in any such Claim and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company fails timely or diligently to defend, contest, or otherwise protect against any Claim, the relevant Indemnified Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to defend, contest, compromise, settle, assert crossclaims, or counterclaims or otherwise protect against the same, and shall be fully indemnified by the Company therefor, including without limitation, for the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and all amounts paid as a result of such Claim or the compromise or settlement thereof.

 

In addition, with respect to any Claim in which the Company assumes the defense, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such Claim and to retain his, her or its own counsel therefor at his, her or its own expense.

 

The Company agrees that if any indemnity sought by an Indemnified Person hereunder is held by a court to be unavailable for any reason then (whether or not the Advisor is an Indemnified Person), the Company and the Advisor shall contribute to the Claim for which such indemnity is held unavailable in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and the Advisor on the other, in connection with the Advisor’s engagement referred to above, subject to the limitation that in no event shall the amount of the Advisor’s contribution to such Claim exceed the amount of fees actually received by the Advisor from the Company pursuant to the Advisor’s engagement. The Company hereby agrees that the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and the Advisor on the other, with respect to the Advisor’s engagement shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (a) the total value paid or proposed to be paid or received by the Company or its shareholders as the case may be, pursuant to the transaction (whether or not consummated) for which the Advisor is engaged to render services bears to (b) the fee paid or proposed to be paid to the Advisor in connection with such engagement.

 

The Company’s indemnity, reimbursement and contribution obligations under this Agreement (a) shall be in addition to, and shall in no way limit or otherwise adversely affect any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at law or at equity and (b) shall be effective whether or not the Company is at fault in any way.

 

 

6

 

 

Exhibit 10.9

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, DE 19711

 

[    ], 2024

 

Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd.

8 Burn Road

#04-10 Trivex

Singapore 369977

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter will confirm our agreement that, commencing on the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) for the initial public offering (the “IPO”) of the securities of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and continuing until the earlier of (i) the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination or (ii) the Company’s liquidation (in each case as described in the Registration Statement) (such earlier date hereinafter referred to as the “Termination Date”), Tavia Sponsor Pte. Ltd. (the “Sponsor”) shall make available, or cause to be made available, to the Company certain office space, utilities and administrative support as may be reasonably required by the Company from time to time, situated at 8 Burn Road, #04-10 Trivex, Singapore 369977 (or any successor location). In exchange therefor, the Company shall pay the Sponsor the sum of $30,000 per month on the Effective Date and continuing monthly thereafter until the Termination Date. The Sponsor hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest, cause of action or claim of any kind (each, a “Claim”) in or to any monies that may be set aside in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) to be established upon the consummation of the IPO for the benefit of the public stockholders of the Company and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

This letter agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

No party hereto may assign either this letter agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.

 

This letter agreement constitutes the entire relationship of the parties hereto, and any litigation between the parties (whether grounded in contract, tort, statute, law or equity) shall be governed by, construed in accordance with, and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice of laws principles.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

  Very truly yours,
       
  TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.
       
  By:  
    Name:  Kanat Mynzhanov
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY:
     
TAVIA SPONSOR PTE. LTD.
     
By:                   
  Name:    
  Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Administrative Services Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit 14.1

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

OF

 

TAVIA ACQUISITION CORP.

 

1.Introduction

 

The board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) has adopted this code of ethics (the “Code”), which is applicable to all directors, officers and employees of the Company, with the intent to:

 

promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

promote the full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as well as in other public communications made by or on behalf of the Company;

 

promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;

 

deter wrongdoing; and

 

require prompt internal reporting of breaches of, and accountability for adherence to, this Code.

 

This Code may be amended only by resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors In this Code, references to the “Company” include, in appropriate context, the Company’s subsidiaries, if any.

 

2.Honest, Ethical and Fair Conduct

 

Each person owes a duty to the Company to act with integrity. Integrity requires, among other things, being honest, fair and candid. Deceit, dishonesty and subordination of the Company’s interests to personal interests are inconsistent with integrity. Service to the Company should never be subordinated to personal gain or advantage.

 

Each person must:

 

Act with integrity, including being honest and candid while still maintaining the confidentiality of the Company’s information where required or in the Company’s interests.

 

Observe all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations.

 

Comply with the requirements of applicable accounting and auditing standards, as well as Company policies, in order to maintain a high standard of accuracy and completeness in the Company’s financial records and other business-related information and data.

 

Adhere to a high standard of business ethics and not seek competitive advantage through unlawful or unethical business practices.

 

Deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers, competitors and employees.

 

Refrain from taking advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair-dealing practice.

 

Protect the assets of the Company and ensure their proper use.

 

Refrain from taking for themselves personally opportunities that are discovered through the use of corporate assets and refrain from using corporate assets, information, or position for general personal gain outside the scope of employment with the Company.

 

 

 

 

Avoid conflicts of interest, wherever possible, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by the Board of Directors (or the appropriate committee of the Board of Directors). Anything that would be a conflict for a person subject to this Code also will be a conflict if it is related to a member of his or her family or a close relative. Examples of conflict of interest situations include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

oany significant ownership interest in any supplier or customer;

 

oany consulting or employment relationship with any customer, supplier, or competitor;

 

oany outside business activity that detracts from an individual’s ability to devote appropriate time and attention to his or her responsibilities with the Company;

 

othe receipt of any money, non-nominal gifts or excessive entertainment from any company with which the Company has current or prospective business dealings;

 

obeing in the position of supervising, reviewing, or having any influence on the job evaluation, pay, or benefit of any close relative;

 

oselling anything to the Company or buying anything from the Company, except on the same terms and conditions as comparable officers or directors are permitted to so purchase or sell; and

 

oany other circumstance, event, relationship or situation in which the personal interest of a person subject to this Code interferes, or even appears to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole.

 

3.Disclosure

 

The Company strives to ensure that the contents of and the disclosures in public communications and in the reports and documents that the Company files with the SEC shall be full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable in accordance with applicable disclosure standards, including standards of materiality, where appropriate. Each person must:

 

not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s independent auditors, governmental regulators, self-regulating organizations and other governmental officials, as appropriate; and

 

in relation to his or her area of responsibility, properly review and critically analyze proposed disclosure for accuracy and completeness.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and each subsidiary of the Company (or persons performing similar functions), if any, and each other person that typically is involved in the financial reporting of the Company must familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements applicable to the Company as well as the business and financial operations of the Company.

 

Each person must promptly bring to the attention of the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (or the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors if no Audit Committee exists) any information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal and/or disclosure controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures, or internal controls.

 

4.Compliance

 

It is the Company’s obligation and policy to comply with all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. It is the personal responsibility of each person to, and each person must, adhere to the standards and restrictions imposed by those laws, rules, and regulations, including those relating to accounting and auditing matters.

 

2

 

 

5.Reporting and Accountability

 

The Board of Directors or Audit Committee, if one exists, of the Company is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented to it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. Any person who becomes aware of any existing or potential breach of this Code is required to notify the Chairman of the Board of Directors or Audit Committee promptly. Failure to do so is itself a breach of this Code.

 

Specifically, each person must:

 

Notify the Chairman promptly of any existing or potential violation of this Code.

 

Not retaliate against any other person for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith.

 

The Company will follow the following procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code and in reporting on the Code:

 

oThe Board of Directors or Audit Committee, if one exists, will take all appropriate action to investigate any breaches reported to it.

 

oIf the Audit Committee (if one exists) determines by majority decision that a breach has occurred, it will inform the Board of Directors.

 

oUpon being notified that a breach has occurred, the Board of Directors by majority decision will take or authorize such disciplinary or preventive action as it deems appropriate, after consultation with the Audit Committee (if one exists) and/or the Company’s counsel, up to and including dismissal or, in the event of criminal or other serious violations of law, notification of the SEC or other appropriate law enforcement authorities.

 

No person following the above procedure shall, as a result of following such procedure, be subject by the Company or any officer or employee thereof to discharge, demotion suspension, threat, harassment or, in any manner, discrimination against such person in terms and conditions of employment.

 

6.Waivers and Amendments

 

Any waiver (defined below) or an implicit waiver (defined below) from a provision of this Code for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions or any amendment (as defined below) to this Code is required to be disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

 

A “waiver” means the approval by the Company’s Board of Directors of a material departure from a provision of the Code. An “implicit waiver” means the Company’s failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a provision of the Code that has been made known to an executive officer of the Company. An “amendment” means any amendment to this Code other than minor technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments hereto.

 

All persons should note that it is not the Company’s intention to grant or to permit waivers from the requirements of this Code. The Company expects full compliance with this Code.

 

7.Other Policies and Procedures

 

Any other policy or procedure set out by the Company in writing or made generally known to employees, officers or directors of the Company prior to the date hereof or hereafter are separate requirements and remain in full force and effect.

 

8.Inquiries

 

All inquiries and questions in relation to this Code or its applicability to particular people or situations should be addressed to the Company’s Secretary.

 

 

3

 

Exhibit 23.3

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent

 

We consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) on Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 (File No. 333-280275) of our report dated May 15, 2024, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, with respect to our audit of the financial statements of Tavia Acquisition Corp. as of March 31, 2024 and for the period from March 7, 2024 (inception) through March 31, 2024, which report appears in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Experts” in such Prospectus.

 

/s/ Marcum llp

 

Marcum llp

New York, NY

July 9, 2024

  

Exhibit 99.1

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

 

of

 

tavia acquisition corp.

 

I.Purpose

 

The purposes of the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) are to assist the Board in monitoring: (1) the integrity of the annual, quarterly, and other financial statements of the Company, (2) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, (3) the performance of the Company’s independent auditor, and (4) the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee also shall review and approve all related-party transactions.

 

The Audit Committee shall prepare the report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.

 

II.Committee Membership

 

The Audit Committee shall consist of no fewer than three members, absent a temporary vacancy. The Audit Committee shall meet the “Audit Committee Requirements” of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and the independence and experience requirements of Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

The members of the Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Board. Audit Committee members may be replaced by the Board. There shall be a chairperson of the Audit Committee which shall also be appointed by the Board. The chairperson of the Audit Committee shall be a member of the Audit Committee and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the Audit Committee. He or she shall advise and counsel with the executives of the Company, and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Audit Committee or the Board.

 

III.Meetings

 

The Audit Committee shall meet as often as it determines, but not less frequently than quarterly. The Audit Committee shall meet periodically with management and the independent auditor in separate executive sessions. The Audit Committee may request any officer or employee of the Company or the Company’s outside counsel or independent auditor to attend a meeting of the Audit Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Audit Committee.

 

IV.Committee Authority and Responsibilities

 

The Audit Committee shall have the sole authority to appoint or replace the independent auditor. The Audit Committee shall be directly responsible for determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work. The independent auditor shall report directly to the Audit Committee.

 

The Audit Committee shall pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for the Company by its independent auditor, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the de minimus exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit). The Audit Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees of the Audit Committee consisting of one or more members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services, provided that decisions of such subcommittee to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

 

The Audit Committee shall have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain independent legal, accounting, or other advisors. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, for payment of compensation to (i) the independent auditor for the purpose of rendering or issuing an audit report and (ii) any advisors employed by the Audit Committee.

 

 

 

 

The Audit Committee shall make regular reports to the Board. The Audit Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval. The Audit Committee annually shall review the Audit Committee’s own performance.

 

The Audit Committee shall:

 

Financial Statement and Disclosure Matters

 

1.Meet with the independent auditor prior to the audit to review the scope, planning, and staffing of the audit.

 

2.Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommend to the Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (or the annual report to shareholders if distributed prior to the filing of the Form 10-K).

 

3.Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the Company’s quarterly financial statements prior to the filing of its Form 10-Q, including the results of the independent auditor’s review of the quarterly financial statements.

 

4.Discuss with management and the independent auditor, as appropriate, significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, including:

 

(a)any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles;

 

(b)the Company’s critical accounting policies and practices;

 

(c)all alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP that have been discussed with management and the ramifications of the use of such alternative accounting principles;

 

(d)any major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any special steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; and

 

(e)any material written communications between the independent auditor and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences.

 

5.Discuss with management the Company’s earnings press releases generally, including the use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information, and any financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. Such discussion may be general and include the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations to be made.

 

6.Discuss with management and the independent auditor the effect on the Company’s financial statements of (i) regulatory and accounting initiatives and (ii) off-balance sheet structures.

 

7.Discuss with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies.

 

8.Discuss with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 relating to the conduct of the audit, including any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management.

 

9.Review disclosures made to the Audit Committee by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (or individuals performing similar functions) during their certification process for the Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs about any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

2

 

 

Oversight of the Company’s Relationship with the Independent Auditor

 

10.At least annually, obtain and review a report from the independent auditor, consistent with the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, regarding (a) the independent auditor’s internal quality-control procedures, (b) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, (c) any steps taken to deal with any such issues and (d) all relationships between the independent auditor and the Company. Evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent auditor, including whether the auditor’s quality controls are adequate and the provision of permitted non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence, and taking into account the opinions of management and the internal auditor. The Audit Committee shall present its conclusions with respect to the independent auditor to the Board.

 

11.Verify the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law. Consider whether, in order to assure continuing auditor independence, it is appropriate to adopt a policy of rotating the independent auditing firm on a regular basis.

 

12.Oversee the Company’s hiring of employees or former employees of the independent auditor who participated in any capacity in the audit of the Company.

 

13.Be available to the independent auditor during the year for consultation purposes.

 

Compliance Oversight Responsibilities

 

14.Obtain assurance from the independent auditor that Section 10A(b) of the Exchange Act has not been implicated.

 

15.Review and approve all related-party transactions and reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Company’s management team in identifying potential target businesses.

 

16.Inquire and discuss with management the Company’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations and with the Company’s Code of Ethics in effect at such time, if any, and, where applicable, recommend policies and procedures for future compliance.

 

17.Establish procedures (which may be incorporated in the Company’s Code of Ethics, in effect at such time, if any) for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies.

 

18.Discuss with management and the independent auditor any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies and any published reports that raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies.

 

19.Discuss with the Company’s General Counsel and/or outside counsel the status of legal matters that may have a material impact on the financial statements or the Company’s compliance policies.

 

20.Review and approve all payments made to the Company’s officers and directors or its or their affiliates. Any payments made to members of the Audit Committee will be reviewed and approved by the Board, with the interested director or directors abstaining from such review and approval.

 

Limitation of Audit Committee’s Role

 

While the Audit Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations. These are the responsibilities of management and the independent auditor.

 

 

3

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER

 

OF

 

tavia acquisition corp.

 

I.PURPOSES

 

The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) is appointed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) for the purposes of, among other things, (a) discharging the Board’s responsibilities relating to the compensation of the Company’s chief executive officer (the “CEO”) and other executive officers of the Company, (b) administering or delegating the power to administer the Company’s incentive compensation and equity-based compensation plans, and (c) if required by applicable rules and regulations, issuing a “Compensation Committee Report” to be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, as applicable.

 

II.RESPONSIBILITIES

 

In addition to such other duties as the Board may from time to time assign, the Committee shall:

 

Establish, review, and approve the overall executive compensation philosophy and policies of the Company, including the establishment, if deemed appropriate, of performance-based incentives that support and reinforce the Company’s long-term strategic goals, organizational objectives, and shareholder interests.

 

Review and approve the Company’s goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the CEO, annually evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives and, based on this evaluation, determine the CEO’s compensation level, including, but not limited to, salary, bonus or bonus target levels, long and short-term incentive and equity compensation, retirement plans, and deferred compensation plans as the Committee deems appropriate. In determining the long-term incentive component of the CEO’s compensation, the Committee shall consider, among other factors, the Company’s performance and relative shareholder return, the value of similar incentive awards to CEOs at comparable companies, and the awards given to the Company’s CEO in past years. The CEO shall not be present during voting and deliberations relating to CEO compensation.

 

Determine the compensation of all other executive officers, including, but not limited to, salary, bonus or bonus target levels, long and short-term incentive and equity compensation, retirement plans, and deferred compensation plans, as the Committee deems appropriate. Members of senior management may report on the performance of the other executive officers of the Company and make compensation recommendations to the Committee, which will review and, as appropriate, approve the compensation recommendations.

 

Receive and evaluate performance target goals for the senior officers and employees (other than executive officers) and review periodic reports from the CEO as to the performance and compensation of such senior officers and employees.

 

Administer or delegate the power to administer the Company’s incentive and equity-based compensation plans, including the grant of stock options, restricted stock, and other equity awards under such plans.

 

Review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the adoption of, and amendments to, incentive compensation and equity-based plans and approve for submission to the shareholders all new equity compensation plans that must be approved by shareholders pursuant to applicable law.

 

Review and approve any annual or long-term cash bonus or incentive plans in which the executive officers of the Company may participate.

 

Review and approve for the CEO and the other executive officers of the Company any employment agreements, severance arrangements, and change in control agreements or provisions.

 

 

 

 

Review and approve all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for the Company’s executive officers and employees.

 

Review, evaluate and recommend changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.

 

Review and discuss with the Company’s management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K, Item 402, if required, and, based on such review and discussion, determine whether to recommend to the Board of Directors of the Company that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s annual report or proxy statement for the annual meeting of shareholders.

 

Provide the Compensation Committee Report for the Company’s annual report or proxy statement for the annual meeting of shareholders, if required.

 

Conduct an annual performance evaluation of the Committee. In conducting such review, the Committee shall evaluate and address all matters that the Committee considers relevant to its performance, including at least the following: (a) the adequacy, appropriateness, and quality of the information received from management or others; (b) the manner in which the Committee’s recommendations were discussed or debated; (c) whether the number and length of meetings of the Committee were adequate for the Committee to complete its work in a thorough and thoughtful manner; and (d) whether this Charter appropriately addresses the matters that are or should be within its scope.

 

III.COMPOSITION

 

The Committee shall be comprised of two or more members (including a chairperson), all of whom shall be “independent directors,” as such term is defined in the rules and regulations of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), except that the Committee may have as one of its members a “non-independent director” under exceptional and limited circumstances pursuant to the exemption under Rule 5605(d)(2)(B) of Nasdaq. At least two of the Committee members shall be “non-employee directors” as defined by Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). The members of the Committee and the chairperson shall be selected not less frequently than annually by the Board and serve at the pleasure of the Board. A Committee member (including the chairperson) may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board.

 

The Committee shall have authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to one or more subcommittees as the Committee may from time to time deem appropriate. If at any time the Committee includes a member who is not a “non employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, then a subcommittee comprised entirely of individuals who are “non-employee directors” may be formed by the Committee for the purpose of ratifying any grants of awards under any incentive or equity-based compensation plan for the purposes of complying with the exemption requirements of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act; provided that any such grants shall not be contingent on such ratification.

 

IV.MEETINGS AND OPERATIONS

 

The Committee shall meet as often as necessary, but at least two times each year, to enable it to fulfill its responsibilities. The Committee shall meet at the call of its chairperson or a majority of its members. The Committee may meet by telephone conference call or by any other means permitted by law or the Company’s Bylaws. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall act on the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Subject to the Company’s Bylaws, the Committee may act by unanimous written consent of all members in lieu of a meeting. The Committee shall determine its own rules and procedures, including designation of a chairperson pro tempore in the absence of the chairperson, and designation of a secretary. The secretary need not be a member of the Committee and shall attend Committee meetings and prepare minutes. The Secretary of the Company shall be the Secretary of the Committee unless the Committee designates otherwise. The Committee shall keep written minutes of its meetings, which shall be recorded or filed with the books and records of the Company. Any member of the Board shall be provided with copies of such Committee minutes if requested.

 

2

 

 

The Committee may ask members of management, employees, outside counsel, or others whose advice and counsel are relevant to the issues then being considered by the Committee to attend any meetings (or a portion thereof) and to provide such pertinent information as the Committee may request.

 

The chairperson of the Committee shall be responsible for leadership of the Committee, including preparing the agenda which shall be circulated to the members prior to the meeting date, presiding over Committee meetings, making Committee assignments, and reporting the Committee’s actions to the Board. Following each of its meetings, the Committee shall deliver a report on the meeting to the Board, including a description of all actions taken by the Committee at the meeting.

 

If at any time during the exercise of his or her duties on behalf of the Committee, a Committee member has a direct conflict of interest with respect to an issue subject to determination or recommendation by the Committee, such Committee member shall abstain from participation, discussion, and resolution of the instant issue, and the remaining members of the Committee shall advise the Board of their recommendation on such issue. The Committee shall be able to make determinations and recommendations even if only one Committee member is free from conflicts of interest on a particular issue.

 

V.AUTHORITY

 

The Committee has the authority, to the extent it deems appropriate, to conduct or authorize investigations into or studies of matters within the Committee’s scope of responsibilities and to retain one or more compensation consultants to assist in the evaluation of CEO or executive compensation or other matters. The Committee shall have the sole authority to retain and terminate any such consulting firm, and to approve the firm’s fees and other retention terms. The Committee shall evaluate whether any compensation consultant retained or to be retained by it has any conflict of interest in accordance with Item 407(e)(3)(iv) of Regulation S-K. The Committee shall also have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain legal counsel or other advisors. In retaining compensation consultants, outside counsel, and other advisors, the Committee must take into consideration factors specified in the Nasdaq listing rules. The Company will provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of any such investigations or studies and the compensation to any consulting firm, legal counsel, or other advisors retained by the Committee.

 

 

3

 

Exhibit 99.3

 

Consent of Director Nominee

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 of Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), the undersigned hereby consents to being named and described as a director nominee in the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement to any prospectus included in such Registration Statement, any amendment to such Registration Statement or any subsequent Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and to the filing or attachment of this consent with such Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this consent as of June 17, 2024.

 

  /s/ Christophe Charlier
  Name:   Christophe Charlier

 

Exhibit 99.4

 

Consent of Director Nominee

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 of Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), the undersigned hereby consents to being named and described as a director nominee in the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement to any prospectus included in such Registration Statement, any amendment to such Registration Statement or any subsequent Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and to the filing or attachment of this consent with such Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this consent as of June 18, 2024.

 

  /s/ Marsha Kutkevich
  Name:  Marsha Kutkevich

 

Exhibit 99.5

 

Consent of Director Nominee

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 of Regulation C promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) of Tavia Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), the undersigned hereby consents to being named and described as a director nominee in the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement to any prospectus included in such Registration Statement, any amendment to such Registration Statement or any subsequent Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and to the filing or attachment of this consent with such Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this consent as of June 18, 2024.

 

  /s/ Darrell Mays
  Name:  Darrell Mays

 

 

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

S-1

(Form Type)

 

Tavia Acquisition Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

   Security
Type
  Security
Class
Title
  Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward
Rule
  Amount
Registered
   Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit
   Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price(1)
   Fee Rate   Amount of
Registration
Fee
 
Fees To Be Paid  equity  Units, each consisting of one-half of one ordinary share, $0.0001 par value, one-half of one convertible preferred share and one-half of one redeemable warrant(2)  Rule 457(a)   20,125,000   $10.00   $201,250,000   $0.00014760   $29,704.5 
Fees To Be Paid  equity  Ordinary shares included as  part of the units(3)  Other   10,062,500                 
Fees To Be Paid  equity  Redeemable warrants included as part of the units(3)  Other   10,062,500                 
Fees To Be Paid  equity  Convertible preferred shares to be included as part of the units(3)  Other   10,062,500                 
Fees To Be Paid  equity  Ordinary shares underlying the warrants included as part of the units  Other   10,062,500   $11.50   $115,718,750    0.00014760   $17,080.1 
Fees To Be Paid  equity  Ordinary shares underlying the preferred shares to be included as part of the units  Other   10,062,500   $11.50   $115,718,750    0.00014760   $17,080.1 
   Total Offering Amounts                $432,687,500         $ 63,864.7 (4)
   Total Fees Previously Paid                       29,704.5 
   Total Fee Offsets                       0 
   Net Fee Due                      $34,160.2 

 

(1)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act.

 

(2)Representing 20,125,000 units including 17,500,000 units to be issued in the offering and up to 2,625,000 units which may be issued upon exercise of a 45-day option granted to the underwriters to cover over-allotments, if any, each consisting of one-half of one ordinary share, one-half of one convertible preferred share and one-half of one 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(a), 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)An additional indeterminate amount of securities are being registered hereby to be offered solely for certain market making transactions, by affiliates of the Registrant. Pursuant to Rule 457(q) under the Securities Act, no additional filing fee is required.