The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
$175,000,000
Sarissa Capital Acquisition Corp.
17,500,000 Units
Sarissa Capital Acquisition Corp. 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, 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. Although there is no restriction or limitation on what industry our target operates in, it is our intention to pursue prospective targets that are focused on healthcare and biopharma.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, terms and limitations as described herein, and only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. The warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after completion of our initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of this offering, and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation, or as described in this prospectus. Subject to the terms and conditions of this prospectus, we may redeem the warrants once the warrants become exercisable. The underwriters have a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to 2,625,000 additional units to cover over-allotments, if any.
We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Class A ordinary shares upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations as described herein. If we do not consummate an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem 100% of the public shares for cash, subject to applicable law and certain conditions as described herein.
Our sponsor, Sarissa Capital Acquisition Sponsor LLC, and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., the representative of the underwriters for this offering, have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 3,666,667 private placement warrants (or 4,016,667 private placement warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $1.50 per warrant (3,083,333 private placement warrants to our sponsor (or 3,345,833 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) and 583,333 private placement warrants to Cantor Fitzgerald (or 670,833 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full)) for an aggregate purchase price of $5,500,000 (or $6,025,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), each exercisable to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus.
Our initial shareholders currently own 5,031,250 Class B ordinary shares (up to 656,250 of which are subject to forfeiture) which will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination as described herein, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described herein. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to vote on the appointment of directors.
Currently, there is no public market for our securities. We intend to apply to have our units listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “SRSAU.” We expect the Class A ordinary shares and warrants comprising the units to begin separate trading on Nasdaq under the symbols “SRSA” and “SRSAW,” respectively, on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless the underwriters permit earlier separate trading and we have satisfied certain conditions described herein.
We are an “emerging growth company” and “smaller reporting 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 33 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 (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
No offer or invitation to subscribe for any securities may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands.
| | | | | | | | |
| | PER UNIT | | | TOTAL | |
Public offering price | | $ | 10.00 | | | $ | 175,000,000 | |
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | | $ | 0.55 | | | $ | 9,625,000 | |
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | | $ | 9.45 | | | $ | 165,375,000 | |
(1) | Includes $0.35 per unit, or $6,125,000 in the aggregate (or $7,043,750 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable to Cantor Fitzgerald 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 160 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 warrants described in this prospectus, $175,000,000, or $201,250,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be deposited into a trust account located in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.
The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the units to the purchasers on or about , 2020.
Sole Book-Running Manager
[●], 2020