UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 9, 2023
Pono Capital Three, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
Cayman Islands | 001-41607 | N/A | ||
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS
Employer Identification No.) |
643 Ilalo St. #102
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (808) 892-6611
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||
Units, each consisting of one Class A Ordinary Share and one Redeemable Warrant | PTHRU | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||
Class A Ordinary Share, $0.0001 par value per share | PTHR | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||
Redeemable Warrants, each warrant exercisable for one Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share | PTHRW | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On February 9, 2023, Pono Capital Three, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), entered into an underwriting agreement by and between the Company and EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (“EF Hutton”), as representative of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 1.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference (the “Underwriting Agreement”), relating to the Company’s initial public offering (the “Offering”) of 10,000,000 units (the “Units”) at a price to the public of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Ordinary Share”) and one redeemable warrant of the Company (“Warrant”), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share for $11.50 per share. The Offering will result in gross proceeds of $100.0 million, a portion of which will be placed in a U.S.-based trust account (the “Trust Account”), maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee. Under the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company granted the Underwriters in the Offering a 45-day option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional Units solely to cover over-allotments, if any (the “Option”). The Underwriters exercised the Option in full, resulting in the sale of 11,500,000 Units in total and additional gross proceeds of $11.50 million.
The foregoing is only a brief description of the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties thereunder, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Underwriting Agreement that is attached as Exhibit 1.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
In connection with the Offering, the Company entered into the following agreements, forms of which were previously filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement:
● the Underwriting Agreement;
● a Warrant Agreement, dated February 9, 2023, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference;
● a Letter Agreement, dated February 9, 2023, by and among the Company, its officers and directors and the Company’s sponsor, Mehana Capital LLC (the “Sponsor”), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference;
● an Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated February 9, 2023, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference;
● a Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 9, 2023, by and among the Company and certain security holders, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated herein by reference;
● a Placement Unit Purchase Agreement, dated February 9, 2023, by and between the Company and the Sponsor, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and incorporated herein by reference;
● Indemnity Agreements, each dated February 9, 2023, between the Company and each of the officers and directors of the Company, the form of which is attached as Exhibit 10.5 hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and
● an Administrative Support Agreement, dated February 9, 2023, by and between the Company and the Sponsor, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.6 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.02. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities |
On February 14, 2023, simultaneously with the consummation of the Offering, the Company consummated the private placement of 565,375 units (the “Private Placement Units”) to the Sponsor, which amount includes 54,000 Private Placement Units purchased in connection with the Underwriters’ exercise of the Option in full, at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating gross proceeds of $5,653,750 (the “Private Placement”). No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to the Private Placement. The Private Placement was conducted as a non-public transaction and, as a transaction by an issuer not involving a public offering, is exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance upon Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The Private Placement Units are identical to the Units, except that (a) the Private Placement Units and their component securities will not be transferable, assignable or saleable until 30 days after the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination except to permitted transferees and (b) the warrants included as a component of the Private Placement Units, so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees, will be entitled to registration rights.
Item 5.03. | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
On February 9, 2023, in connection with the Offering, the Company filed its Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with the Cayman Registry. A copy of the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company is attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01. | Other Events |
A total of $117,875,000, comprised of the proceeds from the Offering and the proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Units, net of the underwriting commissions, discounts, and offering expenses, was placed in a U.S.-based trust account, maintained by 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 the Company to pay its taxes (less up to $100,000 interest to pay dissolution expenses), the funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of (a) the completion of the Company’s initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public Class A Ordinary Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial business combination or certain amendments to the Charter prior thereto or to redeem 100% of the public Class A Ordinary Shares if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within 12 months from the closing of the Offering (or up to 18 months from the closing of the Offering pursuant to the Charter or as extended by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association) or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of the Company’s public Class A Ordinary Shares if the Company is unable to complete its initial business combination within 12 months from the closing of the Offering (or up to 18 months from the closing of the Offering pursuant to the Charter or as extended by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association), subject to applicable law.
On February 9, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of the Offering, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
On February 14, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the Offering, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
(1) | Incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Company’s Form S-1 (File No. 333- 268283), filed with the SEC on November 10, 2022. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC. | ||
Date: February 14, 2023 | By: | /s/ Davin Kazama |
Davin Kazama | ||
Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 1.1
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
February 9, 2023
EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC
590 Madison Avenue, 39th Floor
New York, NY 10022
As Representative of the Underwriters
named on Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pono Capital Three, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (the “Representative”), as representative of the several underwriters named on Schedule A hereto (the “Underwriters” or, each underwriter individually, an “Underwriter”), as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.
1.1 Firm Securities.
1.1.1 Purchase of Firm Units. On the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, severally and not jointly, and the Underwriters agree to purchase from the Company, severally and not jointly, an aggregate of 10,000,000 units (the “Firm Units”) of the Company, as set forth opposite the respective names of the Underwriters on Schedule A hereto, at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions and the Deferred Underwriting Commission described in Section 1.3 below) of $9.59 per Firm Unit. The Firm Units are to be offered initially to the public (the “Offering”) at the offering price of $10.00 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), and one redeemable warrant (the “Warrants”). The Ordinary Shares and Warrants included in the Firm Units will trade separately on the fifty-second (52nd) day following the date hereof unless the Representative determines to allow earlier separate trading. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, in no event will the Ordinary Shares and Warrants included in the Firm Units trade separately until (i) the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Current Report on Form 8-K that includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement (as defined in Section 1.4.2) and updated financial information with respect to any proceeds the Company receives from the exercise of the Over-allotment Option (defined below) if such option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (ii) the Company has filed with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K and issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Each whole Warrant entitles its holder to purchase one share of Ordinary Shares for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, commencing thirty (30) days after the consummation by the Company of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”) and expiring on the five year anniversary of the consummation by the Company of its initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption of the Warrants or liquidation of the Company.
1.1.2 Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second (2nd) Business Day (as defined below) following the commencement of trading of the Units, or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at the offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Underwriters (“K&E”), or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is called the “Closing Date.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: $102,500,000 of the proceeds received by the Company for the Firm Units and the sale of Placement Units (as defined in Section 1.4.2) shall be deposited in the trust account (“Trust Account”) established by the Company for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below), as described in the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1) pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“CST”). The funds deposited in the Trust Account shall include an aggregate of $3,000,000 ($0.30 per Firm Unit), payable to the Representative as Deferred Underwriting Commission, in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof. The remaining proceeds (less commissions and actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement), if any, shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package the Firm Units for delivery, at least one (1) full Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver any of the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units. As used herein, the term “Public Stockholders” means the holders of Ordinary Shares sold as part of the Units in the Offering or acquired in the aftermarket, including the Sponsor (defined below) to the extent the Sponsor acquires such Ordinary Shares in the aftermarket (and solely with respect to such Ordinary Shares). “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.
1.2 Over-Allotment Option.
1.2.1 Option Units. The Representative is hereby granted an option (the “Over-allotment Option”) to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 units (the “Option Units”), the gross proceeds of which will be deposited in the Trust Account, for the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units. Such Option Units shall be identical in all respects to the Firm Units. Such Option Units shall be purchased for each account of the several Underwriters in the same proportion as the number of Firm Units, set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name on Schedule A hereto, bears to the total number of Firm Units (subject to adjustment by the Representative to eliminate fractions). The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Units,” and the Units, the Ordinary Shares and Warrants included in the Units, and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Public Securities.” No Option Units shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Units previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Option Units, or any portion thereof, may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representative to the Company. The purchase price to be paid for each Option Unit will be the same price per Firm Unit set forth in Section 1.1.1 hereof.
1.2.2 Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within forty-five (45) days after the effective date (“Effective Date”) of the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof). The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company by the Representative, which must be confirmed in accordance with Section 10.1 herein setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units (the “Option Closing Date”), which will not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time and in such other manner as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of K&E or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Option Units does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.
1.2.3 Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable as follows: $9.89 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Representative. The amount to be deposited in the Trust Account will include $0.30 per Option Unit (up to $450,000), payable to the Representative, as Deferred Underwriting Commission, in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof. The certificates representing the Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative requests in writing not less than two full Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and will be made available to the Representative for inspection, checking and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one full Business Day prior to such Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Units except upon tender of payment by the Underwriters for applicable Option Units.
1.3 Deferred Underwriting Commission. The Underwriters agree that 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units ($3,000,000) and the Option Units (up to $450,000), if any (collectively, the “Deferred Underwriting Commission”), will be deposited and held in the Trust Account and payable directly from the Trust Account, without accrued interest, to the Representative for its own account upon consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination, provided that the Representative, reserves the right in its sole discretion to waive the Deferred Underwriting Commission at any time prior to the initial Business Combination by providing written notice to the Company. In the event that the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination and CST, as the trustee of the Trust Account (in this context, the “Trustee”), commences liquidation of the Trust Account as provided in the Trust Agreement, the Representative agrees that: (i) it shall forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Underwriting Commission; and (ii) the Deferred Underwriting Commission, together with all other amounts on deposit in the Trust Account, shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis among the Public Stockholders.
1.4 Private Placements.
1.4.1 Founder Shares. On May 17, 2022, the Company issued 2,875,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Founder Shares”) to Mehana Capital LLC (the “Sponsor”), for an aggregate consideration of $25,000 and on December 22, 2022, the Company issued an additional 2,060,622 Founder Shares to the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $206. As such, as of December 22, 2022, the Sponsor holds an aggregate of 4,935,622 Founder Shares, 643,777 of which are subject to forfeiture. No underwriting discounts, commissions, or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the purchase of Founder Shares. Except as described in the Registration Statement, none of the Founder Shares may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Sponsor until (i) six months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or (ii) subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination, (y) the date on which the closing price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the consummation of the initial Business Combination, or (z) earlier, if the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property. The Founder Shares shall be subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Insider Letter (as defined in Section 2.21.1 herein). The holders of Founder Shares shall have no right to any liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any portion of the Founder Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time frame provided in the Prospectus (as defined below). The holders of the Founder Shares shall not have redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares. In the event that the Over-allotment Option is not exercised in full, the Sponsor will be required to forfeit such number of Founder Shares (up to 643,777 Founder Shares) such that the Founder Shares then outstanding will comprise 30% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company (excluding (i) any shares included in the Placement Units (as defined below) and (ii) any Representative Shares (as defined below), and assuming the Sponsor does not purchase any Units in this Offering) after giving effect to the Offering and exercise, if any, of the Over-allotment Option.
1.4.2 Private Placement. On or prior to Closing Date, the Sponsor will purchase from the Company pursuant to a Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.2 below) an aggregate of 511,375 private placement units (up to 565,375 private placement units if the over-allotment is exercised in full) (the “Placement Units”). Each Placement Unit consists of one share of Ordinary Shares and one warrant (the “Placement Warrants”) exercisable to purchase one share of Ordinary Shares at $11.50 per share, at a purchase price of $10.00 per Placement Unit ($5,113,750 in the aggregate ($5,653,750 if the over-allotment is exercised)) in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) intended to be exempt from registration under the Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Act. The Placement Warrants are identical to the Warrants sold as part of the Units in the Offering, subject to limited exceptions. The terms of the Placement Warrants are as described in the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below). Simultaneously with the Option Closing date (if any), the Sponsor will purchase from the Company pursuant to a Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement up to an additional 54,000 Placement Units at a purchase price of $10.00 per Placement Unit, intended to be exempt from registration under the Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Act.
The purchase price for the Placement Units to be paid by the Sponsor shall be delivered to CST or counsel to the Company or the Representative to hold in a separate escrow account at least 24 hours prior to the date hereof so that such funds are readily available to be delivered to the Trust Account on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be.
1.4.3 The Placement Units, the Ordinary Shares and Warrants included in the Placement Units and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Placement Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Placement Securities.” No underwriting discounts, commissions, or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the Placement Securities sold in the Private Placement. The Placement Units are identical to the Units except that none of the Placement Securities may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Sponsor, or its permitted transferees until thirty (30) days after consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination. The Public Securities, the Placement Securities, and the Founder Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities”.
1.5 Working Capital. Upon consummation of the Offering, approximately $950,000 of the net proceeds from the sale of Units and Placement Units will be released to the Company and held outside of the Trust Account to fund the working capital requirements of the Company.
1.6 Interest Income. Prior to the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation, interest earned on the Trust Account may be released to the Company from the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement to pay any taxes incurred by the Company and up to $100,000 for liquidation expenses, all as more fully described in the Prospectus (as defined below).
1.7 Representative Shares. Upon the closing of the Offering, the Company shall issue to the Representative 90,000 Ordinary Shares (the “Representative Shares”). Simultaneously with the Option Closing Date (if any), the Company shall issue to the Representative up to an additional 13,500 Representative Shares. The Representative has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any such Representative Shares without prior consent of the Company until the completion of the initial Business Combination. In addition, the Representative 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 the initial Business Combination and (ii) to waive its rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such shares if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination within 12 months from the closing of the Offering (or up to 18 months from the closing of this offering at the election of the Company pursuant to nine one month extensions subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including the deposit of up to $330,000 or $379,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($0.033 per unit in either case) for each one month extension as described in the Registration Statement). The Representative will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Representative Shares, or cause the Representative Shares to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the Representative Shares by any person, for a period of 180 days (pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) following the Effective Date 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. On and after the 181st day following the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows:
2.1 Filing of Registration Statement.
2.1.1 Pursuant to the Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement and any amendment thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-268283), 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 Units under the Act, which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (the “Regulations”) of the Commission under the Act. The conditions for use of Form S-1 to register the Offering under the Act, as set forth in the General Instructions to such Form, have been satisfied. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement became effective, including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Regulations, together with the registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional Units (the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), 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, “Applicable Time,” as used in the Act, means 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on the date of this Agreement. Prior to the Applicable Time, the Company prepared a Preliminary Prospectus, which was included in the Registration Statement filed on January 10, 2023, for distribution by the Underwriters (such Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Applicable Time, the “Statutory Prospectus”). Other than the Registration Statement, together with any correspondence letters between the Company and/or counsel for the Company and the Commission, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has been filed under the Act with the Commission. All of the Units and Ordinary Shares and Warrants included in the Units have been or will be registered for public sale 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 determines that, at the Applicable Time, 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 the Company and the Representative agree to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the 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.
2.1.2 Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File Number 001- 41607) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Units, Ordinary Shares and the Warrants. The registration of the Units, Ordinary Shares and Warrants under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof and the Units, Ordinary Shares and Warrants have been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.
2.1.3 No Stop Orders, etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any federal, state or other regulatory authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or Prospectus or any part thereof, or has instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
2.2 Disclosures in Registration Statement.
2.2.1 10b-5 Representation. At the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or at the time of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) and at all times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus do and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, and did or will, in all material respects, conform to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations. The Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date and at the Applicable Time, did not, and the amendments and supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as of its date and the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, did not, and the amendments and supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Statutory Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time (or such subsequent Applicable Time pursuant to Section 2.1.1), did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. When any Preliminary Prospectus or the Statutory Prospectus was first filed with the Commission (whether filed as part of the Registration Statement for the registration of the Units or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Regulations) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first filed with the Commission, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Statutory Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto complied or will have been corrected in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus to comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty made in this Section 2.2.1 does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of the Underwriters consists solely of the following: the names of the Underwriters, the information with respect to stabilization transactions contained in the section entitled “Underwriting - Stabilization” and the identity of counsel to the Underwriters contained in the section entitled “Legal Matters” (such information, collectively, the “Underwriters’ Information”).
2.2.2 Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein in all material respects 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, Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) that is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and no such agreement or instrument has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, the performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
2.2.3 Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s formation, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.2.4 Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, foreign, state and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
2.3 Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.
2.3.1 No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the 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 (the “Board of Directors”) or management has resigned from any position with the Company and (iv) no event or occurrence has taken place which materially impairs, or would likely materially impair, with the passage of time, the ability of the members of the Board of Directors or management to act in their capacities with the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.3.2 Recent Securities Transactions. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the 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 share capital.
2.4 Independent Accountants. Marcum, LLP (“Marcum”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of, and is 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, assuming reasonable inquiry, Marcum is currently registered with the PCAOB and in good standing. 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.
2.5 Financial Statements; Statistical Data.
2.5.1 Financial Statements. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules (if any) included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present the financial position, the results of operations and the cash flows of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein in conformity with the Regulations. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the 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, 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 and the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X or Form 10 that have not been included as so required.
2.5.2 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.
2.6 Authorized Capital; Options. 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 or on the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the adjusted stock 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 or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, 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.
2.7 Valid Issuance of Securities.
2.7.1 Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities 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 authorized and outstanding securities of the Company conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. All offers, sales and any transfers of the outstanding securities of the Company were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or exempt from such registration requirements (based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such securities).
2.7.2 Public Securities. The Public Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Public Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Public Securities has been duly and validly taken. The form of certificates for the Public Securities conform to the corporate law of the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation and applicable securities laws. 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. When paid for and issued, the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such Warrants are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been reserved for issuance and upon the exercise of the Warrants and upon payment of the consideration therefor, and when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, such Ordinary Shares will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.
2.7.3 Placement Securities.
2.7.3.1 The Placement Units constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof, and are, or will be, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Ordinary Shares included in the Placement Units and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Placement Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for in accordance with the Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement and Warrant Agreement will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Placement 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 Placement Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Placement 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.
2.7.4 No Integration. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be or may be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the Public Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or the Placement Securities in the Private Placement.
2.8 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.
2.9 Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This Agreement, the Insider Letter (as defined in Section 2.21.1), the Trust Agreement, the Services Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.3), the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.21.4), the Warrant Agreement (as defined in Section 2.23.1) and the Private Placement Unit Purchase 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 the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal, and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
2.10 No Conflicts, Etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of 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 Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, as may be amended (collectively, the “Charter Documents”); or (iii) violate any existing applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, assets or business constituted as of the date hereof.
2.11 No Defaults; Violations. No default or violation exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Charter Documents or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses.
2.12 Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.12.1 Conduct of Business. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business for the purpose as 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 this Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since its formation, the Company has conducted no business and has incurred no liabilities other than in connection with its formation and in furtherance of this Offering.
2.12.2 Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection herewith 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 and the Placement Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by the Transaction Documents and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable foreign, federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated by FINRA.
2.13 D&O Questionnaires. All information contained in the questionnaires (“Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s officers, directors and stockholders (“Insiders”) and provided to the Representative and its counsel and the biographies of the Insiders contained in the Registration Statement, Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (to the extent a biography is contained) is true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by each Insider to become inaccurate, incorrect or incomplete.
2.14 Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened against or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider or any stockholder or member of an Insider that has not been disclosed, that is required to be disclosed, in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Questionnaires.
2.15 Good Standing. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, assets, prospects, business, operations or properties of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
2.16 No Contemplation of a Business Combination. The Company has not identified any Business Combination target (each a “Target Business”) and it has not, nor has anyone on its behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any Business Combination target.
2.17 Transactions Requiring Disclosure to FINRA.
2.17.1 Finder’s Fees. There are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.
2.17.2 Payments Within 180 Days. The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement, other than the prior payments to the Representative in connection with the Offering. The Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly, to anyone who is a potential underwriter in the Offering or a related person (as defined by FINRA rules) of such an underwriter within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement. No person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement has any relationship or affiliation or association with any member of FINRA participating in the Offering. Except with respect to the Representative in connection with the Offering, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, any consulting agreement or any other type of agreement) during the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement with the Commission, which arrangement or agreement provides for the receipt of any item of value and/or the transfer or issuance of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Company to a FINRA member, any person associated with a member (as defined by FINRA rules), any potential underwriters in the Offering and/or any related persons.
2.17.3 FINRA Affiliation. Other than as disclosed to the Representative, no officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) of any class of the Company’s unregistered securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA). The Company will advise the Representative and K&E if it learns that any officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering.
2.17.4 Share Ownership. No officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) of any class of the Company’s unregistered securities is an owner of shares or other securities of any member of FINRA participating in the Offering (other than securities purchased on the open market).
2.17.5 Loans. No officer or director or any direct or indirect beneficial owner (including the Insiders) of any class of the Company’s unregistered securities has made a subordinated loan to any member of FINRA participating in the Offering.
2.17.6 Proceeds of the Offering. No proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities (excluding underwriting compensation) or the Placement Securities will be paid to any FINRA member participating in the Offering, or any persons associated or affiliated with a member of FINRA participating in the Offering, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.17.7 Conflicts of Interest. To the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, no FINRA member intending to participate in the Offering has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” exists when a member of FINRA and/or its associated persons, parent or affiliates in the aggregate beneficially own 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding subordinated debt or common equity, or 10% or more of the Company’s preferred equity. “Members participating in the Offering” include managing agents, syndicate group members and all dealers which are members of FINRA.
2.18 Taxes.
2.18.1 There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state or any political subdivision of the United States, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Public Securities.
2.18.2 The Company has filed all U.S. federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof in a timely manner or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. The Company has paid all taxes shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable. The Company has made appropriate provisions in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 2.5.1 above in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise taxes for all current or prior periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined.
2.19 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; Anti-Money Laundering; Patriot Act.
2.19.1 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any of the Insiders or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business or operations of the Company. The Company has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
2.19.2 Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with (i) the requirements of the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Asset Control and (ii) applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, including the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar money laundering statutes, rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Federal governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened.
2.19.3 Patriot Act. Neither the Company nor to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any Insider has violated the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended, or the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.
2.20 Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company in connection with the Offering and delivered to the Representative or to K&E shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
2.21 Agreements With Insiders.
2.21.1 Insider Letter. The Company has caused to be duly executed a legally binding and enforceable letter agreement (except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification, contribution or non-compete provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought), a form of which is annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Insider Letter”), pursuant to which each of the Insiders of the Company agree to certain matters. The Insider Letter shall not be amended, modified or otherwise changed without the prior written consent of the Representative.
2.21.2 Purchase Agreement. The Company and Sponsor have entered into a Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor will, among other things, on the Closing Date, consummate the purchase of and deliver the purchase price for the Placement Units as provided for in such Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement, (i) the Sponsor has waived any and all rights and claims each may have to any proceeds, and any interest thereon, held in the Trust Account in respect of the Placement Securities, and (ii) the proceeds from the sale of the Placement Securities will be deposited by the Company in the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement on the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as applicable, as provided for in the Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement.
2.21.3 Administrative Services. The Company and the Sponsor have entered into an Administrative Services Agreement (“Services Agreement”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Sponsor will make available to the Company office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support for the Company’s use for $10,000 per month payable until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust Account, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Services Agreement.
2.21.4 Registration Rights Agreement. The Company and the Sponsor have entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby the Sponsor will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to the securities it holds or may hold, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.21.5 Loans. The Sponsor has made loans to the Company in the aggregate amount of $300,000 (the “Insider Loans”) pursuant to a promissory note substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The Insider Loans do not bear any interest and are repayable by the Company on the earlier of March 31, 2023 or the consummation of the Offering.
2.22 Investment Management Trust Agreement. The Company and CST have 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.
2.23 Warrant Agreement. The Company and CST have entered into a warrant agreement with respect to the Warrants underlying the Units and the Placement Warrants and certain other warrants that may be issued by the Company with CST substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (“Warrant Agreement”).
2.24 No Existing Non-Competition Agreements. No Insider is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect his ability to be an employee, officer and/or director of the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.25 Investments. No more than 45% of the “value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”)) of the Company’s total assets consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income after taxes is derived from, securities other than “Government Securities” (as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act) or money market funds meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act.
2.26 Investment Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
2.27 Subsidiaries. The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business entity.
2.28 Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and any Insider, on the other hand, which is required by the Act, the Exchange Act or the Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus which is not so described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business), or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus. The Company has not extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or officer of the Company.
2.29 No Influence. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the 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.
2.30 Sarbanes-Oxley. The Company is, or on the Closing Date will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules or regulations promulgated by any governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency, that are applicable to it as of the date hereof.
2.31 Distribution of Offering Material by the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the distribution of the Units, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, in each case as supplemented and amended.
2.32 Nasdaq Stock Market. The Units, Ordinary Shares and Warrants have been authorized for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (the “Nasdaq”), and the Company knows of no reason or set of facts that is likely to adversely affect such authorization.
2.33 Board of Directors. As of the Effective Date, the Board of Directors of the Company will be comprised of the persons set forth as “Directors” or “Director nominees” under the heading of the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus captioned “Management.” As of the Effective Date, the qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board will comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of the Nasdaq that are, in each case, applicable to the Company. As of the Effective Date, the Company will have an Audit Committee that satisfies the applicable requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of the Nasdaq.
2.34 Emerging Growth Company. From its formation through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).
2.35 No Disqualification Events. Neither the Company, nor any of its predecessors or any affiliated issuer, nor any director, executive officer, or other officer of the Company participating in the Offering, nor any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the Applicable Time (each, a “Company Covered Person” and, together, “Company Covered Persons”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Company Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Underwriters a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.
2.36 Free-Writing Prospectus and Testing-the-Waters. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405. The Company: (a) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act and (b) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications other than its officers and the Representative and individuals engaged by the Representative. The Company has not distributed any written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule B hereto. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.
3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1 Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company will deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and the Company shall not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects in writing.
3.2 Federal Securities Laws.
3.2.1 Compliance. During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations, and the Exchange Act, and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Act.
3.2.2 Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.
3.2.3 Exchange Act Registration. The Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Units, Ordinary Shares and Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange Act (except in connection with a going-private transaction) for a period of five years from the Effective Date, or until the Company is required to be liquidated or is acquired, if earlier, or, in the case of the Warrants, until the Warrants expire and are no longer exercisable or have been exercised or redeemed in full. The Company will not deregister the Units, Ordinary Shares and Warrants under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.
3.2.4 Exchange Act Filings. From the Effective Date until the earlier of the Company’s initial Business Combination, or its liquidation and dissolution, the Company shall timely file with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) such statements and reports as are required to be filed by a company registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.
3.2.5 Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. As soon as it is legally required to do so, the Company shall take all actions necessary to obtain and thereafter maintain material compliance with each applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 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 Free-Writing Prospectus. The Company agrees that it will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405.
3.4 Delivery to Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to the Underwriters, without charge and from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act, such number of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as the Underwriters may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to the Underwriters, upon their request, two manually executed Registration Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference and all manually executed consents of certified experts.
3.5 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective and will notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any foreign or state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event that, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, and in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any foreign or state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
3.6 Affiliated Transactions.
3.6.1 Business Combinations. The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity that is affiliated with any Insider unless the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that the Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view.
3.6.2 Compensation to Insiders. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company shall not pay any of the Insiders or any of their affiliates any fees or compensation from the Company, for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a Business Combination.
3.7 Financial Public Relations Firm. Promptly after the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination, the Company shall retain a financial public relations firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative for a term to be agreed on by the Company and the Representative.
3.8 Reports to the Representative. For a period of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated or is no longer required to file reports under the Exchange Act, the Company will furnish to the Representative and its counsel copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish to the Underwriters, (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission, (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs that was released by the Company, (iii) a copy of each current Report on Form 8-K or Schedule 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company, (iv) two (2) copies of each registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission under the Act, and (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and its counsel in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section.
3.9 Transfer Agent. For a period of five years following the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and warrant agent acceptable to the Representative. CST is acceptable to the Representative.
3.10 Payment of Expenses. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing Date, all Company expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including but not limited to (i) the Company’s legal and accounting fees and disbursements, (ii) the preparation, printing, filing, mailing and delivery (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, including any pre or post effective amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and mailing of this Agreement and related documents, including the cost of all copies thereof and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the Underwriters in quantities as may be required by the Underwriters, (iii) fees incurred in connection with conducting background checks of the Company’s management team, (iv) the preparation, printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, the Ordinary Shares and the Warrants included in the Units, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (v) fees incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA and the reasonable fees of counsel of the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, (vi) fees, costs and expenses incurred in listing the Securities on the Nasdaq or such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Underwriters together determine, (vii) all fees and disbursements of the transfer and warrant agent, (viii) all of the Company’s expenses associated with “due diligence” and “road show” meetings arranged by the Representative and any presentations made available by way of a net roadshow, including without limitation trips for the Company’s management to meet with prospective investors, all travel, food and lodging expenses associated with such trips incurred by the Company or such management, (ix) the preparation, binding and delivery of bound transaction “bibles,” in quantities and form and style reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and Lucite cube mementos in such quantities as the Representative and the Company may mutually agree, and (x) all other costs and expenses customarily borne by an issuer incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 3.10. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Representative the actual and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement in an amount not to exceed $150,000 in the event of a Closing and $75,000 in the event there is no Closing.
3.11 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering and Private Placement and received by it in a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
3.12 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.
3.13 Notice to FINRA.
3.13.1 Notice to FINRA. For a period of ninety (90) days after the date of the Prospectus, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association) is engaged, in writing, to assist the Company in its search for a Target Business or to provide any other services in connection therewith, the Company will provide the following to FINRA and the Representative prior to the consummation of the Business Combination: (i) complete details of all services and copies of agreements governing such services; and (ii) justification as to why the person or entity providing the merger and acquisition services should not be considered an “underwriter and related person” with respect to the Offering, as such term is defined in Rule 5110 of the FINRA Manual. The Company also agrees that, if required by law, proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the tender offer documents or proxy statement which the Company will file with the Commission in connection with the Business Combination.
3.13.2 FINRA. The Company shall advise the Representative (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is aware that any 10% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the distribution of the Public Securities.
3.13.3 Broker/Dealer. In the event the Company intends to register as a broker/dealer, merge with or acquire a registered broker/dealer, or otherwise become a member of FINRA, it shall promptly notify FINRA.
3.14 Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor to its knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, any of its employees, directors or stockholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken and the Company will not take, and has directed its employees, directors and stockholders not to 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.
3.15 Intentionally Omitted.
3.16 Payment of Deferred Underwriting Commission on Business Combination. Upon the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination, the Company agrees that it will cause the Trustee to pay the Deferred Underwriting Commission directly from the Trust Account to the Representative, in accordance with Section 1.3.
3.17 Internal Controls. The Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
3.18 Accountants. Until the earlier of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain Marcum or another independent registered public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative.
3.19 Form 8-K. The Company shall, on or prior to the date hereof, retain its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing Date (“Audited Financial Statements”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement. Within four (4) Business Days after the Closing Date, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Financial Statements. Promptly after the Option Closing Date, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised after the Closing Date, the Company shall file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K or an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of such option.
3.20 Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been done to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative (or its counsel).
3.21 Investment Company. The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only as provided for in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it shall be engaged in a business other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.
3.22 Amendments to Charter Documents. The Company covenants and agrees, that prior to its initial Business Combination it will not seek to amend or modify its Charter Documents, except as set forth therein. The Company acknowledges that the purchasers of the Units in the Offering shall be deemed to be third party beneficiaries of this Agreement and specifically this Section 3.22.
3.23 Press Releases. The Company agrees that it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), for a period of twenty-five (25) days after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be prohibited from issuing any press releases or engaging in any other publicity required by law, except that including the name of any Underwriter therein shall require the prior written consent of such Underwriter.
3.24 Insurance. The Company will maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance (including, without limitation, insurance covering the Company, its directors and officers for liabilities or losses arising in connection with this Offering, including, without limitation, liabilities or losses arising under the Act, the Exchange Act, the Regulations and any applicable foreign securities laws).
3.25 Electronic Prospectus. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Underwriters, at the Company’s expense, promptly, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days from the effective date of this Agreement, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “Electronic Prospectus” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Units for at least the period during which a prospectus relating to the Units is required to be delivered under the Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time).
3.26 Private Placement Proceeds. On the Closing Date, the Company shall cause to be deposited $5,113,750 of proceeds from the Private Placement into the Trust Account, or such other amount such that the amount of the funds in the Trust Account shall be $10.25 per Unit sold in the Offering. On the Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall cause to be deposited an amount of additional proceeds from the additional Placement Units sold on the Option Closing Date into the Trust Account such that the amount of funds in the Trust Account shall be $10.25 per Unit sold in the Offering.
3.27 Future Financings. The Company agrees that neither it, nor any successor or subsidiary of the Company, will consummate any public or private equity or debt financing prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, unless all investors in such financing expressly waive, in writing, any rights in or claims against the Trust Account.
3.28 Amendments to Agreements. The Company shall not amend, modify or otherwise change the Warrant Agreement, Trust Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement, Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement, the Services Agreement, or the Insider Letter without the prior written consent of the Representative. Furthermore, the Trust Agreement shall provide that the trustee is required to obtain a joint written instruction signed by both the Company and the Representative with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account from the Trust Account, prior to commencing any liquidation of the assets of the Trust Account in connection with the consummation of any Business Combination, and such provision of the Trust Agreement shall not be permitted to be amended without the prior written consent of the Representative.
3.29 Nasdaq. Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the listing of the Units, Ordinary Shares and Warrants on the Nasdaq or a national securities exchange acceptable to the Representative.
3.30 Reservation of Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and Placement Warrants outstanding from time to time.
3.31 Notice of Disqualification Events. The Company will notify the Underwriters in writing, prior to the Closing Date, of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Company Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Company Covered Person.
3.32 Disqualification of S-1. Until the earlier of seven years from the date hereof or until the Warrants have either expired and are no longer exercisable or have all been exercised, the Company will not take any action or actions that prevent or disqualify the Company’s use of Form S-1 (or other appropriate form) for the registration of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants under the Act.
3.33 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, or the liquidation of the Trust Account if a Business Combination is not consummated as required by its Charter Documents (the “Termination Date”).
3.34 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 and the filing of the Company’s Form 10-Q quarterly report.
3.35 Right of First Refusal. The Company agrees that if the Firm Units are sold in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall grant the Representative the right of first refusal to act as the sole investment banker, sole book runner, and/or sole placement agent, at the Representative’s sole discretion, for any and all future public and private equity, equity linked and debt offerings of the Company, or any successor to or any subsidiary of the Company (each, a “Subject Transaction”). The right of first refusal shall commence as of the date of this Agreement and terminate on the twelve (12) month anniversary of the closing of a Business Combination. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6)(A), such right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three years from the effective date of the Registration Statement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not retain, engage or solicit any additional investment banker, book-runner, financial advisor, underwriter and/or placement agent in a Subject Transaction without the express written consent of the Representative. The Representative’s failure to exercise its preferential right with respect to any particular proposal shall not affect its preferential rights relative to future proposals.
3.36 Business Combination Matters.
3.36.1 Consummation of Business Combination. The Company may consummate the initial Business Combination and conduct redemptions of Ordinary Shares for cash upon consummation of such Business Combination without a shareholder vote pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, including the filing of tender offer documents with the Commission. Such tender offer documents will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under the Commission’s proxy rules and will provide each stockholder of the Company with the opportunity prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination to redeem the Ordinary Shares held by such stockholder for an amount of cash equal to (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, calculated as of two Business Days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, representing (x) the proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and part of the Private Placement and (y) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes, divided by (B) the total number of Ordinary Shares sold as part of the Units in the Offering (the “Public Stock”) then outstanding. If, however, a shareholder vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement in connection with the initial Business Combination, or the Company decides to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will submit such Business Combination to the Company’s stockholders for their approval (“Business Combination Vote”). With respect to the Business Combination Vote, if any, the Sponsor and the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees have agreed to vote any Founder Shares and Ordinary Shares they then hold in favor of the Company’s initial Business Combination. If the Company seeks shareholder approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company will offer to each Public Stockholder holding Ordinary Shares the right to have its shares redeemed in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission at a per share redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to (I) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, calculated as of two Business Days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination representing (1) the proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and part of the Private Placement and (2) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay taxes, divided by (II) the total number of Public Stock then outstanding. If the Company seeks shareholder approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company may proceed with such Business Combination only if a majority of the outstanding Ordinary Shares voted by the stockholders at a duly held shareholders meeting are voted to approve such Business Combination. If, after seeking and receiving such stockholder approval, the Company elects to so proceed, it will redeem shares, at the Redemption Price, from those Public Stockholders who validly and affirmatively requested such redemption. Only Public Stockholders holding Ordinary Shares who properly exercise their redemption rights, in accordance with the applicable tender offer or proxy materials related to such Business Combination and the Charter Documents of the Company, shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account in connection with an initial Business Combination, and the Company shall pay no distributions with respect to any other holders of securities of the Company in connection therewith. In the event that the Company does not effect a Business Combination by twelve (12) months from the closing of the Offering (or up to eighteen (18) months from the closing of this offering if extended as described in the Prospectus) (or such later date as has been approved through a valid amendment to the Company’s Charter Documents), the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) Business Days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Public Stock, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (net of taxes payable and less interest to pay dissolution expenses up to $100,000), divided by the number of then outstanding shares of Public Stock, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company, subject in each case to its obligations to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law. Only Public Stockholders holding Ordinary Shares included in the Securities shall be entitled to receive such redemption amounts and the Company shall pay no such redemption amounts or any distributions in liquidation with respect to any other securities of the Company. The Sponsor and the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees will not propose any amendment to the Company’s Charter Documents (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide for the redemption of Public Stock in connection with its initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Stock if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination within twelve (12) months from the closing of the Offering (or up to eighteen (18) months from the closing of this offering if extended as described in the Prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless the Company provides its Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem the Public Stock upon approval of such amendment as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
3.36.2 Business Combination Diligence. In connection with the initial Business Combination, the Company shall (i) provide, or cause the target of the initial Business Combination to provide, to the Representative and its representatives, customary documentation, including (A) all financial and other records, including any financial forecasts or projections, (B) pertinent corporate documents, (C) material contracts, (D) documents and information contained in the virtual data room used in connection with the initial Business Combination, and (E) any other information, certifications or documentation reasonably requested by the Representative and its representatives with respect to the parties to the Business Combination Agreement, in each case, with reasonable advance opportunity to review the foregoing; (ii) cause appropriate officers, directors and employees of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement, and cause representatives of the Company’s and the initial Business Combination target’s accountants and auditors, to participate in any due diligence sessions reasonably requested by the Representative in connection with the initial Business Combination; and (iii) provide, and in the case of the target of the initial Business Combination, cause to provide, customary comfort letters, legal opinions and negative assurance letters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, each dated as of the effective date of the registration statement (if applicable), statutory prospectus, prospectus or proxy statement filed in connection with the initial Business Combination and as of the closing date of initial Business Combination.
3.36.3 Registration Statement Review. The Company shall (i) (A) provide the Representative and its representatives a reasonable advance opportunity to review and comment on any registration statement, statutory prospectus, prospectus and proxy statement, including exhibits and financial statements included therein, to be filed in connection with the initial Business Combination, prior to each such filing, (B) provide the Representative and its representatives a reasonable advance opportunity to review and comment on any document that names or describes the Representative, whether or not such document is filed, (C) give reasonable consideration to any comments made by the Representative and its representatives, and (D) consider in good faith including in any such filing, document or response all comments reasonably proposed by the Representative and their representatives; provided that any information naming or describing the Representative must be in a form and content reasonably satisfactory to the Representative; and (ii) upon the request by the Representative, promptly file an amendment to any registration statement, statutory prospectus, prospectus and proxy statement, including exhibits and financial statements included therein, filed in connection with the initial Business Combination, to correct any information to the extent that such information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect, or to correct any material omissions therefrom.
3.36.4 Assignment and Assumption of Indemnification. The Company shall include in the Business Combination Agreement (i) a covenant for the assignment and assumption, by the public entity resulting from the initial Business Combination, of all of the Company’s indemnification obligations under Section 5 hereof and (ii) that the Representative may rely on the representations and warranties contained therein as if they were a party thereto.
3.36.5 Business Combination Announcement. In the event that the Company desires or is required by an applicable law or regulation to cause an announcement (“Business Combination Announcement”) to be placed in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times or any other news or media publication or outlet or to be made via a public filing or submission with the Commission announcing the consummation of the Business Combination that indicates that the Representative was the underwriter in the Offering, the Company shall supply the Representative with a draft of the Business Combination Announcement and provide the Representative with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment thereon, subject to the agreement of the Representative to keep confidential such draft announcement in accordance with the Representative’s standard policies regarding confidential information.
3.36.6 Deferred Underwriting Commission. Subject to Section 1.3, upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Company and the Representative shall jointly direct the Trustee to pay the Representative the Deferred Underwriting Commission out of the proceeds of the Offering held in the Trust Account. The Representative shall have no claim to payment of any interest earned on the portion of the proceeds held in the Trust Account representing the Deferred Underwriting Commission. If the Company fails to consummate its initial Business Combination within the time period provided in the Company’s Charter Documents (as such time period may be amended), the Deferred Underwriting Commission will not be paid to the Representative and will, instead, be included in the liquidation distribution of the proceeds held in the Trust Account made to the Public Stockholders. In connection with any such liquidation, the Representative forfeits any rights or claims to the Deferred Underwriting Commission. In the event that the Representative waives its right to the Deferred Underwriting Commission and/or resigns from its role in connection with the initial Business Combination (if any), the Company shall include disclosure regarding such waiver and/or resignation in any registration statement, statutory prospectus, prospectus and proxy statement filed subsequent to such waiver and/or resignation in connection with the initial Business Combination, provide the Representative with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment thereon and give reasonable consideration to any comments made by the Representative and its representatives.
4. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Units, as provided herein, shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following conditions:
4.1 Regulatory Matters.
4.1.1 Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 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 each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for the purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of K&E.
4.1.2 FINRA Clearance. By the Effective Date, the Underwriters shall have received a letter of no objections from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.
4.1.3 No Commission Stop Order. At the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, the Commission has not issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any part thereof, and has not instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
4.1.4 Nasdaq. The Units, Ordinary Shares and Warrants shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, satisfactory evidence of which shall have been provided to the Representative.
4.2 Company Counsel Matters.
4.2.1 Closing Date and Option Closing Date Opinions of Counsel. On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions and negative assurance statements of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and K&E.
4.2.2 Reliance. In rendering such opinions, such counsels may rely as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to the Representative’s counsel if requested.
4.3 Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative as representative for the several Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects (including the non-material nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in Section 4.3.3 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:
4.3.1 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, Preliminary Prospectus, 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.
4.3.2 Stating that in their opinion the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published Regulations thereunder;
4.3.3 Stating that, on the basis of their review, which included a reading of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements of the Company (with an indication of the date of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements), a reading of the latest available minutes of the stockholders and Board of Directors and the various committees of the Board of Directors, consultations with officers and other employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that (a) the unaudited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Regulations or are not fairly presented in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, or (b) at a date immediately prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any change in the share capital or long-term debt of the Company, or any decrease in the stockholders’ equity of the Company as compared with amounts shown in the September 30, 2022 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus or, if there was any decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease, and (c) during the period from September 30, 2022 to a specified date immediately prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there were any changes in revenues, net earnings (losses) or net earnings (losses) per share of Ordinary Shares, in each case as compared with the Statement of Operations for the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) to September 30, 2022 included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, or, if there was any such change, setting forth the amount of such change;
4.3.4 Setting forth, at a date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, the amount of liabilities of the Company (including a break-down of commercial papers and notes payable to banks);
4.3.5 Stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) set forth in the letter and found them to be in agreement;
4.3.6 Stating that they have not, since the Company’s incorporation, brought to the attention of the Company’s management any reportable condition related to internal structure, design or operation as defined in the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 60 “Communication of Internal Control Structure Related Matters Noted in an Audit,” in the Company’s internal controls; and
4.3.7 Statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative or its counsel may reasonably request, including: (i) that Marcum is registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; (ii) that Marcum has sufficient assets and insurance to pay for any liability incurred by it relating to providing the letter; and (iii) that Marcum is not insolvent.
4.4 Officers’ Certificates.
4.4.1 Officers’ Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (in their capacities as such), dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, to the effect that (i) the Company has performed all covenants, complied with all agreements and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, (ii) the conditions set forth in Section 4 hereof have been satisfied as of such date, (iii) as of Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct, (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened and (v) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto). In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company (in their capacities as such) as the Representative may reasonably request.
4.4.2 Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying (i) that the Charter Documents are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect, (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the public offering contemplated by this Agreement are in full force and effect and have not been modified, (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission, (iv) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Nasdaq and (v) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
4.5 No Material Changes. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Insider before or by any court or federal, foreign or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, assuming reasonable inquiry, threatened by the Commission, and (iv) the Registration Statement, the 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 neither the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4.6 Delivery of Agreements. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Transaction Documents.
4.7 Placement Units. On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Placement Units have been purchased as provided for in the Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement and the requisite portion of the purchase price for such securities specified herein and therein shall be deposited into the Trust Account.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
5.1 Indemnification.
5.1.1 Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates and their respective partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls each Underwriter or any affiliate within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:
(a) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any registration statement filed with respect to the securities issued in the initial Business Combination to the Company’s and/or the target’s shareholders, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in (a) any preliminary prospectus, Statutory Prospectus, any Testing-the-Waters Communication or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing), (b) any statutory prospectus, prospectus or proxy statement, or any other filing or submission with the Commission, as applicable, filed or submitted in connection with the initial Business Combination (including, in each case, exhibits and financial statements included therein), (c) any “roadshow” as defined in Rule 433(h), or (d) any testing-the-waters communication or any materials used in connection with any financing related to the initial Business Combination, in each case including in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or rising out of or based upon the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(b) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authority, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 5.1(d)) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be delayed, conditioned or withheld; and
(c) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authority, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission (whether or not a party), to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (a) or (b) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made solely in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters’ Information.
5.1.2 Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and its directors, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 5.1.1, 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 Statutory Prospectus, any Testing-the-Waters Communication or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing), solely in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters’ Information.
5.1.3 Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 5.1 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 5.1, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 5.1 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 5.1 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of, the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any other legal expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (A) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (B) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (C) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (D) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action or counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, in each case, within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action; in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction (plus local counsel) at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 5 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an express and unconditional release of each indemnified party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (y) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
5.1.4 Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 5.1.1(b) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
5.2 Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of Section 5.1 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable or insufficient from the Company or the Underwriters, the Company and the Underwriters will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted) to which any indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the sale of the Units (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation received by the Underwriters (before deducting expenses) from the sale of Units on behalf of the Company. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 5.2 were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 5.2 shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 5.2, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 5.1.3. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 5.1 and this Section 5.2, the Underwriters shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions actually received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 5.2, any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act, any affiliates of the respective Underwriters and any officers, directors, partners, employees or agents of the Underwriters or their respective affiliates, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each director of the Company and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 5.2, will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 5.2 except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 5.1.3, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 5.1.3.
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 do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to the Representative to purchase said Firm Units on such terms. In the event that neither the Representative nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.10, 5, and 9.3 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other several Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
6.3 Postponement of Closing Date. In the event that the Firm Units to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to, or to supplement, the Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, that in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such securities.
7. Additional Covenants.
7.1 Additional Shares or Options. The Company hereby agrees that until the consummation of a Business Combination, it shall not issue any Ordinary Shares or any options or other securities convertible into Ordinary Shares, or any preferred shares or other securities of the Company which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote as a class with the Ordinary Shares on a Business Combination.
7.2 Trust Account Waiver Acknowledgments. The Company hereby agrees that it will use its reasonable best efforts prior to commencing its due diligence investigation of any prospective Target Business or obtaining the services of any vendor to have such Target Business and/or vendor acknowledge in writing whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that (a) it has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $102,500,000 (without giving effect to any exercise of the Over-allotment Option) for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and that, except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem Ordinary Shares contained in the Units in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter Documents, or (iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination and (b) for and in consideration of the Company (i) agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it or (ii) agreeing to engage the services of the vendor, as the case may be, such Target Business or vendor agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (“Claim”) and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The foregoing letters shall substantially be in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and B, respectively. The Company may forego obtaining such waivers only if the Company shall have received the approval of its Chief Executive Officer and the approving vote of at least a majority of its Board of Directors.
7.3 Insider Letter. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of the Insider Letter and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, such Insider Letter 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 Tender Offer Documents, Proxy Materials and Other Information. The Company shall provide to the Representative or their counsel (if so instructed by the Representative) with 10 copies of all tender offer documents or proxy information and all related material filed with the Commission in connection with a Business Combination concurrently with such filing with the Commission. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been provided to the Representative pursuant to this Section. In addition, the Company shall furnish any other state in which its initial public offering was registered, such information as may be requested by such state.
7.6 Emerging Growth Company. The Company shall promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Act.
7.7 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 at the time of signing the definitive agreement for the Business Combination with such Target Business (excluding taxes payable on the interest earned in the Trust Account and the Deferred Underwriting Commissions). 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 independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. The Company is not required to obtain 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.
7.8 Restrictions on Subsequent Equity Sales. The Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, for a period of 180 days from the date of this Agreement, it will not 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 Exchange Act with respect to any units, ordinary shares, warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, ordinary shares, (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, warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, ordinary shares, 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), subject to certain exceptions.
8. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. Except as the context otherwise requires, all representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, and such representations, warranties and agreements of the Underwriters and the Company, including the indemnity agreements contained in Section 5 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, the Company or any Controlling Person, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Public Securities to the Underwriters until the earlier of the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations and the seventh (7th) anniversary of the later of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, at which time the representations, warranties and agreements shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.
9. Effective Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof.
9.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date at the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.
9.2 Termination. The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the Representative’s opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States, or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, or the Nasdaq Capital Market or quoted on the OTC Markets shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in existing major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or Federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities market, or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s sole opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Units, or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder, or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions, including without limitation as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof, as in the Representative’s sole judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Units or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the 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, (i) the obligations of the Company to pay the out of pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 3.10 hereof and (ii) the Company shall reimburse the Representative for any costs and expenses incurred in connection with enforcing any provisions of this Agreement.
9.4 Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way affected by such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.
10. Miscellaneous.
10.1 Notices. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed, delivered by hand or reputable overnight courier or delivered by facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed and shall be deemed given when so mailed, delivered or faxed or if mailed, two days after such mailing.
If to the Representative:
EF Hutton,
division of Benchmark Investments, LLC
590 Madison Avenue, 39th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Joseph T. Rallo, Chief Executive Officer
Email: jrallo@efhuttongroup.com
Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attn: | Christian O. Nagler, Esq. | |
Peter S. Seligson, Esq. | ||
Email: | cnagler@kirkland.com | |
peter.seligson@kirkland.com |
If to the Company:
Pono Capital Three, Inc.
643 Ilalo St. #102
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Attn: Davin Kazama
Telephone: (808) 892-6611
Email: davin@ponocorp.com
Copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
101 Constitution Ave NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20001
Attn: Andrew M. Tucker, Esq.
Telephone: (202) 689-2800
Email: andy.tucker@nelsonmullins.com
10.2 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
10.3 Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
10.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
10.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the selected dealers, the Company and the controlling persons, directors, agents, partners, members, employees and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from the Underwriters.
10.6 Waiver of Immunity. To the extent that the Company may be entitled in any jurisdiction in which judicial proceedings may at any time be commenced hereunder, to claim for itself or its revenues or assets any immunity, including sovereign immunity, from suit, jurisdiction, attachment in aid of execution of a judgment or prior to a judgment, execution of a judgment or any other legal process with respect to its obligations hereunder and to the extent that in any such jurisdiction there may be attributed to the Company such an immunity (whether or not claimed), the Company hereby irrevocably agrees not to claim and irrevocably waives such immunity to the maximum extent permitted by law.
10.7 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Company and the Representative irrevocably submit to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus or the offering of the Securities. Each of the Company and the Representative irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company or the Representative may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 10.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company or the Representative in any action, proceeding or claim. Each of the Company and the Representative waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action based on this Agreement may be instituted by the Underwriters in any competent court. The Company agrees that the Underwriters shall be entitled to recover all of their reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to any action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor if any of them are the prevailing party in such action or proceeding.
10.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction.
10.9 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
10.10 Waiver. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
10.11 No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction pursuant to a contractual relationship between the Company and the Underwriters, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) the Underwriters have not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Underwriters have advised or are currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of this offering of the Company’s securities, either before or after the date hereof and (v) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgment with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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, | ||
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Davin Kazama | |
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Accepted on the date first above written.
EF HUTTON, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC
as Representative of the several Underwriters
By: | /s/ Sam Fleischman | |
Name: | Sam Fleischman | |
Title: | Supervisory Principal |
[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
10,000,000 Units
Underwriter | Number of Firm Units to be Purchased | |||
EF Hutton, Division of Benchmark Investments, LLC | 420,796 | |||
B. Riley Securities, Inc. | 9,574,204 | |||
Westpark Capital, Inc. | 5,000 | |||
TOTAL | 10,000,000 |
SCHEDULE B
None.
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF TARGET BUSINESS LETTER
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Pono Capital Three, Inc. (the “Company”), dated as of ______ __, 2023 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in Prospectus.
We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $102,500,000 for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and the Underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their public shares in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period set forth in its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association as the same may be amended from time to time, or (iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination.
For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to evaluate the undersigned for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (each, a “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
Print Name of Target Business | |
Authorized Signature of Target Business |
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF VENDOR LETTER
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Pono Capital Three, Inc. (the “Company”), dated as of ______ __, 2023 the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in Prospectus.
We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of at least $102,500,000 for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and the Underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for a portion of the interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their public shares in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (ii) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period set forth in its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association as the same may be amended from time to time, or (iii) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination.
For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to engage the services of the undersigned, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (each, a “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
Print Name of Vendor |
|
Authorized Signature of Vendor |
Exhibit 3.1
THE COMPANIES ACT (REVISED) OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
An Exempted Company Limited By Shares | ||
second amended and restated MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION (Adopted by special resolution dated 8 February 2023)
|
||
1 |
THE COMPANIES ACT (REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
(Adopted by special resolution dated 8 February 2023)
An Exempted Company Limited By Shares
1 | NAME |
The name of the Company is PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
2 | STATUS |
The Company is an exempted company limited by shares.
3 | REGISTERED OFFICE |
The registered office of the Company is at Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited, 4th Floor, Harbour Place, 103 South Church Street, P.O. Box 10240, Grand Cayman KY1-1002, Cayman Islands or at such other place as the Directors may from time to time decide.
4 | OBJECTS AND CAPACITY |
Subject to paragraph 9 of this Memorandum, the objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Act or any other law of the Cayman Islands. The Company is a body corporate capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity, irrespective of any question of corporate benefit.
5 | SHARE CAPITAL |
The share capital of the Company is USD 11,100 divided into 100,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of par value US$0.0001 each, 10,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of par value US$0.0001 each and 1,000,000 Preferred Shares of par value US$0.0001 each. There is no limit on the number of shares of any class which the Company is authorised to issue. However, subject to the Companies Act (Revised) and the Company’s articles of association, the Company has power to do any one or more of the following:
(a) | to redeem or repurchase any of its shares; and |
(b) | to increase or reduce its capital; and |
1 |
(c) | to issue any part of its capital (whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced): |
i. | with or without any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; or |
ii. | subject to any limitations or restrictions, |
and unless the condition of issue expressly declares otherwise, every issue of shares (whether declared to be ordinary, preference or otherwise) is subject to this power; or
(d) | to alter any of those rights, privileges, conditions, limitations or restrictions. |
6 | LIABILITY OF MEMBERS |
The liability of each Member is limited to the amount from time to time unpaid on such Member’s Shares.
7 | CONTINUATION |
The Company may exercise the powers contained in the Companies Act to transfer and be registered by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be de-registered in the Cayman Islands.
8 | DEFINITIONS |
Capitalised terms used and not defined in this Memorandum of Association shall bear the same meaning as those given in the Articles of Association of the Company.
9 | EXEMPTED COMPANY |
The Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the Company carried on outside the Cayman Islands; provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as to prevent the Company effecting and concluding contracts in the Cayman Islands, and exercising in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands.
10 | FINANCIAL YEAR |
The financial year end of the Company is 31 December or such other date as the Directors may from time to time decide and annex to this Memorandum.
2 |
THE COMPANIES ACT (REVISED) OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
An Exempted Company Limited By Shares | ||
second amended and restated articles OF ASSOCIATION
(Adopted by special resolution dated [date]) |
||
THE COMPANIES ACT (REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
(Adopted by special resolution dated [ ])
An Exempted Company Limited By Shares
1 | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | The Regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule to the Companies Act do not apply to the Company. In these Articles of Association, if not inconsistent with the context, the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings: |
Amendment has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 37.13;
Amendment Redemption Event has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 37.13;
Applicable Law means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person;
Approved Amendment has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 37.13;
Articles means, as appropriate:
(a) | these articles of association as amended from time to time: or |
(b) | two or more particular articles of these Articles; |
and Article refers to a particular article of these Articles;
Audit Committee means the audit committee of the Company formed pursuant to Article 23.8 hereof, or any successor audit committee;
Auditor means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company;
Automatic Redemption Event shall have the meaning given to it in Article 37.2;
Business Combination means the initial acquisition by the Company, whether through a merger, share reconstruction or amalgamation, asset or share acquisition, exchangeable share transaction, contractual control arrangement or other similar type of transaction, with a Target Business at Fair Value;
1 |
Business Day means a day other than:
(a) | a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City; |
(b) | a Saturday; or |
(c) | a Sunday; |
Cayman Islands means the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands;
Class A Share means a Class A ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company;
Class B Share means a Class B ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company;
Class B Share Entitlement means the right of the Sponsor as holder of the Class B Shares (including on an as-converted basis) to 30 per cent. of all entitlements to income and capital arising in respect of the Company’s issued and outstanding Public Shares after the IPO;
Clear Days, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:
(a) | the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and |
(b) | the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect; |
Clearing House means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction.
Companies Act means the Companies Act (Revised), as amended or re-enacted from time to time;
Company means the above named company;
Default Rate means 10% (ten per cent) per annum;
Designated Stock Exchange means Nasdaq Global Market or any other national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed for trading;
Director means a director of the Company appointed in accordance with these Articles;
2 |
Electronic has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Electronic Record has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Electronic Signature has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands;
Electronic Transactions Act means the Electronic Transactions Act of the Cayman Islands;
Equity-Linked Securities means any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Shares issued in a financing transaction in connection with a Business Combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt;
Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
Fair Value shall mean a value at least equal to 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and any taxes payable on the Trust Account balance) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination;
Fully Paid and Paid Up:
(a) | in relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; and |
(b) | in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth; |
Independent Director means a Director who is an independent director as defined in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange as determined by the Directors;
Initial Members means the Sponsor, the Directors and Officers or their respective affiliates who hold Shares prior to the IPO;
IPO means the initial public offering of units, consisting of Shares and warrants of the Company and rights to receive Shares;
Joint Holders has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 26.11;
Member has the same meaning as in the Companies Act;
Memorandum means the memorandum of association of the Company as amended from time to time;
3 |
Officer means a person then appointed to hold an office in the Company; and the expression includes a Director, alternate Director or liquidator;
Ordinary Resolution means a resolution:
(a) | passed by a majority of such Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the Company; or |
(b) | approved in writing by all of the Members entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Members. |
Original Shares has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 27.2(b);
Over-Allotment Option means the option of the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 15% of the firm units (as described at Article 4.5) sold in the IPO at a price equal to US$10.00 per unit, less underwriting discount and commissions;
Per-Share Redemption Price means:
(a) | with respect to an Automatic Redemption Event, the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account (including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account, not previously released, which shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of such interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares; |
(b) | with respect to an Amendment Redemption Event, the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned but net of taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares; and |
(c) | with respect to either a Tender Redemption Offer or a Redemption Offer, the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares; |
Preferred Share means a preferred share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company;
Public Share means the Class A Shares included in the units issued in the IPO (as described in Article 4.5);
Redemption Offer has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 37.6;
Register of Directors and Officers means the register of Directors and Officers maintained by the Company in accordance with these Articles;
4 |
Register of Members means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Companies Act and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of Members;
Registrar means the Registrar of Companies and includes the Deputy Registrar of Companies;
Registered Office means the registered office for the time being of the Company;
Registration Statement has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 37.12;
Residual Assets has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 4.6(d);
Seal means any seal which has been duly adopted as the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate Seal;
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;
Secretary means the person appointed to perform any or all of the duties of secretary of the Company, including any assistant secretary;
Share means a Class A Share, Class B Share or a Preferred Share in the share capital of the Company and the expression:
(a) | includes stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); and |
(b) | where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a share; |
Special Resolution means a special resolution passed in accordance with Section 60 of the Companies Act, being a resolution:
(a) | passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of such Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the Company of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a Special Resolution has been duly given; or |
(b) | approved in writing by all of the Members entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Members; |
Sponsor means Mehana Equity LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, being the sole Member immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO;
Sponsor Group means the Sponsor and its respective affiliates, successors and assigns;
Target Business means any businesses or entity with whom the Company wishes to undertake a Business Combination;
5 |
Target Business Acquisition Period shall mean the period commencing from the effectiveness of the registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with the Company’s IPO up to and including the first to occur of:
(a) | a Business Combination; or |
(b) | the Termination Date; |
Tax Filing Authorised Person means such person as any Director shall designate from time to time, acting severally;
Tender Redemption Offer has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 37.5;
Termination Date has the meaning given to it in Article 37.2;
Treasury Share means a Share that has been repurchased, redeemed, surrendered to or otherwise acquired by the Company and not cancelled;
Trust Account means the trust account established by the Company upon the consummation of its IPO and into which a certain amount of the net proceeds of the IPO, together with a certain amount of the proceeds of a private placement of warrants simultaneously with the closing date of the IPO, will be deposited;
Underwriter means an underwriter of the IPO from time to time, and any successor underwriter; and
Written includes information generated, sent, received or stored by electronic, electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, biometric or photonic means, including electronic data interchange and electronic mail in accordance with the Electronic Transactions Act and in writing shall be construed accordingly.
1.2 | In the Memorandum and these Articles, unless the context otherwise requires, |
(a) | a reference to: |
(i) | any Cayman Islands law or regulation, is a reference to such law or regulation as amended or re-enacted from time to time; |
(ii) | the singular includes the plural and vice versa; |
(iii) | a person includes all legal persons and natural persons; and |
(iv) | legal persons include all forms of corporate entity and any other person having capacity to act in its own name created by or in accordance with the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction; |
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(b) | if a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day; |
(c) | where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning; |
(d) | all references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located; |
(e) | the words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation; and |
(f) | headings are for ease of reference only and shall be disregarded in interpreting the Memorandum and the Articles. |
2 | REGISTERED SHARES |
Registered Shares
2.1 | The Company shall issue registered Shares only. |
No Bearer Shares or warrants
2.2 | The Company is not authorised to issue bearer Shares or warrants, convert registered Shares to bearer Shares or exchange registered Shares or warrants for bearer Shares. |
3 | SHARE CERTIFICATES |
Issue of share certificates
3.1 | A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. If the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued, upon being entered in the register of Members as the holder of a Share, the Directors may issue to any Member: |
(a) | without payment, to one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and |
(b) | upon payment of such reasonable sum as the Directors may determine for every certificate after the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares. |
3.2 | Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid or partly paid up. A certificate may be executed under Seal or executed in such other manner as the Directors determine. |
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3.3 | Every certificate shall bear legends required under the Applicable Laws. |
3.4 | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. |
Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates
3.5 | If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to: |
(a) | evidence; |
(b) | indemnity; |
(c) | payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and |
(d) | payment of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate, |
as the Directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.
4 | ISSUE OF SHARES |
Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights
4.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and these Articles and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange and/or any competent regulatory authority, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), issue, grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares of the Company to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide, save that the Directors may not allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares to the extent that it may affect the ability of the Company to carry out a Class B Share Conversion described at Article 38. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act. |
4.2 | Without limitation to the preceding Article, the Directors may so deal with the unissued Shares of the Company: |
(a) | either at a premium or at par; |
(b) | with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise. |
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4.3 | Notwithstanding Article 4.2 above, following an IPO and prior to a Business Combination, the Company may not issue additional Shares that would entitle the holders thereof to: |
(a) | receive funds from the Trust Account; |
(b) | vote as a class with respect to the Public Shares; or |
(c) | vote on any Business Combination. |
4.4 | The Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company at such times and on such terms and conditions as the Directors may decide. |
4.5 | The Company may issue units of securities in the Company, which may be comprised of Shares, rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company, on such terms and conditions as the Directors may decide. The securities comprising any such units which are issued pursuant to the IPO can only be traded separately from one another on the 52nd day following the date of the prospectus relating to the IPO unless the managing Underwriter determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to the Company having filed a current report on Form 8-K containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the IPO with the SEC and a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Prior to such date, the units can be traded, but the securities comprising such units cannot be traded separately from one another. |
4.6 | Each Share in the Company confers upon the Member: |
(a) | subject to Article 35, the right to one vote at a meeting of the Members of the Company or on any resolution of Members; |
(b) | the right to be redeemed on an Automatic Redemption Event in accordance with Article 37.2 or pursuant to either a Tender Redemption Offer or Redemption Offer in accordance with Article 37.5 or pursuant to an Amendment Redemption Event in accordance with Article 37.13; |
(c) | a pro rata right in any dividend paid by the Company; and |
(d) | subject to satisfaction of and compliance with Article 37, a pro rata right in the distribution of the surplus assets of the Company on its liquidation provided that in the event that the Company enters liquidation prior to or without having consummated a Business Combination then, in such circumstances, in the event any surplus assets (Residual Assets) of the Company remain following the Company having complied with its applicable obligations to redeem Public Shares and distribute the funds held in the Trust Account in respect of such redemptions pursuant to Article 37, the Public Shares shall not have any right to receive any share of those Residual Assets which are held outside the Trust Account and such Residual Assets shall be distributed (on a pro rata basis) only in respect of those Shares that are not Public Shares. |
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Power to issue fractions of a Share
4.7 | Subject to the Companies Act, the Company may, but shall not otherwise be obliged to, issue fractions of a Share of any class or round up or down fractional holdings of Shares to its nearest whole number. A fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a Share of that class of Shares. |
Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees
4.8 | The Company may, in so far as the Companies Act permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person: |
(a) | subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or |
(b) | procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional, |
for any Shares in the Company. That commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid or partly-paid Shares or partly in one way and partly in another.
4.9 | The Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay them any proper commission or brokerage. |
Trusts not recognised
4.10 | Except as required by Applicable Law: |
(a) | the Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by the Articles) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder; and |
(b) | no person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share. |
Power to vary class rights
4.11 | If the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may only be varied if one of the following applies: |
(a) | the Members holding two-thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or |
(b) | the variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class. |
4.12 | For the purpose of paragraph 4.11(b), all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that: |
(a) | the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and |
(b) | any Member holding issued Shares of the class, present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a corporate Member, by its duly authorised representative, may demand a poll. |
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4.13 | Notwithstanding Article 4.10, unless the proposed variation is for the purposes of approving, or in conjunction with, the consummation of a Business Combination, prior to a Business Combination but subject always to the limitations set out in Article 35 in respect of amendments to the Memorandum and Articles, the rights attached to the Shares as specified in Article 4.5 may only, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied by a Special Resolution, and any such variation that has to be approved under this Article shall also be subject to compliance with Article 37.13. |
Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights
4.14 | Unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class. |
Capital contributions without issue of further Shares
4.15 | With the consent of a Member, the Directors may accept a voluntary contribution to the capital of the Company from that Member without issuing Shares in consideration for that contribution. In that event, the contribution shall be dealt with in the following manner: |
(a) | it shall be treated as if it were a share premium; |
(b) | unless the Member agrees otherwise: |
(i) | if the Member holds Shares in a single class of Shares - it shall be credited to the share premium account for that class of Shares; |
(ii) | if the Member holds Shares of more than one class - it shall be credited rateably to the share premium accounts for those classes of Shares (in the proportion that the sum of the issue prices for each class of Shares that the Member holds bears to the total issue prices for all classes of Shares that the Member holds); and |
(iii) | it shall be subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and these Articles applicable to share premiums. |
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Treasury Shares
4.16 | Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Companies Act shall be held as Treasury Shares and not treated as cancelled if: |
(a) | the Directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and |
(b) | the relevant provisions of the Memorandum, the Articles and the Companies Act are otherwise complied with. |
Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters
4.17 | No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share. |
4.18 | The Company shall be entered in the Register of Members as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However: |
(a) | the Company shall not be treated as a Member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void; and |
(b) | a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Companies Act. |
4.19 | Nothing in the preceding Article prevents an allotment of Shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares. |
4.20 | Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Companies Act and otherwise on such terms and conditions as the Directors determine. |
5 | register of members |
5.1 | The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Companies Act. |
5.2 | The Directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Companies Act. The Directors may also determine which Register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time. |
5.3 | The title to Public Shares may be evidenced and transferred in accordance with the laws applicable to the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange and, for these purposes, the Register of Members may be maintained in accordance with Article 40B of the Companies Act. |
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6 | Lien on Shares |
Nature and scope of lien
6.1 | The Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all moneys payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate: |
(a) | either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and |
(b) | whether or not those moneys are presently payable. |
6.2 | At any time the Directors may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article. |
Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien
6.3 | The Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met: |
(a) | the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable; |
(b) | the Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and |
(c) | that sum is not paid within 14 Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles. |
6.4 | The Shares may be sold in such manner as the Directors determine. |
6.5 | To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Directors shall incur no personal liability to the Member concerned in respect of the sale. |
Authority to execute instrument of transfer
6.6 | To give effect to a sale, the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The title of the transferee of the Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in respect of the sale. |
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Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien
6.7 | On sale pursuant to the preceding Articles: |
(a) | the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the Register of Members as the holder of those Shares; and |
(b) | that person shall deliver to the Company for cancellation the certificate for those Shares. |
6.8 | Despite this, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which, at the date of sale, were presently payable by them to the Company in respect of those Shares. That person shall also be liable to pay interest on those monies from the date of sale until payment at the rate at which interest was payable before that sale or, failing that, at the Default Rate. The Directors may waive payment wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Shares at the time of sale or for any consideration received on their disposal. |
Application of proceeds of sale
6.9 | The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to the person whose Shares have been sold: |
(a) | if no certificate for the Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or |
(b) | if a certificate for the Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation, |
but, in either case, subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Shares before the sale.
7 | Calls on Shares and forfeiture |
Power to make calls and effect of calls
7.1 | Subject to the terms of allotment, the Directors may make calls on the Members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on their Shares as required by the notice. |
7.2 | Before receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in whole or in part. |
7.3 | A Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. A person shall not be liable for calls made after such person is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares. |
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Time when call made
7.4 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising the call was passed. |
Liability of joint holders
7.5 | Members registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share. |
Interest on unpaid calls
7.6 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid: |
(a) | at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or |
(b) | if no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate. |
7.7 | The Directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part. |
Deemed calls
7.8 | Any amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise, shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call. |
Power to accept early payment
7.9 | The Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares held by them although no part of that amount has been called up. |
Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares
7.10 | Subject to the terms of allotment, the Directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares. |
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Notice of default
7.11 | If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of: |
(a) | the amount unpaid; |
(b) | any interest which may have accrued; |
(c) | any expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default. |
7.12 | The notice shall state the following: |
(a) | the place where payment is to be made; and |
(b) | a warning that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited. |
Forfeiture or surrender of Shares
7.13 | If the notice under the preceding Article is not complied with, the Directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing, the Directors may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture. |
7.14 | The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any Fully Paid Share. |
7.15 | Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender |
7.16 | A forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors determine either to the former Member who held that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit at any time before a sale, re-allotment or other disposition. Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred to any person, the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the transferee. |
Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member
7.17 | On forfeiture or surrender: |
(a) | the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the Register of Members as the holder of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and |
(b) | that person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited or surrendered Shares. |
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7.18 | Despite the forfeiture or surrender of their Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all moneys which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by them to the Company in respect of those Shares together with: |
(a) | all expenses; and |
(b) | interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment: |
(i) | at the rate of which interest was payable on those moneys before forfeiture; or |
(ii) | if no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate. |
The Directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.
Evidence of forfeiture or surrender
7.19 | A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a Director or the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to forfeited Shares: |
(a) | that the person making the declaration is a Director or Secretary, and |
(b) | that the particular Shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date. |
Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the Shares.
Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares
7.20 | Any person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall their title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares. |
8 | Transfer of Shares |
Form of transfer
8.1 | Subject to the following Articles about the transfer of Shares, and provided that such transfer complies with applicable rules of the SEC, the Designated Stock Exchange and federal and state securities laws of the United States, a Member may transfer Shares to another person by completing an instrument of transfer in a common form or in a form prescribed by the Designated Stock Exchange or in any other form approved by the Directors, executed: |
(a) | where the Shares are Fully Paid, by or on behalf of that Member; and |
(b) | where the Shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that Member and the transferee. |
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8.2 | The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered into the Register of Members. |
Power to refuse registration
8.3 | If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options or warrants issued pursuant to Article 4.4 on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the Directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such option or warrant. |
Power to suspend registration
8.4 | The Directors may suspend registration of the transfer of Shares at such times and for such periods, not exceeding 30 days in any calendar year, as they determine. |
Company may retain instrument of transfer
8.5 | The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the Directors refuse to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given. |
9 | Transmission of Shares |
Persons entitled on death of a Member
9.1 | If a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Members’ interest are the following: |
(a) | where the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and |
(b) | where the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives. |
9.2 | Nothing in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder. |
Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy
9.3 | A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member may elect to do either of the following: |
(a) | to become the holder of the Share; or |
(b) | to transfer the Share to another person. |
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9.4 | That person must produce such evidence of their entitlement as the Directors may properly require. |
9.5 | If the person elects to become the holder of the Share, they must give notice to the Company to that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it were an executed instrument of transfer. |
9.6 | If the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then: |
(a) | if the Share is Fully Paid, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and |
(b) | if the Share is partly paid, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer. |
9.7 | All the Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate, the instrument of transfer. |
Indemnity
9.8 | A person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall indemnify the Company and the Directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the Directors as a result of that registration. |
Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy
9.9 | A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall have the rights to which they would be entitled if they were registered as the holder of the Share. However, until they are registered as Member in respect of the Share, they shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of that class of Shares in the Company. |
10 | Alteration of capital |
Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital
10.1 | To the fullest extent permitted by the Companies Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose: |
(a) | increase its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution; |
(b) | consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares; |
(c) | convert all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares of any denomination; |
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(d) | sub-divide its Shares or any of them into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and |
(e) | cancel Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of Shares into which its capital is divided. |
Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares
10.2 | Whenever, as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions of a Share the Directors may on behalf of those Members: |
(a) | sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Company); and |
(b) | distribute the net proceeds in due proportion among those Members. |
10.3 | For that purpose, the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall the transferee’s title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in respect of the sale. |
Reducing share capital
10.4 | Subject to the Companies Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any way. |
11 | Redemption and purchase of own Shares |
Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares
11.1 | Subject to the Companies Act and Article 37, and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, and, where applicable, the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange and/or any competent regulatory authority, the Company may by its Directors: |
(a) | issue Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its Directors determine before the issue of those Shares; |
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(b) | with the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the manner which the Directors determine at the time of such variation; and |
(c) | purchase all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and in the manner which the Directors determine at the time of such purchase. |
11.2 | The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner authorised by the Companies Act, including out of any combination of the following: |
(a) | capital; |
(b) | its profits; and |
(c) | the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares. |
11.3 | With respect to redeeming or repurchasing the Shares: |
(a) | Members who hold Public Shares are entitled to request the redemption of such Shares in the circumstances described in Article 38.5; |
(b) | Class B Shares held by the Sponsor shall, following consummation of the IPO, be surrendered by the Sponsor on a pro rata basis for no consideration to the extent that the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised in full so that the Class B Shares will at all times represent 30% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Shares after the IPO, excluding any Shares issued to any underwriters as compensation in connection with the IPO; and |
(c) | Public Shares shall be repurchased by way of tender offer in the circumstances set out in Article 38.5. |
Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie
11.4 | When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the Directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised by the terms of the allotment of those Shares, or by the terms applying to those Shares in accordance with Article 11.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares. |
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Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share
11.5 | Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share: |
(a) | the Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive: |
(b) | the price for the Share; and |
(c) | any dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase; |
(d) | the Member’s name shall be removed from the Register of Members with respect to the Share; and |
(e) | the Share shall be cancelled or held as a Treasury Shares, as the Directors may determine. |
11.6 | For the purpose of this Article, the date of redemption or purchase is the date when the redemption or purchase falls due. |
11.7 | For the avoidance of doubt, redemptions and repurchases of Shares in the circumstances described in Articles 11.3(a), 11.3(b) and 11.3(c) above shall not require further approval of the Members. |
12 | Meetings of Members |
Power to call meetings
12.1 | To the extent required by the Designated Stock Exchange, an annual general meeting of the Company shall be held no later than one year after the first financial year end occurring after the IPO, and shall be held in each year thereafter at such time as determined by the Directors and the Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Companies Act or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange) be obliged to, in each year hold any other general meeting. |
12.2 | The agenda of the annual general meeting shall be set by the Directors and shall include the presentation of the Company’s annual accounts and the report of the Directors (if any). |
12.3 | Annual general meetings shall be held in New York, USA or in such other places as the Directors may determine. |
12.4 | All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings and the Company shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. |
12.5 | The Directors may call a general meeting at any time. |
12.6 | If there are insufficient Directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining Directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional Directors, the Directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional Directors. |
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12.7 | The Directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles. |
12.8 | The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at such general meeting. |
12.9 | The requisition must also: |
(a) | specify the purpose of the meeting. |
(b) | be signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners. |
(c) | be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions. |
12.10 | Should the Directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days from the date of receipt of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three months after the end of that period. |
12.11 | Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient Directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining Directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional Directors, any one or more Members who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional Directors. |
12.12 | Members seeking to bring business before the annual general meeting or to nominate candidates for election as Directors at the annual general meeting must deliver notice to the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the scheduled date of the annual general meeting. |
Content of notice
12.13 | Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following: |
(a) | the place, the date, and the hour of the meeting; |
(b) | if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting; |
(c) | subject to paragraph (d), the general nature of the business to be transacted; and |
(d) | if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution. |
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12.14 | In each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements: |
(a) | that a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that Member; and |
(b) | that a proxyholder need not be a Member. |
Period of notice
12.15 | At least five Clear Days’ notice of a general meeting must be given to Members, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed: |
(a) | in the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and |
(b) | in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, together holding not less than 95% in par value of the Shares giving that right. |
Persons entitled to receive notice
12.16 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people: |
(a) | the Members; |
(b) | persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member; and |
(c) | the Directors. |
Publication of notice on a website
12.17 | Subject to the Companies Act or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, a notice of a general meeting may be published on a website providing the recipient is given separate notice of: |
(a) | the publication of the notice on the website; |
(b) | the place on the website where the notice may be accessed; |
(c) | how it may be accessed; and |
(d) | the place, date, and time of the general meeting. |
12.18 | If a Member notifies the Company that they are unable for any reason to access the website, the Company must as soon as practicable give notice of the meeting to that Member by any other means permitted by these Articles. This will not affect when that Member is deemed to have received notice of the meeting. |
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Time a website notice is deemed to be given
12.19 | A website notice is deemed to be given when the Member is given notice of its publication. |
Required duration of publication on a website
12.20 | Where the notice of meeting is published on a website, it shall continue to be published in the same place on that website from the date of the notification until at least the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates. |
Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice
12.21 | Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following: |
(a) | an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or |
(b) | non-receipt of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice. |
12.22 | In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website, proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published: |
(a) | in a different place on the website; or |
(b) | for part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates. |
13 | Proceedings at meetings of Members |
Quorum
13.1 | Save as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or by proxy. One or more Members who together hold not less than a majority of the issued and outstanding Shares entitled to attend and vote at such meeting being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy shall be a quorum. |
Lack of quorum
13.2 | If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply: |
(a) | if the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled; and |
(b) | in any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the Directors. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the meeting shall be dissolved. |
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Use of technology
13.3 | A person may participate in a general meeting through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. A person participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
Chair
13.4 | The chair of a general meeting shall be the chair of the board or such other Director as the Directors have nominated to chair board meetings in the absence of the chair of the board. Absent any such person being present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting. |
13.5 | If no Director is present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no Director is willing to act as chair, the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting. |
Right of a Director to attend and speak
13.6 | Even if a Director is not a Member, they shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of Members holding a particular class of Shares in the Company. |
Adjournment
13.7 | The chair may at any time adjourn a meeting with the consent of the Members constituting a quorum. The chair must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however, can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting. |
13.8 | Should a meeting be adjourned for more than twenty Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment. |
Method of voting
13.9 | A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. |
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Taking of a poll
13.10 | A poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately. |
13.11 | A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chair directs, not being more than 30 Clear Days after the poll was demanded. |
13.12 | The demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded. |
13.13 | A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chair directs. They may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chair may appoint scrutineers in more than place; but if they consider that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chair shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur. |
Chair’s casting vote
13.14 | If the votes on a resolution are equal, the chair may if they wish exercise a casting vote. |
Amendments to resolutions
13.15 | An Ordinary Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution if: |
(a) | not less than 48 hours before the meeting is to take place (or such later time as the chair of the meeting may determine), notice of the proposed amendment is given to the Company in writing by a Member entitled to vote at that meeting; and |
(b) | the proposed amendment does not, in the reasonable opinion of the chair of the meeting, materially alter the scope of the resolution. |
13.16 | A Special Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution, if: |
(a) | the chair of the meeting proposes the amendment at the general meeting at which the resolution is to be proposed, and |
(b) | the amendment does not go beyond what the chair considers is necessary to correct a grammatical or other non-substantive error in the resolution. |
13.17 | If the chair of the meeting, acting in good faith, wrongly decides that an amendment to a resolution is out of order, the chair’s error does not invalidate the vote on that resolution. |
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Written resolutions
13.18 | Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met: |
(a) | all Members entitled so to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members; |
(b) | all Members entitled so to vote: |
(i) | sign a document; or |
(ii) | sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and |
(c) | the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose. |
13.19 | Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held. |
13.20 | If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly. |
13.21 | The Directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members. In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting to consider the resolution, how many votes they wish to cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis as on a poll. |
Sole-member company
13.22 | If the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing their decision on a question, that record shall constitute both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it. |
14 | Voting rights of Members |
Right to vote
14.1 | Unless their Shares carry no right to vote, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares. |
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Members may vote in person or by proxy.
14.2 | Every Member shall have one vote for each Share they hold, unless any Share carries special voting rights. |
14.3 | A fraction of a Share shall entitle its holder to an equivalent fraction of one vote. |
14.4 | No Member is bound to vote on their Shares or any of them; nor are they bound to vote each of their Shares in the same way. |
Rights of joint holders
14.5 | If Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the Register of Members shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder. |
Representation of corporate Members
14.6 | Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative. |
14.7 | A corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing. |
14.8 | The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company not less than two hours before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used. |
14.9 | The Directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice. |
14.10 | Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member. |
14.11 | A corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the Directors had actual notice of the revocation. |
14.12 | If a clearing house (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the clearing house (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of such Shares held by the clearing house (or its nominee(s)). |
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Member with mental disorder
14.13 | A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, by that Member’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court. |
14.14 | For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the Directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable. |
Objections to admissibility of votes
14.15 | An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chair whose decision shall be final and conclusive. |
Form of proxy
14.16 | An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the Directors. |
14.17 | The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways: |
(a) | by the Member; or |
(b) | by the Member’s authorised attorney; or |
(c) | if the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised officer, secretary or attorney. |
14.18 | If the Directors so resolve, the Company may accept an Electronic Record of that instrument delivered in the manner specified below and otherwise satisfying the Articles about authentication of Electronic Records. |
14.19 | The Directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy. |
14.20 | A Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with the Article above about signing proxies; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the proxy before the Directors had actual notice of the revocation. |
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How and when proxy is to be delivered
14.21 | Subject to the following Articles, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the Directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in either of the following ways: |
(a) | in the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post: |
(i) | to the registered office of the Company; or |
(ii) | to such other place specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
(b) | if, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified: |
(i) | in the notice convening the meeting; or |
(ii) | in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or |
(iii) | in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting. |
14.22 | Where a poll is taken: |
(a) | if it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll; |
(b) | but if it is to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be e delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than two hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll. |
14.23 | If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid. |
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Voting by proxy
14.24 | A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing them limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any resolution a vote by their proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid. |
15 | Number of Directors |
15.1 | Unless otherwise determined by Ordinary Resolution, the minimum number of Directors shall be one and there shall be no maximum. |
16 | Appointment, disqualification and removal of Directors |
No age limit
16.1 | There is no age limit for Directors save that they must be aged at least 18 years. |
Corporate Directors
16.2 | Unless prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a Director. If a body corporate is a Director, the Articles about representation of corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Articles about directors’ meetings. |
No shareholding qualification
16.3 | Unless a shareholding qualification for Directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no Director shall be required to own Shares as a condition of their appointment. |
Appointment and removal of Directors
16.4 | The Directors shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The number of Directors in each class shall be as nearly equal as possible. Immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO, the existing Directors shall by resolution classify themselves as Class I, Class II or Class III Directors. The Class I Directors shall stand elected for a term expiring at the Company’s first annual general meeting, the Class II Directors shall stand elected for a term expiring at the Company’s second annual general meeting and the Class III Directors shall stand elected for a term expiring at the Company’s third annual general meeting. Commencing at the Company’s first annual general meeting, and at each annual general meeting thereafter, Directors elected to succeed those Directors whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual general meeting after their election. All Directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. |
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16.5 | Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares appoint any person to be a Director or may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares remove any Director. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the closing of a Business Combination holders of Class A Shares shall have no right to vote on the appointment or removal of any Director. This Article may only be amended by a Special Resolution passed by holders representing at least 90% of the outstanding Class B Shares. |
16.6 | Subject to Article 16.4 and 16.5, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director. |
16.7 | Subject to death, resignation or removal, and with the exception of those Directors appointed prior to the first annual general meeting of the Company, each Director shall serve a term of office that will expire at the third succeeding annual general meeting after their appointment or election. |
16.8 | A Director may be removed from office with or without cause by: |
(a) | (following the consummation of the Business Combination but not at any time before) an Ordinary Resolution passed at a meeting of Members called for the purposes of removing the Director or for purposes including the removal of the Director; or |
(b) | subject to Article 15.4 and 15.5, a resolution of Directors passed at a meeting of Directors. |
16.9 | The Directors shall have power at any time to appoint any person to be a Director who: |
(a) | is recommended as a Director nominee by a majority of the Independent Directors; and |
(b) | is willing to act as a Director, |
either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director. A Director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a Director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the Director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until their successor shall have been elected and qualified.
16.10 | Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Articles, in any case where, as a result of death, the Company has no Directors and no Members, the personal representatives of the last Members to have died have the power, by notice in writing to the Company, to appoint a person to be a Director. For the purpose of this Article: |
(a) | where two or more Members die in circumstances rendering it uncertain who was the last to die, a younger Member is deemed to have survived an older Member; |
(b) | if the last Member died leaving a will which disposes of that Member’s shares in the Company (whether by way of specific gift, as part of the residuary estate, or otherwise): |
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(i) | the expression personal representatives of the last Member means: |
(1) | until a grant of probate in respect of that will has been obtained from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, all of the executors named in that will who are living at the time the power of appointment under this Article is exercised; and |
(2) | after such grant of probate has been obtained, only such of those executors who have proved that will; |
(ii) | without derogating from section 3(1) of the Succession Act (Revised), the executors named in that will may exercise the power of appointment under this Article without first obtaining a grant of probate. |
16.11 | A remaining Director may appoint a Director even though there is not a quorum of Directors. |
16.12 | No appointment can cause the number of Directors to exceed the maximum; and any such appointment shall be invalid. |
16.13 | For so long as Shares are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, the Directors shall include at least such number of Independent Directors as Applicable Law or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange require, subject to applicable phase-in rules of the Designated Stock Exchange. |
Resignation of Directors
16.14 | A Director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions. |
16.15 | Unless the notice specifies a different date, the Director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to the Company. |
Termination of the office of Director
16.16 | A director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if: |
(a) | they are prohibited by the law of the Cayman Islands from acting as a Director; or |
(b) | they are made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with their creditors generally; or |
(c) | in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom they are being treated they become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a Director; or |
(d) | they are made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; |
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(e) | without the consent of the other Directors, they are absent from meetings of Directors for a continuous period of six months; or |
(f) | all of the other Directors (being not less than two in number) determine that they should be removed as a Director, either by a resolution passed by all of the other Directors at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held in accordance with the Articles or by a resolution in writing signed by all of the other Directors. |
17 | Alternate Directors |
Appointment and removal
17.1 | Until the consummation of a Business Combination, a Director may not appoint an alternate. Following the consummation of a Business Combination, Articles 17.2 to 17.5 inclusive shall apply. |
17.2 | Subject to Article 17.1, any Director may appoint any other person, including another Director, to act in their place as an alternate Director. No appointment shall take effect until the Director has given notice of the appointment to the other Directors. Such notice must be given to each other Director by either of the following methods: |
(a) | by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions; |
(b) | if the other Director has an email address, by emailing to that address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the recipient in readable form. For the avoidance of doubt, the same email may be sent to the email address of more than one Director (and to the email address of the Company pursuant to Article 17.5(c)). |
17.3 | Without limitation to the preceding Article, a Director may appoint an alternate for a particular meeting by sending an email to their fellow Directors informing them that they are to take such email as notice of such appointment for such meeting. Such appointment shall be effective without the need for a signed notice of appointment or the giving of notice to the Company in accordance with Article 17.4. |
17.4 | A Director may revoke their appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the Director has given notice of the revocation to the other Directors. Such notice must be given by either of the methods specified in Article 17.2. |
17.5 | A notice of appointment or removal of an alternate Director must also be given to the Company by any of the following methods: |
(a) | by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions; |
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(b) | if the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report from the sender’s fax machine; |
(c) | if the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or |
(d) | if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those provisions in writing. |
Notices
17.6 | All notices of meetings of Directors shall continue to be given to the appointing Director and not to the alternate. |
Rights of alternate Director
17.7 | An alternate Director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any board meeting or meeting of a committee of the Directors at which the appointing Director is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of the appointing Director in their absence. |
17.8 | For the avoidance of doubt: |
(a) | if another Director has been appointed an alternate Director for one or more Directors, they shall be entitled to a separate vote in their own right as a Director and in right of each other Director for whom they have been appointed an alternate; and |
(b) | if a person other than a Director has been appointed an alternate Director for more than one Director, they shall be entitled to a separate vote in right of each Director for whom they have been appointed an alternate. |
17.9 | An alternate Director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate Director. |
Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a Director
17.10 | An alternate Director shall cease to be an alternate Director if the Director who appointed them ceases to be a Director. |
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Status of alternate Director
17.11 | An alternate Director shall carry out all functions of the Director who made the appointment. |
17.12 | Save where otherwise expressed, an alternate Director shall be treated as a Director under these Articles. |
17.13 | An alternate Director is not the agent of the Director appointing them. |
17.14 | An alternate Director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate Director. |
17.15 | Status of the Director making the appointment |
17.16 | A Director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which they owe the Company. |
18 | Powers of Directors |
Powers of Directors
18.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Memorandum and these Articles, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company. |
18.2 | No prior act of the Directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the extent allowed by the Companies Act, following the consummation of the IPO, Members may by Special Resolution validate any prior or future act of the Directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties. |
Appointments to office
18.3 | The Directors may appoint a Director: |
(a) | as chair of the board of Directors; |
(b) | as vice-chair of the board of Directors; |
(c) | as managing Director; |
(d) | to any other executive office |
for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit.
18.4 | The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office. |
18.5 | Where a chair is appointed they shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of Directors. |
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18.6 | If there is no chair, or if the chair is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chair; or the Directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chair should they ever not be available. |
18.7 | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Directors may also appoint any person, who need not be a Director: |
(a) | as Secretary; and |
(b) | to any office that may be required (including, for the avoidance of doubt, one or more chief executive officers, presidents, a chief financial officer, a treasurer, vice-presidents, one or more assistant vice-presidents, one or more assistant treasurers and one or more assistant secretaries), |
on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit. Any Officer appointed, shall serve at the discretion of the Directors and shall not serve for a specific term (unless the Directors determine otherwise). In the case of an Officer, that Officer may be given any title the Directors decide.
18.8 | The Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office. |
18.9 | A Director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not hold the office, or perform the services, of Auditor. |
Remuneration
18.10 | The remuneration to be paid to the Directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the Directors shall determine, provided that no cash remuneration shall be paid to any Director prior to the consummation of a Business Combination. The Directors shall also, whether prior to or after the consummation of a Business Combination, be entitled to be paid all out of pocket expenses properly incurred by them in connection with activities on behalf of the Company, including identifying and consummating a Business Combination. |
18.11 | Remuneration may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or sickness benefits, whether to the Director or to any other person connected to or related to them. |
18.12 | Unless their fellow Directors determine otherwise, a Director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings. |
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Disclosure of information
18.13 | The Directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs of the Company, including any information contained in the Register of Members relating to a Member, (and they may authorise any Director, Officer or other authorised agent of the Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information in their possession) if: |
(a) | the Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the Company is subject; or |
(b) | such disclosure is in compliance with the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Company’s shares are listed; or |
(c) | such disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or |
(d) | the Directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations. |
19 | Delegation of powers |
Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee
19.1 | The Directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be Members. Persons on the committee may include non-Directors so long as the majority of those persons are Directors. |
19.2 | The delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the directors’ own powers. |
19.3 | The delegation may be on such terms as the Directors think fit, including provision for the committee itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being revoked or altered by the Directors at will. |
19.4 | Unless otherwise permitted by the Directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by Directors. |
Power to appoint an agent of the Company
19.5 | The Directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The Directors may make that appointment: |
(a) | by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or |
(b) | in any other manner they determine. |
Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company
19.6 | The Directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or the authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be: |
(a) | for any purpose; |
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(b) | with the powers, authorities and discretions; |
(c) | for the period; and |
(d) | subject to such conditions |
as they think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the Directors under these Articles. The Directors may do so by power of attorney or any other manner they think fit.
19.7 | Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the Directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person. |
Power to appoint a proxy
19.8 | Any Director may appoint any other person, including another Director, to represent them at any meeting of the Directors. If a Director appoints a proxy, then for all purposes the presence or vote of the proxy shall be deemed to be that of the appointing Director. |
19.9 | Articles 17.1 to 17.5 inclusive (relating to the appointment by Directors of alternate Directors) apply, mutatis mutandis, to the appointment of proxies by Directors. |
19.10 | A proxy is an agent of the Director appointing them and is not an Officer. |
20 | Meetings of Directors |
Regulation of directors’ meetings
20.1 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. |
Calling meetings
20.2 | Any Director may call a meeting of Directors at any time. The Secretary, if any, must call a meeting of the Directors if requested to do so by a Director. |
Notice of meetings
20.3 | Every Director shall be given notice of a meeting, although a Director may waive retrospectively the requirement to be given notice. Notice may be oral. Attendance at a meeting without written objection shall be deemed to be a waiver of such notice requirement. |
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Period of notice
20.4 | At least 5 Clear Days’ notice of a meeting of Directors must be given to Directors. A meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of all Directors. |
Use of technology
20.5 | A Director may participate in a meeting of Directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. |
20.6 | A Director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. |
Place of meetings
20.7 | If all the Directors participating in a meeting are not in the same place, they may decide that the meeting is to be treated as taking place wherever any of them is. |
Quorum
20.8 | The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of Directors shall be two unless the Directors fix some other number or unless the Company has only one Director. |
Voting
20.9 | A question which arises at a board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chair may, if they wish, exercise a casting vote. |
Validity
20.10 | Anything done at a meeting of Directors is unaffected by the fact that it is later discovered that any person was not properly appointed, or had ceased to be a Director, or was otherwise not entitled to vote. |
Recording of dissent
20.11 | A Director present at a meeting of Directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action taken at that meeting unless: |
(a) | their dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or |
(b) | they have filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or |
(c) | they have forwarded to the Company as soon as practical following the conclusion of that meeting signed dissent. |
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20.12 | A Director who votes in favour of an action is not entitled to record their dissent to it. |
Written resolutions
20.13 | The Directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all Directors sign a document or sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Directors. |
20.14 | Despite the foregoing, a resolution in writing signed by a validly appointed alternate Director or by a validly appointed proxy need not also be signed by the appointing Director. If a written resolution is signed personally by the appointing Director, it need not also be signed by their alternate or proxy. |
20.15 | Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last Director signs. |
Sole director’s minute
20.16 | Where a sole Director signs a minute recording their decision on a question, that record shall constitute the passing of a resolution on those terms. |
21 | Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure |
Permissible interests subject to disclosure
21.1 | Save as expressly permitted by these Articles or as set out below, a Director or officer may not have a direct or indirect interest or duty which conflicts or may possibly conflict with the interests of the Company. |
21.2 | If, notwithstanding the prohibition in the preceding Article, a Director or officer discloses to the Directors the nature and extent of any material interest or duty in accordance with the next Article, they may: |
(a) | be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is or may otherwise be interested; or |
(b) | be interested in another body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested. In particular, the Director may be a director, secretary or officer of, or employed by, or be a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, that other body corporate. |
21.3 | Such disclosure may be made at a meeting of the board or otherwise (and, if otherwise, it must be made in writing). The Director or officer must disclose the nature and extent of their direct or indirect interest in or duty in relation to a transaction or arrangement or series of transactions or arrangements with the Company or in which the Company has any material interest. |
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21.4 | If a Director or officer has made disclosure in accordance with the preceding Article, then they shall not, by reason only of their office, be accountable to the Company for any benefit that they derive from any such transaction or arrangement or from any such office or employment or from any interest in any such body corporate, and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit. |
Notification of interests
21.5 | For the purposes of the preceding Articles: |
(a) | a general notice that a Director gives to the other Directors that they are to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that they have an interest in or duty in relation to any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified; and |
(b) | an interest of which a Director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect them to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of theirs. |
Voting where a Director is interested in a matter
21.6 | A Director may vote at a meeting of Directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which that Director has an interest or duty, whether directly or indirectly, so long as that Director discloses any material interest pursuant to these Articles. The Director shall be counted towards a quorum of those present at the meeting. If the Director votes on the resolution, their vote shall be counted. |
21.7 | Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment of two or more Directors to offices or employment with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, the proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each Director separately and each of the Directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution except that concerning their own appointment. |
22 | Minutes |
22.1 | The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose in accordance with the Companies Act. |
23 | Accounts and audit |
Accounting and other records
23.1 | The Directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act. |
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No automatic right of inspection
23.2 | Members are only entitled to inspect the Company’s records if they are expressly entitled to do so by law, or by resolution made by the Directors or passed by Ordinary Resolution. |
Sending of accounts and reports
23.3 | The Company’s accounts and associated directors’ report or auditor’s report that are required or permitted to be sent to any person pursuant to any law shall be treated as properly sent to that person if: |
(a) | they are sent to that person in accordance with the notice provisions; or |
(b) | they are published on a website providing that person is given separate notice of: |
(i) | the fact that publication of the documents has been published on the website; |
(ii) | the address of the website; |
(iii) | the place on the website where the documents may be accessed; and |
(iv) | how they may be accessed. |
23.4 | If, for any reason, a person notifies the Company that they are unable to access the website, the Company must, as soon as practicable, send the documents to that person by any other means permitted by these Articles. This, however, will not affect when that person is taken to have received the documents under the next Article. |
Time of receipt if documents are published on a website
23.5 | Documents sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding two Articles are only treated as sent at least 5 Clear Days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be laid if: |
(a) | the documents are published on the website throughout a period beginning at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting and ending with the conclusion of the meeting; and |
(b) | the person is given at least 5 Clear Days’ notice of the hearing. |
Validity despite accidental error in publication on website
23.6 | If, for the purpose of a meeting, documents are sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding Articles, the proceedings at that meeting are not invalidated merely because: |
(a) | those documents are, by accident, published in a different place on the website to the place notified; or |
(b) | they are published for part only of the period from the date of notification until the conclusion of that meeting. |
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Audit
23.7 | The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine. |
23.8 | Without prejudice to the freedom of the Directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the Designated Stock Exchange, the Directors shall establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the Directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy of the formal written charter on an annual basis. The composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Designated Stock Exchange. The Audit Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. |
23.9 | If the Shares are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit Committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest. |
23.10 | The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists). |
23.11 | If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by their becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when their services are required, the Directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor. |
23.12 | Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and Officers such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor. |
23.13 | Auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members. |
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24 | Financial year |
24.1 | Unless the Directors otherwise specify, the financial year of the Company: |
(a) | shall end on 31 December in the year of its incorporation and each following year; and |
(b) | shall begin when it was incorporated and on 1 January each following year. |
25 | Record dates |
25.1 | Except to the extent of any conflicting rights attached to Shares, the Directors may fix any time and date as the record date for: |
(a) | calling a general meeting; |
(b) | declaring or paying a dividend; |
(c) | making or issuing an allotment of Shares; or |
(d) | conducting any other business required pursuant to these Articles. |
25.2 | The record date may be before or after the date on which a dividend, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made. |
26 | Dividends |
Declaration of dividends by Members
26.1 | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors. |
Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by Directors
26.2 | The Directors may pay interim dividends or declare final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid. |
26.3 | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies: |
(a) | upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the Directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made; and |
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(b) | upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the Directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately following the declaration, the due date to be the date the dividend is stated to be payable in the resolution. |
26.4 | If the resolution fails to specify whether a dividend is final or interim, it shall be assumed to be interim. |
26.5 | In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies: |
(a) | if the share capital is divided into different classes, the Directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non-preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears; |
(b) | the Directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment; and |
(c) | If the Directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights. |
Apportionment of dividends
26.6 | Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount paid up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. If a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly. |
Right of set off
26.7 | The Directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share. |
Power to pay other than in cash
26.8 | If the Directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the Directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following: |
(a) | issue fractional Shares; |
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(b) | fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Members; and |
(c) | vest some assets in trustees. |
How payments may be made
26.9 | A dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways: |
(a) | if the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose - by wire transfer to that bank account; or |
(b) | by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share. |
26.10 | For the purpose of Article 26.9(a), the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purpose of Article 26.9(b), subject to any applicable law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to their nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company. |
26.11 | If two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows: |
(a) | to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the Register of Members or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or |
(b) | to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record. |
26.12 | Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share. |
Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights
26.13 | Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest. |
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Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed
26.14 | If a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within 6 weeks after it was declared or both, the Directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member. |
26.15 | A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of 6 years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company. |
27 | Capitalisation of profits |
Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve
27.1 | The Directors may resolve to capitalise: |
(a) | any part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or |
(b) | any sum standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any. |
27.2 | The amount resolved to be capitalised must be appropriated to the Members who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions. The benefit to each Member so entitled must be given in either or both of the following ways: |
(a) | by paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares; and/or |
(b) | by issuing Fully Paid Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or as that Member directs. The Directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in respect of partly paid Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain partly paid. |
Applying an amount for the benefit of members
27.3 | The amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which the Members would have been entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend. |
27.4 | Subject to the Companies Act, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture, or other security is allocated to a Member, the Directors may issue a fractional certificate to that Member or pay them the cash equivalent of the fraction. |
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Sums in trust account
27.5 | Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to us to pay our taxes, no sums held in the Trust Account may be paid as a dividend, released or used by the Company in any way other than (a) at the completion of the Business Combination in the manner set out in these Articles; and (b) for the redemption of all of our public shares if we have not completed our initial business combination within 12 months, or up to 18 months if we have elected to extend the time to complete our Business Combination, |
28 | Share premium account |
Directors to maintain share premium account
28.1 | The Directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Companies Act. They shall carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Companies Act. |
Debits to share premium account
28.2 | The following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account: |
(a) | on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price; and |
(b) | any other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Companies Act. |
28.3 | Notwithstanding the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the Directors may pay the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or, as permitted by the Companies Act, out of capital. |
29 | Seal |
Company Seal
29.1 | The Company may have a Seal if the Directors so determine. |
Duplicate Seal
29.2 | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Company may also have a duplicate Seal or seals for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands. Each duplicate Seal shall be a facsimile of the original Seal of the Company. However, if the Directors so determine, a duplicate Seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used. |
When and how Seal is to be used
29.3 | A Seal may only be used by the authority of the Directors. Unless the Directors otherwise determine, a document to which a Seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways: |
(a) | by a Director (or their alternate) and the Secretary; or |
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(b) | by a single Director (or their alternate). |
If no Seal is adopted or used
29.4 | If the Directors do not adopt a Seal, or a Seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner: |
(a) | by a Director (or their alternate) or any Officer to which authority has been delegated by resolution duly adopted by the Directors; |
(b) | by a single Director (or their alternate); or |
(c) | in any other manner permitted by the Companies Act. |
Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of Seal
29.5 | The Directors may determine that either or both of the following applies: |
(a) | that the Seal or a duplicate Seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction; and/or |
(b) | that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature. |
Validity of execution
29.6 | If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the Director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the Seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company. |
30 | Indemnity |
Indemnity
30.1 | To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former Secretary, Director (including alternate Director), and other Officer of the Company (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against: |
(a) | all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former Secretary or Officer in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former Secretary’s or Officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and |
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(b) | without limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former Secretary or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere. |
30.2 | No such existing or former Secretary or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of their own actual fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect. |
30.3 | To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former Secretary or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter identified in Article 30.1(a) or 30.1(b) on condition that the Secretary or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Secretary or that Officer for those legal costs. |
Release
30.4 | To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or other Officer of the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities or discretions of their office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of or in connection with that person’s own actual fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect. |
Insurance
30.5 | To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in respect of a contract insuring each of the following persons against risks determined by the Directors, other than liability arising out of that person’s own dishonesty: |
(a) | an existing or former Director (including alternate Director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of: |
(i) | the Company; |
(ii) | a company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company; and |
(iii) | a company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and |
(b) | a trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or was interested. |
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31 | Notices |
Form of notices
31.1 | Save where these Articles provide otherwise, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be: |
(a) | in writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or |
(b) | subject to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic Signature and authenticated in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or |
(c) | where these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website. |
Electronic communications
31.2 | Without limitation to Articles 17.2 to 17.5 inclusive (relating to the appointment and removal by Directors of alternate Directors) and to Articles 19.8 to 19.10 inclusive (relating to the appointment by Directors of proxies), a notice may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if: |
(a) | the Directors so resolve; |
(b) | the resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an email address for the Company; and |
(c) | the terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable, to those Directors who were absent from the meeting at which the resolution was passed. |
31.3 | If the resolution is revoked or varied, the revocation or variation shall only become effective when its terms have been similarly notified. |
31.4 | A notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the recipient has notified the giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent. |
Persons authorised to give notices
31.5 | A notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf of the Company or a Member by a Director or company secretary of the Company or a Member. |
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Delivery of written notices
31.6 | Save where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the recipient, or left at (as appropriate) the Member’s or director’s registered address or the Company’s registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office. |
Joint holders
31.7 | Where Members are joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to the Member whose name first appears in the Register of Members. |
Signatures
31.8 | A written notice shall be signed when it is autographed by or on behalf of the giver, or is marked in such a way as to indicate its execution or adoption by the giver. |
31.9 | An Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature. |
Evidence of transmission
31.10 | A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver. |
31.11 | A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient. |
Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member
31.12 | A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled. |
31.13 | Until such an address has been supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred. |
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Date of giving notices
31.14 | A notice is given on the date identified in the following table. |
Method for giving notices | When taken to be given | |
Personally | At the time and date of delivery | |
By leaving it at the member’s registered address | At the time and date it was left | |
If the recipient has an address within the Cayman Islands, by posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal address of that recipient | 48 hours after it was posted | |
If the recipient has an address outside the Cayman Islands, by posting it by prepaid airmail to the street or postal address of that recipient | 3 Clear Days after posting | |
By Electronic Record (other than publication on a website), to recipient’s Electronic address | Within 24 hours after it was sent | |
By publication on a website | See the Articles about the time when notice of a meeting of Members or accounts and reports, as the case may be, are published on a website |
Saving provision
31.15 | None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from the Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of Directors and written resolutions of Members. |
32 | Authentication of Electronic Records |
Application of Articles
32.1 | Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a Director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 32.2 or Article 32.4 applies. |
Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means
32.2 | An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
(a) | the Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and |
(b) | the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Member to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
(c) | Article 32.7 does not apply. |
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32.3 | For example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 32.7 applies. |
Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means
32.4 | An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied: |
(a) | the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; |
(b) | the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and |
(c) | Article 32.7 does not apply. |
This Article applies whether the document is sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or Officer in their own right or as a representative of the Company.
32.5 | For example, where a sole Director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Director unless Article 32.7 applies. |
Manner of signing
32.6 | For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles. |
Saving provision
32.7 | A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably: |
(a) | believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; |
(b) | believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or |
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(c) | otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document, |
and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.
33 | Transfer by way of continuation |
33.1 | The Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside: |
(a) | the Cayman Islands; or |
(b) | such other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing. |
33.2 | To give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the Directors may cause the following: |
(a) | an application be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or in the other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and |
(b) | all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company. |
34 | Winding up |
Distribution of assets in specie
34.1 | If the Company is wound up, the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, pass a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following: |
(a) | to divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members; and/or |
(b) | to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those liable to contribute to the winding up. |
No obligation to accept liability
34.2 | No Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them. |
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The Directors are authorised to present a winding up petition
34.3 | The Directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting. |
35 | Amendment of Memorandum and Articles |
Power to change name or amend Memorandum
35.1 | Subject to the Companies Act and Article 35.2, the Company may, by Special Resolution: |
(a) | change its name; or |
(b) | change the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter specified in the Memorandum. |
Power to amend these Articles
35.2 | Subject to the Companies Act and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend these Articles in whole or in part save that no amendment may be made to the Memorandum or Articles to amend: |
(a) | Article 37 prior to the Business Combination unless the holders of the Public Shares are provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval of any such amendment in the manner and for the price as set out in Article 37.13; or |
(b) | this Article 35.2 during the Target Business Acquisition Period. |
36 | Mergers and Consolidations |
36.1 | The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more constituent companies (as defined in the Companies Act) upon such terms as the Directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Companies Act) with the approval of a Special Resolution. |
37 | Business Combination |
37.1 | Articles 37.1 to 37.13 shall terminate upon consummation of any Business Combination. |
37.2 | The Company has within 12 months from the closing of the IPO to consummate a Business Combination. |
37.3 | The 12 months period set out in Article 37.2, may be extended to up to 18 months by Resolution of Shareholders approving incremental extension of one month at a time provided that the Sponsor or its affiliates or designees, upon five business days advance notice prior to the applicable deadline, have deposited into the Trust Account $330,000, or $379,500 if the underwriters’ Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full ($0.033 per unit in either case), on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline, for each of the available one-month extensions, providing a total possible Business Combination period of 18 months at a total payment value of $2,970,000, or $3,415,500 if the underwriters’ Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full ($0.297 per unit in either case). Any such payments would be made in the form of non-interest bearing loans. If we complete the Business Combination, we will, at the option of our sponsor, repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to us or convert a portion or all of the total loan amount into units at a price of $10.00 per unit, which units will be identical to the placement units. If the Business Combination is not completed, the Company will repay such loans only from funds held outside of the Trust Account. |
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37.4 | In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 12 months (or such extended period as may be approved pursuant to Article 37.3) from the closing of the IPO (the Termination Date), such failure shall trigger an automatic redemption of the Public Shares (an Automatic Redemption Event) and the Directors shall take all such action necessary to: |
(a) | cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; |
(b) | as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than 10 Business Days thereafter to redeem the Public Shares to the holders of Public Shares, on a pro rata basis, in cash at a per-share amount equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price; and |
(c) | as promptly as reasonably possible following such Automatic Redemption Event, subject to the approval of our remaining Members and our Directors, liquidate and dissolve the Company, subject to the Company’s obligations under the Companies Act to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. |
In the event of an Automatic Redemption Event, only the holders of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive pro rata redeeming distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their Public Shares.
37.5 | Unless a Member vote is required by law or the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange, or, at the sole discretion of the Directors, the Directors determine to hold a Member vote for business or other reasons, the Company may enter into a Business Combination without submitting such Business Combination to its Members for approval. |
37.6 | Although not required, in the event that a Member vote is held, and a majority of the votes of the Shares entitled to vote thereon which were present at the meeting to approve the Business Combination are voted for the approval of such Business Combination, the Company shall be authorised to consummate the Business Combination. |
37.7 | In the event that a Business Combination is consummated by the Company other than in connection with a Member vote under Article 37.4, the Company will, subject to as provided below, offer to redeem the Public Shares for cash in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act and subject to any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) set forth in the definitive transaction agreements related to the initial Business Combination (the Tender Redemption Offer), provided however that the Company shall not redeem those Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates or the Directors or Officers pursuant to such Tender Redemption Offer, whether or not such holders accept such Tender Redemption Offer. The Company will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to consummating the Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the Business Combination and the redemption rights as would be required in a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies. In accordance with the Exchange Act, the Tender Redemption Offer will remain open for a minimum of 20 Business Days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act and the Company will not be permitted to consummate its Business Combination until the expiry of such tender offer period. If in the event a Member holding Public Shares accepts the Tender Redemption Offer and the Company has not otherwise withdrawn the tender offer, the Company shall, promptly after the consummation of the Business Combination, pay such redeeming Member, on a pro rata basis, cash equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price. |
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37.8 | In the event that a Business Combination is consummated by the Company in connection with a shareholder vote held pursuant to Article 37.4 in accordance with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (the Redemption Offer), the Company will, subject as provided below, offer to redeem the Public Shares, other than those Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates or the Directors or Officers, regardless of whether such shares are voted for or against the Business Combination, for cash, on a pro rata basis, at a per-share amount equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price, provided however that: |
(a) | the Company shall not redeem those Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates or the Directors or Officers pursuant to such Redemption Offer, whether or not such holders accept such Redemption Offer; and |
(b) | any other redeeming Member who either individually or together with any affiliate of theirs or any other person with whom they are acting in concert or as a “group” (as such term is defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act) shall not be permitted to redeem, without the consent of the Directors, more than 15 per cent. of the total Public Shares sold in the IPO. |
37.9 | In no event will the Company consummate the Tender Redemption Offer or the Redemption Offer under Article 37.5 or 37.6 or an Amendment Redemption Event under Article 37.13 if such redemptions would cause the Company to have net tangible assets of less than US$5,000,001 or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to the Business Combination. |
37.10 | A holder of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account only in the event of an Automatic Redemption Event, an Amendment Redemption Event or in the event they accept a Tender Redemption Offer or a Redemption Offer where the Business Combination is consummated. In no other circumstances shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in or to the Trust Account. |
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37.11 | In the event the Company enters into a Business Combination with a company that is affiliated with the Sponsor or any of the Directors or Officers, the Company will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or independent accounting firm that such a Business Combination is fair to the holders of the Public Shares from a financial point of view. |
37.12 | The Company will not effectuate a Business Combination with another “blank cheque” company or a similar company with nominal operations. |
37.13 | Immediately after the Company’s IPO, that amount of the proceeds received by the Company in or in connection with the IPO (including proceeds of any exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option and any proceeds from the simultaneous private placement of like units comprising like securities to those included in the IPO by the Company) as is described in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC (the Registration Statement) at the time it goes effective as shall be deposited in the Trust Account shall be so deposited and thereafter held in the Trust Account until released in the event of a Business Combination or otherwise in accordance with this Article 37. Neither the Company nor any Officer, Director or employee of the Company will disburse any of the proceeds held in the Trust Account until the earlier of: |
(a) | a Business Combination; or |
(b) | an Automatic Redemption Event, |
or in payment of the acquisition price for any shares which the Company elects to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire in accordance with this Article 37, in each case in accordance with the trust agreement governing the Trust Account; provided that interest earned on the Trust Account (as described in the Registration Statement) may be released from time to time to the Company to pay the Company’s tax obligations.
37.14 | In the event the Directors propose any amendment to Article 37 or to any of the other rights of the Shares as set out at Article 4.6 prior to, but not for the purposes of approving or in conjunction with the consummation of, a Business Combination that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligations as described in this Article 37 to pay or to offer to pay the Per-Share Redemption Price to any holder of the Public Shares (an Amendment) and such Amendment is duly approved by a Special Resolution of the Members (an Approved Amendment), the Company will offer to redeem the Public Shares of any Member for cash, on a pro rata basis, at a per-share amount equal to the applicable Per-Share Redemption Price (an Amendment Redemption Event), provided however that the Company shall not redeem those Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates or the Directors or Officers pursuant to such offer, whether or not such holders accept such offer. |
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38 | Class B Share Conversion |
38.1 | Save and except for the conversion rights referred to in this Article 38 and as otherwise set out in these Articles, subject to Article 4.10, the rights attaching to all Shares shall rank pari passu in all respects, and the Class A Shares and Class B Shares shall vote together as a single class on all matters. |
38.2 | Class B Shares shall automatically convert into Class A Shares in such a ratio so as to give effect to the Class B Share Entitlement (the Conversion Ratio): |
(a) | at any time and from time to time at the option of the holders thereof; and |
(b) | automatically on the day of the closing of a Business Combination. |
38.3 | In order to give effect to the Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional Class A Shares or any other Equity-linked Securities, are issued, or deemed issued, by the Company in excess of the amounts offered in the IPO and related to the closing of a Business Combination, all Class B Shares in issue shall automatically convert into Class A Shares at the time of the closing of a Business Combination at the Conversion Ratio (unless the holders of a majority of the Class B Shares in issue agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A Shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B Shares will equal, on an as-converted basis, in the aggregate, 30 per cent of the sum of all Class A Shares and Class B Shares in issue upon completion of the IPO plus all Class A Shares and Equity-linked Securities issued or deemed issued in connection with a Business Combination, excluding any Shares or Equity-linked Securities issued, , to any underwriters as compensation in connection with the IPO or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination and any private placement units and underling securities issued to the Sponsor or its Affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company. |
38.4 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance of additional Class A Shares or Equity-linked Securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the Class B Shares then in issue consenting or agreeing separately as a separate class in the manner provided in Article 4.10 hereof. |
38.5 | The Conversion Ratio shall also take into account any subdivision (by share split, subdivision, exchange, capitalisation, rights issue, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or combination (by reverse share split, share consolidation, exchange, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class A Shares in issue into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring after the original filing of the Articles without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class B Shares in issue. |
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38.6 | Each Class B Share shall convert into its pro rata number of Class A Shares pursuant to this Article. The pro rata share for each holder of Class B Shares will be determined as follows: each Class B Share shall convert into such number of Class A Shares as is equal to the product of 1 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of Class A Shares into which all of the Class B Shares in issue shall be converted pursuant to this Article and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Class B Shares in issue at the time of conversion. |
38.7 | References in this Article to “converted”, “conversion” or “exchange” shall mean the compulsory redemption without notice of Class B Shares of any Member and, on behalf of such Members, automatic application of such redemption proceeds in paying for such new Class A Shares into which the Class B Shares have been converted or exchanged at a price per Class B Share necessary to give effect to a conversion or exchange calculated on the basis that the Class A Shares to be issued as part of the conversion or exchange will be issued at par. The Class A Shares to be issued on an exchange or conversion shall be registered in the name of such Member or in such name as the Member may direct. |
38.8 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article, in no event may any Class B Share convert into Class A Shares at a ratio that is less than the Conversion Ratio. |
39 | Certain Tax Filings |
39.1 | Each Tax Filing Authorised Person and any such other person, acting alone, as any Director shall designate from time to time, are authorised to file tax forms SS-4, W-8 BEN, W-8 IMY, W-9, 8832 and 2553 and such other similar tax forms as are customary to file with any US state or federal governmental authorities or foreign governmental authorities in connection with the formation, activities and/or elections of the Company and such other tax forms as may be approved from time to time by any Director or Officer. The Company further ratifies and approves any such filing made by any Tax Filing Authorised Person or such other person prior to the date of the Articles. |
40 | Business Opportunities |
40.1 | In recognition and anticipation of the facts that: |
(a) | directors, managers, officers, members, partners, managing members, employees and/or agents of one or more members of the Sponsor Group (each of the foregoing, a Sponsor Group Related Person) may serve as Directors and/or Officers; and |
(b) | the Sponsor Group engages, and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage, |
the provisions under this heading “Business Opportunities” are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Company as they may involve the Members and the Sponsor Group Related Persons, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Company and its Officers, Directors and Members in connection therewith.
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40.2 | To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Sponsor Group and the Sponsor Group Related Persons shall have no duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for either the Sponsor Group or the Sponsor Group Related Persons, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other. Except to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Sponsor Group and the Sponsor Group Related Persons shall have no duty to communicate or offer any such corporate opportunity to the Company and shall not be liable to the Company or its Members for breach of any fiduciary duty as a Member, Director and/or Officer solely by reason of the fact that such party pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, himself or herself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Company, unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such Sponsor Group Related Person solely in their capacity as an Officer or Director of the Company and the opportunity is one the Company is permitted to complete on a reasonable basis. |
40.3 | Except as provided elsewhere in the Articles, the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and the Sponsor Group, about which a Director and/or Officer acquires knowledge. |
40.4 | To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past. |
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Exhibit 4.1
WARRANT AGREEMENT
between
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC.
and
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
This Warrant Agreement (this “Agreement”), is made as of February 9, 2023, between Pono Capital Three, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company with registration number 394949 (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a limited purpose trust company, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in an initial public offering (the “Public Offering”) of units of the Company’s equity securities, each such unit comprised of Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Share”), and one redeemable Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “Public Units”) and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 10,000,000 warrants (or up to 11,500,000 warrants if the Over-allotment Option (as defined below) is exercised in full) to public investors in the Offering (the “Public Warrants”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein; and
WHEREAS, on February 9, 2023 the Company entered into that certain Placement Unit Purchase Agreement with Mehana Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 511,375 private placement units (or up to 565,375 private placement units if the underwriters in the Offering exercise their Over-allotment Option in full) simultaneously with the closing of the Offering (and the closing the Over-allotment Option, if applicable) (the “Private Placement Units” and, together with the Public Units, the “Units”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit, and, in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 511,375 warrants (or up to 565,375 warrants if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) underlying such Private Placement Units bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (“Private Placement Warrants”); and
WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination (as defined below), the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s executive officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan to the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 150,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit, and, in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 150,000 warrants (the “Working Capital Warrants”); and
WHEREAS, in order to extend the period of time the Company has to consummate a Business Combination (defined below) as described in the Prospectus (defined below), the Sponsor or its affiliates or designees may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company up to $330,000, or up to $379,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($0.033 per unit in either case), as the Company may require to extend the period in which the Company must complete its initial business combination six times, for an additional month (for a total of up to 18 months to complete a business combination), which loans may be convertible into up to an additional 198,000 units, or 227,700 units if underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, at a price of $10.00 per unit, and, in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 198,000 warrants, or 227,770 warrants if underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full (the “Extension Warrants”); and
WHEREAS, following consummation of the Offering, the Company may issue additional warrants (“Post IPO Warrants,” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants, the Extension Warrants and the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”) in connection with, or following the consummation by the Company of, a Business Combination (defined below); and
WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-268283 (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Public Units, and the Public Warrants and the Ordinary Shares included in the Public Units; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2. Warrants.
2.1 Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only, and, if a physical certificate is issued, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company and shall bear a facsimile of the Company’s seal. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.
2.2 Uncertificated Warrants. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Warrant, or portion thereof, may be issued as part of, and be represented by, a Unit, and any Warrant may be issued in uncertificated or book-entry form through the Warrant Agent and/or the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or other book-entry depositary system, in each case as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or by an authorized committee thereof. Any Warrant so issued shall have the same terms, force and effect as a certificated Warrant that has been duly countersigned by the Warrant Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
2.3 Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant represented by such physical certificate shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.4 Registration.
2.4.1 Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book entry form, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Public Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by institutions that have accounts with the Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “Participant”).
If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each book-entry Public Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.
Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.
2.4.2 Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on any physical certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
2.5 Detachability of Warrants. The Ordinary Shares and the Public Warrants comprising the Public Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “Business Day”), then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “Detachment Date”) with the consent of EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, (“EF Hutton”), as the representative of the several underwriters for the Offering, but in no event shall the Ordinary Shares and the Public Warrants comprising the Public Units be separately traded until (A) the Company has filed a current report on Form 8-K with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase additional Public Units in the Offering (the “Over-allotment Option”), if the Over-allotment Option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (B) the Company issues a press release and files with the Commission a current report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin. If the Over-allotment Option is exercised following the filing of a current report on Form 8-K pursuant to (A) above, a second or amended current report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the Over-allotment Option.
2.6 Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants. If, upon the detachment of Public Warrants from Public Units or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number of Warrants to be issued to such holder.
2.7 Private Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants, and Extension Warrants Attributes. The Private Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants, and Extension Warrants will be issued in the same form as the Public Warrants.
2.8 Post IPO Warrants. The Post IPO Warrants may only be issued in connection with, or following the consummation by the Company of, a Business Combination. The Post IPO Warrants, when and if issued, shall have the same terms and be in the same form as the Public Warrants except as may be agreed upon by the Company.
3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.
3.1 Warrant Price. Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent (if a physical certificate is issued), entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Ordinary Shares stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share at which the Ordinary Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days, provided, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such reduction shall be applied consistently to all of the Warrants.
3.2 Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) commencing thirty (30) days after the date on which the Company completes a merger, capital share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of: (w) the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its Business Combination, (x) the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time, if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination, or (y) the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.2 hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below with respect to an effective registration statement. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined below), in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each outstanding Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be applied consistently to all of the Warrants.
3.3 Exercise of Warrants.
3.3.1 Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, or, in the case of a Warrant represented by a book-entry, the Warrants to be exercised (the “Book-Entry Warrants”) on the records of the Depositary to an account of the Warrant Agent at the Depositary designated for such purposes in writing by the Warrant Agent to the Depositary from time to time, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant, properly delivered by the Participant in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each Ordinary Share as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Ordinary Shares and the issuance of such Ordinary Shares , as follows:
(a) in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent;
(b) in the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6 hereof in which the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) has elected to require all holders of the Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value,” as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b), over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.2, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Ordinary Shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the Warrants, pursuant to Section 6 hereof; or
(c) as provided in Section 7.4 hereof.
3.3.2 Issuance of Ordinary Shares on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of full Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of Ordinary Shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Warrant exercise. No Warrant shall be exercisable for cash and the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company’s satisfying its obligations under Section 7.4. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Ordinary Shares upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless, in which case the purchaser of a Unit containing such Public Warrants shall have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the Ordinary Shares underlying such Unit. The Company may require holders of Public Warrants to settle the Warrant on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 7.4. If, by reason of any exercise of warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in Ordinary Shares, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder.
3.3.3 Valid Issuance. All Ordinary Shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3.3.4 Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Ordinary Shares is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Ordinary Shares on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share transfer books of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such Ordinary Shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open.
3.3.5 Maximum Percentage. A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with such person for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of which such person is or may be deemed to be a part, would beneficially own (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) (or to the extent that for any reason the equivalent calculation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder would result in a higher ownership percentage, such higher percentage would be) in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (as specified by the holder) (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates or any such other person or group shall include the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude Ordinary Shares that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred shares or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, current report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding Ordinary Shares was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.
4. Adjustments.
4.1 Share Capitalizations.
4.1.1 Share Dividends. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5 below, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a capitalization or share dividend of Ordinary Shares, or by a sub-division of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, sub-division or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. A rights offering made to all or substantially all holders of Ordinary Shares entitling holders to purchase Ordinary Shares at a price less than the “Historical Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a capitalization of a number of Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Ordinary Shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Ordinary Shares) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Ordinary Shares paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Historical Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, in determining the price payable for Ordinary Shares, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Historical Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Ordinary Shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights. No Ordinary Shares shall be issued at less than their par value.
4.1.2 Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays to all or substantially all of the holders of the Ordinary Shares a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets on account of such Ordinary Shares k (or other shares into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (i) to affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide for the redemption of Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if the Company does not consummate its initial Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or (ii) with respect to any other provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity or (e) in connection with the redemption of public shares upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution of its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Ordinary Shares during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution to the extent it does not exceed $0.50 (which amount shall be adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant).
4.2 Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share split or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share split, reclassification or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Ordinary Shares.
4.3 Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.
4.4 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (other than a change covered by Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares ), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Registered Holder of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Ordinary Shares of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares or stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by Section 4.1 or Section 4.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event shall the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of such Warrant.
4.5 Issuance in Connection with a Business Combination. If (x) the Company issues additional Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, rights issuances, subdivisions, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like), with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Board (and in the case of any such issuance to the initial shareholders (as defined in the Prospectus) or their affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by such shareholders or their affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “New Issuance 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 its initial business combination on the date of the consummation of its initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of 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 (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, rights issuances, subdivisions, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like), then the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the greater of the Market Value and the New Issuance Price and the Redemption Trigger Price (as defined below) will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to 180% of the greater of the Market Value and the New Issuance Price.
4.6 Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.
4.7 No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder.
4.8 Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of Ordinary Shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.
4.9 Other Events. In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of preceding subsections of this Section 4 are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid an adverse impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4, then, in each such case, the Company shall appoint a firm of independent public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal firm of recognized national standing, which shall give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented by the Warrants is necessary to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 and, if they determine that an adjustment is necessary, the terms of such adjustment. The Company shall adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion.
4.10 No Adjustment. For the avoidance of doubt, no adjustment shall be made to the terms of the Warrants solely as a result of an adjustment to the conversion ratio of the Class B ordinary shares into Ordinary Shares or the conversion of the shares of Class B ordinary shares into Ordinary Shares, in each case, pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as further amended from time to time.
5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.
5.1 Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, in the case of certificated warrants, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.
5.2 Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, either in certificated form or book entry position together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants, and the Extension Warrants), the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.
5.3 Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to affect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a warrant, except as part of the Units.
5.4 Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.
5.5. Warrant Execution and Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, the Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued, pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.
5.6 Transfer Prior to Detachment. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrant is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on and after the Detachment Date.
6. Redemption.
6.1 Redemption of Warrants for Cash. Not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.2 below, at the price (the “Redemption Price”) of $0.01 per Warrant, provided that the last reported sales price of the Ordinary Shares reported has been at least $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof) (the “Redemption Trigger Price”), on each of twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given and provided that there is an effective registration statement covering the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.2 below) or the Company has elected to require the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1.
6.2 Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption; Redemption Price; Reference Value. In the event that the Company elects to redeem the Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date (the “30-day Redemption Period”) to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice. As used in this Agreement, (a) “Redemption Price” shall mean the price per Warrant at which any Warrants are redeemed pursuant to Section 6.1.
6.3 Exercise after Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) of this Agreement) at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. In the event that the Company determines to require all holders of Warrants to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1, the notice of redemption shall contain the information necessary to calculate the number of Ordinary Shares to be received upon exercise of the Warrants, including the “Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in subsection 3.3.1(b) hereof) in such case. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price.
7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.
7.1 No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as a shareholder in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.
7.2 Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
7.3 Reservation of Ordinary Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.
7.4 Registration of Ordinary Shares; Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option.
7.4.1. Registration of the Ordinary Shares. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than twenty (20) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within sixty (60) Business Days following the closing of its initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration or redemption of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the sixtieth (60th) Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption) for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the lesser of the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares k underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 7.4.1, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume-weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date that notice of exercise is received by the Warrant Agent from the holder of such Warrants or its securities broker or intermediary. The date that notice of “cashless exercise” is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection with the “cashless exercise” of a Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with this subsection 7.4.1 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the Ordinary Shares issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided in subsection 7.4.2, for the avoidance of doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have expired, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this subsection 7.4.1.
7.4.2. Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option. If the Ordinary Shares are at the time of any exercise of a Public Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule), the Company may, at its option, (i) require holders of Public Warrants who exercise Public Warrants to exercise such Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule) as described in subsection 7.4.1 and (ii) in the event the Company so elects, the Company shall not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary. If the Company does not elect at the time of exercise to require a holder of Public Warrants who exercises Public Warrants to exercise such Public Warrants on a “cashless basis,” it agrees to use its best efforts to register or qualify for sale the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrant under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in those states in which the Public Warrants were initially offered by the Company of the exercising Public Warrant holder to the extent an exemption is not available.
8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.
8.1 Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such Ordinary Shares.
8.2 Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.
8.2.1 Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.
8.2.2 Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
8.2.3 Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.
8.3 Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.
8.3.1 Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.
8.3.2. Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4 Liability of Warrant Agent.
8.4.1. Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4.2. Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
8.4.3 Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any Ordinary Shares shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.
8.4.4. Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of Ordinary Shares through the exercise of the Warrants.
8.4.5 Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Warrant Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.
9. Miscellaneous Provisions.
9.1 Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
9.2 Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:
Pono Capital Three, Inc.
643 Ilalo Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Attn.: Davin Kazama, Chief Executive Officer
Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attn: Compliance Department
9.3 Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the City of New York, County of New York, State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive, forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 9.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.
9.4 Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.
9.5 Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.
9.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
9.7 Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
9.8 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Registered Holders. All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants, the Extension Warrants or the Post-IPO Warrants or any provision of this Agreement with respect to the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants, or the Extension Warrants, 50% of the number of the then outstanding Private Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants, or Extension Warrants, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.
9.9 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
Exhibit A — Form of Warrant Certificate
Exhibit B — Legend — Private Placement Warrants, Working Capital Warrants, and Extension Warrants
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Davin Kazama | |
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, | ||
as Warrant Agent | ||
By: |
/s/ Francis Wolf | |
Name: | Francis Wolf | |
Title: | Vice President |
[signature page to Warrant Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
Form of Warrant Certificate
[FACE]
Number
Warrants
THIS
WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR
IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW
Pono Capital Three, Inc.
Incorporated Under the Laws of the Cayman Islands
CUSIP G71704111
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 Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value (“Ordinary Shares ”), of Pono Capital Three, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Each whole 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 whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares. 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 Ordinary Share for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement. This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[Reverse]
The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive [__] Ordinary Shares and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of [ ], 2023 (the “Warrant Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a limited purpose trust company, 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 Securities 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.
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 Pono Capital Three, Inc. (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 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 (i) the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive 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)
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).
EXHIBIT B
PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS WORKING CAPITAL WARRANTS, AND EXTENSION WARRANTS LEGEND
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC. (THE “COMPANY”), MEHANA CAPITAL LLC AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN).
SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.”
No. Warrants
Exhibit 10.1
February 9, 2023
Pono Capital Three, Inc.
643 Ilalo Street, #102
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Re: Initial Public Offering
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into by and between Pono Capital Three, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) and EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, as representative of the underwriters (each, an “Underwriter” and collectively, the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”), of up to 10,000,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 1,500,000 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Units”), each comprised of one Class A ordinary share, having a par or nominal value of US $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”), and one redeemable warrant. Each redeemable warrant (each, a “Warrant”) entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share at a price of US $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units shall be sold in the Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the Units have been approved to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 13 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Mehana Capital LLC (the “Sponsor”) and each of the undersigned individuals, each of whom is a member of the Company’s board of directors and/or management team (each, an “Insider” and collectively, the “Insiders”), hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
1. It is acknowledged and agreed that the Company shall not enter into a definitive agreement regarding a proposed Business Combination without the prior written consent of the Sponsor.
2. The Sponsor and each Insider agrees that if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any shares of Capital Stock owned by it, him or her in favor of any proposed Business Combination and (ii) not redeem any Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her in connection with such shareholder approval. If the Company engages in a tender offer in connection with any proposed Business Combination, each Insider agrees that it, he or she will not seek to sell its, his or her Ordinary Shares to the Company in connection with such tender offer.
3. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 12 months from the closing of the Public Offering (or up to 18 months from the closing of the Public Offering if the Company extends the period of time to consummate a Business Combination, as described in more detail in the Prospectus) or such later period approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Sponsor and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering (the “Offering Shares”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes (net of taxes payable and less up to US $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders of the Company (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 each case to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. The Sponsor and each Insider agree not to propose any amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would modify (i) the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within 12 months from the closing of the Public Offering (or up to 18 months from the closing of the Public Offering if the Company extends the period of time to consummate a Business Combination, as described in more detail in the Prospectus) or (ii) the other provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activities, unless the Company provides its Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares. The Sponsor and each Insider agree to waive its redemption rights with respect to shares of Capital Stock owned by it in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to 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 Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within 12 months from the closing of the Public Offering (or up to 18 months from the closing of the Public Offering if the Company extends the period of time to consummate a Business Combination, as described in more detail in the Prospectus) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity.
Each of the Sponsor and each Insider acknowledges that it, he or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Ordinary Shares held by it, him or her. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby further waives, with respect to any Ordinary Shares held by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of a shareholder vote to approve such Business Combination or in the context of a tender offer made by the Company to purchase Ordinary Shares (although the Sponsor, the Insiders and their respective affiliates shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 12 months from the date of the closing of the Public Offering (or up to 18 months from the closing of the Public Offering if the Company extends the period of time to consummate a Business Combination, as described in more detail in the Prospectus)).
4. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with the undersigned or any other Insiders of the Company or their affiliates, the Company must obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or an independent accounting firm that such Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view.
5. During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Sponsor and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the 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 Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Units, Ordinary Shares, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, 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, Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, 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). Each of the Insiders and the Sponsor acknowledges and agrees that, prior to the effective date of any release or waiver, of the restrictions set forth in this paragraph 5 or paragraph 9 below, the Company shall announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.
6. In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account, the Sponsor (which for purposes of clarification shall not extend to any other shareholders, members or managers of the Sponsor) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened, or any claim whatsoever) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party (other than the Company’s independent accountants) for services rendered or products sold to the Company or (ii) a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement for a Business Combination (a “Target”); provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Sponsor shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party for services rendered (other than the Company’s independent public accountants) or products sold to the Company or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) US $10.25 per share of the Offering Shares or (ii) such lesser amount per share of the Offering Shares held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, in each case, net of the amount of interest earned on the property in the Trust Account which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party (including a Target) who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. In the event that any such executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against such third party, the Sponsor shall not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Sponsor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Sponsor, the Sponsor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense.
7. To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees to forfeit, at no cost, a number of Founder Shares in the aggregate equal to the product of 643,777 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 1,500,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 1,500,000. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriters so that the Initial Shareholders will own an aggregate of 30.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares after the Public Offering (excluding the Private Placement Units and the Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Underwriter as compensation).
8. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees and acknowledges that: (i) the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such Sponsor or an Insider of its, his or her obligations under paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9(a), 9(b), and 11 of this Letter Agreement (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.
9. (a) The Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it or he shall not Transfer any Founder Shares (or Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion thereof) until the earlier of (A) six months after the date of the Company’s initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the Company’s initial Business Combination, (x) if the reported last sale price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds US $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, right issuances, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”).
(b) The Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Private Placement Units, the Private Placement Shares, the Private Placement Warrants or Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination (the “Private Placement Units Lock-up Period”, together with the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the “Lock-up Periods”).
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 5, 9(a) and 9(b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units, Private Placement Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants or the Founder Shares that are held by the Sponsor, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 9(c)), are permitted (i) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors or any members of the Sponsor or any affiliates of the Sponsor; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of such individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such individual or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of an initial Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (f) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of an initial Business Combination; (g) by virtue of the laws of Cayman Islands or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; or (h) in the event of the Company’s liquidation, merger, capital share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Company’s completion of an initial Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (e) or (g), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions herein and the other restrictions contained in this Agreement (including provisions relating to voting, the Trust Account and liquidating distributions).
10. Each of the Sponsor and the Insiders represents and warrants that it, he or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to the Insider’s background. The Sponsor and each Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. The Sponsor and each Insider represents and warrants that: it, he or she is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; it, he or she has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it, he or she is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding. The Company represents and warrants that, to its knowledge, (i) none of its advisors has been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked, (ii) each advisor’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to such advisor’s background and each advisor’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects, (iii) none of its advisors is subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; and (iii) none of its advisors has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (x) involving fraud, (y) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (z) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and none of its advisors is currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.
11. (a) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus and cash or other compensation to the Company’s officers or advisors to be engaged subsequent to the consummation of the Public Offering (which will be disclosed in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission), neither the Sponsor nor any individual who is an officer, director or advisor of the Company as of the date hereof nor any affiliate thereof shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is), other than the following, none of which will be made from the proceeds held in the Trust Account prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination: repayment of a loan and advances up to an aggregate of US $300,000 made to the Company by Mehana Capital LLC; reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and consummating an initial Business Combination; payment to an affiliate of the Sponsor of US $10,000 per month, for up to 12 months (or up to 18 months if the Company extends the period of time to consummate a Business Combination), for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support; and repayment of non-interest bearing loans, if any, and on such terms as to be determined by the Company from time to time, made by the Sponsor or any of the Company’s officers or directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination, provided, that, if the Company does not consummate an initial Business Combination, a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account may be used by the Company to repay such loaned amounts so long as no proceeds from the Trust Account are used for such repayment. Up to US $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units, at a price of US $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender, upon consummation of the initial Business Combination. The units would be identical to the Private Placement Units. Additionally, up to US $1,980,000 (or US $2,277,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) may be loaned by the Sponsor to fund six one-month extensions on the period of time in which the Company has to consummate a Business Combination. Such loans may be convertible into units at a price of US $10.00 per unit, which units would be identical to the Private Placement Units.
12. Each of the Sponsor and each Insider has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and, as applicable, to serve as an officer and/or a director on the board of directors of the Company and hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer and/or a director of the Company.
13. As used herein, (i) “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, capital share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Capital Stock” shall mean, collectively, the Ordinary Shares and the Founder Shares; (iii) “Founder Shares” shall mean the 4,935,622 shares of the Company’s Class B Ordinary Shares, having a par or nominal value of US $0.0001 per share, initially held by the Sponsor (up to 643,777 Shares of which are subject to complete or partial forfeiture by the Sponsor if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriters); (iv) “Initial Shareholders” shall mean the Sponsor and any other holder of Founder Shares immediately prior to the Public Offering; (v) “Private Placement Shares” shall mean the 511,375 Ordinary Shares included within the Private Placement Units (or up to 565,375 Ordinary Shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full); (vi) “Private Placement Units” shall mean the 511,375 units to be purchased by the Sponsor, or up to 565,375 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, each comprised of one share of Ordinary Shares and one warrant to purchase one share of Ordinary Shares, that the Sponsor has agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of US $5,113,750 (or up to US $5,653,750 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), or purchase price of US $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering; (vii) “Private Placement Warrants” shall mean the Warrants to purchase up to 511,375 Ordinary Shares (or up to 565,375 Ordinary Shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) included within the Private Placement Units; (viii) “Public Shareholders” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (ix) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units shall be deposited; and (x) “Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).
14. This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
15. No party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.
16. 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.
17. This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
18. This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
19. This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
20. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile transmission.
21. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods or (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by February 9, 2023; provided further that paragraph 6 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation.
Sincerely, | ||
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ David Kazama | |
Name: | David Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
HOLDER: | ||
By: | /s/ Gary Miyashiro | |
Name: | Gary Miyashiro | |
By: | /s/ Dustin Shindo | |
Name: | Dustin Shindo | |
By: | /s/ Kotaro Chiba | |
Name: | Kotaro Chiba | |
By: | /s/ Mike Savama | |
Name: | Mike Sayama | |
By: | /s/ Trisha Nomura | |
Name: | Trisha Nomura |
MEHANA CAPITAL, LLC, a Delaware liability company | ||
By: | /s/ Dustin Shindo | |
Name: | Dustin Shindo | |
Title: | Managing Member |
Exhibit 10.2
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made effective as of February 9, 2023 by and between Pono Capital Three, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company with registration number 394949 (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York corporation (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, No. 333-268283 (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’ units (the “Units”), each of which consists of one of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) and one redeemable warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”), has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, as representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”); and
WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, $102,500,000 of the gross proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Units (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $117,875,000 if the Underwriters’ over allotment option is exercised in full), plus any amounts to be deposited in connection with an Extension (as defined below), 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 Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the “Property,” the 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, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $3,000,000, or $3,450,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that will be payable by the Company to the Underwriters upon and concurrently with the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below) (the “Deferred Discount”); and
WHEREAS, if a Business Combination is not consummated within the initial 12-month period following the closing of the Offering, the Company may extend such period by nine one-month periods (an “Extension”), up to a maximum of 18 months in the aggregate, subject to the Company’s sponsor Mehana Capital LLC (the “Sponsor”) or its affiliates or designees depositing $330,000 (or $379,500 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, or in any case, $0.033 per Unit) for such Extension into the Trust Account no later than five days prior the 12-month anniversary of the Offering or such later date as extended (each, an “Applicable Deadline” for each one month Extension), as applicable, in exchange for which the Sponsor will receive non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory notes; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
1. Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more), and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company;
(b) Manage, supervise, and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
(c) In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by the Company; the Trustee may not invest in any other securities or assets, it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder; while account funds are invested or uninvested, the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration;
(d) Collect and receive, when due, all interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;
(e) Promptly notify the Company and the Representative of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;
(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account;
(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;
(h) Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;
(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its Secretary or its Chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) or other authorized officer of the Company, and, in the case of Exhibit A, acknowledged and agreed to by the Representative, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is the later of (i) 12 months after the closing of the offering (or up to 18 months after the closing of the offering if the Company extends the period of time to consummate a Business Combination as described in more detail in the Prospectus) or (ii) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest (net of taxes payable, less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses) shall be distributed to the Public Shareholders of record as of such date.
(j) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C, withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account. The written request of the Company in the form of Exhibit C 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 (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);
(k) Upon receipt of an extension letter (“Extension Letter”) substantially similar to Exhibit D hereto at least five business days prior to the Applicable Deadline, signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer, and receipt of the dollar amount specified in the Extension Letter on or prior to the Applicable Deadline, the Trustee shall follow the instructions set forth in the Extension Letter.
(l) 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, the Trustee shall distribute to the Public Shareholders of record as of such date the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem Ordinary Share from Public Shareholders properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to 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 Share included in the Units sold in the Offering if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or (b) with respect to any other provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to distribute said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request; and
(m) Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i), (j) or (l) above.
2. Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or Secretary. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(l) hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;
(b) Subject to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b), it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;
(c) Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing fee which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below). The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Offering. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c), Schedule A and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;
(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding a merger, capital share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”), provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the shareholder meeting verifying the vote of such shareholders regarding such Business Combination;
(e) Provide the Representative with a copy of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;
(f) Instruct the Trustee to make only those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any distributions that are not permitted under this Agreement;
(g) Within four (4) business days after the Underwriters exercise the over-allotment option (or any unexercised portion thereof) or such over-allotment option expires, provide the Trustee with a notice in writing of the total amount of the Deferred Discount, which shall in no event be less than $3,000,000;
(h) Promptly following an Applicable Deadline, disclose whether or not the term the Company has to consummate a Business Combination has been extended; and
(i) Unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Representative, ensure that any Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A) delivered in connection with a Termination Letter in the form of Exhibit A expressly provides that the Deferred Discount is paid directly to the account or accounts directed by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters prior to any transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account to the Company or any other person.
3. Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:
(a) Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein;
(b) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any third party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud, or willful misconduct;
(c) Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;
(d) Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;
(e) Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;
(f) The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustee’s reasonable best judgment, except for the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination, or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;
(g) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement;
(h) Provide any assurance that any Business Combination entered into by the Company, or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;
(i) File information returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state, or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the Company documenting the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;
(j) Prepare, execute, and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, franchise and income tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or
(k) Verify calculations, qualify, or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(l) hereof.
4. Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.
5. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:
(a) If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or
(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b).
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank, or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended, or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
(d) This Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified pursuant to Section 6(c) hereof with the Consent of the Shareholders, it being the specific intention of the parties hereto that each of the Company’s shareholders is, and shall be, a third-party beneficiary of this Section 6(d) with the same right and power to enforce this Section 6(d) as the other parties hereto. For purposes of this Section 6(d), the “Consent of the Shareholders” means receipt by the Trustee of a certificate from the inspector of elections of the shareholder meeting certifying that either (i) the Company’s shareholders of record as of a record date who hold sixty-five percent (65%) or more of all then outstanding Ordinary Share and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company voting together as a single class, have voted in favor of such change, amendment or modification, or (ii) the Company’s shareholders of record as of the record date who hold sixty-five percent (65%) or more of all then outstanding Ordinary Share and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company voting together as a single class, have delivered to such entity a signed writing approving such change, amendment or modification. No such amendment will affect any Public Shareholder who has otherwise indicated his election to redeem his Ordinary Share in connection with a shareholder vote sought to amend this Agreement. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee may rely conclusively on the certification from the inspector or elections referenced above and shall be relieved of all liability to any party for executing the proposed amendment in reliance thereon.
(e) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
(f) Any notice, consent, or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or by facsimile or email transmission:
if to the Trustee, to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Email: fwolf@continentalstock.com
Email: cgonzalez@continentalstock.com
if to the Company, to:
Pono Capital Three, Inc.
643 Ilalo Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Telephone: (808) 892-6611
Attn.: Davin Kazama, Chief Executive Officer
in each case, with copies to:
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
101 Constitution Ave., N.W., Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20001
Attn.: Andrew M. Tucker, Esq.
Telephone No.: (202) 689-2800
Email: andy.tucker@nelsonmullins.com
and
EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC
590 Madison Avenue, 39th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attn.: Legal Department
and
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attn.: Christian O. Nagler, Esq.
Peter S. Seligson, Esq.
Telephone No.: (212) 446-4800
Email: cnagler@kirkland.com
peter.seligson@kirkland.com
(g) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.
(h) This Agreement is the joint product of the Trustee and the Company, and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
(i) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
(j) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, is a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.
(k) Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity without the written consent of the other party.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Trustee | ||
By: | /s/ Francis Wolf | |
Name: | Francis Wolf | |
Title: | Vice President | |
Pono Capital Three, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Davin Kazama | |
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
SCHEDULE A
Fee Item | Time and method of payment | Amount | ||||
Initial set-up fee | Initial closing of Offering by wire transfer. | $ | 3,500.00 | |||
Trustee administration fee | Payable annually. First year fee payable at initial closing of Offering by wire transfer thereafter by wire transfer or check. | $ | 10,000.00 | |||
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under | Billed to Company following disbursement | 250.00 | ||||
Sections 1(i), 1(j) and 1(l) | made to Company under Section 1 | $ | per item presented | |||
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(l) | Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(l) | 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 & 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 Pono Capital Three, Inc. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [ ], 2023 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [insert name] (the “Target Business”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (the “Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (or such shorter time period as you may agree) (the “Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account and to transfer the proceeds into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date (including as directed to it by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters (with respect to the Deferred Discount)). It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends.
On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “Notification”) and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you a certification by the Chief Executive Officer of the vote with an affidavit which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s shareholders, if a vote is held and (b) a joint written instruction signed by the Company and the Representative with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of the Deferred Discount to the Representative from the Trust Account (the “Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in such written instruction as soon thereafter as possible.
Very truly yours, | ||
Pono Capital Three, Inc. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
cc: EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC
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 & 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 Pono Capital Three, Inc. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [ ], 2023 (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 Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account and to 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 [ ](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 Company’s Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement.
(1) 12 months from the closing of the Offering (or up to18 months after the closing of the offering if we extend the period of time to consummate a business combination as described in more detail in the Prospectus) or at a later date, if extended.
Very truly yours, | ||
Pono Capital Three, Inc. | ||
By : | ||
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
cc: EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC
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 & Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Pono Capital Three, Inc. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [ ], 2023 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $[ ] of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via
wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
Very truly yours, | ||
Pono Capital Three, Inc. | ||
By : | ||
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
cc: EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC
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 & Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account Extension Letter
Dear Mr. Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Pono Capital Three, Inc. (“Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, dated as of [ ], 2023 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company is extending the time available in order to consummate a Business Combination
with the Target Businesses for an additional one (1) month, from _______ to_________ (the “Extension”). This Extension Letter shall serve as the notice required with respect to Extension prior to the Applicable Deadline. 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 deposit $330,000 (or $379,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option was exercised in full, or in any case, $0.033 per Unit), which will be wired to you, into the Trust Account investments upon receipt.
Very truly yours, | ||
Pono Capital Three, Inc. | ||
By : | ||
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
cc: EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC
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 Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction
Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Pono Capital Three, Inc. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of [ ], 2023 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the redeeming Public Shareholders of the Company $[ ] of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay its Public Shareholders who have properly elected to have their Ordinary Share redeemed by the Company in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public Ordinary Share if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within such time as is described in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or with respect to any other provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. As such, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter into a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries.
Very truly yours, | ||
Pono Capital Three, Inc. | ||
By : | ||
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
cc: EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC
Exhibit 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 9, 2023, is made and entered into by and among Pono Capital Three, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company with registration number 394949 (the “Company”), Mehana Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (the “Representative”) and each of the undersigned parties listed under Holder on the signature page hereto (each such party, together with the Sponsor, the Representative and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company and the Sponsor have entered into that certain Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of April 13, 2022, amended and restated as of May 17, 2022, (the “Founder Shares Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 2,875,000 shares of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”) and on December 22, 2022, 2022 the Sponsor purchased an additional 2,060,622 Class B Ordinary Shares (the “Founder Shares”), up to 643,777 shares of which will be forfeited to the Company for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering exercise their over-allotment option;
WHEREAS, the Founder Shares are convertible into the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), on the terms and conditions provided in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association;
WHEREAS, on February 9, 2023, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Unit Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase 511,375 units (or up to 563,375 units to the extent the over-allotment option in connection with the Company’s initial public offering is exercised in full) (the “Sponsor Private Placement Units”), each unit consisting of one Ordinary Shares and one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant exercisable to purchase one Ordinary Shares, in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering;
WHEREAS, the Company and EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (the “Representative”) entered into that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, pursuant to which the Company will issue to the Representative 90,000 Ordinary Shares (or up to 103,500 Ordinary Shares to the extent the over-allotment option in connection with the Company’s initial public offering is exercised in full) of the Company (the “Representative Shares”) simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, and the Company also agreed to issue up to an additional 13,500 Representative Shares upon full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option;
WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination (as defined below) the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may loan to the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into units, at a price of $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of one Ordinary Share and one warrant, each whole warrant exercisable to purchase one Ordinary Shares (“Working Capital Units”);
WHEREAS, in order to extend the period of time the Company has to consummate a Business Combination (defined below) as described in the Prospectus (as defined below), the Sponsor or its affiliates or designees may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as the Company may require, of up to an aggregate of $1,980,000 (or up to an aggregate of $2,277,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) which loans may be convertible into up to an additional 198,000 units (or up to 227,700 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender (the “Extension Units”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business Combination” shall mean any merger, capital share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.
“Commission” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Extension Units” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Extension Unit Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to Extension Units, including the Ordinary Shares and warrants underlying the Extension Units, and the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the warrants underlying the Extension Units, that are held by the initial purchasers of such warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the period ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
“Form S-1” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Form S-3” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.
“Founder Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto and shall be deemed to include the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon conversion thereof.
“Founder Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period ending on the earlier of (A) the six-month anniversary of the date of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the Company’s initial Business Combination, (x) if the reported last sale price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, right issuances, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing six months after the Company’s initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property.
“Founder Shares Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Insider Letter” shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of February 9, 2023, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and each of the Company’s officers, directors, and director nominees.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.
“Ordinary Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Permitted Transferees” shall mean any person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, Private Placement Lock-up Period, Working Capital Unit Lock-up Period, Representative Shares Lock-up Period, or Extension Unit Lock-up Period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letter, this Agreement, and any other applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter.
“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.
“Private Placement Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to Private Placement Units, including the Ordinary Shares and warrants underlying the Private Placement Units, and the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the warrants underlying the Private Placement Units, that are held by the initial purchasers of such warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the period ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
“Private Placement Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Pro Rata” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the Founder Shares and the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the conversion of any Founder Shares, (b) the Private Placement Units (including the Ordinary Shares and warrants underlying the Private Placement Units, and the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the warrants underlying the Private Placement Units), (c) any outstanding Ordinary Shares or any other equity security (including the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement, (d) any Working Capital Units (including the Ordinary Shares and warrants underlying the Working Capital Units, and the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the warrants underlying the Working Capital Units), (e) any Extension Units (including the Ordinary Shares and warrants underlying the Extension Units, and the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the warrants underlying the Extension Units), (f) any Representative Shares, and (g) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such Ordinary Share by way of a share dividend or share split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.
“Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Ordinary Shares are then listed;
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue-sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone, and delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Representative” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Representative Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Representative Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Representative Shares, that are held by the Representative or its Permitted Transferees, the later of the period ending 180 days after the effective date of the registration statement registration statement on Form S-1, No. 333-268283 related to the Company’s initial public offering and the consummation of the initial Business Combination of the Company.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
“Working Capital Unit” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Working Capital Unit Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to Working Capital Units, including the Ordinary Shares and warrants underlying the Working Capital Units, and the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the warrants underlying the Working Capital Units, that are held by the initial purchasers of such warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the period ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS
2.1 Demand Registration.
2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the date the Company consummates the Business Combination, the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities (the “Demanding Holders”) may make a written demand for Registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1 with respect to any or all Registrable Securities; provided, however, that a Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-1”) has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
2.1.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days, of such election; and provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.
2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.
2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other shareholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Ordinary Shares or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders (if any), pursuant to a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5.
2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates an initial Business Combination, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of shareholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee share option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.
2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number Ordinary Shares that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has so requested exercising its rights to register its Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(b) If the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Registration, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.
2.3 Registrations on Form S-3. The Holders of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-3”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect such request through an Underwritten Offering. Within five (5) days of the Company’s receipt of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration on Form S-3 to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration on Form S-3 shall so notify the Company, in writing, within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than twelve (12) days after the Company’s initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall file a Registration Statement relating to all or such portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof if (i) a Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $10,000,000.
2.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12-month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no Registration shall be effected or permitted and no Registration Statement shall become effective, with respect to any Registrable Securities held by any Holder, until after the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-Up Period, the Private Placement Lock-Up Period, the Working Capital Unit Lock-up Period, the Representative Shares Lock-up Period, or the Extension Unit Lock-up Period, as the case may be. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Representative may not exercise its rights under Section 2.1 and 2.2 hereunder after five (5) and seven (7) years, respectively, after the effective date of the registration statement on Form S-1, No. 333-268283 related to the Company’s initial public offering and (ii) the Representative may not exercise their rights under Section 2.1 more than one time.
ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates an initial Business Combination the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the majority-in-interest of the Holders with Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel;
3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;
3.1.10 permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the participating Holders), the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders, or Underwriters to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representative or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information and provided further, the Company may not include the name of any Holder or Underwriter or any information regarding any Holder or Underwriter in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any response to any comment letter, without the prior written consent of such Holder or Underwriter and providing each such Holder or Underwriter a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on such applicable document, which comments the Company shall include unless contrary to applicable law;
3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, which the participating Holders may rely on, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.12 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;
3.1.14 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.15 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $51,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.
3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than ninety (90) days in any 12-month period, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.
3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Ordinary Shares held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.
4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors, and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to indemnify under this Section 4.1.2 shall be several, not joint and several, among the Holders of Registrable Securities, and the total indemnification liability of a Holder under this Section 4.1.2 shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company to 643 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, Attn: Davin Kazama, and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.
5.2 Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.
5.2.2 Prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the Private Placement Lock-up Period, the Working Capital Unit Lock-up Period, the Representative Shares Lock-up Period, or the Extension Unit Lock-up Period, as the case may be, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement. After the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the Private Placement Lock-up Period, the Working Capital Unit Lock-up Period, the Representative Shares Lock-up Period, or the Extension Unit Lock-up Period, as the case may be, the Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any transferee.
5.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.
5.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 hereof.
5.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.
5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
5.4 Relationship of the Parties. For ease of administration, this Agreement is being executed so as to enable each Holder identified on the signature pages to enter into this Agreement, severally, but not jointly. The Company and each Holder agree with each other that (i) this Agreement shall be treated as if it were a separate agreement with respect to each Holder listed on the signature page, as if each Holder had executed a separate registration rights agreement naming only itself as a Holder, and (ii) no Holder listed on the signature page shall have any liability under this Agreement for the obligations of any other Holder so listed. The decision of Holder to enter into this Agreement has been made by Holder independently of any other Holder. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by a Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute any Holder acting with any other Holder or Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that any Holder and any other Holder or Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.5 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (I) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.
5.6 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question (which majority interest must include the Representative if such amendment or modification affects in any way the rights of the Representative hereunder), compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the ordinary shares of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
5.7 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
5.8 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (ii) the date as of which (A) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (B) the Holders of all Registrable Securities are permitted to sell the Registrable Securities under Rule 144 (or any similar provision) under the Securities Act without limitation on the amount of securities sold or the manner of sale and without compliance with the current public reporting requirements set forth under Rule 144(i)(2). The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC. | ||
a Cayman Islands exempt company | ||
By: | /s/ Davin Kazama | |
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
HOLDER: | ||
MEHANA CAPITAL LLC, a Delaware limited liability company | ||
By: | /s/ Dustin Shindo | |
Name: | Dustin Shindo | |
Title: | Manager |
EF HUTTON, DIVISION OF BENCHMARK INVESTMENTS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Sam Fleischman | |
Name: | Sam Fleischman | |
Title: | Supervisory Principal |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit 10.4
Pono Capital Three, Inc.
643 Ilalo Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
February 9, 2023
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pono Capital Three, Inc. (the “Company”), a blank check company formed for the purpose of acquiring one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”), intends to register its securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (“Registration Statement”).
The undersigned hereby commits that it will purchase 511,375 units of the Company (“Private Units”), each Private Unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Ordinary Share”), and one warrant (the “Warrants”), with each whole warrant entitling its holder to purchase one (1) Ordinary Share, for a purchase price of $5,113,750 (the “Private Unit Purchase Price”).
The undersigned hereby agrees that it will purchase an additional amount of units of the Company (“Over-Allotment Units”), up to a maximum of 54,000 Over-Allotment Units, or a maximum purchase price of $540,000 (“Over-Allotment Unit Purchase Price”, together with the Private Unit Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”), in the event EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (“EF Hutton”) exercises its over-allotment option, such that the amount held in the trust account (as described in the Registration Statement) does not fall below $10.25 per share for each Class A Ordinary Shares sold in the IPO.
At least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, the undersigned will cause the Private Unit Purchase Price to be delivered to Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP (“Nelson Mullins”), counsel for the Company, by wire transfer as set forth in the instructions attached as Exhibit A to hold in a non-interest-bearing account until the Company consummates the IPO.
The consummation of the purchase and issuance of the Private Units shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO and the consummation of the purchase and issuance of the Over-Allotment Units shall occur simultaneously with the closing of any exercise of the over-allotment option related to the IPO. Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, Nelson Mullins shall deposit the Private Unit Purchase Price, without interest or deduction, into the trust fund (“Trust Fund”) established by the Company for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders as described in the Registration Statement. If the Company does not complete the IPO within ten (10) days from the date of this letter, the Private Unit Purchase Price (without interest or deduction) will be returned to the undersigned.
Each of the Company, and the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that Nelson Mullins is serving hereunder solely as a convenience to the parties to facilitate the purchase of the Private Units and Nelson Mullins’s sole obligation under this letter agreement is to act with respect to holding and disbursing the Private Unit Purchase Price as described above. Nelson Mullins shall not be liable to the Company, EF Hutton or the undersigned or any other person or entity in respect of any act or failure to act hereunder or otherwise in connection with performing its services hereunder unless Nelson Mullins has acted in a manner constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company and the undersigned shall indemnify Nelson Mullins against any claim made against it (including reasonable attorney’s fees) by reason of it acting or failing to act in connection with this letter agreement except as a result of its gross negligence or willful misconduct. Nelson Mullins may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction or request furnished to it hereunder and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The Private Units and Over-Allotment Units will be identical to the units to be sold by the Company in the IPO, and the holders of the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units are entitled to registration rights. Additionally, the undersigned agrees:
● | to vote the Class A Ordinary Shares included in the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units in favor of any proposed Business Combination; | |
● | not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares sold in the IPO if the Company does not complete an initial Business Combination within 12 months from the closing of the IPO (or up to 18 months from the closing of the IPO if the Company extends the period of time to consummate an initial Business Combination as described in more detail in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement), unless the Company provides the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares sold in the IPO with the opportunity to redeem their Class A Ordinary Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount of the Trust Fund, including interest earned on Trust Fund and not previously released to the Company to pay the Company’s franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares sold in the IPO; | |
● | not to convert any Class A Ordinary Shares included in the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units into the right to receive cash from the Trust Fund in connection with a shareholder vote to approve either a Business Combination or an amendment to the provisions of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, and not to tender the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units in connection with a tender offer conducted prior to the closing of a Business Combination; | |
● | the undersigned will not participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units (but will participate in liquidation distributions with respect to any units or Class A Ordinary Shares purchased by the undersigned in the IPO or in the open market) if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination; | |
● | that the Private Units, Over-Allotment Units, and underlying securities will not be transferable until thirty (30) days after the consummation of a Business Combination except (i) to the Company’s pre-IPO shareholders, or to the Company’s officers, directors, advisors and employees, (ii) transfers to the undersigned’s affiliates or its members upon its liquidation, (iii) to relatives and trusts for estate planning purposes, (iv) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vi) by private sales made in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Private Units were originally purchased or (vii) to the Company for cancellation in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, in each case (except for clause vii) where the transferee agrees to the terms of the transfer restrictions; and | |
● | the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units 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 the IPO in order to consummate the IPO, each of which will be set forth in the Registration Statement. |
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the purchaser of the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units 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 an insider letter.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that:
(a) | it has been advised that the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units have not been registered under the Securities Act; | |
(b) | it will be acquiring the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units for its account for investment purposes only; | |
(c) | it has no present intention of selling or otherwise disposing of the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units in violation of the securities laws of the United States; | |
(d) | it is an “accredited investor” as defined by Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; | |
(e) | it has had both the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the officers and directors of the Company and all persons acting on its behalf concerning the terms and conditions of the offer made hereunder; | |
(f) | it is familiar with the proposed business, management, financial condition, and affairs of the Company; | |
(g) | it has full power, authority, and legal capacity to execute and deliver this letter and any documents contemplated herein or needed to consummate the transactions contemplated in this letter; and | |
(h) | this letter constitutes its legal, valid, and binding obligation, and is enforceable against it. |
This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the undersigned and the Company with respect to the purchase of the Private Units and Over-Allotment Units, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to the same.
Very truly yours, | ||
MEHANA CAPITAL LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Dustin Shindo | |
Name: | Dustin Shindo | |
Title: | Managing Member |
Accepted and Agreed: | ||
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Davin Kazama | |
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Wire Instructions
Bank Name: [redacted]
Bank Address: [redacted]
Account Name: [redacted]
Account Number: [redacted]
Routing/ABA Number (Domestic Wires): [redacted]
Exhibit 10.6
Pono Capital Three, Inc.
February 9, 2023
Mehana Capital LLC
Re: Administrative Support Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter agreement by and between Pono Capital Three, Inc.(the “Company”) and Mehana Capital LLC (“Mehana Capital”), dated as of the date hereof, will confirm our agreement that, commencing on the date the securities of the Company are first listed on The Nasdaq Global Market (the “Listing Date”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 and prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Registration Statement”) and continuing until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation (in each case as described in the Registration Statement) (such earlier date hereinafter referred to as the “Termination Date”):
(i) | Mehana Capital shall make available, or cause to be made available, to the Company, or any successor location of Mehana Capital, certain office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support as may be reasonably required by the Company. In exchange therefor, the Company shall pay Mehana Capital the sum of $10,000 per month on the Listing Date and continuing monthly thereafter until the Termination Date; and |
(ii) Mehana Capital hereby irrevocably waives any and all right, title, interest, causes of action and claims of any kind as a result of, or arising out of, this letter agreement (each, a “Claim”) in or to, and any and all right to seek payment of any amounts due to it out of, the trust account established for the benefit of the public stockholders of the Company and into which substantially all of the proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering will be deposited (the “Trust Account”) as a result of, or arising out of, this letter agreement, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim it may have in the future, which Claim would reduce, encumber or otherwise adversely affect the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account, and further agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction of any Claim against the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.
This letter agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.
No party hereto may assign either this letter agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.
This letter agreement constitutes the entire relationship of the parties hereto, and any litigation between the parties (whether grounded in contract, tort, statute, law or equity) shall be governed by, construed in accordance with, and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice of law principles.
[Signature Page Follows]
Very truly yours, | ||
PONO CAPITAL THREE, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Davin Kazama | |
Name: | Davin Kazama | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY: | ||
MEHANA CAPITAL LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Dustin Shindo | |
Name: | Dustin Shindo | |
Title: | Managing Member |
[Signature Page to Administrative Support Agreement]
Exhibit 99.1
Pono Capital Three, Inc. Announces Pricing of $100,000,000 Initial Public Offering
HONOLULU, HAWAII – February 9, 2023 – Pono Capital Three, Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that it priced its initial public offering of 10,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units will be listed on Nasdaq and will begin trading tomorrow, February 10, 2023, under the ticker symbol “PTHRU”. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one redeemable warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and warrants are expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “PTHR” and “PTHRW”, respectively.
EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (“EF Hutton”), is acting as the sole book running manager for the offering. The Company has granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 units at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is expected to close on February 14, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.
The Company is a newly incorporated blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company 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. The Company believes that there are many target companies that could become attractive public companies and will seek a target in the disruptive technology sector with a spotlight on companies in Asia with Japan in particular. The Company is led by Davin Kazama, Chief Executive Officer, Gary Miyashiro, Chief Financial Officer, and Dustin Shindo, Chairman of the Board.
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Company. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as counsel to EF Hutton.
The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained, when available, from EF Hutton, Attn: Syndicate Department, 590 Madison Ave., 39th Floor, New York, New York 10022, by telephone at (212) 404-7002, by fax at (646) 861-4697, or by email at syndicate@efhuttongroup.com.
A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-268283) relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 9, 2023. A final prospectus relating to this offering will be filed with the SEC. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the Company’s initial public offering. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.
Company Contact:
Davin Kazama
Chief Executive Officer
Pono Capital Three, Inc.
Email: davin@ponocorp.com
Phone: (808) 892-6611
Exhibit 99.2
Pono Capital Three, Inc. Announces Closing of $115,000,000 Initial Public Offering and Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option
HONOLULU, HAWAII – February 14, 2023 – Pono Capital Three, Inc. (the “Company”) today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 10,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit, including 1,500,000 units issued pursuant to the full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option. The units are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) and began trading on February 10, 2023 under the ticker symbol “PTHRU”. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one redeemable warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and warrants are expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “PTHR” and “PTHRW”, respectively.
The Company is a newly incorporated blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company 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. The Company believes that there are many target companies that could become attractive public companies and will seek a target in the disruptive technology sector with a spotlight on companies in Asia with Japan in particular. The Company is led by Davin Kazama, Chief Executive Officer, Gary Miyashiro, Chief Financial Officer, and Dustin Shindo, Chairman of the Board.
EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (“EF Hutton”), acted as the sole book running manager for the offering.
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP served as legal counsel to the Company. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as counsel to EF Hutton.
The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, Attn: Syndicate Department, 590 Madison Ave., 39th Floor, New York, New York 10022, by telephone at (212) 404-7002, by fax at (646) 861-4697, or by email at syndicate@efhuttongroup.com.
A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-268283) relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 9, 2023 and was filed with the SEC on February 10, 2023. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the Company’s initial public offering, the anticipated use of the net proceeds thereof and the Company’s search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the net proceeds of the initial public offering will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and prospectus for the initial public offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.
Company Contact:
Davin
Kazama
Chief Executive Officer
Pono
Capital Three, Inc.
Email: davin@ponocorp.com
Phone: (808) 892-6611