SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 2, 2021
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
$130,000,000
Research Alliance Corp. II
13,000,000 Shares of Class A Common Stock
Research Alliance Corp. II is a newly organized blank check company incorporated in Delaware and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as our initial business combination. We have not selected any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
This is the initial public offering of our shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, which we refer to as our public shares, at an initial public offering price per share of $10.00. The underwriters have a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to 1,950,000 additional shares of our Class A common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. Unlike other SPAC IPOs, investors in this offering will not receive warrants that would become exercisable following completion of our initial business combination.
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account described below as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein. If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem 100% of the public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and certain conditions as further described herein.
Our sponsor, Research Alliance Holdings II LLC, has agreed to purchase 460,000 shares of Class A common stock (or 499,000 shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per share in a private placement for an aggregate purchase price of $4,600,000 (or $4,990,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. These shares of Class A common stock, which we refer to as the private placement shares, are identical to the shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus.
Our sponsor has indicated an interest to purchase an aggregate of $30,000,000 of shares of our common stock in a private placement that would occur concurrently with the consummation of our initial business combination. The capital from such private placement would be used as part of the consideration to the sellers in our initial business combination, and any excess capital from such private placement would be used for working capital in the post-transaction company. However, because indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, our sponsor may determine not to purchase any such shares, or to purchase fewer shares than it has indicated an interest in purchasing. We are not under any obligation to sell any such shares. Such investment would be made on terms and conditions determined at the time of the business combination.
Currently, there is no public market for our Class A common stock. We intend to apply to have our Class A common stock listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “RACB” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our Class A common stock will be approved for listing on Nasdaq.
We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page
26 for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| | | | PER SHARE | | | TOTAL | |
| Public offering price | | | | $ | 10.00 | | | | | $ | 130,000,000 | | |
| Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | | | | $ | 0.55 | | | | | $ | 7,150,000 | | |
| Proceeds, before expenses, to us | | | | $ | 9.45 | | | | | $ | 122,850,000 | | |
(1)
Includes $0.35 per share, or $4,550,000 in the aggregate (or $5,232,500 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein and released to the underwriters only upon the consummation of an initial business combination. See also “Underwriting” beginning on page 111 for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters.
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement shares described in this prospectus, $130,000,000, or $149,500,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per public share in either case), will be deposited into a trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.
The underwriters are offering the shares of our Class A common stock for sale on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the shares to the purchasers on or about , 2021.
Sole Book-Running Manager
Jefferies
, 2021