As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20, 2024.
Registration No. 333-279308
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its constitutional documents)
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British Virgin Islands | | 6770 | | N/A |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
2/F, Hang Seng Building
200 Hennessy Road, Wanchai
Hong Kong
Telephone: +852 54998101
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
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Cogency Global Inc.
122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10168
+1 800-221-0102
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
__________________________________________
Copies to:
Lawrence S. Venick, Esq. Loeb & Loeb LLP 2206-19 Jardine House 1 Connaught Place, Central Hong Kong SAR Telephone: +852-3923-1111 Fax: +852-3923-1100 | | Brad L. Shiffman Blank Rome LLP 1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020 |
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | | ☐ | | Accelerated filer | | ☐ | | |
Non-accelerated filer | | ☒ | | Smaller reporting company | | ☒ | | |
| | | | Emerging growth company | | ☒ | | |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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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 prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS | | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 20, 2024 |
$60,000,000
YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
6,000,000 Units
YHN Acquisition I Limited is a blank check company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands as a business company with limited liability for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. 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. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. We are offering 6,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00. Each unit that we are offering consists of one ordinary share and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination, as described in more detail in this prospectus. We refer to the rights included in the units as “rights” or the “public rights.”
We have granted Lucid Capital Markets, LLC (“Lucid Capital Markets”), the representative of the underwriters, a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 units (over and above the 6,000,000 units referred to above) solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
We will provide the holders of our outstanding ordinary shares that were sold in this offering with the opportunity to redeem their shares upon the consummation 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, including interest (net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital), as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, divided by the number of then outstanding ordinary shares that were sold in this offering, which we refer to as our “public shares” throughout this prospectus, subject to the limitations described herein.
We have 18 months from the closing of this offering to consummate our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the above time period, we will distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital), pro rata to our public shareholders, by way of the redemption of their shares and thereafter cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs, as further described herein.
Our sponsor, YHN Partners I Limited, has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 250,000 units (or up to 264,400 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) or “private units,” at $10.00 per private unit for a total purchase price of $2,500,000 (or $2,644,000, if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. These private units are identical to the units sold as part of the units in this offering, subject to limited exceptions as further described herein. A portion of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our units, ordinary shares or rights. We have applied to have our units listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, or NASDAQ, under the symbol “YHNAU” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The ordinary shares and rights comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless Lucid Capital Markets informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our satisfaction of certain conditions. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the ordinary shares and rights will be traded on NASDAQ under the symbols “YHNA,” and “YHNAR”, respectively.
As a British Virgin Islands holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct our operations through an office in Hong Kong and our sponsor is predominantly controlled by a Hong Kong national. Because we are currently located in Hong Kong and our sponsor and three of our five officers and directors are based in or have significant ties to the mainland China and/or Hong Kong, we are currently subject to various legal and operational risks and uncertainties associated with being based in China. In addition, we may pursue or consummate an initial
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business combination with a company located or doing business in the PRC (including Hong Kong and Macau), in which event we will continue to be subject to such legal and operational risks, including, without limitation, regulatory review of overseas listings of PRC companies. We are also subject to risks and uncertainties relating to future actions of the PRC government in this regard. Furthermore, if our target company is a PRC-incorporated company, or a PRC Target Company, that fails to comply with PRC rules and regulations, which could be vague or uncertain, it may require us to seek a different target company, or could materially adversely affect the PRC Target Company’s business operations, our financial performance, our results of operations and/or the value of our ordinary shares we are registering for sale either before or after the business combination, which could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. It could also significantly limit or completely hinder the post-combination company’s ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. In recent years, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using a variable interest entity, or VIE, structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of data security and cybersecurity reviews, and expanding anti-monopoly enforcement activities. These actions and statements have impacted or may impact our ability to identify and complete a business combination with a PRC Target Company, the operation of the post-combination company, and its ability to accept foreign investments or to list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange. Since some of these statements and regulatory actions are new, it is highly uncertain how soon legislative or regulatory bodies will respond and what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on the PRC Target Company’s business operations, its ability to accept foreign investments and its ability to list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange. Given the PRC government’s significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of business of any China-based company that we may target for an initial business combination, the PRC government may intervene or influence the operations of our target at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or value of the securities we are registering for sale.
As required under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“HFCAA”), the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) issued a Determination Report on December 16, 2021 which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (1) mainland China of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) because of a position taken by one or more authorities in mainland China; and (2) Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in Hong Kong. In addition, the PCAOB’s report identified the specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to these determinations. Our registered public accounting firm, Adeptus Partners, LLC (“Adeptus”), headquartered in New York City, New York, is an independent registered public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess Adeptus’s compliance with applicable professional standards. As such, Adeptus was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination. The PCAOB currently has access to inspect the working papers of our auditor. Our auditor is not headquartered in China or Hong Kong and was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determinations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that we complete a business combination with a company with substantial operations in China or Hong Kong and the PCAOB is not able to fully conduct inspections of our auditor’s work papers in China or Hong Kong, it could cause us to fail to be in compliance with U.S. securities laws and regulations, we could cease to be listed on a U.S. securities exchange, and U.S. trading of our shares could be prohibited under the HFCAA. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) and the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China, governing inspections and investigations of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong. The Protocol remains unpublished and is subject to further explanation and implementation. Pursuant to the fact sheet with respect to the Protocol disclosed by the SEC, the PCAOB shall have independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced in its 2022 HFCAA Determination Report (the “2022 Determination”) its determination that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, and the PCAOB Board voted to vacate previous determinations to the contrary. Should the PCAOB again encounter impediments to inspections and investigations in mainland China or Hong Kong as a result of positions taken by any authority in either jurisdiction, including by the CSRC or the Ministry of Finance (the “MOF”), the PCAOB will make determinations under the HFCAA as and when appropriate. On December 23, 2022 the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“AHFCAA”) was enacted, which amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three. On December 29, 2022
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legislation entitled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” (the “Consolidated Appropriations Act”) was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the AHFCAA and amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three years. As a result, the time period before an issuer’s securities may be prohibited from trading or delisted has been decreased accordingly. However, the HFCAA and related regulations currently do not affect the Company as the Company’s auditor is subject to PCAOB’s inspections and investigations. See “Risk Factors — Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Target Business with its Primary Operations in China — U.S. laws and regulations, including the HFCAA and AHFCAA, may restrict or eliminate our ability to complete a business combination with certain companies, particularly those acquisition candidates with substantial operations in China or Hong Kong.”
If we decide to consummate our initial business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, the combined company whose securities will be listed on a U.S. stock exchange may make capital contributions or extend loans to its PRC subsidiaries through intermediate holding companies subject to compliance with relevant PRC foreign exchange control regulations. As a blank check company, we have not made any transfers, dividends, or distributions as of the date of this prospectus. After the business combination, the combined company’s ability to pay dividends, if any, to the shareholders and to service any debt it may incur will depend upon dividends paid by its PRC subsidiaries. Under PRC laws and regulations, PRC companies are subject to certain restrictions with respect to paying dividends or otherwise transferring any of their net assets to offshore entities. In particular, under the current PRC laws and regulations, dividends may be paid only out of distributable profits. Distributable profits are the net profit as determined under Chinese accounting standards and regulations, less any recovery of accumulated losses and appropriations to statutory and other reserves required to be made. A PRC company is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year to fund certain statutory reserve funds (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital). As a result, the combined company’s PRC subsidiaries may not have sufficient distributable profits to pay dividends to the combined company. Furthermore, if certain procedural requirements are satisfied, the payment in foreign currencies on current account items, including profit distributions and trade and service related foreign exchange transactions, can be made without prior approval from State Administration of Foreign Exchange (the “SAFE”) or its local branches. However, where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies, approval from or registration with competent government authorities or its authorized banks is required.
However, we do not believe we are currently subject to PRC law or regulation, including those PRC laws and regulation which affect our cash flow, including our ability to effect the redemption rights of our shareholders in connection with a business combination. We note that the funds held in trust to effect any such redemption are held in the United States and, in any event, we are not aware of any PRC law or regulation that would prevent us from making redemption payments to our shareholders.
Due to (i) the risks of doing business in the PRC and/or Hong Kong, and (ii) the fact that our sponsor is predominantly controlled by a Hong Kong national, we may be a less attractive partner to non-PRC or non-Hong Kong-based target companies as compared to a non-PRC or non-Hong Kong-based special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, which may therefore make it harder for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company that is based outside of the PRC or Hong Kong and which may therefore make it more likely that we will need to target a business combination with a target company located in the PRC or Hong Kong. For further risk factors relating to this offering and our company, please see “Risks Factors” beginning on page 33.
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 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.
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No offer or invitation to subscribe for units may be made to the public in the British Virgin Islands.
| | Price to Public | | Underwriting Discounts and Commissions(1) | | Proceeds, Before Expenses, to us |
Per Unit | | $ | 10.00 | | $ | 0.41 | | $ | 9.59 |
Total | | $ | 60,000,000 | | $ | 2,460,000 | | $ | 57,540,000 |
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private units described in this prospectus, $60,000,000, or $69,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit or 100.0% of the gross proceeds of the offering in either case), will be deposited into a United States-based account at Morgan Stanley maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. Such amount includes up to $1,500,000 (or up to $1,725,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), which payment shall be reduced by $0.25 per share redeemed in connection with our initial business combination (subject to a minimum payment of $500,000), as deferred underwriting fees and commissions only on the completion of an initial business combination. Except as described in this prospectus, these funds will not be released to us until the earlier of the completion of our initial business combination and our liquidation upon our failure to consummate a business combination within the required time period. The majority of our assets may be located outside the United States after we consummate our first business combination.
The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm-commitment basis. Delivery of the units will be made on or about __________, 2024.
Sole Book-Running Manager
LUCID CAPITAL MARKETS
The date of this prospectus is _______________, 2024
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights certain information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. For a more complete understanding of this offering, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the risk factors and the financial statements. Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus, references to:
• “we,” “us” or “our company” refers to YHN Acquisition I Limited;
• “second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association” are to our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, to be adopted by the Company with effect on or prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement;
• “BVI” are to the British Virgin Islands;
• “Companies Act” and the “Insolvency Act” are to the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 and the Insolvency Act, 2003 of the British Virgin Islands, respectively and in each case as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time;
• “initial shareholders” refers to all of our shareholders immediately prior to the date of this prospectus, including all of our officers and directors to the extent they hold such shares;
• “insider shares” refers to the 1,725,000 ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders prior to this offering (including up to an aggregate of 225,000 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part);
• “letter agreements” refer to the agreements to be executed among us, the underwriters, our officers, directors and other initial shareholders on the date of this prospectus;
• “PRC” or “China” refers to the People’s Republic of China.
• “private rights” refers to the rights included in the private units;
• “private units” refers to the units issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering;
• “US Dollars” and “$” refer to the legal currency of the United States;
• “public shares” refers to ordinary shares which are being sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
• “rights” or “public rights” refer to the rights which are being sold as part of the units in this offering;
• “sponsor” refers to YHN Partners I Limited; and
• “public shareholders” means the holders of the public shares, whether they are purchased in the public offering or in the aftermarket, including any of our initial shareholders to the extent that they purchase such public shares (except that our initial shareholders will not have conversion or tender rights with respect to any public shares they own).
Except as specifically provided otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option.
All references in this prospectus to our insider shares being forfeited shall take effect as surrenders for no consideration of such shares as a matter of the British Virgin Islands law. All references to the conversion of ordinary shares into pro-rata share of the amount in trust account shall take effect as a redemption of ordinary shares as a matter of the British Virgin Islands law.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.
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As a blank check company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, we do not have any subsidiaries as of the date of this prospectus, and no transfers, dividends, or distributions of any earnings or settlement of any amounts have been made by us to date.
General
We are a blank check company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on December 18, 2023 as a business company with limited liability (meaning that our public shareholders have no liability, as shareholders of our company, for the liabilities of our company over and above the amount paid for their shares). We were formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as a “target business.” Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic location. We do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. Additionally, we have not engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate, to conduct any research or take any measures, directly or indirectly, to locate or contact a target business.
Competitive Strengths
We intend to capitalize on our competitive advantages, as described below, to find a suitable target company:
Experienced Management Team
We have a strong team with years of operational, financial and leadership experience successfully managing and running a variety of corporations in Asia.
Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Satoshi Tominaga, is a managing partner at DeTiger Equity Fund, an Asian equity fund, which has invested in blockchain technology projects, including DeFi, exchanges, payments, lending, crypto trading, healthcare, data science, supply chain, internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data analysis, and other fintech related projects. We are confident that his investment experience and expertise in screening high quality target companies will be extremely beneficial in sourcing a target with strong growth potential. In addition, we can capitalize on his previous experiences in advising and expanding startups to help guide and prepare the target for the business combination.
Ms. Yangyujia An, our Chief Financial Officer, is the vice-chairperson of Norwich Capital Limited, a boutique firm that focuses on SPACs and provides services including sponsoring and listing support of SPACs. Prior to that, she also worked as an investment manager at Norwich Investment Limited. We believe that Ms. An’s experiences, in particular those in relation to SPACs, will be valuable for our initial business combination activities.
Our management team has been actively involved in operating, advising, and expanding many companies. Their executive leadership, operational oversight, strategic management will boost investor confidence in the team’s ability to complete a successful business combination. We believe our management team is well-positioned to take advantage of growing acquisition opportunities.
Strong Board of Directors
We have recruited an accomplished group of leaders to serve as members of our board of directors. Our board of directors comes from a plethora of industries where they serve as leaders, advisors, directors, and board members for public companies, private companies, and leading venture capital firms in Asia.
Mr. Zhengming Feng, our chairman and independent director, was a former Managing Director of SB China Venture Capital (SBCVC), a leading venture capital firm that manages both USD and RMB funds investing in high-tech, high growth companies in TMT, clean technology, healthcare, consumer/retail, and advanced manufacturing. His skills in managing businesses, investment, and strategic management will be a great asset for the target company.
Mr. Donghui Xu, one of our independent directors, has an extensive background in investment, private equity, and the venture capital industry. We hope to leverage his leadership experience in multiple prominent companies to support our management team as they guide the target company into public markets.
Ms. Min Zhang, one of our independent directors, has strong expertise in SPAC and IPO listings. Her prior experience with de-SPAC transactions will add great value as we identify and pursue potential targets to complete a business combination.
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Our team has extensive experience in identifying, screening, acquiring, and managing companies. We believe these are the skill sets that are essential for a successful management team. With our board of directors’ deep understanding and experience of various industries, we could effectively position our investment strategy, evaluation of potential acquisition candidates and complete our initial business combination.
Strong and Extensive Network to Source a Suitable Target Company
We believe our team’s operating and transaction experience and relationships with companies will provide us with many potential business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, they have served in a variety of capacities, allowing them to expand their network in both Asia and the United States. These contacts and sources include those in government, private and public companies, private equity and venture capital funds, investment bankers, attorneys, and accountants.
For example, our CEO, Mr. Tominaga was a managing partner at DeTiger Equity Fund. His role in DeTiger Equity Fund and his connections with several Asian tech giants and large conglomerates provides access to a massive network of tech executives, founders and investors and we aim to leverage his connections to identify multiple potential targets. We are confident that the extensive network our directors have in various industries will give us a competitive advantage when exploring potential business combination opportunities.
Strong M&A Expertise and de-SPAC Experience
In addition to supporting us in the areas of investment strategy and improving the company’s processes, our team also has experience in M&A and fundraising. Our team consists of seasoned professionals with significant M&A, capital markets, finance, and private equity experience across a wide variety of industries and market conditions and have proven track records of producing high returns for investors. In addition, we have a unique advantage with Mr. Tominaga, our Chief Executive Officer, who brings prior experience in successfully completing a de-SPAC transaction. He served as an independent director for Tottenham Acquisition I Limited, a SPAC that merged with Clene Nanomedicine Inc., and subsequently, operated under the name Clene Inc. (Nasdaq: CLNN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases in December 2020. As of June 17, 2024, the reported closing sale price of Clene Inc. on The Nasdaq Capital Market was $0.37 per share. His previous experience in selecting a SPAC target company and executing a successful merger will be extremely valuable in ensuring the success of our initial business combination.
Acquisition Strategy and Investment Criteria
Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to any particular industry or geographic region.
We intend to look for target company which possesses the following core values:
• Strong management team: We are looking for a strong group of individuals who have a strong track record of creating value. We will assess their leadership capabilities and their ability to grow the company.
• Strong portfolio of investors: We seek a company that has well-known and trusted investors, hedge funds and private equity firms supporting them. This is an indication of investors’ confidence in the company’s potential to grow.
• Potential to have recurring revenue: We are looking for a company that is currently generating or will generate significant cash flow through existing products, new product development, increased efficiency, and reduced costs.
• Benefits from being publicly traded: We intend to acquire a company that will effectively utilize their public profile to get access to capital, expand their customer base, improve their investor portfolio to grow.
• Appropriate valuations and upside potential: We will conduct rigorous due diligence and apply valuation-metrics to create the most appropriate valuation for the company. We are seeking to acquire a company that will have a strong upside potential to increase their valuation.
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• Strategic management and long-term planning: We intend to acquire a company which strategically plans ahead and are continually assessing and ensuring that their work is aligned with their strategic goals. Long-term planning allows companies to have sustainable operations in the long run and ensures that they can deliver on their promises to the investors.
• Innovation-led approach and risk management: We believe that balancing risk and encouraging creative insights will drive a company’s growth and that differentiated ideas bring new categories into the market to address growing customer needs. Therefore, we are seeking for a company that prioritizes innovation and can recognize which ideas to support and scale.
Our sponsor believes that conducting comprehensive due diligence on prospective investments is particularly important within the technology industry. In evaluating a prospective initial business combination, we expect to conduct a thorough diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, financial analyses, and technology reviews, as well as a review of other information that will be made available to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, our officers, or our directors, subject to certain approvals and consents. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers, or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to us from a financial point of view.
Members of our management team may directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
We currently do not have any specific targets for an initial business combination selected. None of our officers and directors, nor has anyone on their behalf contacted or had any discussions with possible target businesses in which they directly or indirectly proposed or encouraged a potential target to consider a possible combination with us.
As described in “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless (i) such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company, (ii) such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue and (iii) the director or officer is permitted to refer the opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor his or her obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
PRC Limitation on Overseas Listing and Share Issuances (Post Business Combination)
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Trial Measures”), which took effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures supersede prior rules and clarified and emphasized several aspects, which include but are not limited to: (1) comprehensive determination of the “indirect overseas offering and listing by PRC domestic companies” in compliance with the principle of “substance over form” and particularly, an issuer will be required to go through the filing procedures under the Trial Measures if the following criteria are met at the same time: (a) 50% or more of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial
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statements for the most recent accounting year comes from PRC domestic companies, and (b) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in mainland China; (2) exemptions from immediate filing requirements for issuers that (a) have already been listed or registered but not yet listed in foreign securities markets, including U.S. markets, prior to the effective date of the Trial Measures, (b) are not required to re-perform the regulatory procedures with the relevant overseas regulatory authority or the overseas stock exchange, and (c) whose such overseas securities offering or listing shall be completed before September 30, 2023, provided however that such issuers shall carry out filing procedures as required if they conduct refinancing or are involved in other circumstances that require filing with the CSRC; (3) a negative list of types of issuers banned from listing or offering overseas, such as (a) issuers whose listing or offering overseas has been recognized by the State Council of the PRC as a possible threat to national security, (b) issuers whose affiliates have been recently convicted of bribery and corruption, (c) issuers under ongoing criminal investigations, and (d) issuers under major disputes regarding equity ownership; (4) issuers’ compliance with web security, data security, and other national security laws and regulations; (5) issuers’ filing and reporting obligations, such as the obligation to file with the CSRC after it submits an application for initial public offering to overseas regulators, and the obligation after offering or listing overseas to report to the CSRC material events including a change of control or voluntary or forced delisting of the issuer; and (6) the CSRC’s authority to fine both issuers and their shareholders between 1 and 10 million RMB for failure to comply with the Trial Measures, including failure to comply with filing obligations or committing fraud and misrepresentation.
As we do not have any material operations in China, given that (a) the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours under this prospectus are subject to the Regulations on Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (the “M&A Regulations”) and the Trial Measures; and (b) our company is a blank check company newly incorporated in the British Virgin Islands rather than in China and currently our company does not own or control any equity interest in any PRC company or operate any business in China, we believe that our officers and/or directors are not required to obtain any licenses or approvals or subject to registration with the CSRC pursuant to the Trial Measures and under applicable PRC laws and regulations, for consummation of this offering and while seeking a target for the initial business combination. We also believe that our officers and directors do not fall under or are not governed by requirements from the CSRC, and we are not required to obtain approvals from any PRC government authorities, including the CSRC or the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”), or any other government entity, to issue our ordinary shares to foreign investors.
Moreover, we have been closely monitoring regulatory developments in China regarding any necessary registrations or approvals from the CSRC or other PRC governmental authorities required for overseas listings, including this offering, and a potential business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanctions or regulatory objection to this offering from the CSRC or any other governmental authorities. However, there remains significant uncertainty as to the enactment, interpretation and implementation of regulatory requirements related to overseas securities offerings and other capital markets activities. The relevant PRC government agencies could reach a different conclusion, and if it is determined in the future that the registration with the CSRC pursuant to the Trial measures and/or the approval of the CSRC, CAC or any other regulatory authority is required for this offering, we or our post-business combination company may face sanctions by the CSRC, the CAC or other PRC regulatory agencies. This could occur in the event (i) we have not registered this offering pursuant to the Trial Measures; (ii) we do not receive or maintain any required governmental permissions or approvals, (iii) if we inadvertently conclude that such registration, permissions or approvals are not required, or (iv) if applicable laws, regulations or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future. These regulatory agencies may require us to register with the CSRC following the Offering as a result of the Trial Measures, impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability, or the post-combination PRC subsidiary’s ability, to pay dividends outside of China after the business combination, limit our post-combination PRC subsidiary’s operations in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, including but not limited, to revoking business and other licenses, requiring the restructuring of ownership or operations and requiring discontinuation of any portion of all of the acquired business, and any of the foregoing can adversely affect the trading price of our securities pre- and post-business combination. The CSRC, the CAC or other PRC regulatory agencies also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt this offering before settlement and delivery of our units or delay our potential
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business combination. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, you do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if in the future the CSRC, the CAC or other regulatory PRC agencies promulgate new rules requiring that we obtain their approvals for this offering or our business combination, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties and/or negative publicity regarding such an approval requirement could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our securities. For more detailed information, see “Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Target Business with its Primary Operations in China — The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission is not required in connection with this offering, however, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval” and “Our initial business combination may be subject to a variety of PRC laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity and data protection and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time to complete any such business combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities.”
Due to (i) the risks of doing business in the PRC and/or Hong Kong and (ii) the fact that our sponsor is predominantly controlled by a Hong Kong national, we may be a less attractive partner to non-PRC or non-Hong Kong-based target companies as compared to a non-PRC or non-Hong Kong-based SPAC. Therefore, this may make it more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company that is based outside of the PRC or Hong Kong and which may therefore make it more likely that we will need to target a business combination with a target company located in the PRC or Hong Kong. For more detailed information, see “Risk Factors — We are a newly formed blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and, accordingly, you will not have any basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective. Due to our sponsor being predominantly controlled by a Hong Kong national, we may be a less attractive partner to non-PRC or non-Hong Kong-based target companies as compared to a non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based SPAC; therefore this may make it more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company that is based outside of the PRC or Hong Kong.”
Recent PCAOB Developments
The AHFCAA was enacted on December 23, 2022. The AHFCAA states that if the SEC determines that an issuer has filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the SEC shall prohibit the securities of the issuer from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States.
Our independent registered public accounting firm issued an audit opinion on the financial statements included in this prospectus filed with the SEC. As an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, our auditor is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB.
Our auditor is headquartered in New York City, New York, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis.
Inspections of certain other firms that the PCAOB has conducted outside of China have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality.
In addition, as part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on access to audit and other information currently protected by national laws, in particular those of China, in June 2019, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced bills in both houses of Congress that would require the SEC to maintain a list of issuers for which the PCAOB is not able to inspect or investigate an auditor report issued by a foreign public accounting firm. The Ensuring Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges (EQUITABLE) Act prescribes increased disclosure requirements for such issuers and, beginning in 2025, the delisting from national securities exchanges such as Nasdaq of issuers included for three consecutive years on the SEC’s list. On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed S. 945, the HFCAA. The HFCAA was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 2, 2020. On December 18, 2020, the former U.S. president signed into law the HFCAA. In essence, the HFCAA requires the SEC to prohibit foreign companies from listing securities on U.S. securities exchanges if a company retains a foreign accounting firm that cannot be inspected by the PCAOB for three consecutive years, beginning in 2021. The enactment of the HFCAA and any additional rulemaking efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could cause investor uncertainty for affected issuers, and the market price of affected issuers’ securities could be adversely affected.
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On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. We will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies it as having a “non-inspection” year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. The SEC is assessing how to implement other requirements of the HFCAA, including the listing and trading prohibition requirements described above. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the AHFCAA and on December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the AHFCAA and amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three, thus reducing the time before that issuer’s securities may be prohibited from being trading or be delisted. On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCAA, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether the Board is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction.
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong because of positions taken by mainland China and Hong Kong authorities in those jurisdictions, and identified the registered public accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong that are subject to such determinations. The PCAOB made such designations as mandated under the HFCAA. Pursuant to each annual determination by the PCAOB, the SEC will, on an annual basis, identify issuers that have used non-inspected audit firms and thus are at risk of such suspensions in the future. The auditor of the Company, Adeptus, is not among the auditor firms listed on the determination list issued by the PCAOB, which notes all of the auditor firms that the PCAOB is not able to inspect. Our auditor is not headquartered in China or Hong Kong and was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol with the CSRC and the MOF of the People’s Republic of China, governing inspections and investigations of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong. The Protocol remains unpublished and is subject to further explanation and implementation. Pursuant to the fact sheet with respect to the Protocol disclosed by the SEC, the PCAOB shall have independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced in the 2022 Determination its determination that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, and the PCAOB Board voted to vacate previous determinations to the contrary, including its December 16, 2021 determination. According to the 2022 Determination, this determination was reached after the PCAOB had thoroughly tested compliance with every aspect of the Protocol necessary to determine complete access, including on-site inspections and investigations in a manner fully consistent with the PCAOB’s methodology and approach in the U.S. and globally. According to the 2022 Determination, the PRC Authorities had fully assisted and cooperated with the PCAOB in carrying out the inspections and investigations according to the Protocol, and agreed to continue to assist the PCAOB’s investigations and inspections in the future. Should the PCAOB again encounter impediments to inspections and investigations in mainland China or Hong Kong as a result of positions taken by any authority in either jurisdiction, including by the CSRC or the MOF, the PCAOB will make determinations under the HFCAA as and when appropriate. The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and related regulations currently do not affect the Company as the Company’s auditor is subject to PCAOB’s inspections and investigations.
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On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the AHFCAA and amended the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three.
The HFCAA and AHFCAA would restrict our ability to consummate a business combination with a target business unless that business met certain standards of the PCAOB, and would require delisting of a company from U.S. national securities exchanges if the PCAOB is unable to inspect its public accounting firm for three consecutive years. The HFCAA also requires public companies to disclose, among other things, whether they are owned or controlled by a foreign government, specifically, those based in China. We may not be able to consummate a business combination with a favorable target business due to these laws.
In the event that we complete a business combination with a company with substantial operations in China or Hong Kong and if the PCAOB is not able to fully conduct inspections of or fully investigate our auditor’s work papers in China or Hong Kong or is not able to inspect or investigate the work papers of the auditor of a company we may target for an initial business combination, it could cause us to fail to be in compliance with U.S. securities laws and regulations, we could cease to be listed on a U.S. securities exchange, and U.S. trading of our shares could be prohibited under the HFCAA. Any of these actions, or uncertainties in the market about the possibility of such actions, could adversely affect our prospects to successfully complete a business combination with a China or Hong Kong-based company, our access to the U.S. capital markets and the price of our shares.
Future developments in respect of increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information are uncertain, as the legislative developments are subject to the legislative process and the regulatory developments are subject to the rule-making process and other administrative procedures.
Other developments in U.S. laws and regulatory environment, including but not limited to executive orders such as Executive Order (E.O.) 13959, “Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments That Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies,” may further restrict our ability to complete a business combination with certain China-based businesses.
See “Risk Factors — Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Target Business with its Primary Operations in China — U.S. laws and regulations, including the HFCAA and AHFCAA, may restrict or eliminate our ability to complete a business combination with certain companies, particularly those acquisition candidates with substantial operations in China or Hong Kong” and “Trading in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCAA if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor. In that case, Nasdaq would delist our securities. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections may deprive our investors of the benefits of such inspections.”
Transfer of Cash to and from Our Post-Combination Organization If We Acquire a Company Based in China (Post-Business Combination)
We are a blank check company with no subsidiaries and no operations of our own except organizational activities, the preparation of this offering and, following the closing of this offering, searching for a suitable target to consummate an initial business combination. As of the date of this prospectus, no transfers, dividends, or distribution have been made by us.
If we decide to consummate our initial business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, the combined company whose securities will be listed on a U.S. stock exchange may make capital contributions or extend loans to its PRC subsidiaries through intermediate holding companies subject to compliance with relevant PRC foreign exchange control regulations. After the business combination, the combined company’s ability to pay dividends, if any, to the shareholders and to service any debt it may incur will depend upon dividends paid by its PRC subsidiaries. Under PRC laws and regulations, PRC companies are subject to certain restrictions with respect to paying dividends or otherwise transferring any of their net assets to offshore entities. In particular, under the current PRC laws and regulations, dividends may be paid only out of distributable profits. Distributable profits are the net profit as determined under Chinese accounting standards and regulations, less any recovery of accumulated losses and appropriations to statutory and other reserves required to be made. A PRC company is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year to fund certain statutory reserve funds (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital). As a result, the combined company’s PRC subsidiaries may not have sufficient distributable profits to pay dividends to the combined company. Furthermore, if certain procedural requirements are satisfied, the
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payment in foreign currencies on current account items, including profit distributions and trade and service related foreign exchange transactions, can be made without prior approval from State Administration of Foreign Exchange (the “SAFE”) or its local branches. However, where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies, approval from or registration with competent government authorities or its authorized banks is required.
In the event that we were to determine to engage in an initial business combination with a China-based or operating business we would be subject to restrictions on the use of our cash obtained from our business combination with a China-based or operating business as describe under “Risk Factors — If our initial business combination target is a Chinese or Hong Kong company with the majority of its operations in China, the PRC regulation on loans to, and direct investment in, such a PRC subsidiary by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may restrict our ability to make loans or capital contributions to such subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business post-business combination.” However, we do not believe we are currently subject to PRC law or regulation, including those PRC laws and regulation which affect our cash flow, including our ability to effect the redemption rights of our shareholders in connection with a business combination. We note that the funds held in trust to effect any such redemption are held in the United States and, in any event, we are not aware of any PRC law or regulation that would prevent us from making redemption payments to our shareholders.
The PRC government may take measures at its discretion from time to time to restrict access to foreign currencies for current account or capital account transactions. If the foreign exchange control regulations prevent the PRC subsidiaries of the combined company from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy their foreign currency demands, the PRC subsidiaries of the combined company may not be able to pay dividends or repay loans in foreign currencies to their offshore intermediary holding companies and ultimately to the combined company. We cannot assure you that new regulations or policies will not be promulgated in the future, which may further restrict the remittance of Renminbi into or out of the PRC. We cannot assure you, in light of the restrictions in place, or any amendment to be made from time to time, that the PRC subsidiaries of the combined company will be able to satisfy their respective payment obligations that are denominated in foreign currencies, including the remittance of dividends outside of the PRC.
Furthermore, the transfer of funds among the PRC subsidiaries are subject to the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases (2020 Revision, the “Provisions on Private Lending Cases”), which was issued by the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China on August 25, 2015 and amended on August 19, 2020 and December 29, 2020, respectively, to regulate the financing activities between natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated organizations. The Provisions on Private Lending Cases do not apply to the disputes arising from relevant financial services such as loan disbursement by financial institutions and their branches established upon approval by the financial regulatory authorities to engage in lending business. The Provisions on Private Lending Cases set forth that private lending contracts will be deemed invalid under the circumstance that (i) the lender swindles loans from financial institutions for relending; (ii) the lender relends the funds obtained by means of a loan from another profit-making legal person, raising funds from its employees, or illegally taking deposits from the public; (iii) the lender who has not obtained the lending qualification according to the law lends money to any unspecified object of the society for the purpose of making profits; (iv) the lender lends funds to a borrower when the lender knows or should have known that the borrower intended to use the borrowed funds for illegal or criminal purposes; (v) the lending is in violation of public orders or good morals; or (vi) the lending violates mandatory provisions of laws or administrative regulations. The Provisions on Private Lending Cases set forth that the People’s Court shall support the interest rates not exceeding four times of the market interest rate quoted for one-year loan at the time the private lending contracts were entered into. It is our management’s understanding that the Provisions on Private Lending Cases does not prohibit using cash generated from one subsidiary to fund another subsidiary’s operations.
Effecting a Business Combination
We will either (i) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata portion of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) or (ii) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell
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their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata portion of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of our proposed business combination or allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. If we so choose and we are legally permitted to do so, we will have the flexibility to avoid a shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 (after payment of deferred underwriting fees and commissions and net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) upon such consummation and, solely if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.
We will have until 18 months from the consummation of this offering to consummate our initial business combination. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within such time period, we will, (i) as promptly as practicable, to cease all operations except for the purpose of making redemption and the subsequent winding up of the Company’s affairs; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem 100% of our outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us or necessary to pay our taxes or for use as our working capital, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, seek to liquidate and dissolve. However, we may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders. In the event of our liquidation and subsequent dissolution, the public rights will expire and will be worthless.
If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within this time period, we will liquidate the trust account and distribute the proceeds held therein to our public shareholders by way of redeeming their shares and dissolve. If we are forced to liquidate, we anticipate that we would distribute to our public shareholders the amount in the trust account calculated as of the date that is two (2) days prior to the distribution date (including any accrued interest net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital). Prior to such distribution, we would be required to assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us by our creditors for amounts they are actually owed and make provision for such amounts, as creditors take priority over our public shareholders with respect to amounts that are owed to them. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims of creditors to the extent of distributions received by them as an unlawful payment in the event we enter an insolvent liquidation. In the event of our liquidation and subsequent dissolution, the public rights will expire and will be worthless.
Pursuant to the NASDAQ listing rules, our initial business combination must be with a target business or businesses whose collective fair market value is at least equal to 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for such business combination, although this may entail simultaneous acquisitions of several target businesses. The fair market value of the target business will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Our board of directors will have broad discretion in choosing the standard used to establish the fair market value of any prospective target business. The target business or businesses that we acquire may have a collective fair market value substantially in excess of 80% of the trust account balance (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital). We will not be required to comply with the 80% fair market value requirement if we are delisted from NASDAQ.
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We are not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party that the target business we select has a fair market value in excess of at least 80% of the balance of the trust account unless our board of directors cannot make such determination on its own. We are also not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party indicating that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view unless the target is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates.
We currently anticipate structuring our initial business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, only the portion of such target business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test.
Emerging Growth Company Status and Other Information
We are an emerging growth company as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (which we refer to herein as the JOBS Act). As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three year period.
Private Placements
As of the date of this prospectus, we have issued an aggregate of 1,725,000 insider shares for $25,000, or approximately $0.01 per share. In December 2023, we issued 10,000 ordinary shares for $1,000 to an initial subscriber, who subsequently transferred such 10,000 ordinary shares to our sponsor. In April 2024, we further issued 1,715,000 insider shares to our sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $24,000. Our sponsor subsequently transferred an aggregate of 125,000 insider shares to other initial shareholders. The 1,725,000 insider shares held by our initial shareholders include an aggregate of up to 225,000 shares subject to forfeiture by our sponsor to the extent that the
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underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that our initial shareholders will collectively own 20.0% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (without giving effect to the sale of the private units and assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase units in this offering). None of our initial shareholders has indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering.
The insider shares are identical to the ordinary shares included in the units being sold in this offering. However, our initial shareholders have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us (A) to vote their insider shares (as well as any public shares acquired in or after this offering) in favor of any proposed business combination, (B) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering unless we provide dissenting public shareholders with the opportunity to convert their public shares into the right to receive cash from the trust account in connection with any such vote, (C) not to convert any insider shares (as well as any other shares acquired in or after this offering) into the right to receive cash from the trust account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination (or sell any shares they hold to us in a tender offer in connection with a proposed initial business combination) or a vote to amend the provisions of our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity and (D) that the insider shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. Additionally, our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the insider shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until the earlier of (1) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the insider shares will be released from the Lock-Up (1) on the earlier of 150 days after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination if the closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Additionally, our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of private units (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private units) until 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Shareholders”). Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any insider shares, and the private units, as applicable. However, if after our initial business combination, there is a transaction whereby all the outstanding shares are exchanged or redeemed for cash (as would be the case in a post-asset sale liquidation) or another issuer’s shares, then the insider shares, or the private units (or any shares of Ordinary Shares thereunder) shall be permitted to participate.
In addition, our sponsor, has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 250,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $2,500,000). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 14,400 additional private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100.0% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in trust regardless of whether the over-allotment option is exercised in full or in part. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The proceeds from the private placement of the private units will be added to the proceeds of this offering and placed in an account in the United States maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee. The majority of our assets may be located outside the United States after we consummate our first business combination.
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The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering. Furthermore, our sponsor has agreed (A) to vote the ordinary shares underlying the private units, or “private shares,” in favor of any proposed business combination, (B) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering unless we provide public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares from the trust account in connection with any such vote, (C) not to convert any private shares for cash from the trust account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination or a vote to amend the provisions of our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity and (D) that the private shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. Our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the insider shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the insider shares must agree to, each as described above) until 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
If public units or shares are purchased by any of our directors, officers or initial shareholders, they will be entitled to funds from the trust account to the same extent as any public shareholder upon our liquidation but will not have redemption rights related thereto.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive office is located at 2/F, Hang Seng Building, 200 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong, and our telephone number is +852 54998101.
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The Offering
In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these, and the other risks set forth in the section below entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 33 of this prospectus.
Securities offered | | 6,000,000 units, at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of one ordinary share, and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination. |
Listing of our securities and proposed symbols | | We have reserved the following trading symbols for the units, and the ordinary shares and rights once they begin separate trading: “YHNAU,” “YHNA,” and “YHNA,” respectively.
Each of the ordinary shares and rights may trade separately on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless the underwriters determine that an earlier date is acceptable (based upon, among other things, its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets and small capitalization and blank check companies in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in particular). In no event will the underwriters allow separate trading of the ordinary shares and rights until we file an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering. Once the ordinary shares and rights commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component pieces. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into separately trading ordinary shares and rights. Each ten rights entitle the holder thereof to receive one ordinary share at the closing of a business combination. We will not issue fractional shares. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of ten in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC, including an audited balance sheet, promptly upon the consummation of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days from the date the units commence trading. The audited balance sheet will reflect our receipt of the proceeds from the exercise of the over-allotment option if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date of this prospectus. If the over-allotment option is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K or a new Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in the Form 8-K, or amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K, information indicating if the underwriters have allowed separate trading of the ordinary shares and rights prior to the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus. |
Ordinary shares: | | |
Number issued and outstanding before this offering and the private placement | | 1,725,000 shares(1) |
Number to be issued and outstanding after this offering and sale of private units | | 7,750,000 shares(2)(3) |
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Rights included as part of units: | | |
Number outstanding before this offering and the private placement: | |
0 right
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Number to be outstanding after this offering and sale of private units: | |
6,250,000 rights(4)
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Terms of Rights: | | Except in cases where we are not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of a public right will automatically receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share upon consummation of our initial business combination. In the event we will not be the surviving company upon completion of our initial business combination, each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the one-tenth (1/10) of one share underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. We will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of BVI law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of ten in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we redeem the public shares for the funds held in the trust account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds for their rights and the rights will expire worthless. |
Insider Shares | | As of the date of this prospectus, we have issued an aggregate of 1,725,000 insider shares for $25,000, or approximately $0.01 per share. In December 2023, we issued 10,000 ordinary shares for $1,000 to an initial subscriber, who subsequently transferred such 10,000 ordinary shares to our sponsor. In April 2024, we further issued 1,715,000 insider shares to our sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $24,000. Our sponsor subsequently transferred an aggregate of 125,000 insider shares to other initial shareholders. The insider shares held by our initial shareholders include an aggregate of up to 225,000 shares subject to forfeiture by our sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that our initial shareholders will collectively own 20.0% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (excluding the sale of the private units and the representative shares and assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase units in this offering). None of our initial shareholders has indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering. |
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| | The insider shares are identical to the ordinary shares included in the units being sold in this offering. However, our initial shareholders have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us (A) to vote their insider shares (as well as any public shares acquired in or after this offering) in favor of any proposed business combination, (B) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering unless we provide public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares from the trust account in connection with any such vote, (C) not to convert any insider shares (as well as any other shares acquired in or after this offering) into the right to receive cash from the trust account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination (or sell any shares they hold to us in a tender offer in connection with a proposed initial business combination) or a vote to amend the provisions of our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity and (D) that the insider shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. Additionally, our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the insider shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until (1) the earlier of 180 days after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination; or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the insider shares will be released from the Lock-Up (1) on the earlier of 150 days after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination if the closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Additionally, our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of private units (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private units) until 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Shareholders”). Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any insider shares and the private units, as applicable. However, if after our initial business combination, there is a transaction whereby all the outstanding shares are exchanged or redeemed for cash (as would be the case in a post-asset sale liquidation) or another issuer’s shares, then the insider shares or the private units (or any shares of Ordinary Shares thereunder) shall be permitted to participate. |
Private placement at time of offering | | Our sponsor has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 250,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $2,500,000). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 14,400 additional private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100.0% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in trust regardless of whether the over-allotment option is exercised in full or in part. These additional private units will be purchased
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| | in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The proceeds from the private placement of the private units will be added to the proceeds of this offering and placed in an account in the United States maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering. Furthermore, our sponsor has agreed (A) to vote the ordinary shares underlying the private units, or “private shares,” in favor of any proposed business combination, (B) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering unless we provide public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares from the trust account in connection with any such vote, (C) not to convert any private shares for cash from the trust account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination or a vote to amend the provisions of our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity and (D) that the private shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. Our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the insider shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the insider shares must agree to, each as described above) until 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination. |
Lock-Up | | We, our sponsor and our officers and directors have agreed that, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of Lucid Capital Markets, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any units, ordinary shares or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, ordinary shares; provided, however, that we may (i) issue and sell the private units, (ii) issue and sell the additional units to cover our underwriters’ over-allotment option (if any), (iii) register with the SEC pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, the resale of the insider shares and the private units and (iv) issue securities in connection with an initial business combination. However, the foregoing shall not apply to the forfeiture of any insider shares pursuant to their terms or any transfer of insider shares to any current or future independent director of the company (as long as such current or future independent director is subject to the terms of the letter agreement, filed herewith, at the time of such transfer; and as long as, to the extent any Section 16 reporting obligation is triggered as a result of such transfer, any related Section 16 filing includes a practical explanation as to the nature of the transfer). Lucid Capital Markets in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice. |
Offering proceeds to be held in trust | | $60,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering (or $69,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $10.00 per unit sold to the public (or 100.0% of the gross proceeds) in this offering (regardless of whether or not the over-allotment option is exercised in full or in part) will be placed in a trust account at Morgan Stanley in the United States, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee pursuant to an agreement to be signed on the date of this prospectus. Such amount approximately includes up to $1,500,000, or up to $1,725,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, which payment shall be reduced by $0.25 per share redeemed of our shares in connection with our initial business combination
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| | (subject to a minimum payment of $500,000), payable to the underwriters as deferred underwriting fees and commissions only on the completion of an initial business combination. Pursuant to the investment management trust agreement that will govern the investment of such funds, the trustee, upon our written instructions, will direct Morgan Stanley to invest the funds as set forth in such written instructions and to custody the funds while invested and until otherwise instructed in accordance with the investment management trust agreement. The remaining $750,000 of net proceeds of this offering will not be held in the trust account. Except as set forth below, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period and (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed a business combination in the required time period. Therefore, unless and until our initial business combination is consummated, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be available for our use for any expenses related to this offering or expenses which we may incur related to the investigation and selection of a target business and the negotiation of an agreement in connection with our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there will be released to us from the trust account any interest earned on the funds in the trust account that we need to pay our income or other tax obligations and 10% of the interest earned on the funds in the trust account will be released to us for use as working capital. With these exceptions, expenses incurred by us may be paid prior to a business combination only from the net proceeds of this offering not held in the trust account (estimated to initially be $750,000); provided, however, that in order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering if the funds not held in the trust account are insufficient, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $500,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available. |
Limited payments to insiders | | Prior to the consummation of a business combination, there will be no fees, reimbursements or other cash payments paid to our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than: |
| | • payment to an affiliate of our sponsor of $10,000 per month, for up to 18 months, for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support; • repayment at the closing of this offering of loans which may be made by our insiders, officers, directors or any of its or their affiliates to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination through a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account if the initial business combination does not close, the terms of which have not been determined; and • reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations. |
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| | There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us; provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements and payments made to any initial shareholder or member of our management team, or their respective affiliates, and any reimbursements and payments made to members of our audit committee will be reviewed and approved by our board of directors, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval. |
Conditions to completing our initial business combination | | Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the balance of funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. If we are no longer listed on NASDAQ, we will not be required to satisfy the 80% test.
If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we may obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions for the type of company we are seeking to acquire or an independent accounting firm as to the fair market value of the target business. We will complete our initial business combination only if the post-transaction company in which our public shareholders own shares will own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% test, provided that in the event that the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses. |
Potential revisions to agreements with insiders | | We could seek to amend certain agreements made by our management team disclosed in this prospectus without the approval of shareholders, although we have no intention to do so. For example, restrictions on our executives relating to the voting of securities owned by them, the agreement of our management team to remain with us until the closing of a business combination, the obligation of our management team to not propose certain changes to our organizational documents or the obligation of the management team and its affiliates to not receive any compensation in connection with a business combination could be modified without obtaining shareholder approval. Although shareholders would not be given the opportunity to redeem their shares in connection with such changes, in no event would we be able to modify the redemption or liquidation rights of our shareholders without permitting our shareholders the right to redeem their shares in connection with any such change. We will not agree to any such changes unless we believed that such changes were in the best interests of our shareholders (for example, if such a modification were necessary to complete a business combination).
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Shareholder approval of, or tender offer in connection with, initial business combination | |
In connection with any proposed initial business combination, we will either (1) seek shareholder approval of such initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each public shareholder may tender any or all of his, her or its public shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. If enough shareholders tender their shares so that we are unable to satisfy any applicable closing condition set forth in the definitive agreement related to our initial business combination, or we are unable to maintain net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 (after payment of deferred underwriting fees and commission and net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) upon consummation of a business combination, we will not consummate such initial business combination. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction, or whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. If we so choose and we are legally permitted to do so, we will have the flexibility to avoid a shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 (after payment of deferred underwriting fees and commissions and net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) upon such consummation and, solely if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.
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| | We have determined not to consummate any business combination unless we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 (after payment of deferred underwriting fees and commissions and net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) upon such consummation in order to avoid being subject to Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. The $5,000,001 net tangible asset value would be determined once a target business is located and we can assess all of the assets and liabilities of the combined company. |
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| | However, if we seek to consummate a business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of such business combination, the net tangible asset requirement may limit our ability to consummate such a business combination and may force us to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. |
| | Our initial shareholders, officers and directors, have agreed (i) to vote their insider shares, private shares and any public shares purchased in or after this offering in favor of any proposed business combination and (ii) not to convert any shares (including the insider shares) in connection with a shareholder vote to approve, or (iii) sell their shares to us in any tender offer in connection with, a proposed initial business combination. As a result, if we sought shareholder approval of a proposed transaction we could need as little as 187,501 of our public shares (or approximately 3.1% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming that only a quorum was present at the meeting, that the over-allotment option is not exercised, and that the insiders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after-market). None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or any units or ordinary shares in the open market or in private transactions (other than the private units). However, if a significant number of shareholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against a proposed business combination, our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to influence the vote. There is no limit on the number of shares that may be purchased by the insiders. Any purchases would be made in compliance with federal securities laws, including the fact that all material information will be made public prior to such purchase, and no purchases would be made if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) of, or Rule 10b-5 promulgated under, the Exchange Act, which are rules designed to stop potential manipulation of a company’s stock. Moreover, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following: • our registration statement/proxy statement filed for its business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or rights from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases; • if our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares, warrants or rights from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process; • the our registration statement/proxy statement filed for its business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction; |
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| | • our sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and • we would disclose in its Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items: i. the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates, along with the purchase price; ii. the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; iii. the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved; iv. the identities of our security holders who sold to our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; and v. the number of our securities for which we receive redemption requests pursuant to its redemption offer. |
Redemption rights | | In connection with a business combination, public shareholders will have the right to convert their shares into an amount equal to (1) the number of public shares being converted by such public holder divided by the total number of public shares multiplied by (2) the amount then in the trust account (initially $10.00 per share or 100.0% of the gross proceeds from this offering), which includes the deferred underwriting fees and commissions plus a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account less any amounts necessary to pay our taxes or for use as our working capital. At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public shareholders may elect to convert their shares regardless of whether they vote for or against or abstain from voting on the business combination. Whether we elect to effectuate our initial business combination via shareholder vote or tender offer, we may require public shareholders wishing to exercise redemption rights, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender the certificates they are seeking to convert to our transfer agent or to deliver the shares they are seeking to convert to the transfer agent electronically using Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, at any time at or prior to the vote on the business combination. There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the converting holder. The foregoing is different from the procedures used by traditional blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, many traditional blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the shareholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise its redemption rights. |
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| | After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such shareholder to arrange for it to deliver its certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the shareholder then had an “option window” after the consummation of the business combination during which it could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the conversion price, it could sell its shares in the open market before actually delivering his shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which shareholders were aware they needed to commit before the shareholder meeting, would become an “option” right surviving past the consummation of the business combination until the converting holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the closing of the shareholder meeting ensures that a holder’s election to convert is irrevocable once the business combination is completed. |
| | Pursuant to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we are required to give a minimum of only seven clear calendar days’ notice for each general meeting. As a result, if we require public shareholders who wish to convert their ordinary shares into the right to receive a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account to comply with the foregoing delivery requirements, holders may not have sufficient time to receive the notice and deliver their shares for conversion. Accordingly, investors may not be able to exercise their redemption rights and may be forced to retain our securities when they otherwise would not want to. If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their ordinary shares to comply with specific delivery requirements for conversion described above and such proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public shareholders. Please see the risk factors titled “In connection with any shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, we may require shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with specific requirements for conversion that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights” and “If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with the delivery requirements for conversion, such converting shareholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.” Once the shares are converted by the holder, and effectively redeemed by us under BVI law, the transfer agent will then update our register of members to reflect all conversions. |
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if no business combination | |
As described above, if we fail to consummate a business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering, our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we will: (i) as promptly as practicable cease all operations except for the purpose of making redemption and the subsequent winding up of the Company’s affairs; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible, but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our income taxes or for use as our working capital, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (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 our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to our obligations under BVI law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
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| | If we are forced to liquidate, we anticipate that we would distribute to our public shareholders the amount in the trust account calculated as of the date that is two days prior to the distribution date (including any accrued interest). Prior to such distribution, we would be required to assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us by our creditors for amounts they are actually owed and make provision for such amounts, as creditors take priority over our public shareholders with respect to amounts that are owed to them. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims of creditors to the extent of distributions received by them as a voidable transaction in the event we enter an insolvent liquidation. Furthermore, while we will seek to have all vendors and service providers (which would include any third parties we engaged to assist us in any way in connection with our search for a target business) and prospective target businesses execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account or that a court would conclude that such agreements are legally enforceable. The holders of the insider shares and private units will not participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to such securities. We will pay the costs of liquidating the trust account from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, our sponsor has contractually agreed to advance us the funds necessary to complete such liquidation (currently anticipated to be no more than approximately $500,000) and has contractually agreed not to seek repayment for such expenses. The underwriters have agreed to waive its rights to the deferred underwriting fees and commissions held in the trust account in the event we do not consummate a business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering and in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the trust account that will be available to fund the redemption of our public shares. |
Indemnity | | Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share or 100.0% of the gross proceeds from this offering and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses. |
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Risk Factors Summary
We are a blank check company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company, as well as the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act and, therefore, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, please see “Proposed Business — Comparison to offerings of blank check companies subject to Rule 419.” You should carefully consider these, and the other risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 33 of this prospectus.
Our business is subject to a number of risks, including risks that may prevent us from achieving our business objectives or may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects that you should consider before making a decision to invest in our ordinary shares. These risks are discussed more fully in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 33. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
Risks Associated with Being Based in China
• Given the Chinese government’s potential oversight and discretion over the conduct of our directors’ and officers’ search for a target company, the Chinese government may intervene, influence or control our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business and/or the value of the securities we are registering. Changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government may be adopted quickly with little advance notice and could have a significant impact upon our ability to search for a target.
• Recent regulatory actions by the government of the People’s Republic of China with respect to foreign capital efforts and activities, including business combinations with offshore shell companies such as SPACS, may adversely impact our ability to consummate a business combination. The Chinese government may intervene or influence our search for a target company or completion of our initial business combination at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of the securities we are registering for sale.
• The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership.
• Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.
• Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations and changes in policies, rules, and regulations in China, which may be quick with little advance notice, could limit the legal protection available to you and us.
• We will not conduct an initial business combination with any target company that conducts operations through VIEs, which may limit the pool of acquisition candidates we may acquire in the PRC and make it more difficult and costly for us to consummate a business combination with a target business operating in the PRC.
• You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments, or bringing actions in China against us or our management and directors named in the prospectus based on foreign laws. It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.
• Given that some of our directors and officers have significant ties to China, the Chinese government may exercise oversight and discretion over their conduct including their search for a target company, the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business and/or the value of the securities we are registering.
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Risks Associated with Our Business
• We are a newly formed blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and, accordingly, you will not have any basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective. Due to our sponsor being predominantly controlled by a Hong Kong national, we may be a less attractive partner to non-PRC or non-Hong Kong-based target companies as compared to a non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based SPAC; therefore this may make it more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company that is based outside of the PRC or Hong Kong.
• If we are unable to consummate a business combination, our public shareholders may be forced to wait more than 18 months before receiving liquidation distributions.
• The requirement that we complete an initial business combination within a specific period of time may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination and may limit the amount of time we have to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to consummate our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our shareholders.
• We may not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company since such initial business combination may be subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), or ultimately prohibited.
• You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of blank check companies.
• We may issue additional ordinary or preferred shares or debt securities to complete a business combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our shareholders and likely cause a change in control of our ownership.
• We may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
• If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share redemption price received by shareholders may be less than $10.00.
• Holders of rights will not have redemption rights if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period.
• We have no obligation to net cash settle the rights.
• Since we have not yet selected a particular industry or target business with which to complete a business combination, we are unable to currently ascertain the merits or risks of the industry or business in which we may ultimately operate.
• The requirement that the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete such a business combination.
• Our ability to successfully effect a business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following a business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct.
• Our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge regarding the jurisdiction or industry of the target business we may seek to acquire.
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• Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following a business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
• Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby potentially limiting the amount of time they devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination.
• Our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations and accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
• Our officers’ and directors’ personal and financial interests may influence their motivation in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate for a business combination.
• Past performance by our management team and our sponsor may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
• NASDAQ may delist our securities from trading on its exchange which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
• We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services.
• We may be unable to consummate a business combination if a target business requires that we have cash in excess of the minimum amount we are required to have at closing and public shareholders may have to remain shareholders of our company and wait until our liquidation to receive a pro rata share of the trust account or attempt to sell their shares in the open market.
• We may not seek an opinion from an unaffiliated third party as to the fair market value of the target business we acquire.
• We may acquire a target business that is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates.
• There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
• Because we are incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, our principal office is located in Hong Kong and most of our executive officers and directors are located outside the United States, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal or state courts may be limited.
• If our management following a business combination is unfamiliar with United States securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws which could lead to various regulatory issues.
• Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the status of debt and equity markets.
• Because we have not selected a particular business or specific geographic location or any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’ operations.
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• Although we identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
• Management’s flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with our management’s financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may lead management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interest of our shareholders.
Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Business Outside of the United States
• We may effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States and if we do, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our business operations and financial results.
• If social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, or policy changes or enactments occur in a country in which we may operate after we effect our initial business combination, it may result in a negative impact on our business.
• Many countries have difficult and unpredictable legal systems and underdeveloped laws and regulations that are unclear and subject to corruption and inexperience, which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
• If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws applicable to such company will likely govern all of our material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.
• If relations between the United States and foreign governments deteriorate, it could cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive.
• After our initial business combination, substantially all of our assets may be located in a foreign country and substantially all of our revenue may be derived from our operations in such country. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects will be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal policies, developments and conditions in the country in which we operate.
• Currency policies may cause a target business’ ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.
• Many of the economies in Asia are experiencing substantial inflationary pressures which may prompt the governments to take action to control the growth of the economy and inflation that could lead to a significant decrease in our profitability following our initial business combination.
• Many industries in Asia are subject to government regulations that limit or prohibit foreign investments in such industries, which may limit the potential number of acquisition candidates.
• If a country in Asia enacts regulations in industry segments that forbid or restrict foreign investment, our ability to consummate our initial business combination could be severely impaired.
• Corporate governance standards in Asia may not be as strict or developed as in the United States and such weakness may hide issues and operational practices that are detrimental to a target business.
Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Target Business with its Primary Operations in China
As set forth herein, we are a holding company with no material operations of our own, and our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular country. However, we may target a Chinese or Hong Kong company for an initial business combination. Because of such potential ties to China or Hong Kong, we may be subjected to the laws, rules and regulations of the PRC. Accordingly, in addition to the risk factors referred above, we have set forth some of the primary risks we have identified in seeking to consummate our initial business combination
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with a company having its primary operations in the PRC. For more detailed description of the below risks and other risks related to acquiring and operating business in China or Hong Kong, see “Risk Factors — Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Target Business with its Primary Operations in China” on page 68.
• Given the PRC government’s potential oversight and discretion over the conduct of our directors’ and officers’ search for a target company, the PRC government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business and/or the value of the securities we are registering. Changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC may be adopted quickly with little advance notice and could have a significant impact upon our ability to operate.
• The PRC government has indicated its intent to intervene in or influence a PRC company’s business operations at any time or to exert more oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers. This could result in a material change in a PRC company’s business operations post-business combination and/or the value of its securities. Additionally, governmental and regulatory interference could significantly limit or completely hinder a target company’s ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors post-business combination and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
• Our initial business combination may be subject to a variety of PRC laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity and data protection and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time to complete any such business combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities.
• Trading in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCAA if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor. In that case, Nasdaq would delist our securities. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections may deprive our investors of the benefits of such inspections.
• U.S. laws and regulations, including the HFCAA and AHFCAA, may restrict or eliminate our ability to complete a business combination with certain companies, particularly those acquisition candidates with substantial operations in China or Hong Kong.
• Compliance with the PRC Antitrust law may limit our ability to effect our initial business combination.
• If we become directly subject to the recent scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies, we may have to expend significant resources to investigate and resolve the matter which could harm our business operations, this offering and our reputation and could result in a loss of your investment in our ordinary shares, especially if such matter cannot be addressed and resolved favorably.
• Regulations relating to the transfer of state-owned property rights in enterprises may increase the cost of our acquisitions and impose an additional administrative burden on us.
• Our initial business combination may be subject to national security review by the PRC government and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time to complete any such business combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities.
• We do not believe the approval of the CSRC is required in connection with this offering; however, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval.
• There are uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations that could limit the legal protections available to you and us.
• Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of a Chinese or Hong Kong target company we may pursue as an acquisition target in the future.
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• You may face difficulties in protecting your interests and exercising your rights as a shareholder if we were to conduct substantially all of our operations in China, and almost all of our officers and directors currently and will likely reside outside the U.S.
• Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment post-business combination.
• If our initial business combination target is a Chinese or Hong Kong company with the majority of its operations in China, the PRC regulation on loans to, and direct investment in, such a subsidiary by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may restrict our ability to make loans or capital contributions to such subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business post-business combination.
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SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data is presented.
| | December 31, 2023 | | March 31, 2024 |
| | (Audited) | | Actual | | As Adjusted(1) |
Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Working capital (deficit) | | $ | (3,680 | ) | | $ | (32,426 | ) | | $ | 745,974 | |
Total assets | | | — | | | | 90,474 | | | | 60,745,974 | |
Total liabilities | | | 3,680 | | | | 94,500 | | | | 1,500,000 | (2) |
Value of ordinary shares subject to possible redemption/tender(3) | | | — | | | | — | | | | 60,000,000 | |
Shareholders’ deficit(4) | | | (3,680 | ) | | | (4,026 | ) | | | (754,026 | ) |
The “as adjusted” information gives effect to the sale of the units we are offering, including the application of the related gross proceeds and the payment of the estimated remaining costs from such sale and the repayment of the accrued and other liabilities required to be repaid.
The “as adjusted” working capital amount includes the $750,000 in cash held outside the trust account, plus $4,026 of net book value of the shareholders’ deficit at March 31, 2024.
The “as adjusted” total assets amount includes the $60,000,000 to be held in the trust account, plus $750,000 in cash held outside the trust account, plus $4,026 of net book value of the shareholders’ deficit on March 31, 2024. If our initial business combination is not consummated, the trust account, less amounts we are permitted to withdraw as described in this prospectus, will be distributed solely to our public shareholders (subject to our obligations under British Virgin Islands law to provide for claims of creditors). Any additional offering costs will also be charged to additional paid-in capital.
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We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 prior to or upon such consummation or otherwise we are exempt from the provisions of Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules), and solely if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.
If no business combination is completed within 18 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares. We will pay the costs of liquidating the trust account from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, our sponsor has contractually agreed to advance us the funds necessary to complete such liquidation (currently anticipated to be no more than approximately $500,000) and has contractually agreed not to seek repayment for such expenses. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private placement shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within such 18-month time period.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the material risks described below, which we believe represent the material risks related to the offering, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of specific factors, including the risks described below.
Risks Associated with Being Based in China
Given the Chinese government’s potential oversight and discretion over the conduct of our directors’ and officers’ search for a target company, the Chinese government may intervene, influence or control our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business and/or the value of the securities we are registering. Changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government may be adopted quickly with little advance notice and could have a significant impact upon our ability to search for a target.
Although our offices are located in Hong Kong, a majority of our directors and officers have significant ties to the PRC and Hong Kong. We may be subject to certain risks relating to regulatory oversight by the PRC government. This may significantly limit our ability to search for candidates for our initial business combination. In particular, changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government may be adopted quickly with little advance notice. The Chinese government may also intervene, influence or control our search for a target business or the completion of an initial business combination at any time because certain of our directors and officers have significant ties to China. This could significantly and negatively impact our search for a target business and/or the value of the securities we are registering for sale. Based on our understanding of the current PRC laws and regulations, our company is not required to obtain any prior permission from any PRC governmental authorities for this offering. Moreover, our officers and directors are not covered by any Chinese permissions requirements because our business is not conducted in China. Accordingly, as of the date of this prospectus, we and our directors and officers have not applied or received any permission or approvals for this offering and our search for an initial business combination target company post offering. If applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and require us and/or our directors and officers to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, Chinese regulatory agencies (a) may impose fines and penalties on our officers and directors and (b) may also take actions requiring our directors and officers, or making it advisable for our directors and officers, to terminate this offering before settlement and delivery of our units or delay our potential business combination and therefore, we may have to liquidate the funds held in the trust account (in which case our rights may be worthless). Any uncertainties and/or negative publicity regarding such an approval requirement could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our securities.
Recent regulatory actions by the government of the People’s Republic of China with respect to foreign capital efforts and activities, including business combinations with offshore shell companies such as SPACS, may adversely impact our ability to consummate a business combination. The Chinese government may intervene or influence our search for a target company or completion of our initial business combination at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of the securities we are registering for sale.
We are currently located in Hong Kong, and that our sponsor and three of our five officers and directors currently have ties to the PRC and Hong Kong. Therefore, we are subject to regulatory risks arising from the uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and rules and regulations in China. On July 30, 2021, the Chairman of the SEC issued a statement highlighting potential issues resulting from recent China regulatory changes and guidance that may impact investors’ investments in China based entities. According to the SEC’s Chairman, the PRC provided new guidance to and placed restrictions on China-based companies raising capital offshore, including through associated offshore shell companies. These developments include China government-led cybersecurity reviews of certain companies raising capital through offshore entities. This is relevant to U.S. investors. In a number of sectors in China, companies are not allowed to have foreign ownership and cannot directly list on exchanges outside of China. To raise money on such
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exchanges, many China-based operating companies are structured as Variable Interest Entities (VIEs). In such an arrangement, a China-based operating company typically establishes an offshore shell company in another jurisdiction to issue stock to public shareholders. For U.S. investors, this arrangement creates “exposure” to the China-based operating company, though only through a series of service contracts and other contracts. To be clear, though, neither the investors in the shell company’s stock, nor the offshore shell company itself, has stock ownership in the China-based operating company.
On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law, which took effect on January 1, 2020 and replaced three existing laws on foreign investments in China, namely, the PRC Equity Joint Venture Law, the PRC Cooperative Joint Venture Law and the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic invested enterprises in China. The Foreign Investment Law establishes the basic framework for access to, and the promotion, protection and administration of foreign investments in view of investment protection and fair competition.
According to the China Foreign Investment Law, “foreign investment” refers to investment activities directly or indirectly conducted by one or more natural persons, business entities, or otherwise organizations of a foreign country (collectively referred to as “foreign investor”) within China, and the investment activities include the following situations: (i) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, establishes a foreign-invested enterprise within China; (ii) a foreign investor acquires stock shares, equity shares, shares in assets, or other like rights and interests of an enterprise within China; (iii) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, invests in a new project within China; and (iv) investments in other means as provided by laws, administrative regulations, or the State Council. The “variable interest entity” structure, or VIE structure, has been adopted by many PRC-based companies to obtain necessary licenses and permits in the industries that are currently subject to foreign investment restrictions in China. However, we will not conduct a business combination with any target company that conducts operations through VIEs.
The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership.
Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, cyber security, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of jurisdictions such as China may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations.
There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations. The laws and regulations are sometimes vague and new laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on us. In the future, we may be required to provide additional risk disclosure related to our initial business combination and would be expected to incur additional costs related to compliance with such laws and regulations, if such compliance can be obtained.
Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.
The PRC government may impose controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC and there is no assurance that such controls will not be imposed by the PRC or Hong Kong government on the conversion of Hong Kong dollars. Since we are based in Hong Kong, we may not be allowed to remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends, if any. If we incur debt in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict our ability to pay dividends or make other payments. The PRC laws or regulations may impact the cash flows associated with our initial business combination, including shareholder redemption rights. For example, if any PRC government actions cause a significant delay in our ability to consummate our initial business combination, we might be required to seek an stockholder approval to extend the time period to complete our initial business combination, which approval may not be received.
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Cash dividends, if any, on our ordinary shares will be paid in U.S. dollars. If we are considered a PRC tax resident enterprise for tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10.0%.
Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations and changes in policies, rules, and regulations in China, which may be quick with little advance notice, could limit the legal protection available to you and us.
The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which legal cases have limited value as precedents. In the late 1970s, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The legislation over the past three decades has significantly increased the protection afforded to various forms of foreign or private-sector investment in China. Since we are based in Hong Kong, we may be subject to various PRC laws and regulations generally applicable to companies in China. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, however, the interpretations of many laws, regulations, and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations, and rules involve uncertainties.
From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, however, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy in the PRC legal system than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies, internal rules, and regulations that may have retroactive effect and may change quickly with little advance notice. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainties over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property), and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations. In addition, the legal and regulatory risks associated with doing business in China may make us a less attractive partner in an initial business combination than other special purpose acquisition companies that do not have ties to China. As such, our ties to China — including through our sponsor, officers and directors — may make it harder for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company without any such ties.
We will not conduct an initial business combination with any target company that conducts operations through VIEs, which may limit the pool of acquisition candidates we may acquire in the PRC and make it more difficult and costly for us to consummate a business combination with a target business operating in the PRC.
Our sponsor and our officers and directors have significant business ties to the PRC and we may consider a business combination with an entity or business with a physical presence or other significant ties to the PRC. Where Chinese law prohibits direct foreign investment in companies located in the PRC, such companies may conduct operations through VIEs as a means of providing the economic benefits of foreign investment in such companies without investing directly. However, we will not conduct an initial business combination with any target company that conducts operations through VIEs. As a result, this may limit the pool of acquisition candidates we may acquire in the PRC, in particular, due to the relevant PRC laws and regulations against foreign ownership of and investment in certain assets and industries, known as restricted industries, including but not limited to value-added telecommunications services such as internet content providers. Furthermore, this may limit the pool of acquisition candidates we may acquire in the PRC relative to other special purpose acquisition companies that are not subject to such restrictions and may make it more difficult and costly for us to consummate a business combination with a target business operating in the PRC relative to such other companies. As a result, we may not be able to consummate a business combination with a favored target company.
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You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments, or bringing actions in China against us or our management and directors named in the prospectus based on foreign laws. It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.
Three of our five officers and directors currently reside in China and may continue to reside within China and Hong Kong and may continue to be physically there for a significant portion of each year, and is and may continue to be a PRC national. Yangyujia An, our Chief Financial Officer and Director, and two of our independent directors Zhengming Feng and Donghui Xu resides in China. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process upon us or those persons residing in China. Even with service of process, it may also be difficult to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against these officers and directors in China.
In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws or those of any U.S. state. The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the U.S. that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security, or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the U.S.
It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with its counterparts of another country or region to monitor and oversee cross-border securities activities, such regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the U.S. may not be efficient in the absence of a practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or “Article 177,” which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigations or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Article 177 further provides that Chinese entities and individuals are not allowed to provide documents or materials related to securities business activities to foreign agencies without prior consent from the securities regulatory authority of the PRC State Council and the competent departments of the PRC State Council. While detailed interpretation of or implementing rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.
Given that some of our directors and officers have significant ties to China, the Chinese government may exercise oversight and discretion over their conduct including their search for a target company, the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business and/or the value of the securities we are registering.
Since some of our directors have significant ties to China, the Chinese government may have potential oversight and discretion over the conduct of our directors and officers including over our directors’ and officers’ search for a target company. The Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time through the directors and officers who have significant ties in China, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business and/or the value of the securities we are offering. Changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government may be adopted quickly with little advance notice and could have a significant impact upon our ability to operate. The realization of any these risks could adversely impact our initial business combination, future business and any future offering of securities.
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Risks Associated with Our Business
We are a newly formed blank check company with no operating history and no revenues, and, accordingly, you will not have any basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective. Due to our sponsor being predominantly controlled by a Hong Kong national, we may be a less attractive partner to non-PRC or non-Hong Kong-based target companies as compared to a non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based SPAC; therefore this may make it more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company that is based outside of the PRC or Hong Kong.
We are a newly formed blank check company with no operating results to date. Therefore, our ability to commence operations is dependent upon obtaining financing through the public offering of our securities. Since we do not have an operating history, you will have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective, which is to acquire an operating business. We have not conducted any discussions and we have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective acquisition candidates. We will not generate any revenues until, at the earliest, after the consummation of a business combination. Further, given that our executive officers and directors and the majority shareholder of our sponsor have ties to the PRC and/or Hong Kong and are located in Hong Kong and/or the PRC, these ties may make it more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination with a target company outside of the PRC or Hong Kong, and which may therefore, make it more likely that we will need to target a business combination with a target company located in the PRC or Hong Kong.
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
As of March 31, 2024, we had $62,074 on cash and a working capital deficit of $32,426. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this need for capital through this offering are discussed in the section of this prospectus titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. The report of our independent registered public accountants on our financial statements includes an explanatory paragraph stating that our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on the consummation of this offering. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to consummate this offering or our ability to continue as a going concern. Moreover, there is no assurance that we will consummate our initial business combination. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
If we are unable to consummate a business combination, our public shareholders may be forced to wait more than 18 months before receiving liquidation distributions.
We will have 18 months from the consummation of this offering in which to complete a business. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to such date unless we consummate a business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to convert their shares. Only after the expiration of this full time period will public shareholders be entitled to liquidation distributions if we are unable to complete a business combination. Accordingly, investors’ funds may be unavailable to them until after such date and to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your securities potentially at a loss.
The requirement that we complete an initial business combination within a specific period of time may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination and may limit the amount of time we have to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to consummate our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our shareholders.
We have 18 months from the consummation of this offering to complete an initial business. Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware of this requirement. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete a business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete
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a business combination with any other target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the time limits referenced above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
Our ability to consummate an attractive business combination may be impacted by the market for initial public offerings.
If the market for initial public offerings is limited, we believe there will be more attractive target businesses open to consummating an initial business combination with us as a means to achieve publicly held status. Alternatively, if the market for initial public offerings is robust, we believe that there will be fewer attractive target businesses amenable to consummating an initial business combination with us to become a public reporting company. Accordingly, during periods with strong public offering markets, it may be more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination.
We may not be able to complete an initial business combination with a U.S. target company since such initial business combination may be subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity, such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), or ultimately prohibited.
Pui Chun Wong, a Hong Kong national is the controlling shareholder of our sponsor, YHN Partners I Limited, by virtue of having 100% voting power in the sponsor. Our sponsor will own approximately 20% of our outstanding shares following this offering. Certain companies requiring federally issued licenses in the United States, such as broadcasters and airlines, may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership. In addition, CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States by foreign persons in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. Therefore, because we may be considered a “foreign person” under such rules and regulations, we could be subject to foreign ownership restrictions and/or CFIUS review if our proposed business combination is with a U.S. target company engaged in a regulated industry or which may affect national security. The jurisdictional scope of CFIUS was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018, or FIRRMA, to include certain non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subject certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. Therefore, if our potential initial business combination with a U.S. target company falls within the scope of foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable to consummate a business combination with such target company. In addition, if our potential business combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may be required to make a mandatory filing or determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with the initial business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the initial business combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our initial business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such initial business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company were we to proceed without first obtaining CFIUS clearance. The foreign ownership limitations, and the potential impact of a CFIUS review, may limit the attractiveness of a transaction with us or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies that do not have similar foreign ownership issues.
Moreover, the process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination (18 months from the closing of this offering), our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share initially or 100.0% of the gross proceeds from the offering, and our rights will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose any potential investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
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You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of this offering are intended to be used to complete a business combination with a target business that has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, since we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the successful consummation of this offering and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors of blank check companies such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules which would, for example, completely restrict the transferability of our securities, restrict the use of interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and require us to complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of the offering. Because we are not subject to Rule 419, our units will be immediately tradable, we will be entitled to withdraw a portion of the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account to pay taxes and for use as working capital prior to the completion of a business combination and we may have more time to complete an initial business combination. For a more detailed comparison of this offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, please see “Proposed Business — Comparison to offerings of blank check companies subject to Rule 419.”
We may issue additional ordinary or preferred shares or debt securities to complete a business combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our shareholders and likely cause a change in control of our ownership.
Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to be adopted by the Company with effect on or prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement will authorize the issuance of 500,000,000 ordinary shares with no par value each of a single class. Although we have no commitment as of the date of this offering, we may issue a substantial number of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares or debt securities, or a combination of thereof, to complete a business combination. The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares:
• may significantly reduce the equity interest of investors in this offering;
• may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if we issue preferred shares with rights senior to those afforded to our ordinary shares;
• may cause a change in control if a substantial number of ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;
• may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and
• may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our ordinary shares.
Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:
• default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
• acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
• our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;
• our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding.
• our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares;
• using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
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• limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
• increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation;
• limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes; and
• other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
Since we have not yet identified any prospective target business, we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of the business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, or the obligation to convert into cash (or purchase in any tender offer) a significant number of shares from dissenting shareholders, we will be required to seek additional financing. Such financing may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate a particular business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. In addition, if we consummate a business combination, we may require additional financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or shareholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after a business combination.
If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share redemption price received by shareholders may be less than $10.00.
Our placing of funds in trust may not protect those funds from third party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors and service providers we engage and prospective target businesses we negotiate with execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public shareholders, they may not execute such agreements. Furthermore, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they may seek recourse against the monies held in the trust account. A court may not uphold the validity of such agreements. Accordingly, the proceeds held in trust could be subject to claims which could take priority over those of our public shareholders. If we liquidate the trust account before the completion of a business combination, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us and which have not executed a waiver agreement. However, it may not be able to meet such obligation. Therefore, the per-share redemption price from the trust account in such a situation may be less than $10.00, plus interest, due to such claims.
Additionally, if we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, or if we otherwise enter compulsory or court supervised liquidation, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we may not be able to return to our public shareholders at least $10.00 per share.
Our shareholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them.
If we are forced to enter into an insolvent liquidation, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed as an unlawful payment if it was proved that immediately following the date on which the distribution was made, our liabilities exceed our assets and we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due. As a result, a liquidator could seek to recover all amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, our directors may be viewed as having breached their
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fiduciary responsibilities to us or our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing themselves and our company to claims, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
If we deviate from the acquisition criteria or guidelines set forth in this prospectus, investors in this offering may have rescission rights or may bring an action for damages against us or we could be subject to civil or criminal actions taken by governmental authorities.
If we were to elect to deviate from the acquisition criteria or guidelines set forth in this prospectus, each person who purchased units in this offering and still held such securities upon learning of the facts relating to the deviation may seek rescission of the purchase of the units he or she acquired in the offering (under which a successful claimant has the right to receive the total amount paid for his or her securities pursuant to an allegedly deficient prospectus, plus interest and less any income earned on the securities, in exchange for surrender of the securities) or bring an action for damages against us (compensation for loss on an investment caused by alleged material misrepresentations or omissions in the sale of a security). In such event, we could also be subject to civil or criminal actions taken by governmental authorities. For instance, the SEC can seek injunctions under Section 20(b) of the Securities Act if it believes a violation under the Securities Act has occurred or is imminent. The SEC can also seek civil penalties under Sections 20(d) and 24 if a party has violated the Securities Act or an injunctive action taken by the SEC or if a party willfully, in a registration statement filed under the Securities Act, makes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Furthermore, Section 20 allows the SEC to refer matters to the attorney general to bring criminal penalties against an issuer.
If a public holder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our ordinary shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a public holder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such public holder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our ordinary shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem ordinary shares. For example, we may require our public holders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either deliver their stock certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a public holder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, or fails to comply with these or any other procedures disclosed in the proxy or tender offer materials, as applicable, its shares may not be redeemed.
Holders of rights will not have redemption rights if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we redeem the funds held in the trust account, the rights will expire and holders will not receive any of such proceeds with respect to the rights.
We have no obligation to net cash settle the rights.
In no event will we have any obligation to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
We may amend the terms of the rights in a way that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding rights.
Our rights will be issued in registered form under a rights agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent, and us. The rights agreement provides that the terms of the rights may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision. The rights agreement requires the approval by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding rights in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders.
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Our rights agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our rights, which could limit the ability of rights holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our rights agreement will provide that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the rights agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the rights agreement will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our rights shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our rights agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the rights agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of our rights, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such rights holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such rights holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such rights holder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a rights holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, including by increasing the cost of such lawsuits to a rights holder, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our rights agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
Since we have not yet selected a particular industry or target business with which to complete a business combination, we are unable to currently ascertain the merits or risks of the industry or business in which we may ultimately operate.
While we intend to focus our search for target businesses on specific locations and industries as described in this prospectus, we are not limited to those locations and may consummate a business combination with a company in any location or industry we choose. Accordingly, there is no current basis for you to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the particular industry in which we may ultimately operate or the target business which we may ultimately acquire. To the extent we complete a business combination with a company in its development stage, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations of those entities. If we complete a business combination with an entity in an industry characterized by a high level of risk, we may be affected by the currently unascertainable risks of that industry. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular industry or target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors in this offering than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in a target business.
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The requirement that the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete such a business combination.
Pursuant to the NASDAQ listing rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. This restriction may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete a business combination. If we are unable to locate a target business or businesses that satisfy this fair market value test, we may be forced to liquidate and you will only be entitled to receive your pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account.
If NASDAQ delists our securities from trading on its exchange after this offering, we would not be required to satisfy the fair market value requirement described above and could complete a business combination with a target business having a fair market value substantially below 80% of the balance in the trust account.
Our ability to successfully effect a business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following a business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct.
Our ability to successfully effect a business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our key personnel, at least until we have consummated our initial business combination. We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain with us for the immediate or foreseeable future. In addition, none of our officers are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, they will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have employment agreements with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our officers. The unexpected loss of the services of our key personnel could have a detrimental effect on us.
The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following a business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place or be hired after consummation of the business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct.
These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a public company which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.
Our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge regarding the jurisdiction or industry of the target business we may seek to acquire.
We may consummate a business combination with a target business in any geographic location or industry we choose. We cannot assure you that our officers and directors will have enough experience or have sufficient knowledge relating to the jurisdiction of the target or its industry to make an informed decision regarding a business combination. If we become aware of a potential business combination outside of the geographic location or industry where our officers and directors have the most experience, our management may retain consultants and advisors with experience in such industries to assist in the evaluation of such business combination and in our determination of whether or not to proceed with such a business combination. However, our management is not required to engage consultants or advisors in any situation. If they do not engage any consultants or advisors to assist them in the evaluation of a particular target business or business combination, our management may not properly analyze the risks attendant with such target business or business combination. Even if our management does engage consultants or advisors to assist
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in the evaluation of a particular target business or business combination, we cannot assure you that such consultants or advisors will properly analyze the risks attendant with such target business or business combination. As a result, we may enter into a business combination that is not in our shareholders’ best interests.
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following a business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Our key personnel will be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements or other arrangements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business.
Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby potentially limiting the amount of time they devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors are not required to commit their full time to our affairs, which could create a conflict of interest when allocating their time between our operations and their other commitments. We presently expect each of our employees to devote such amount of time as they reasonably believe is necessary to our business (which could range from only a few hours a week while we are trying to locate a potential target business to a majority of their time as we move into serious negotiations with a target business for a business combination). We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the consummation of our initial business combination. All of our officers and directors are engaged in several other business endeavors and are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our affairs. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote more substantial amounts of time to such affairs, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs and could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination. We cannot assure you these conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
Our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations and accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations to other companies, including other companies that are engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us. Accordingly, they may participate in transactions and have obligations that may be in conflict or competition with our consummation of our initial business combination.
As a result, a potential target business may be presented by our management team to another entity prior to its presentation to us and we may not be afforded the opportunity to engage in a transaction with such target business. For a more detailed description of the pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations of our management team, and the potential conflicts of interest that such obligations may present, see the section titled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”
Our officers’ and directors’ flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with personal and financial interests, may influence their motivation in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate for a business combination.
Our officers and directors have waived their right to convert (or sell to us in any tender offer) their insider shares or any other ordinary shares acquired in this offering or thereafter (although none of these insiders have indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or thereafter), or to receive distributions with respect to their insider shares upon our liquidation if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination. Our sponsor has also waived its right to convert (or sell to us in any tender offer) its private shares or any other ordinary shares acquired in this offering or thereafter (although it has not indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or thereafter), or to receive distributions with respect to their private shares upon our liquidation if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination. Accordingly, these securities will be worthless if we do not consummate our initial
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business combination. In addition, our officers and directors may loan funds to us after this offering and may be owed reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with certain activities on our behalf which would only be repaid if we complete an initial business combination. The personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business combination. Consequently, our directors’ and officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our shareholders’ best interest. If this were the case, it would be a breach of their fiduciary responsibilities to us as a matter of British Virgin Islands law and we might have a claim against such individuals. However, we might not ultimately be successful in any claim we may make against them for such reason.
Moreover, subject to the requirement that our initial business combination must be with one or more target businesses or assets having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the balance of funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the agreement to enter into such initial business combination, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Investors will be relying on management’s ability to identify business combinations, evaluate their merits, conduct or monitor diligence and conduct negotiations. Management’s flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate, along with management’s financial interest in consummating our initial business combination, may lead management to enter into an acquisition agreement that is not in the best interest of our shareholders.
Past performance by our management team and our sponsor may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with our management team and our sponsor and its affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by our management team and our sponsor is not a guarantee either (i) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate or (ii) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s or our sponsor’s respective performance as indicative of our future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. Furthermore, an investment in us is not an investment in our sponsor or its affiliates.
NASDAQ may delist our securities from trading on its exchange which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We anticipate that our securities will be listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, a national securities exchange, upon consummation of this offering. Although, after giving effect to this offering, we expect to meet on a pro forma basis the minimum initial listing standards of NASDAQ, which generally only requires that we meet certain requirements relating to shareholders’ equity, market capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares and distribution requirements, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on NASDAQ in the future or prior to an initial business combination. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, it is likely that NASDAQ will require us to file a new initial listing application and meet its initial listing requirements as opposed to its more lenient continued listing requirements. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
If NASDAQ delists our securities from trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
• a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
• reduced liquidity with respect to our securities;
• a determination that our ordinary shares are “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our ordinary shares to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our ordinary shares;
• a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and
• a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
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We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering. By consummating a business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
• solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, or
• dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to a business combination.
Alternatively, if we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
We may be unable to consummate a business combination if a target business requires that we have cash in excess of the minimum amount we are required to have at closing and public shareholders may have to remain shareholders of our company and wait until our liquidation to receive a pro rata share of the trust account or attempt to sell their shares in the open market.
A potential target may make it a closing condition to our business combination that we have a certain amount of cash in excess of the $5,000,001 of net tangible assets we are required to have pursuant to our organizational documents available at the time of closing. If the number of our shareholders electing to exercise their redemption rights or sell their shares to us in a tender offer has the effect of reducing the amount of money available to us to consummate a business combination below such minimum amount required by the target business and we are not able to locate an alternative source of funding, we will not be able to consummate such business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. In that case, public shareholders may have to remain shareholders of our company and wait the full 18 months in order to be able to receive a pro rata portion of the trust account, or attempt to sell their shares in the open market prior to such time, in which case they may receive less than a pro rata share of the trust account for their shares and suffer an entire loss on your investment.
Our public shareholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may consummate our initial business combination even though a majority of our public shareholders do not support such a combination.
We intend to hold a shareholder vote before we consummate our initial business combination. However, if a shareholder vote is not required, for business or legal reasons, we may conduct conversions via a tender offer and not offer our shareholders the opportunity to vote on a proposed business combination. Accordingly, we may consummate our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our public shares do not approve of the business combination.
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In connection with any meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public shareholder the option to vote in favor of a proposed business combination and offer each shareholder the right to convert his, her or its public shares, which may make it more likely that we will consummate a business combination.
In connection with any meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public shareholder the right to have his, her or its public shares converted to cash (subject to the limitations described elsewhere in this prospectus) regardless of whether such shareholder votes for or against such proposed business combination. Furthermore, we will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 (after payment of deferred underwriting fees and commissions and net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) upon such consummation and a majority of the issued and outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination. Accordingly, public shareholders owning shares sold in this offering may exercise their redemption rights and we could still consummate a proposed business combination so long as a majority of shares voted at the meeting are voted in favor of the proposed business combination. This is different than other similarly structured blank check companies where shareholders are offered the right to convert their shares only when they vote against a proposed business combination. This is also different than other similarly structured blank check companies where there is a specific number of shares sold in the offering which must not exercise redemption rights for the company to complete a business combination. The lack of such a threshold and the ability to seek conversion while voting in favor of a proposed business combination may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.
In connection with any shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, we may require shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with specific requirements for conversion that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights.
In connection with any shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, each public shareholder will have the right, regardless of whether it is voting for or against such proposed business combination, to demand that we convert its public shares into a share of the trust account. Such conversion will be effectuated under British Virgin Islands law and our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association as a redemption of the shares, with the redemption price to be paid being the applicable pro rata portion of the monies held in the trust account. We may require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares in connection with a proposed business combination to either tender their certificates (if any) to our transfer agent or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s (“DTC”) DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, at any time at or prior to the vote taken at the shareholder meeting relating to such business combination. In order to obtain a physical share certificate, shareholders’ broker and/or clearing broker, DTC and our transfer agent will need to act to facilitate this request. It is our understanding that shareholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, because we do not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, it may take significantly longer than two weeks to obtain a physical share certificate. It is also our understanding that it takes a short time to deliver shares through the DWAC System. However, this too may not be the case. Accordingly, if it takes longer than we anticipate for shareholders to deliver their shares, shareholders who wish to convert may be unable to meet the deadline for exercising their redemption rights and thus may be unable to convert their shares.
Investors may not have sufficient time to comply with the delivery requirements for conversion.
Pursuant to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we are required to give a minimum of only seven clear calendar days’ notice for each general meeting. As a result, if we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares into the right to receive a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account to comply with specific delivery requirements for conversion, holders may not have sufficient time to receive the notice and deliver their shares for conversion. Accordingly, investors may not be able to exercise their redemption rights and may be forced to retain our securities when they otherwise would not want to.
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If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with the delivery requirements for conversion, such converting shareholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.
If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with specific delivery requirements for conversion described above and such proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public shareholders. Accordingly, investors who attempted to convert their shares in such a circumstance will be unable to sell their securities after the failed acquisition until we have returned their securities to them. The market price for our shares may decline during this time and you may not be able to sell your securities when you wish to, even while other shareholders that did not seek conversion may be able to sell their securities.
Because of our limited resources and structure, other companies may have a competitive advantage and we may not be able to consummate an attractive business combination.
We expect to encounter intense competition from entities other than blank check companies having a business objective similar to ours, including venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds and operating businesses competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do, and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe that there are numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, seeking shareholder approval of a business combination may delay or prevent the consummation of a transaction, a risk a target business may not be willing to accept. Additionally, our outstanding rights, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Any of the foregoing may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination.
Our initial shareholders control a substantial interest in us and thus may influence certain actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon consummation of our offering and the private placement, our initial shareholders will collectively own approximately 22.58% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and no over-allotment option is exercised). Accordingly, they may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our memorandum and articles of association. None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or any units or ordinary shares from persons in the open market or in private transactions (other than the private units). However, if our initial shareholders purchase any units in this offering or if our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates determine in the future to make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions, to the extent permitted by law, in order to assist us in consummating our initial business combination, this would increase their control. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our ordinary shares. In connection with any vote for a proposed business combination, all of our initial shareholders, as well as all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote the ordinary shares owned by them immediately before this offering as well as any ordinary shares acquired in this offering or in the aftermarket in favor of such proposed business combination.
There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or general meetings to elect directors. Accordingly, shareholders would not have the right to such a meeting or election of directors, unless the holders of not less than 30% of the voting rights of our company request for a general meeting. As a result, it is unlikely that there will be an annual general meeting to elect new directors prior to the consummation of a business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the consummation of the business combination. Accordingly, you may not be able to exercise your voting rights for up to 18 months. Accordingly, our initial shareholders will continue to exert control at least until the consummation of a business combination.
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Our initial shareholders paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.01 per share, for the insider shares and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our ordinary shares.
The difference between the public offering price per share and the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering constitutes the dilution to the investors in this offering. Our initial shareholders acquired their insider shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon consummation of this offering, you and the other new investors will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 103.52% or $9.41 per share (the difference between the public offering price per share and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $0.32 per share. This is because investors in this offering will be contributing approximately 95.96% of the total amount paid to us for our outstanding securities after this offering but will only own approximately 78.81% of our outstanding securities. Accordingly, the per-share purchase price you will be paying substantially exceeds our per share net tangible book value.
Our outstanding rights or the conversion of the promissory notes upon consummation of our business combination into private units may have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares and make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
We will be issuing rights that will result in the issuance of up to 690,000 ordinary shares as part of the units offered by this prospectus and private rights that will result in the issuance of up to an additional 26,440 ordinary shares. Further, in order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering until completion of an initial business combination, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The promissory note would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $500,000 of the promissory note may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. As such, each promissory notes will result in the issuance of 50,000 private units that will result in the issuance of up to an additional 55,000 ordinary shares. The potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares upon conversion of the rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle in the eyes of a target business. Such securities, when converted, will increase the number of issued and outstanding ordinary shares and reduce the value of the shares issued to complete the business combination. Accordingly, our rights may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business. Additionally, the sale, or even the possibility of sale, of the shares underlying the rights could have an adverse effect on the market price for our securities or on our ability to obtain future financing. If to the extent these rights are converted, you may experience dilution to your holdings.
If our shareholders exercise their registration rights with respect to their securities, it may have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares and the existence of these rights may make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
Our initial shareholders are entitled to make a demand that we register the resale of their insider shares (1,725,000 ordinary shares, including up to an aggregate of 225,000 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture by our sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part) at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which their shares may be released from escrow. Additionally, the purchasers of the private units and our initial shareholders, officers and directors are entitled to demand that we register the resale of the 250,000 ordinary shares (or 264,400 ordinary shares if the overallotment is exercised in full) underlying the private units, 25,000 (or 26,440 ordinary shares if the overallotment is exercised in full) ordinary shares underlying the private rights and any securities our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans or loans made to us at any time after we consummate a business combination. The presence of these additional securities trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities. In addition, the existence of these rights may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business, as the shareholders of the target business may be discouraged from entering into a business combination with us or will request a higher price for their securities because of the potential effect the exercise of such rights may have on the trading market for our ordinary shares.
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If we are deemed to be an investment company, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete a business combination.
A company that, among other things, is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, trading or holding certain types of securities would be deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Company Act. Since we will invest the proceeds held in the trust account only in United States government treasury bills, notes or bonds having a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in United States treasuries, we believe that we will not be considered to be an investment company pursuant to the exemption provided in Rule 3a-1 promulgated under the Investment Company Act.
If we are nevertheless deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be subject to certain restrictions that may make it more difficult for us to complete a business combination, including:
• restrictions on the nature of our investments; and
• restrictions on the issuance of securities.
In addition, we may have imposed upon us certain burdensome requirements, including:
• registration as an investment company;
• adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and
• reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy, compliance policies and procedures and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. The proceeds held in the trust account may be invested by the trustee only in United States government treasury bills with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in United States Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. Because the investment of the proceeds will be restricted to these instruments, we believe we will meet the requirements for the exemption provided in Rule 3a-1 promulgated under the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete a business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account that are available for distribution to public shareholders on the liquidation of our trust account and our rights will expire worthless.
If we were deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act , we may be forced to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead be required to liquidate the Company. To avoid that result, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the securities held in the trust account and instead hold all funds in the trust account in an interest bearing bank demand deposit account, which may earn less interest than we otherwise would have if the trust account had remained invested in U.S. government securities or money market funds.
There is currently uncertainty concerning the applicability of the Investment Company Act to a special purpose acquisition company such as the Company, and we may in the future be subject to a claim that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company. If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, we might be forced to abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead be required to liquidate. If we are required to liquidate, our investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning stock in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of our stock and rights following such a transaction, and our rights would expire worthless.
The funds in the trust account will be held only in U.S. government securities within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in United States Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. However, to mitigate the risk of us being deemed to have been operating as an unregistered investment
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company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act), we may, in our own discretion, instruct Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the trustee with respect to the trust account, to liquidate the U.S. government securities or money market funds held in the trust account and thereafter, until the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination or liquidation, to hold all funds in the trust account in an interest bearing bank demand deposit account, which may earn less interest than we otherwise would have if the trust account had remained invested in U.S. government securities or money market funds. This may mean that the amount of funds available for redemption would not increase, or would only minimally increase, thereby reducing the dollar amount our public shareholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of the Company.
In addition, the longer that the funds in the trust account are held in short-term U.S. government securities or in money market funds invested exclusively in such securities, there is a greater risk that we may be considered an unregistered investment company, in which case we may be required to liquidate. Accordingly, we may determine, in our discretion, to liquidate the securities held in the trust account at any time and instead hold all funds in the trust account in an interest bearing bank demand deposit account, which may earn less interest than we otherwise would have if the trust account had remained invested in U.S. government securities or money market funds. If our facts and circumstances change over time, we will update our disclosure in future filings with the SEC to reflect how those changes impact the risk that we may be considered to be operating as an unregistered investment company.
We may not seek an opinion from an unaffiliated third party as to the fair market value of the target business we acquire.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party that the target business we select has a fair market value in excess of at least 80% of the balance of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) unless our board of directors cannot make such determination on its own. We are also not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party indicating that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view unless the target is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates. If no opinion is obtained, our shareholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, whose collective experience in business evaluations for blank check companies like ours is not significant. Furthermore, our directors may have a conflict of interest in analyzing the transaction due to their personal and financial interests.
We may acquire a target business that is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates.
While we do not currently intend to pursue an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates, we are not prohibited from pursuing such a transaction, nor are we prohibited from consummating a business combination where any of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates acquire a minority interest in the target business alongside our acquisition, provided in each case we obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party indicating that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view. These affiliations could cause our officers or directors to have a conflict of interest in analyzing such transactions due to their personal and financial interests and in voting their shares in connection with our initial business combination if we seek shareholder approval.
The determination of the offering price of our units is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities for an operating company in a particular industry.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the rights were negotiated between us and the representative of the underwriters. Factors considered in determining the prices and terms of the units, including the ordinary shares and rights underlying the units, include:
• the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies;
• prior offerings of those companies;
• our prospects for acquiring an operating business at attractive values;
• our capital structure;
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• the per share amount of net proceeds being placed in the trust account;
• an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies; and
• general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering.
However, although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities for an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results to compare them to.
There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
There is currently no market for our securities. Shareholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
Because we are incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, our principal office is located in Hong Kong and most of our executive officers and directors are located outside the United States, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal or state courts may be limited.
We are a business company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and our principal office is located in Hong Kong. In addition, most of our executive officers and directors are located outside of the United States and are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States, and most or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside of the United States. Mr. Satoshi Tominaga, our Chief Executive Officer, is a Japan passport holder; Ms. Yangyujia An, our Chief Financial Officer, is a Hong Kong SAR passport holder; Mr. Zhengming Feng, our independent director and Chairman of our Board of Directors, is a PRC passport holder; Mr. Donghui Xu, our independent director, is a PRC passport holder; and Ms. Min Zhang, our independent director, is a PRC passport holder.
As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons, or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against us or them, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. A judgment of a United States court for civil liabilities predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States may not be enforceable in or recognized by the courts of the jurisdictions where our directors and officers reside, and the judicial recognition process may be time-consuming. It may be difficult for you to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors.
We have appointed Cogency Global Inc., 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor New York, NY 10168 as our agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us in the state or federal courts of the United States in connection with this offering under the securities laws of the United States.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act and the common law of the British Virgin Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under British Virgin Islands law are governed by the Companies Act and common law of the British Virgin Islands. The common law of the British Virgin Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the British Virgin Islands as well as from English common law, which has persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the British Virgin Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under British Virgin Islands law may not be as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the British Virgin Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. Shareholders of British Virgin Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States. Shareholders of a British Virgin Islands company could, however, bring a derivative
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action in the British Virgin Islands courts, and there is a clear statutory right to commence such derivative claims under Section 184C of the Companies Act. The circumstances in which any such action may be brought, and the procedures and defenses that may be available in respect to any such action, may result in the rights of shareholders of a British Virgin Islands company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States. Accordingly, shareholders may have fewer alternatives available to them if they believe that corporate wrongdoing has occurred. The British Virgin Islands courts are also unlikely to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts in the United States based on certain liability provisions of U.S. securities law; and to impose liabilities against us, in original actions brought in the British Virgin Islands, based on certain liability provisions of U.S. securities laws that are penal in nature. There is no statutory recognition in the British Virgin Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the British Virgin Islands will generally recognize and enforce the non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits. The Companies Act offers some limited protection of minority shareholders. The principal protection under statutory law is that shareholders may apply to the British Virgin Islands court for an order directing the company or its director(s) to comply with, or restraining the company or a director from engaging in conduct that contravenes, the Companies Act. Under the Companies Act, the minority shareholders have a statutory right to bring a derivative action in the name of and on behalf of the company in circumstances where a company has a cause of action against its directors. This remedy is available at the discretion of the British Virgin Islands court. A shareholder may also bring an action against the company for breach of duty owed to him as a shareholder. A shareholder who considers that the affairs of the company have been, are being or likely to be, conducted in a manner that is, or any act or acts of the company have been, or are, likely to be oppressive, unfairly discriminatory, or unfairly prejudicial to him in that capacity, may apply to the British Virgin Islands court for an order to remedy the situation.
There are common law rights for the protection of shareholders that may be invoked, largely dependent on English common law. Under the general rule pursuant to English common law known as the rule in Foss v. Harbottle, a court will generally refuse to interfere with the management of a company at the insistence of a minority of its shareholders who express dissatisfaction with the conduct of the company’s affairs by the majority or the Board of Directors. However, every shareholder is entitled to have the affairs of the company conducted properly according to British Virgin Islands law and the constituent documents of the company. As such, if those who control the company have persistently disregarded the requirements of company law, then the courts may grant relief. Generally, the areas in which the courts will intervene are the following: (1) an act complained of which is outside the scope of the authorized business or is illegal or not capable of ratification by the majority; (2) acts that constitute fraud on the minority where the wrongdoers control the company; (3) acts that infringe or are about to infringe on the personal rights of the shareholders, such as the right to vote; and (4) where the company has not complied with provisions requiring approval of a special or extraordinary majority of shareholders. This means that even if shareholders were to sue us successfully, they may not be able to recover anything to make up for the losses suffered.
Under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the rights of minority shareholders are protected by provisions of the Companies Act dealing with shareholder remedies and other remedies available under common law (in tort or contractual remedies). The principal protection under statutory law is that shareholders may bring an action to enforce the constitutional documents of the company (i.e. the memorandum and articles of association) as shareholders are entitled to have the affairs of the company conducted in accordance with the Companies Act and the memorandum and articles of association of the company. A shareholder may also bring an action under statute if he feels that the affairs of the company have been or will be carried out in a manner that is unfairly prejudicial or discriminating or oppressive to him. The Companies Act also provides for certain other protections for minority shareholders, including in respect of investigation of the company and inspection of the company books and records. There are also common law rights for the protection of shareholders that may be invoked, largely dependent on English common law, since the common law of the British Virgin Islands for business companies is limited.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company.
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Because we must furnish our shareholders with financial statements of the target business prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS as issued by the IASB or reconciled to U.S. GAAP, we may not be able to complete an initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
We will be required to provide historical and pro forma financial statement disclosure relating to our target business to our shareholders. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP, or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. The financial statements may also be required to be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the Form 8-K announcing the closing of an initial business combination, which would need to be filed within four business days after closing. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire.
Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will require substantial financial and management resources and may increase the time and costs of completing an acquisition.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls and may require us to have such system audited by an independent registered public accounting firm. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny, civil or criminal penalties and/or shareholder litigation. Any inability to provide reliable financial reports could harm our business. A target business may also not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition. Furthermore, any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in the implementation of adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Inferior internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our securities.
We are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our securities less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years. However, if within a three-year period we issued our non-convertible debt exceeds $1.0 billion or revenues exceeds $1.235 billion, or the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year. As an emerging growth company, we are not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and we are exempt from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, will not adopt the new or revised standard until the time private companies are required to adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in
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accountant standards used. We cannot predict if investors will find our shares less attractive because we may rely on these provisions. If some investors find our shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our shares and our share price may be more volatile.
An investment in this offering may involve adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
An investment in this offering may involve adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. For instance, there is a risk that an investor’s entitlement to receive payments in excess of the investor’s initial tax basis in our ordinary shares upon exercise of the investor’s conversion right or upon our liquidation of the trust account will result in constructive income to the investor, which could affect the timing and character of income recognition and result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the investor without the investor’s receipt of cash from us. Furthermore, because there are no authorities that directly address instruments similar to the units we are issuing in this offering, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of the unit between the ordinary shares and rights included in the units could be challenged by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, or the courts. See the section titled “Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation” for a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our securities. Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences when purchasing, holding or disposing of our securities.
We have also not sought a ruling from the IRS as to any U.S. federal income tax consequences described in this prospectus. The IRS may disagree with the descriptions of U.S. federal income tax consequences described herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Any such determination could subject an investor or our company to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences that would be different than those described in this prospectus. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to the specific tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our securities, including the applicability and effect of state, local, or foreign tax laws, as well as U.S. federal tax laws.
We may qualify as a passive foreign investment company, or “PFIC”, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors.
If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder (as defined in the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation”) of our ordinary shares or rights, the U.S. Holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and may be subject to additional reporting requirements. Our actual PFIC status for our current taxable year may depend on whether we qualify for the PFIC start-up exception (see the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules”). Depending on particular circumstances, the application of the start-up exception may be subject to uncertainty, and there cannot be any assurance that we will qualify for the start-up exception. Accordingly, there can be no assurances with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year. Our actual PFIC status for any taxable year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. If we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, we will endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a “qualified electing fund” election, but there can be no assurance that we will timely provide such required information, and such election would likely be unavailable with respect to our rights.
We urge U.S. Holders to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules. For a more detailed explanation of the tax consequences of PFIC classification to U.S. Holders, see the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
Our initial business combination and our structure thereafter may not be tax-efficient to our shareholders. As a result of our business combination, our tax obligations may be more complex, burdensome and uncertain.
Although we will attempt to structure our initial business combination in a tax-efficient manner, tax structuring considerations are complex, the relevant facts and law are uncertain and may change, and we may prioritize commercial and other considerations over tax considerations. For example, in connection with our initial business combination and subject to any requisite shareholder approval, we may structure our business combination in a manner that requires
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shareholders to recognize gain or income for tax purposes, effect a business combination with a target company in another jurisdiction, or reincorporate in a different jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located). We do not intend to make any cash distributions to shareholders to pay taxes in connection with our business combination or thereafter. Accordingly, a shareholder may need to satisfy any liability resulting from our initial business combination with cash from its own funds or by selling all or a portion of the shares received. In addition, shareholders may also be subject to additional income, withholding or other taxes with respect to their ownership of us after our initial business combination.
In addition, we may effect a business combination with a target company that has business operations in multiple jurisdictions. If we effect such a business combination, we could be subject to significant income, withholding and other tax obligations in a number of jurisdictions with respect to income, operations and subsidiaries related to those jurisdictions. Due to the complexity of tax obligations and filings in other jurisdictions, we may have a heightened risk related to audits or examinations by U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. taxing authorities. This additional complexity and risk could have an adverse effect on our after-tax profitability and financial condition.
If our management following a business combination is unfamiliar with United States securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws which could lead to various regulatory issues.
Following a business combination, our management will likely resign from their positions as officers of the company and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination will remain in place. We cannot assure you that management of the target business will be familiar with United States securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with our laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.
We may reincorporate in another jurisdiction in connection with our initial business combination and such reincorporation may result in taxes imposed on shareholders.
We may, in connection with our initial business combination and subject to requisite shareholder approval under the Companies Act, continue in the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located. The transaction may require a shareholder to recognize taxable income in the jurisdiction in which the shareholder is a tax resident or in which its members are resident if it is a tax transparent entity. We do not intend to make any cash distributions to shareholders to pay such taxes. Shareholders may be subject to withholding taxes or other taxes with respect to their ownership of our securities after the reincorporation.
If restrictions on repatriation of earnings from the target business’ home jurisdiction to foreign entities are instituted, our business following a business combination may be materially negatively affected.
It is possible that following an initial business combination, the home jurisdiction of the target business may have restrictions on repatriations of earnings or additional restrictions may be imposed in the future. If they were, it could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the outbreak of epidemic, including the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and the status of debt and equity markets.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus has resulted in a widespread health crisis that has adversely affected the economies and financial markets worldwide. We may be unable to complete a business combination if continued concerns relating to COVID-19 or other epidemics restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors, if the target company’s personnel, vendors and service providers are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner, or if the outbreak of epidemic causes a prolonged economic downturn. If the disruptions posed by the outbreak of epidemic or other matters of global concern continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected.
In addition, our ability to consummate a business combination may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by the outbreak of epidemic and other events.
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We are currently experiencing a period of economic uncertainty and capital markets disruption, which has been significantly impacted by geopolitical instability due to the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East, as well as the growing tension between China and Taiwan. Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by any negative impact on the global economy and capital markets resulting from the conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, the growing tension between China and Taiwan or any other geopolitical tensions.
U.S. and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the escalation of geopolitical tensions and the start of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East. On February 24, 2022, a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops was reported. Although the length and impact of the ongoing military conflict is highly unpredictable, the conflict in Ukraine could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions. We are continuing to monitor the situation in Ukraine and globally and assessing its potential impact on our business. Additionally, Russia’s prior annexation of Crimea, recent recognition of two separatist republics in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and subsequent military interventions in Ukraine have led to sanctions and other penalties being levied by the United States, European Union and other countries against Russia, Belarus, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, and the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, including agreement to remove certain Russian financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (“SWIFT”) payment system, expansive ban on imports and exports of products to and from Russia and ban on exportation of U.S. denominated banknotes to Russia or persons located there. Additional potential sanctions and penalties have also been proposed and/or threatened. Russian military actions and the resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets, potentially making it more difficult for us to obtain additional funds.
In October 2023, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel’s southern border from the Gaza Strip and conducted a series of attacks on civilian and military targets. Since then, there have been continued hostilities along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon (with the Hezbollah terror organization) and southern border (with the Houthi movement in Yemen). In April 2024, Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles against Israel. It is possible that hostilities between Israel and other Middle East countries will escalate, and that other terrorist organizations, including Palestinian military organizations in the West Bank as well as other hostile countries will join the hostilities. Such clashes may escalate in the future into a greater regional conflict.
In Asia, tension has been especially high in early 2024 over China’s threats that it could take over the Taiwan by force. The United States has implied that it would protect Taiwan against a Chinese invasion, and that allies including Japan would be expected to help. It is very likely that a regional war in Asia will also involve the United States and adversely affect the global economy and financial markets.
Any of the above-mentioned factors could affect our ability to search for a target and consummate a business combination. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial. Any such disruptions may also magnify the impact of other risks described in this prospectus.
The excise tax included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 may decrease the value of our securities following our initial business combination, hinder our ability to consummate an initial business combination, and decrease the amount of funds available for distribution in connection with a liquidation.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of stock repurchased by a domestic corporation beginning in 2023, with certain exceptions (the “Excise Tax”). Because there is a possibility that we may acquire a U.S. domestic corporation or engage in a transaction in which a domestic corporation becomes our parent or our affiliate and our securities will trade on Nasdaq Global Market following the date of this prospectus, we may become a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the Inflation Reduction Act following the consummation of our initial business combination, and while not free from doubt, it is possible that the Excise Tax will apply to any redemptions of our ordinary shares after December 31, 2022, including redemptions in connection with an initial business combination and any amendment to our memorandum and articles of association to extend the time to consummate an initial business combination, unless an exemption is available. Consequently, the value of your investment in our securities
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may decrease as a result of the Excise Tax. In addition, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to potential business combination targets, and thus, potentially hinder our ability to enter into and consummate an initial business combination. Further, the application of the Excise Tax in the event of a liquidation is uncertain, and the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to the Excise Tax, in which case the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our shareholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced. The proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned thereon shall not be used to pay for possible excise tax that may be levied on the Company pursuant to any current, pending or future rules or laws, including without limitation any excise tax due under the Inflation Reduction Act on any redemptions or stock buybacks by the Company.
Whether the Excise Tax will apply to redemptions in connection with our initial business combination may depend on the structure of the transaction. Accordingly, there is a risk that if the Excise Tax is applicable, we could have reduced funds in our trust account to pay redemptions or that are available to a combined company following our initial business combination.
In addition, there may also be the risk that if the Excise Tax is paid from the trust account and if shareholders elect to redeem their shares in connection with a business combination such that their redemptions would subject us to the Excise Tax, the remaining shareholders that did not elect to redeem may economically bear the impact of the Excise Tax. For these reasons, the value of your investment in our securities may decrease as a result of the Excise Tax in some circumstances. In addition, the Excise Tax may make a transaction with us less appealing to potential business combination targets, and thus, potentially hinder our ability to enter into and consummate an initial business combination.
The ability of our shareholders to exercise redemption rights or sell their public shares to us in a tender offer may not allow us to consummate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
In connection with the successful consummation of our business combination, we may redeem up to that number of ordinary shares that would permit us to maintain net tangible assets of $5,000,001 (after payment of deferred underwriting fees and commissions and net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital). If our business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, the redemption threshold may be further limited. Alternatively, we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business combination in case a larger percentage of shareholders exercise their redemption rights than we expect. If the acquisition involves the issuance of our shares as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our shares to the target or its shareholders to make up for the failure to satisfy a minimum cash requirement. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. There can be no assurance that any such financing will be available to us if needed. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.
Moreover, if our business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, because we will not know how many public shareholders may exercise redemption rights or seek to sell their public shares to us in a tender offer, we may either need to reserve part of the trust account for possible payment upon such conversion, or we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business transaction. In the event that the business combination involves the issuance of our shares as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our shares to make up for a shortfall in funds. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. There can be no assurance that any such financing will be available to us if needed. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, all of our existing shareholders, including all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public shareholders vote.
Pursuant to the letter agreement, our initial shareholders, officers and directors have agreed to vote the insider shares owned by them immediately before this offering as well as any ordinary shares acquired in this offering or in the aftermarket in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the insider shares owned by our initial shareholders, officers and directors, we would need only approximately 3.1% of our public shares to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted, that the initial stockholders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in
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the after-market) in order to have our initial business combination approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised). We expect that our initial shareholders holding insider shares and their respective permitted transferees collectively will own at least 20% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares immediately following the completion of this offering (excluding the private shares issued in the private placement and assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Accordingly, if we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, the agreement by our initial shareholders, officers and directors to vote in favor of our initial business combination will increase the likelihood that we will receive the requisite shareholders’ approval for such initial business combination.
If we seek shareholder approval of our business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares from shareholders, in which case they may significantly influence a vote in favor of a proposed business combination that you do not support.
If we seek shareholder approval of our business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions either prior to or following the consummation of our initial business combination. Such purchases will not be made if our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates are in possession of any material non-public information that has not been disclosed to the selling shareholder. Such a purchase would include a contractual acknowledgement that such shareholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. It is intended that, if Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act would apply to purchases by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates, then such purchases will comply with Rule 10b-18, to the extent it applies, which provides a safe harbor for purchases made under certain conditions, including with respect to timing, pricing and volume of purchases.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our ordinary shares and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange. However, in the event our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares from public stockholders, such purchases would by structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
• our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares from public stockholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases;
• if our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares from public stockholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through the redemption process;
• our registration statement/proxy statement filed for its business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction;
• our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and
• we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items:
• the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates, along with the purchase price;
• the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates;
• the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved;
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• the identities of company security holders who sold to our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of the company security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; and
• the number of company securities for which we received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer.
The purpose of such purchases would be to (1) increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the business combination or (2) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of the business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. This may result in the consummation of an initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our ordinary shares and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange. However, in the event our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares from public stockholders, such purchases would by structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
• the Company’s registration statement/proxy statement filed for its business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that the Company’s sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares from public stockholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases;
• if the Company’s sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares from public stockholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through the Company’s redemption process;
• the Company’s registration statement/proxy statement filed for its business combination transaction would include a representation that any of the Company’s securities purchased by the Company’s sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction;
• the Company’s sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to the Company’s securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and
• the Company would disclose in a Form 8-K, before the Company’s security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items:
• the amount of the Company’s securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by the Company’s sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates, along with the purchase price;
• the purpose of the purchases by the Company’s sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates;
• the impact, if any, of the purchases by the Company’s sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved;
• the identities of Company security holders who sold to the Company’s sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of Company security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to the Company’s sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; and
• the number of Company securities for which the Company has received redemption requests pursuant to its redemption offer.
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Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek shareholder approval of the initial business combination.
At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any target businesses. Since our board of directors may complete an initial business combination without seeking shareholder approval, public shareholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the initial business combination, unless we seek such shareholder vote. Accordingly, if we do not seek shareholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public shareholders in which we describe our initial business combination.
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares, potentially at a loss.
Our public shareholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of a redemption to public shareholders prior to any winding up in the event we do not consummate our initial business combination or our liquidation, if they redeem their shares in connection with an initial business combination that we consummate or if we seek to amend our memorandum and articles of association to affect the substance or timing of our redemption obligation to redeem all public shares if we cannot complete an initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering. In no other circumstances will a shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to the funds in the trust account. Holders of rights will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the rights. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares, potentially at a loss.
We may be limited to the funds held outside of the trust account to fund our search for target businesses, to pay our tax obligations and expenses, and to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of this offering, $750,000 is anticipated to be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements and cover expenses. We may not have sufficient funds available with which to structure, negotiate or close our initial business combination or pay our expenses. In such event, we would need to borrow funds from our insiders, officers, or directors to operate or may be forced to liquidate. Our insiders, officers and directors are under no obligation to loan us any funds. If we are unable to obtain the funds necessary, we may be forced to cease searching for a target business and may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
If the net proceeds of this offering not being held in the trust account together with the portion of interest earned on the funds in the trust account available to us are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 18 months, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account together with the portion of interest earned on the funds in the trust account available to us may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 18 months, assuming that our initial business combination is not consummated during that time. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we are unable to fund such down payments or “no shop” provisions, our ability to close a contemplated transaction could be impaired. Furthermore, if we entered into a letter of intent where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive a pro rata portion of the amount then in the trust account (which may be less than $10.00 per share) (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) on our redemption.
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If interest rates decline, the interests earned on the funds in the trust account may be less than expected.
The interest earned on the funds in the trust account is subject to fluctuations based on prevailing interest rates. If interest rates decline, the interest income may be lower than anticipated, potentially impacting the overall value of the trust fund. Moreover, there will be released to us from the trust account any interest earned on the funds in the trust account that we need to pay our income or other tax obligations and 10% of the interest earned on the funds in the trust account will be released to us for use as working capital. We may therefore rely on the interest income generated from the funds in the trust account to meet our income tax obligations and working capital. If the interest income falls short due to declining interest rates, we may face challenges in fulfilling our tax liabilities and maintaining our working capital.
Subsequent to our consummation of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges.
Even if we conduct thorough due diligence on a target business with which we combine, this diligence may not surface all material issues that may be present inside a particular target business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing.
Our directors may decide not to enforce indemnification obligations against our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public shareholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below $10.00 per share (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine on our behalf whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations on our behalf, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public shareholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
Because we have not selected a particular business or specific geographic location or any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’ operations.
While we may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business industry or sector, we intend to initially focus on those industries or sectors that complement our management team’s background. Except for the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance of funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) and that we are not permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Because we have not yet identified or approached any specific target business with respect to our initial business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we consummate our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a
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particular target business, we may not properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. In addition, investors will be relying on the business judgment of our board of directors, which will have significant discretion in choosing the standard used to establish the fair market value of a particular target business. An investment in our shares may not ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in an acquisition target.
Although we identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified specific criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we consummate our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce our initial business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of shareholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law or NASDAQ, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain shareholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share or even less (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) on our redemption, and our rights will expire worthless.
Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not consummated.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting, and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents, and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to consummate our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public shareholders may only receive $10.00 per share or even less (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) on our redemption, and our rights will expire worthless.
We may attempt to consummate our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available.
In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. By definition, very little public information exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in our initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
We may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination.
We may structure our initial business combination to acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only consummate such business combination if we will become the majority shareholder of the target (or control the target through contractual arrangements in limited circumstances for regulatory compliance purposes) or are otherwise not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act or to the extent permitted by law we may acquire interests in a variable interest entity, in which we may have less than a majority of the voting rights in such entity, but in which we are the primary beneficiary. Even though we may own
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a majority interest in the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority shareholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that we will not be able to maintain our control of the target business.
Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Business Outside of the United States
We may effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States and if we do, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our business operations and financial results.
If we consummate a business combination with a target business located outside of the United States, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in the target business’ governing jurisdiction, including any of the following:
• rules and regulations or currency redemption or corporate withholding taxes on individuals;
• tariffs and trade barriers;
• regulations related to customs and import/export matters;
• longer payment cycles than in the United States;
• inflation;
• economic policies and market conditions;
• unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;
• challenges in managing and staffing international operations;
• tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;
• currency fluctuations;
• challenges in collecting accounts receivable;
• cultural and language differences;
• protection of intellectual property;
• employment regulations; and
• deterioration of political relations with the United States.
We cannot assure you that we would be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer.
Because of the costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, our results of operations may be negatively impacted.
Managing a business, operations, personnel or assets in another country is challenging and costly. Any management that we may have (whether based abroad or in the U.S.) may be inexperienced in cross-border business practices and unaware of significant differences in accounting rules, legal regimes and labor practices. Even with a seasoned and experienced management team, the costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, personnel and assets can be significant (and much higher than in a purely domestic business) and may negatively impact our financial and operational performance.
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If social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, or policy changes or enactments occur in a country in which we may operate after we effect our initial business combination, it may result in a negative impact on our business.
Political events in another country may significantly affect our business, assets or operations. Social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, and policy changes or enactments could negatively impact our business in a particular country.
The British Virgin Islands, together with several other non-European Union jurisdictions, have recently introduced legislation aimed at addressing concerns raised by the Council of the European Union as to offshore structures engaged in certain activities which attract profits without real economic activity. With effect from 1 January 2019, the Economic Substance (Companies and Limited Partnerships) Act, 2018 (the “ESA”) came into force in the British Virgin Islands introducing certain economic substance requirements for British Virgin Islands tax resident companies which are engaged in certain “relevant activities”, which in the case of companies incorporated before 1 January 2019 will apply in respect of financial years commencing 30 June 2019 onwards. However, it is not anticipated that the company itself will be subject to any such requirements prior to any business combination and thereafter the company may still remain out of scope of the legislation or else be subject to more limited substance requirements. Although it is presently anticipated that the ESA will have little material impact on the company or its operations, as the legislation is new and remains subject to further clarification and interpretation it is not currently possible to ascertain the precise impact of these legislative changes on the company.
Many countries have difficult and unpredictable legal systems and underdeveloped laws and regulations that are unclear and subject to corruption and inexperience, which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Our ability to seek and enforce legal protections, including with respect to intellectual property and other property rights, or to defend ourselves with regard to legal actions taken against us in a given country, may be difficult or impossible, which could adversely impact our operations, assets or financial condition.
Rules and regulations in many countries are often ambiguous or open to differing interpretation by responsible individuals and agencies at the municipal, state, regional and federal levels. The attitudes and actions of such individuals and agencies are often difficult to predict and inconsistent.
Delay with respect to the enforcement of particular rules and regulations, including those relating to customs, tax, environmental and labor, could cause serious disruption to operations abroad and negatively impact our results.
If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws applicable to such company will likely govern all of our material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.
If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws of the country in which such company operates will govern almost all of the material agreements relating to its operations. We cannot assure you that the target business will be able to enforce any of its material agreements or that remedies will be available in this new jurisdiction. The system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws in such jurisdiction may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in the United States. The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our future agreements could result in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital. Additionally, if we acquire a company located outside of the United States, it is likely that substantially all of our assets would be located outside of the United States and some of our officers and directors might reside outside of the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon our directors or officers or to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties of our directors and officers under Federal securities laws.
In addition, our principal office is located in Hong Kong and most of our executive officers and directors are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons, or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against us or them, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. It will also be costlier and time-consuming for the investors to effect service of process outside the United States, or to enforce judgments obtained from the U.S. courts in the courts of the jurisdictions where our directors and officers reside. For example, to enforce a foreign judgment in Hong Kong, you will be required to apply to the Hong Kong High Court to
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enforce a foreign judgment, for which you will be required to engage a local counsel to facilitate or prepare the application, together with its various supporting documents. You will then be required to go through the standard litigation process to sue on the judgment as a debt. In addition, a judgment of a United States court for civil liabilities predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States may also not be enforceable in or recognized by the courts of the jurisdictions where our directors and officers reside. As such, it may be difficult for you to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken against the management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S.-incorporated company.
If relations between the United States and foreign governments deteriorate, it could cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive.
The relationship between the United States and foreign governments could be subject to sudden fluctuation and periodic tension. For instance, the United States may announce its intention to impose quotas on certain imports. Such import quotas may adversely affect political relations between the two countries and result in retaliatory countermeasures by the foreign government in industries that may affect our ultimate target business. Changes in political conditions in foreign countries and changes in the state of U.S. relations with such countries are difficult to predict and could adversely affect our operations or cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive. Because we are not limited to any specific industry, there is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible extent of any impact on our ultimate operations if relations are strained between the United States and a foreign country in which we acquire a target business.
If any dividend is declared in the future and paid in a foreign currency, you may be taxed on a larger amount in U.S. dollars.
If you are a U.S. holder of our ordinary shares, you will be taxed on the U.S. dollar value of your dividends, if any, at the time you receive them, even if you actually receive a smaller amount of U.S. dollars when the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Specifically, if a dividend is declared and paid in a foreign currency, the amount of the dividend distribution that you must include in your income as a U.S. holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the payments made in the foreign currency, determined at the spot rate of the foreign currency to the U.S. dollar on the date the dividend distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Thus, if the value of the foreign currency decreases before you actually convert the currency into U.S. dollars, you will be taxed on a larger amount in U.S. dollars than the U.S. dollar amount that you will actually ultimately receive.
After our initial business combination, substantially all of our assets may be located in a foreign country and substantially all of our revenue may be derived from our operations in such country. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects will be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal policies, developments and conditions in the country in which we operate.
After our initial business combination, substantially all of our assets may be located in another foreign country and substantially all of our revenue may be derived from our operations in such country. The economic, political and social conditions, as well as government policies, of the country in which our operations are located could affect our business. If in the future such country’s economy experiences a downturn or grows at a slower rate than expected, there may be less demand for spending in certain industries. A decrease in demand for spending in certain industries could materially and adversely affect our ability to find an attractive target business with which to consummate our initial business combination and if we effect our initial business combination, the ability of that target business to become profitable.
Currency policies may cause a target business’ ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.
In the event we acquire a non-U.S. target, all revenues and income would likely be received in a foreign currency, the dollar equivalent of our net assets and distributions, if any, could be adversely affected by reductions in the value of the local currency. The value of the currencies in our target regions fluctuate and are affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. Any change in the relative value of such currency against our reporting currency may affect the attractiveness of any target business or, following consummation of our initial business
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combination, our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if a currency appreciates in value against the dollar prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, the cost of a target business as measured in dollars will increase, which may make it less likely that we are able to consummate such transaction.
Many of the economies in Asia are experiencing substantial inflationary pressures which may prompt the governments to take action to control the growth of the economy and inflation that could lead to a significant decrease in our profitability following our initial business combination.
While many of the economies in Asia have experienced rapid growth over the last two decades, they currently are experiencing inflationary pressures. As governments take steps to address the current inflationary pressures, there may be significant changes in the availability of bank credits, interest rates, limitations on loans, restrictions on currency conversions and foreign investment. There also may be imposition of price controls. If prices for the products of our ultimate target business rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the costs of supplies, it may have an adverse effect on our profitability. If these or other similar restrictions are imposed by a government to influence the economy, it may lead to a slowing of economic growth. Because we are not limited to any specific industry, the ultimate industry that we operate in may be affected more severely by such a slowing of economic growth.
Many industries in Asia are subject to government regulations that limit or prohibit foreign investments in such industries, which may limit the potential number of acquisition candidates.
Governments in many Asian countries have imposed regulations that limit foreign investors’ equity ownership or prohibit foreign investments altogether in companies that operate in certain industries. As a result, the number of potential acquisition candidates available to us may be limited or our ability to grow and sustain the business, which we ultimately acquire will be limited.
If a country in Asia enacts regulations in industry segments that forbid or restrict foreign investment, our ability to consummate our initial business combination could be severely impaired.
Many of the rules and regulations that companies face concerning foreign ownership are not explicitly communicated. If new laws or regulations forbid or limit foreign investment in industries in which we want to complete our initial business combination, they could severely impair our candidate pool of potential target businesses. Additionally, if the relevant central and local authorities find us or the target business with which we ultimately complete our initial business combination to be in violation of any existing or future laws or regulations, they would have broad discretion in dealing with such a violation, including, without limitation:
• levying fines;
• revoking our business and other licenses;
• requiring that we restructure our ownership or operations; and
• requiring that we discontinue any portion or all of our business.
Any of the above could have an adverse effect on our company post-business combination and could materially reduce the value of your investment.
Corporate governance standards in Asia may not be as strict or developed as in the United States and such weakness may hide issues and operational practices that are detrimental to a target business.
General corporate governance standards in some countries are weak in that they do not prevent business practices that cause unfavorable related party transactions, over-leveraging, improper accounting, family company interconnectivity and poor management. Local laws often do not go far enough to prevent improper business practices. Therefore, shareholders may not be treated impartially and equally as a result of poor management practices, asset shifting, conglomerate structures that result in preferential treatment to some parts of the overall company, and cronyism. The lack of transparency and ambiguity in the regulatory process also may result in inadequate credit evaluation and weakness that may precipitate or encourage financial crisis. In our evaluation of a business combination we will have to evaluate the corporate governance of a target and the business environment, and in accordance with United States
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laws for reporting companies take steps to implement practices that will cause compliance with all applicable rules and accounting practices. Notwithstanding these intended efforts, there may be endemic practices and local laws that could add risk to an investment we ultimately make and that result in an adverse effect on our operations and financial results.
Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Target Business with its Primary Operations in China
As set forth herein, our efforts in identifying a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular country. We may target an initial business combination with a company located in the PRC (including Hong Kong and Macau). Because of such potential ties to the PRC, we may be subjected to the laws, rules and regulations of the PRC. Accordingly, in addition to the risk factors referred above, we have set forth some of the primary risks we have identified in seeking to consummate our initial business combination with a company having its primary operations in the PRC.
Given the PRC government’s potential oversight and discretion over the conduct of our directors’ and officers’ search for a target company, the PRC government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our search for a target business and/or the value of the securities we are registering. Changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC may be adopted quickly with little advance notice and could have a significant impact upon our ability to operate.
Although our offices are located in Hong Kong, and our sponsor being predominantly controlled by a Hong Kong national, we may be subject to certain risks relating to regulatory oversight by the PRC government. This may significantly limit our ability to search for candidates for our initial business combination. In particular, changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government may be adopted quickly with little advance notice. The PRC government may also intervene or influence our search for a target business or the completion of an initial business combination at any time because our sponsor is predominantly controlled by a Hong Kong national. This could significantly and negatively impact our search for a target business and/or the value of the securities we are registering for sale.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Trial Measures”), which took effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures supersede prior rules and clarified and emphasized several aspects, which include but are not limited to: (1) comprehensive determination of the “indirect overseas offering and listing by PRC domestic companies” in compliance with the principle of “substance over form” and particularly, an issuer will be required to go through the filing procedures under the Trial Measures if the following criteria are met at the same time: (a) 50% or more of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year comes from PRC domestic companies, and (b) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in mainland China; (2) exemptions from immediate filing requirements for issuers that (a) have already been listed or registered but not yet listed in foreign securities markets, including U.S. markets, prior to the effective date of the Trial Measures, (b) are not required to re-perform the regulatory procedures with the relevant overseas regulatory authority or the overseas stock exchange, and (c) whose such overseas securities offering or listing shall be completed before September 30, 2023, provided however that such issuers shall carry out filing procedures as required if they conduct refinancing or are involved in other circumstances that require filing with the CSRC; (3) a negative list of types of issuers banned from listing or offering overseas, such as (a) issuers whose listing or offering overseas has been recognized by the State Council of the PRC as a possible threat to national security, (b) issuers whose affiliates have been recently convicted of bribery and corruption, (c) issuers under ongoing criminal investigations, and (d) issuers under major disputes regarding equity ownership; (4) issuers’ compliance with web security, data security, and other national security laws and regulations; (5) issuers’ filing and reporting obligations, such as the obligation to file with the CSRC after it submits an application for initial public offering to overseas regulators, and the obligation after offering or listing overseas to report to the CSRC material events including a change of control or voluntary or forced delisting of the issuer; and (6) the CSRC’s authority to fine both issuers and their shareholders between 1 and 10 million RMB for failure to comply with the Trial Measures, including failure to comply with filing obligations or committing fraud and misrepresentation.
Based on our understanding of the current PRC laws and regulations, our company is not required to obtain any prior permission from any PRC governmental authorities for this offering or register with the CSRC pursuant to the Trial Measures. Moreover, our officers and directors and the majority shareholder of our sponsor are not covered by
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any Chinese requirements because our business is not conducted in the PRC. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not register with the CSRC pursuant to the Trial measures or applied or received any permission or approvals for this offering and our search for an initial business combination target company post-offering. If applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and require us and/or our directors and officers to conduct a registration pursuant to the Trial Measures, obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, Chinese regulatory agencies (a) may impose fines and penalties on our officers and directors and the majority shareholder of our sponsor, and (b) may also take actions requiring our directors and officers and the majority shareholder of our sponsor, or making it advisable for our directors and officers and the majority shareholder of our sponsor, to terminate this offering before settlement and delivery of our units or delay our potential business combination and therefore, we may have to liquidate the funds held in the trust account (in which case our rights may be worthless). Any uncertainties and/or negative publicity regarding such an approval requirement could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our securities.
The PRC government has indicated its intent to intervene in or influence a PRC company’s business operations at any time or to exert more oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas and foreign investment in PRC-based issuers. This could result in a material change in a PRC company’s business operations post-business combination and/or the value of its securities. Additionally, governmental and regulatory interference could significantly limit or completely hinder a target company’s ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors post-business combination and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Statements by the PRC government in 2021 have indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investments in PRC-based issuers. The PRC has proposed new rules in 2021 that would require companies collecting or holding large amounts of data to undergo a cybersecurity review prior to listing in foreign countries, a move that would significantly tighten oversight over large China-based internet companies. On November 14, 2021, the CAC publicly solicited comments on the Regulation on Network Data Security Management (Consultation Draft), which stipulated that data processors that undertake data processing activities using internet networks within China are required to apply for cybersecurity review if they conduct data processing activities that will or may have an impact on China’s national security. The review is mandatory if the data processor controls more than 1 million users’ personal information and intends to be listed in a foreign country, or if the data processor seeks to be listed in Hong Kong. As of the date of this prospectus, the Draft Regulation on Network Data Security Management has not been formally adopted. On December 28, 2021, the CAC, jointly with 12 departments under the State Council, implemented the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and data processors carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect China’s national security, are required to conduct a cybersecurity review. Operators, including operators of critical information infrastructure and data processors, who control more than 1 million users’ personal information must report to the Cyber Security Review Office for a cybersecurity review if they intend to be listed in a foreign country.
On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress, or SCNPC, promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities, and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, and the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or used. The PRC Data Security Law also provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data. On August 20, 2021, the SCNPC adopted the Personal Information Protection Law, which took effect as of November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law includes the basic rules for personal information processing, the rules for cross-border provision of personal information, the rights of individuals in personal information processing activities, the obligations of personal information processors, and the responsibilities for collection, processing, and use of personal information.
Based on our understanding of currently applicable PRC laws and regulations, our registered public offering in the U.S. is not subject to the review or prior approval of the CAC or the CSRC, and their oversight will not impact our officers and directors or their search for a target company. Further, we currently believe that the regulations or policies that have been issued by the CAC to date are not applicable to our officers and directors. However, uncertainties still exist due to the possibility that laws, regulations, or policies in the PRC could change rapidly in the future. Any future action by the PRC
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government expanding the categories of industries, persons and companies whose foreign securities offerings are subject to review by the CSRC or the CAC could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Since none of our officers and directors has engaged in data activities or the processing of personal information in China, we believe our officers and directors are in full compliance with the regulations and policies that have been issued by the CAC to date. As we do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction, our initial business combination target company may include a PRC Target Company. It is uncertain whether such PRC Target Company will be involved in the collection of user data, implicate cybersecurity, or involve any other type of restricted industry. Given the PRC authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and applying the relevant cybersecurity and data laws and regulations, there is a risk that any potential target business of ours may be subject to cybersecurity review or other regulatory actions even though it is not based or located in and does not conduct its principal business operations in China. To avoid such risk, we may avoid completing an initial business combination with such a target business and instead pursue other opportunities, which may limit the pool of attractive targets. As a result, our search for a target company may be adversely affected, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of the securities we are registering for sale.
Trading in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCAA if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor. In that case, Nasdaq would delist our securities. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections may deprive our investors of the benefits of such inspections.
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, was enacted on December 18, 2020. The HFCAA states if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, the SEC shall prohibit our shares or other securities from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S.
Our current auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. However, if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction, Nasdaq would delist our securities, including our units, ordinary shares and rights being offered in this offering, and the SEC would prohibit them from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S. For example, if we effect our initial business combination with a business located in the PRC or Hong Kong and if our new auditor is located in China or Hong Kong, with operations in and which performs audit operations of registrants in China or Hong Kong, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB has been unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the relevant authorities, the work of our new auditor as it relates to those operations may not be inspected by the PCAOB (as currently is the case in China and Hong Kong). If our securities are delisted and prohibited from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S. due to the PCAOB not being able to conduct inspections or full investigations of our auditor, it would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our securities when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with potential delisting and prohibition would have a negative impact on the price of our securities. Also, such delisting and prohibition could significantly affect our ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, or at all, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and prospects.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. We will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies us as having a “non-inspection” year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed a bill which, if passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law, would reduce the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCAA from three years to two. On November 5, 2021, the SEC approved the PCAOB’s Rule 6100, Board Determinations Under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. Rule 6100 provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.
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On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the CSRC and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC governing inspections and investigations of audit firms based in China and Hong Kong, consistent with the HFCAA, and providing that the PCAOB will be required to reassess its determinations by the end of 2022. The HFCAA and related regulations currently do not affect us as our auditor is subject to PCAOB’s inspections and investigations.
The SEC may propose additional rules or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection. For example, on August 6, 2020, the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, or the PWG, issued the Report on Protecting United States Investors from Significant Risks from Chinese Companies to the then President of the United States. This report recommended the SEC implement five recommendations to address companies from jurisdictions that do not provide the PCAOB with sufficient access to fulfill its statutory mandate. Some of the concepts of these recommendations were implemented with the enactment of the HFCAA. However, some of the recommendations were more stringent than the HFCAA. For example, if a company was not subject to PCAOB inspection, the report recommended that the transition period before a company would be delisted would end on January 1, 2022.
The SEC has announced that the SEC staff is preparing a consolidated proposal for the rules regarding the implementation of the HFCAA and to address the recommendations in the PWG report. It is unclear when the SEC will complete its rulemaking and when such rules will become effective and what, if any, of the PWG recommendations will be adopted. The SEC has also announced amendments to various annual report forms to accommodate the certification and disclosure requirements of the HFCAA. There could be additional regulatory or legislative requirements or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection. The implications of these possible regulations, in addition to the requirements of the HFCAA, are uncertain, and such uncertainty could cause the market price of our securities to be materially and adversely affected. If, for whatever reason, the PCAOB is unable to conduct inspections or full investigations of our auditor, we could be delisted or prohibited from being traded over the counter earlier than would be required by the HFCAA. If our securities are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such delisting and prohibition would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our securities when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with potential delisting and prohibition would have a negative impact on the price of our securities. Also, such delisting and prohibition could significantly affect our ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, or at all, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and prospects.
Inspections of audit firms that the PCAOB has conducted have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. If the PCAOB were unable to conduct inspections or full investigations of our auditor, investors in our securities would be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. In addition, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections or full investigations of auditors would may make it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our stock to lose confidence in the audit procedures of our auditor and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.
U.S. laws and regulations, including the HFCAA and AHFCAA, may restrict or eliminate our ability to complete a business combination with certain companies, particularly those acquisition candidates with substantial operations in China or Hong Kong.
The AHFCAA was enacted on December 23, 2022. The AHFCAA states that if the SEC determines that an issuer has filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the SEC shall prohibit the securities of the issuer from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States.
Our independent registered public accounting firm issued an audit opinion on the financial statements included in this prospectus filed with the SEC. As an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, our auditor is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB.
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Our auditor is headquartered in New York City, New York, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis.
Inspections of certain other firms that the PCAOB has conducted outside of China have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality.
In addition, as part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on access to audit and other information currently protected by national law, in particular China’s, in June 2019, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced bills in both houses of Congress that would require the SEC to maintain a list of issuers for which the PCAOB is not able to inspect or investigate an auditor report issued by a foreign public accounting firm. The Ensuring Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges (EQUITABLE) Act prescribes increased disclosure requirements for such issuers and, beginning in 2025, the delisting from national securities exchanges such as Nasdaq of issuers included for three consecutive years on the SEC’s list. On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed S. 945, the HFCAA. The HFCAA was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 2, 2020. On December 18, 2020, the former U.S. president signed into law the HFCAA. In essence, the HFCAA requires the SEC to prohibit foreign companies from listing securities on U.S. securities exchanges if a company retains a foreign accounting firm that cannot be inspected by the PCAOB for three consecutive years, beginning in 2021. The enactment of the HFCAA and any additional rulemaking efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could cause investor uncertainty for affected issuers, and the market price of affected issuers’ securities could be adversely affected.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. We will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies it as having a “non-inspection” year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. The SEC is assessing how to implement other requirements of the HFCAA, including the listing and trading prohibition requirements described above. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the AHFCAA and on December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the AHFCAA and amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three, thus reducing the time before that issuer’s securities may be prohibited from being trading or be delisted. On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCAA, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether the Board is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction.
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong because of positions taken by mainland China and Hong Kong authorities in those jurisdictions, and identified the registered public accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong that are subject to such determinations. The PCAOB has made such designations as mandated under the HFCAA. Pursuant to each annual determination by the PCAOB, the SEC will, on an annual basis, identify issuers that have used non-inspected audit firms and thus are at risk of such suspensions in the future. The auditor of the Company, Adeptus, is not among the auditor firms listed on the determination list issued by the PCAOB, which notes all of the auditor firms that the PCAOB is not able to inspect. Our auditor is not headquartered in China or Hong Kong and was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination.
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On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the CSRC and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC governing inspections and investigations of audit firms based in China and Hong Kong, consistent with the HFCAA, and providing that the PCAOB will be required to reassess its determinations by the end of 2022. The HFCAA and related regulations currently do not affect our company as our auditor is subject to PCAOB’s inspections and investigations.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB Board determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations to the contrary. However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB Board will consider the need to issue a new determination.
On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the AHFCAA and amended the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three.
The HFCAA and AHFCAA would restrict our ability to consummate a business combination with a target business unless that business met certain standards of the PCAOB, and would require delisting of a company from U.S. national securities exchanges if the PCAOB is unable to inspect its public accounting firm for three consecutive years. The HFCAA also requires public companies to disclose, among other things, whether they are owned or controlled by a foreign government, specifically, those based in China. We may not be able to consummate a business combination with a favorable target business due to these laws.
In the event that we complete a business combination with a company with substantial operations in China or Hong Kong and if the PCAOB is not able to fully conduct inspections of or fully investigate our auditor’s work papers in China or Hong Kong or is not able to inspect or investigate the work papers of the auditor of a company we may target for an initial business combination, it could cause us to fail to be in compliance with U.S. securities laws and regulations, we could cease to be listed on a U.S. securities exchange, and U.S. trading of our shares could be prohibited under the HFCAA. Any of these actions, or uncertainties in the market about the possibility of such actions, could adversely affect our prospects to successfully complete a business combination with a China or Hong Kong-based company, our access to the U.S. capital markets and the price of our shares.
Future developments in respect of increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information are uncertain, as the legislative developments are subject to the legislative process and the regulatory developments are subject to the rule-making process and other administrative procedures.
Other developments in U.S. laws and regulatory environment, including but not limited to executive orders such as Executive Order (E.O.) 13959, “Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments That Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies,” may further restrict our ability to complete a business combination with certain China-based businesses.
Our initial business combination may be subject to a variety of PRC laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity and data protection and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time to complete any such business combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities.
Our initial business combination may be subject to PRC laws relating to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant legal liabilities.
For instance, various regulatory bodies in China, including the Cybersecurity Administration Committee, or the CAC, the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Market Regulation, have enforced data privacy and protection laws and regulations with varying and evolving standards and interpretations. In April 2020, the PRC government promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which came into effect on June 1, 2020. Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security. On November 14, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China publicly solicited comments on the Regulation on Network Data Security Management (Consultation Draft), which stipulates that a data processor that undertakes data processing activities using Internet networks within China shall apply for a cybersecurity review if it conducts data processing activities that will or may have an impact on national security. The review is mandatory if the data processor controls more than
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one million users’ personal information and intends to be listed in a foreign country, or if the data processor that will or may impact national security seeks to be listed in Hong Kong. As of the date of this prospectus, the Draft Regulation on Network Data Security Management has not been formally adopted. On December 28, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China, jointly with 12 departments under the State Council, promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and data processors carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, shall be subject to a cyber security review.
An operator, including operators of critical information infrastructure and data processors that control more than one million users’ personal information must report to the Cyber Security Review Office for a cybersecurity review if they intend to be listed in a foreign country.
Certain internet platforms in China have been reportedly subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny in relation to cybersecurity matters. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been informed by any PRC governmental authority of any requirement that we file for a cybersecurity review. As a result, it will not affect our process of searching for a business combination target until there is further certainty in the interpretation and enforcement of relevant PRC cybersecurity laws and regulations. However, if we or the combined company following a business combination are deemed to be a critical information infrastructure operator or a company that is engaged in data processing and holds personal information of more than one million users, we could be subject to a PRC cybersecurity review.
As there remains significant uncertainty in the interpretation and enforcement of relevant PRC cybersecurity laws and regulations, we or the combined company following a business combination could be subject to cybersecurity review, and if so, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain such approval or complete such procedures. Also, any such approval could be rescinded and we may not be able to pass such review in relation to this offering, our search for a business combination target, or a business combination. In addition, we could become subject to enhanced cybersecurity review or investigations launched by PRC regulators in the future. Any failure or delay in the completion of the cybersecurity review procedures or any other non-compliance with the related laws and regulations may result in fines or other penalties, including suspension of business, website closure, and revocation of licenses, as well as reputational damage or legal proceedings or actions, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress, or SCNPC, promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities, and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, and the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or used. The PRC Data Security Law also provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data. On August 20, 2021, the SCNPC adopted the Personal Information Protection Law, which became effective as of November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law includes the basic rules for personal information processing, the rules for cross-border provision of personal information, the rights of individuals in personal information processing activities, the obligations of personal information processors, and the legal responsibilities for illegal collection, processing, and use of personal information.
These rules could result in us not being able to acquire a potential target in the PRC, or our using time and working capital to pursue a transaction that cannot be completed because of the actions of regulators.
As uncertainties remain regarding the interpretation and implementation of these laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that we or the combined company following a business combination will comply with such regulations in all respects and we or the combined company following a business combination may be ordered to rectify or terminate any actions that are deemed illegal by regulatory authorities. We or the combined company following a business combination may also become subject to fines and/or other sanctions, which may have material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. As at the date of this prospectus, our officers and directors have not received any notice and/or other sanctions with respect to the regulations or policies that have been issued by the CAC to date.
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Compliance with the PRC Antitrust law may limit our ability to effect our initial business combination.
The PRC Antitrust Law became effective on August 1, 2008. The government authorities in charge of antitrust matters in China are the Antitrust Commission and other antitrust authorities under the State Council. The PRC Antitrust Law regulates (1) monopoly agreements, including decisions or actions in concert that preclude or impede competition, entered into by business operators; (2) abuse of dominant market position by business operators; and (3) concentration of business operators that may have the effect of precluding or impeding competition. To implement the Antitrust Law, in 2008, the State Council formulated the regulations that require filing of concentration of business operators, pursuant to which concentration of business operators refers to (1) merger with other business operators; (2) gaining control over other business operators through acquisition of equity interest or assets of other business operators; and (3) gaining control over other business operators through exerting influence on other business operators through contracts or other means. In 2009, the Ministry of Commerce, which oversees the Antitrust Commission, promulgated the Measures for Filing of Concentration of Business Operators (amended by the Guidelines for Filing of Concentration of Business Operators in 2014), which set forth the criteria of concentration and the document filing requirements. The business combination we contemplate may be considered the concentration of business operators, and to the extent required by the Antitrust Law and the criteria established by the State Council, we must file with the antitrust authority under the PRC State Council prior to conducting the contemplated business combination. If the antitrust authority decides not to further investigate whether the contemplated business combination has the effect of precluding or impeding competition or fails to make a decision within 30 days from receipt of relevant materials, we may proceed to consummate the contemplated business combination. If the antitrust authority decides to prohibit the contemplated business combination after further investigation, we must terminate such business combination and would then be forced to either attempt to complete a new business combination if it is within 18 months from the closing of this offering or we would be required to return any amounts which were held in the trust account to our shareholders. When we evaluate a potential business combination, we will consider the need to comply with the Antitrust Law and other relevant regulations which may limit our ability to effect an acquisition or may result in our modifying or not pursuing a particular transaction.
If we become directly subject to the recent scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies, we may have to expend significant resources to investigate and resolve the matter, which could harm our business operations, this offering and our reputation and could result in a loss of your investment in our ordinary shares, especially if such matter cannot be addressed and resolved favorably.
Recently, U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China have been subjected to intense scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity has centered around financial and accounting irregularities, a lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S.-listed Chinese companies has sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC enforcement actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect this sector-wide scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity will have on our company if we target a PRC company for our initial business combination. If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether or not such allegations are proven to be true, we will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend our company and our decisions. This situation may be a major distraction to our management. If such allegations are not proven to be groundless, we will be severely hampered and your investment in our securities post business combination could be rendered worthless.
Regulations relating to the transfer of state-owned property rights in enterprises may increase the cost of our acquisitions and impose an additional administrative burden on us.
The legislation governing the acquisition of a PRC state-owned company contains stringent governmental regulations. The transfer of state-owned property rights in enterprises must take place through a government-approved “state-owned asset exchange,” and the value of the transferred property rights must be evaluated by those Chinese appraisal firms qualified to perform “state-owned assets evaluations.” The final price must not be less than 90% of the appraisal price. Additionally, bidding/auction procedures are essential in the event that there is more than one potential transferee. In the case of an acquisition by foreign investors of state-owned enterprises, the acquirer and the seller must make a resettlement plan to
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properly resettle the employees, and the resettlement plan must be approved by the Employees’ Representative Congress. The seller must pay all unpaid wages and social welfare payments from the existing assets of the target company to the employees. These regulations may adversely affect our ability to acquire a PRC state-owned business or assets.
Our initial business combination may be subject to national security review by the PRC government and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time to complete any such business combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities .
On February 3, 2011, the PRC government issued a Notice Concerning the Establishment of Security Review Procedure on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the Security Review Regulations, which became effective on March 5, 2011. The Security Review Regulations cover acquisitions by foreign investors of a broad range of PRC enterprises if such acquisitions could result in de facto control by foreign investors and the enterprises relate to military, national defense, important agriculture products, important energy and natural resources, important infrastructures, important transportation services, key technologies or important equipment manufacturing. The scope of the review includes whether the acquisition will impact national security, economic and social stability, and the research and development capabilities of key national security-related technologies. Foreign investors should submit a security review application to the Ministry of Commerce for its initial review for a contemplated acquisition. If the acquisition is considered to be within the scope of the Security Review Regulations, the Ministry of Commerce will transfer the application to a joint security review committee within five business days for further review. The joint security review committee, consisting of members from various PRC government agencies, will conduct a general review and seek comments from relevant government agencies. The joint security review committee may initiate a further special review and request the termination or restructuring of the contemplated acquisition if it determines that the acquisition will result in a significant national security issue.
The Security Review Regulations will potentially subject a large number of mergers and acquisitions transactions by foreign investors in China to an additional layer of regulatory review. Currently, there is significant uncertainty as to the implication of the Security Review Regulations. Neither the Ministry of Commerce nor other PRC government agencies have issued any detailed rules for the implementation of the Security Review Regulations. If, for example, our potential initial business combination is with a target company operating in the PRC in any of the sensitive sectors identified above, the transaction will be subject to the Security Review Regulations, and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time to complete any such acquisition. We may also be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities if the PRC government considers that the potential investments will result in a significant national security issue.
We do not believe the approval of the CSRC is required in connection with this offering; however, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval.
The M&A Regulations include, among other things, provisions that purport to require any offshore special purpose vehicle that is controlled by PRC companies or individuals and formed for the purpose of seeking a public listing on an overseas stock exchange through acquisition of PRC domestic companies to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of its securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published on its official website procedures specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by any such special purpose vehicle seeking CSRC’s approval of an overseas listing. However, substantial uncertainty remains regarding the scope and applicability of the M&A Regulations and the CSRC approval requirement for offshore special purpose vehicles.
In addition, the Opinions jointly issued by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council, which were made available to the public on July 6, 2021, call for strengthened regulation over illegal securities activities and supervision of overseas listings by China-based companies and propose to take effective measures, such as promoting the development of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies. The Opinions also provide that the State Council will revise provisions regarding the overseas issuance and listing of shares by companies limited by shares and will clarify the duties of domestic regulatory authorities. As of the date of this prospectus, no official guidance and related implementation rules have been issued in relation to the recently issued Opinions and the interpretation and implementation of the Opinions remain unclear.
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Based on our understanding of the current PRC laws and regulations, our company is not required to obtain any prior permission under the M&A Regulations or the Opinions from any PRC governmental authorities (including the CSRC) for consummating this offering, given that: (a) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours under this prospectus are subject to the M&A Regulations; and (b) our company is a blank check company newly incorporated in the British Virgin Islands rather than in China and currently our company does not own or control any equity interest in any PRC company or operate any business in China. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanctions or regulatory objection to this offering from the CSRC or any other PRC governmental authorities. However, there remains some uncertainty and no assurance as to how the M&A Rules and the Opinions will be interpreted or implemented by the relevant PRC governmental authorities, including the CSRC, or that the CSRC or any other PRC governmental authorities would not promulgate new rules or adopt new interpretations of existing rules that would require us to obtain CSRC or other PRC governmental approvals for this offering, including if we decide to consummate a business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China.
Furthermore, the CAC issued the draft amendment to the Cybersecurity Review Measures in July 2021, which provides, among other things, that an application for cybersecurity review shall be made by an issuer that is a critical information infrastructure operator or a data processing operator as defined therein before such issuer’s listing in a foreign country if the issuer possesses personal information of more than one million users, and that the relevant governmental authorities in the PRC may initiate a cybersecurity review if such governmental authorities determine an operator’s cyber products or services, data processing or potential listing in a foreign country affect or may affect national security. Such draft amendment was released for public comment, and its provisions and anticipated adoption or effective date are subject to changes and thus its interpretation and implementation remain substantially uncertain.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Trial Measures”), which took effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures supersede prior rules and clarified and emphasized several aspects, which include but are not limited to: (1) comprehensive determination of the “indirect overseas offering and listing by PRC domestic companies” in compliance with the principle of “substance over form” and particularly, an issuer will be required to go through the filing procedures under the Trial Measures if the following criteria are met at the same time: (a) 50% or more of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year comes from PRC domestic companies, and (b) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in mainland China; (2) exemptions from immediate filing requirements for issuers that (a) have already been listed or registered but not yet listed in foreign securities markets, including U.S. markets, prior to the effective date of the Trial Measures, (b) are not required to re-perform the regulatory procedures with the relevant overseas regulatory authority or the overseas stock exchange, and (c) whose such overseas securities offering or listing shall be completed before September 30, 2023, provided however that such issuers shall carry out filing procedures as required if they conduct refinancing or are involved in other circumstances that require filing with the CSRC; (3) a negative list of types of issuers banned from listing or offering overseas, such as (a) issuers whose listing or offering overseas has been recognized by the State Council of the PRC as a possible threat to national security, (b) issuers whose affiliates have been recently convicted of bribery and corruption, (c) issuers under ongoing criminal investigations, and (d) issuers under major disputes regarding equity ownership; (4) issuers’ compliance with web security, data security, and other national security laws and regulations; (5) issuers’ filing and reporting obligations, such as the obligation to file with the CSRC after it submits an application for initial public offering to overseas regulators, and the obligation after offering or listing overseas to report to the CSRC material events including a change of control or voluntary or forced delisting of the issuer; and (6) the CSRC’s authority to fine both issuers and their shareholders between 1 and 10 million RMB for failure to comply with the Trial Measures, including failure to comply with filing obligations or committing fraud and misrepresentation.
While the application of the M&A Rules and the Trial Measures remains unclear, we believe that CSRC approval or registration with the CSRC pursuant to the Trial measures is not required for this offering. However, there can be no assurance that the relevant PRC government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion. If it is determined in the future that the registration with the CSRC pursuant to the Trial measures and/or the approval of the CSRC, the CAC or any other regulatory authority is required for this offering, we or our post-business combination
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company may face sanctions by the CSRC, the CAC or other PRC regulatory agencies. This could occur in the event (i) we have not registered this offering pursuant to the Trial Measures, (ii) we do not receive or maintain any required governmental permissions or approvals, (iii) if we inadvertently conclude that such registrations, permissions or approvals are not required, or (iv) if applicable laws, regulations or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future. These regulatory agencies may require us to register with the CSRC following the Offering as a result of the Trial Measures, impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability, or our post-combination PRC subsidiary’s ability, to pay dividends outside of China post business combination, limit our PRC subsidiary’s operations in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, including but not limited, to revoking business and other licenses, requiring the restructuring of ownership or operations and requiring discontinuation of any portion or all of the acquired business. Any of the above could also negatively affect the trading price of our securities pre- and post-business combination. The CSRC, the CAC or other PRC regulatory agencies also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt this offering before settlement and delivery of our units or delay our potential business combination. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, you do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if the CSRC, the CAC or other regulatory PRC agencies later promulgate new rules requiring that we obtain their approvals for this offering or our business combination, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties and/or negative publicity regarding such an approval requirement could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our securities.
If we decide to consummate our business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, the combined company’s business operations in China through its subsidiaries, as applicable, are subject to relevant requirements to obtain applicable licenses from PRC governmental authorities under relevant PRC laws and regulations.
There are uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations that could limit the legal protections available to you and us.
Our sponsor is predominantly controlled by a Hong Kong national, and we may seek to acquire a company that is based in China or Hong Kong in an initial business combination. The uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations would apply to us if we were to acquire a company that is based in China or Hong Kong, regardless of whether we have a direct ownership structure post-business combination. Because of such ties to China or Hong Kong, we may be governed by PRC laws and regulations. PRC companies and variable interest entities are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments in China and, in particular, laws and regulations applicable to wholly foreign-owned enterprises. The PRC legal system is based on statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.
Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of a Chinese or Hong Kong target company we may pursue as an acquisition target in the future.
If our initial business combination target is a PRC or Hong Kong company with operations in China or Hong Kong, its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic and social conditions in China generally and by continued economic growth in China as a whole.
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The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. To date, the government still owns a substantial portion of productive assets in China. Although the PRC government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Given the PRC government’s significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of business of any China-based company that we may target for an initial business combination, the PRC government may intervene or influence the operations of our target at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or value of the securities we are registering for sale.
While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in China, in the policies of the PRC government or in the laws and regulations in China could materially adversely affect the overall economic growth of China. Such developments could adversely affect our business and operating results, reducing demand for our services and adversely affect our competitive position.
The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may negatively affect us. In the past the PRC government has implemented certain measures, including interest rate adjustments, to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may decrease economic activity in China, which may adversely affect our business and operating results.
You may face difficulties in protecting your interests and exercising your rights as a shareholder if we were to conduct substantially all of our operations in China, and almost all of our officers and directors currently and will likely reside outside the U.S.
Although we are incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, our initial business combination target may be a PRC or Hong Kong company with substantially all of its operations in the PRC or Hong Kong. Further, all of our current officers and almost all of our directors reside outside the U.S. and substantially all of the assets of those persons are located outside of the U.S. It may be difficult for you to conduct due diligence on our company or such directors in your election of the directors and attend shareholders meetings if the meetings are held in China. We would likely have one shareholder meeting each year at a location to be determined, potentially in China. As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against our management, directors or major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation doing business entirely or predominantly within the U.S.
Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment post-business combination.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We may consummate a business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, after which the operating companies in China upon consummation of the business combination may receive substantially all of their revenues in Renminbi. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments in foreign currencies of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made without prior approvals of the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Specifically, under the existing exchange restrictions, without prior approvals of SAFE, cash generated from the operations of PRC operating companies in China may be used to pay dividends. However, approvals from or registration with appropriate government authorities are required where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currencies and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies.
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As a result, the PRC subsidiaries of the combined company will need to obtain SAFE approval to pay off their debt in a currency other than Renminbi owed to any entities outside China or to make other capital expenditure payments outside China in a currency other than Renminbi.
In light of the flood of capital outflows of China in 2016 due to the weakening Renminbi, the PRC government has imposed more restrictive foreign exchange policies and stepped up scrutiny over major outbound capital movements including overseas direct investment. More restrictions and substantial vetting process have been put in place by SAFE to regulate cross-border transactions that fall under the capital account transactions. The PRC government may in the future at its discretion further restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control regulations prevent the combined company from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies from its PRC subsidiaries to satisfy its capital demands, the combined company may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to its shareholders.
If our initial business combination target is a Chinese or Hong Kong company with the majority of its operations in China, the PRC regulation on loans to, and direct investment in, such a PRC subsidiary by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may restrict our ability to make loans or capital contributions to such subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business post-business combination.
If our initial business combination target is a PRC or Hong Kong company with the majority of its operations in China, it may become necessary or desirable for us to make loans or capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary after the completion of our initial business combination. Our ability to make such loans or capital contributions may be restricted by certain PRC laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, effective on June 1, 2015, and the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or SAFE Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, each promulgated by SAFE, which impose limitations on offshore entities in transferring foreign currencies to PRC persons.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations, for example, SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16, on loans to, and direct investment in, a PRC subsidiary by offshore holding companies, and the fact that the PRC government may at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans by us to a PRC subsidiary or with respect to future capital contributions by us to a PRC subsidiary. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to conduct our business post-initial business combination and to capitalize or otherwise fund PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our ability to inject capital in our Chinese subsidiaries and Chinese subsidiaries’ ability to change their registered capital or distribute profits to the combined company or otherwise expose it or its PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC laws.
In July 2014, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed as PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purpose) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future.
Under SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who make, or have prior to the implementation of SAFE Circular 37 made, direct or indirect investments in offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, will be required to register such investments with SAFE or its local branches. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an SPV, is required to update its filed registration with the local branch of SAFE with respect to that SPV, to reflect any material change, including, among other things, any major change of a PRC resident shareholder, name or term
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of operation of the SPV, or any increase or reduction of the SPV’s registered capital, share transfer or swap, merger or division. Moreover, any subsidiary of such SPV in China is required to urge the PRC resident shareholders to update their registration with the local branch of SAFE. If any PRC shareholder of such SPV fails to make the required registration or to update the previously filed registration, the subsidiary of such SPV in China may be prohibited from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, and the SPV may also be prohibited from making additional capital contributions into its subsidiary in China. On February 13, 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, will be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE or its branches. The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE.
We cannot provide assurance that our shareholders that are PRC residents at all times comply with, or in the future make or obtain any applicable registrations or approvals required by, SAFE Circular 37 or other related rules. Failure or inability of the combined company’s PRC resident shareholders to comply with the registration procedures set forth in these regulations may subject the combined company to fines and legal sanctions, restrict its cross-border investment activities, limit the ability of a wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China to distribute dividends and the proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation, and the combined company may also be prohibited from injecting additional capital into the subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various foreign exchange registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for circumventing applicable foreign exchange restrictions. As a result, the combined company’s business operations and the combined company’s ability to distribute profits to you could be materially and adversely affected.
Furthermore, as these foreign exchange regulations are still relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
We may consummate a business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, after which the PRC subsidiaries of the combined company will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments.
We may consummate a business combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China. After such business combination, the combined company may rely on dividends and other distributions from the PRC subsidiaries of the combined company to provide it with cash flow and to meet its other obligations. These dividends or other distributions to be paid by the PRC subsidiaries arise from the combined company’s entitlements to substantially all of the economic benefits of the PRC subsidiaries. Current regulations in China would permit the combined company’s PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends only out of their accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, the combined company’s PRC subsidiaries in China will be required to set aside at least 10% of their after-tax profits each year to fund their respective statutory reserves (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of their respective registered capital). Such cash reserve may not be distributed as cash dividends. In addition, if the combined company’s PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make payments to the combined company or its PRC subsidiaries, as applicable.
The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for certain acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue a business combination with a China-based business.
The M&A Rules adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, and some other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex, including requirements in
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some instances that the Ministry of Commerce (the “MOFCOM”) be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law requires that the anti-monopoly enforcement agency of the State Council (currently the “Anti-Monopoly Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation”) shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. In addition, the security review rules issued by the MOFCOM that became effective in September 2011 specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by the MOFCOM, and the rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. On July 1, 2015, the National Security Law of China took effect, which provided that China would establish rules and mechanisms to conduct national security review of foreign investments in China that may impact national security. On March 15, 2019, the PRC National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law of China (the “Foreign Investment Law”), which came into effect on January 1, 2020, reiterates that China will establish a security review system for foreign investments. On December 19, 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission (the “NDRC”) and the MOFCOM jointly issued the Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investments (the “New FISR Measures”), which was made according to the National Security Law and the Foreign Investment Law and became effective on January 18, 2021. The New FISR Measures further expand the scope of national security review on foreign investment compared to the existing rules, while leaving substantial room for interpretation and speculation.
In the future, we may pursue a business combination with a China-based business. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOFCOM, any other relevant PRC governmental authorities or their respective local counterparts may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.
Because the M&A Rules permit the government agencies to have scrutiny over the economics of an acquisition transaction and require consideration in a transaction to be paid within stated time limits, if we target a PRC Target Company for a business combination, we may not be able to negotiate a transaction that is acceptable to our shareholders or sufficiently protect their interests in a transaction.
The M&A Rules have introduced aspects of economic and substantive analysis of the target business and the acquirer and the terms of the transaction by the MOFCOM and the other governing agencies through submissions of an appraisal report, an evaluation report and the acquisition agreement, all of which form part of the application for approval, depending on the structure of the transaction. The regulations also prohibit a transaction at an acquisition price obviously lower than the appraised value of the Chinese business or assets. The regulations require that in certain transaction structures, the consideration must be paid within strict time periods, generally not in excess of a year. In asset transactions there must be no harm of third parties and the public interest in the allocation of assets and liabilities being assumed or acquired. These aspects of the regulations will limit our ability to negotiate various terms of a possible business combination with a PRC Target Company, including aspects of the initial consideration, contingent consideration, holdback provisions, indemnification provisions and provisions relating to the assumption and allocation of assets and liabilities. Transaction structures involving trusts, nominees and similar entities are prohibited. Therefore, we may not be able to negotiate a transaction with terms that will satisfy our investors and protect our shareholders’ interests in an acquisition of a PRC Target Company.
Enhanced scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential acquisitions we may pursue in the future.
The PRC tax authorities have enhanced their scrutiny over the direct or indirect transfer of certain taxable assets, including, in particular, equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by a non-resident enterprise by promulgating and implementing SAT Circular 59 and Circular 698, which became effective in January 2008, and Circular 7 in replacement of some of the existing rules in Circular 698, which became effective in February 2015.
Under Circular 698, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring the equity interests of a PRC “resident enterprise” indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, may be subject to PRC corporate income tax, if the indirect transfer is considered to be an abusive use of company structure without reasonable commercial purposes. As a result, gains
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derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of up to 10%. Circular 698 also provides that, where a non-PRC resident enterprise transfers its equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise to its related parties at a price lower than the fair market value, the relevant tax authority has the power to make a reasonable adjustment to the taxable income of the transaction.
In February 2015, the SAT issued Circular 7 to replace the rules relating to indirect transfers in Circular 698. Circular 7 has introduced a new tax regime that is significantly different from that under Circular 698. Circular 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to not only indirect transfers set forth under Circular 698 but also transactions involving transfer of other taxable assets, through the offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, Circular 7 provides clearer criteria than Circular 698 on how to assess reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. Circular 7 also brings challenges to both the foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of the taxable assets. Where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring the taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise being the transferor, or the transferee, or the PRC entity which directly owned the taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC corporate income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise.
The PRC tax authorities have the discretion under SAT Circular 59, Circular 698 and Circular 7 to make adjustments to the taxable capital gains based on the difference between the fair value of the taxable assets transferred and the cost of investment. Although we currently have no plans to pursue any acquisitions in China or elsewhere in the world, we may pursue acquisitions in the future that may involve complex corporate structures. If we are considered a non-resident enterprise under the PRC corporate income tax law and if the PRC tax authorities make adjustments to the taxable income of the transactions under SAT Circular 59 or Circular 698 and Circular 7, our income tax costs associated with such potential acquisitions will be increased, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained in this prospectus that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about our:
• ability to identify or complete an initial business combination;
• limited operating history;
• success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;
• potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete a business combination;
• pool of prospective target businesses;
• the ability of our officers and directors to generate potential investment opportunities;
• potential change in control if we acquire one or more target businesses for shares;
• our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;
• regulatory or operational risks associated with acquiring a target business;
• use of proceeds not held in the trust account;
• financial performance following this offering; or
• listing or delisting of our securities from NASDAQ or the ability to have our securities listed on NASDAQ following our initial business combination.
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
Reasons for our Choice of Incorporating in the British Virgin Islands
We are incorporated in the British Virgin Islands because of the following benefits we believe are found there:
• political and economic stability;
• an effective and sophisticated judicial system with a dedicated Commercial Court;
• tax neutral treatment, with no tax levied against companies incorporated in the British Virgin Islands by the local tax authorities;
• the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions;
• the availability of professional and support services;
• commitment of the British Virgin Islands to implement best international practice and to comply with the requirements of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF);
• the adoption of the English law concept of corporate separateness to mitigate the risk of the assets of a shareholder being used to satisfy the liabilities of the company; and
• confidentiality for shareholders.
However, the British Virgin Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides significantly less protection to investors, and British Virgin Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States.
We believe the disadvantages of incorporating in the British Virgin Islands are outweighed by the benefits to us and our investors of such incorporation.
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities
We are a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and therefore, located and administered from outside of the United States. The proceeds we receive from this offering will be held in U.S. Dollars and deposited in a trust account in the United States maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee. The trust account will be governed by an Investment Management Trust Agreement between us and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Our U.S. agent for service of process is Cogency Global Inc. However, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process on us or our officers or directors within the United States in a way that will permit a U.S. court to have jurisdiction over us.
Our corporate affairs will be governed by our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act (as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time) and the common law of the British Virgin Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under British Virgin Islands law are governed by the Companies Act and common law of the British Virgin Islands. The common law of the British Virgin Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the British Virgin Islands as well as from English common law, which has persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the British Virgin Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under British Virgin Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the British Virgin Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, while statutory provisions do exist in British Virgin Islands law for derivative actions to be brought in certain circumstances, shareholders in the British Virgin Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States. The circumstances in which any such action may be brought, and the procedures and defenses that may be available in respect to any such action, may result in the rights of shareholders of a British Virgin Islands company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States. Accordingly, shareholders may have fewer alternatives available to them if they believe that corporate wrongdoing has occurred.
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Under British Virgin Islands law, the directors owe fiduciary responsibilities at both common law and under statute, including a statutory duty to act honestly, in good faith and with a view to what the directors believe are our best interests. When exercising powers or performing duties as a director, the director is required to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonable director would exercise in the circumstances taking into account, without limitation the nature of the company, the nature of the decision and the position of the director and the nature of the responsibilities undertaken by him. In exercising the powers of a director, the directors must exercise their powers for a proper purpose and shall not act or agree to the company acting in a manner that contravenes our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or the Companies Act.
In certain limited circumstances, a shareholder has the right to seek various remedies against the company in the event the directors are in breach of their duties under the Companies Act. Pursuant to Section 184B of the Companies Act, if a company or director of a company engages in, proposes to engage in or has engaged in, conduct that contravenes the provisions of the Companies Act or the memorandum or articles of association of the company, the courts of the British Virgin Islands may, on application of a shareholder or director of the company, make an order directing the company or director to comply with, or restraining the company or director from engaging in conduct that contravenes the Companies Act or the memorandum or articles. Furthermore, pursuant to section 184I(1) of the Companies Act a shareholder of a company who considers that the affairs of the company have been, are being or likely to be, conducted in a manner that is, or any acts of the company have been, or are likely to be oppressive, unfairly discriminatory, or unfairly prejudicial to him in that capacity, may apply to the courts of the British Virgin Islands for an order which, inter alia, can require the company or any other person to pay compensation to the shareholders.
If we are deemed insolvent for the purposes of the Insolvency Act (i.e. (i) it fails to comply with the requirements of a statutory demand that has not been set aside under section 157 of the Insolvency Act; (ii) the execution or other process issued on a judgment, decree or order of a British Virgin Islands Court in favor of a creditor of the company is returned wholly or partly unsatisfied; or (iii) either the value of the company’s liabilities exceeds its assets, or the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due), there are very limited circumstances where prior payments made to shareholders or other parties may be deemed to be a “voidable transaction” for the purposes of the Insolvency Act. A voidable transaction would include, for these purposes, payments made as “unfair preferences” or “transactions at an undervalue”. A liquidator appointed over an insolvent company who considers that a particular transaction or payment is a voidable transaction under the Insolvency Act could apply to the British Virgin Islands Courts for an order setting aside that payment or transaction in whole or in part.
We have been advised by Ogier, our British Virgin Islands legal counsel that the courts of the British Virgin Islands are unlikely:
• to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws where that liability is in respect of penalties, taxes, fines or similar fiscal or revenue obligations of the company; and
• to impose liabilities against us, in original actions brought in the British Virgin Islands, based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws that are penal in nature.
The courts of the British Virgin Islands will not necessarily enter judgments in original actions brought in those courts predicated on U.S. federal or state securities laws. Additionally, we have been advised by British Virgin Islands Counsel that the British Virgin Islands does not have a treaty providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts of the United States in civil and commercial matters and that a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any general or state court in the United States based on civil liability, whether or not predicated solely upon the U.S. federal securities laws, would not be enforceable in the British Virgin Islands. We have also been advised that a final and conclusive judgment obtained in U.S. federal or state courts under which a sum of money is payable as compensatory damages (i.e., not being a sum claimed by a revenue authority for taxes or other charges of a similar nature by a governmental authority, or in respect of a fine or penalty or multiple or punitive damages) may be the subject of an action on a debt in the court of the British Virgin Islands under the common law doctrine of obligation.
In appropriate circumstances, a British Virgin Islands Court may give effect in the British Virgin Islands to other kinds of final foreign judgments such as declaratory orders, orders for performance of contracts and injunctions.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company.
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In addition, many of our directors and officers are nationals or residents of Japan, Hong Kong SAR, PRC and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located in the aforementioned locations.
Hong Kong and China
A judgment of a court in the United States predicated upon U.S. federal or state securities laws may be enforced in Hong Kong at common law by bringing an action in a Hong Kong court on that judgment for the amount due thereunder, and then seeking summary judgment on the strength of the foreign judgment, provided that the foreign judgment, among other things, is (1) for a debt or a definite sum of money (not being taxes or similar charges to a foreign government taxing authority or a fine or other penalty) and (2) final and conclusive on the merits of the claim, but not otherwise. Such a judgment may not, in any event, be so enforced in Hong Kong if (a) it was obtained by fraud; (b) the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained were opposed to natural justice; (c) its enforcement or recognition would be contrary to the public policy of Hong Kong; (d) the court of the United States was not jurisdictionally competent; or (e) the judgment was in conflict with a prior Hong Kong judgment.
Hong Kong has no arrangement for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments with the United States. As a result, there is uncertainty as to the enforceability in Hong Kong, in original actions or in actions for enforcement, of judgments of United States courts of civil liabilities predicated solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any State or territory within the United States.
There are enforcement risks related to civil liabilities due to our sponsor having ties to Hong Kong. Moreover, three of our five officers and directors are based in China, or have ties to the PRC and/or Hong Kong, namely Yangyujia An, our Chief Financial Officer and Director, and two of our independent directors, Zhengming, Feng and Donghui Xu. Because of such ties of our sponsor, officers and directors to the PRC and/or Hong Kong, we may be governed by PRC laws and regulations. In addition, we may seek to acquire a company that is based in mainland China or Hong Kong in an initial business combination, in which circumstance the uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations would apply to us regardless of whether we have a VIE structure or direct ownership structure post-business combination.
Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties, which may make it difficult for investors to bring actions against our executive officers and directors and obtain enforceable judgments. In addition, the PRC legal system is based on statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. The PRC legal system is also based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Further, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
There may be difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us based on foreign laws. Due to the lack of reciprocity and treaties between the United States and some of these foreign jurisdictions, and cost and time constraints, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons, or to enforce against the combined company or some of the combined company’s officers and directors judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. Even with the proposed service of process, it may also be difficult to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against these officers and directors.
In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the mainland China or Hong Kong would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against the officers and directors predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state.
• In the PRC, the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have
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any treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment by us against the officers or directors or the future combined company if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security, or the public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States.
• In Hong Kong, judgment of United States courts against us or against our directors or executive officers residing in Hong Kong, including those based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws, will not be directly enforceable in Hong Kong. There are currently no treaties or other arrangements providing for reciprocal enforcement of foreign judgments between Hong Kong and the United States. However, the common law permits an action to be brought upon a foreign judgment. In other words, a foreign judgment itself may form the basis of a cause of action since the judgment may be regarded as creating a debt between the parties to it. In a common law action for enforcement of a foreign judgment in Hong Kong, the enforcement is subject to various conditions, including but not limited to, that the foreign judgment is a final judgment conclusive upon the merits of the claim, the judgment is for a liquidated amount in a civil matter and not in respect of taxes, fines, penalties, or similar charges, the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice, and the enforcement of the judgment is not contrary to public policy of Hong Kong. Such a judgment must be for a fixed sum and must also come from a “competent” court as determined by the private international law rules applied by the Hong Kong courts. The defenses that are available to a defendant in a common law action brought on the basis of a foreign judgment include a lack of jurisdiction, breach of natural justice, fraud, and contrary to public policy. However, a separate legal action for debt must be commenced in Hong Kong in order to recover such debt from the judgment debtor.
Furthermore, there would be additional costs and issues with bringing an original action in foreign courts against the combined company or the officers and directors to enforce liabilities based upon the U.S. Federal securities laws, and they still may be fruitless.
The above discussion is based on our management’s understanding of the current PRC and Hong Kong laws, rules, regulations and local market practices and we cannot assure you that our management’s understanding is correct. Given the nature of our limited business activities prior to our initial business combination, we did not retain a PRC or Hong Kong legal counsel for purpose of this offering and consequently we did not rely on the advice of such counsel. If we begin our business combination process with a mainland China or Hong Kong-based target, we expect to retain a PRC or Hong Kong legal counsel who will advise us and provide its opinion of counsel relating to the enforceability of civil liabilities and other matters and we cannot assure you that the PRC legal counsel will reach the same conclusion as our management’s assessment above. See “Risk Factors — Because we are incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, our principal office is located in Hong Kong and most of our executive officers and directors are located outside the United States, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal or state courts may be limited.”
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may find it more difficult to enforce liabilities and enforce judgments on individual directors and executive officers, and may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company.
People’s Republic of China
As of the date of this prospectus, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of China would (1) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof, or (2) be competent to hear original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction, against us or such persons predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof.
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The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are mainly provided for under the Chinese Civil Procedure Law. Chinese courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the Chinese Civil Procedure Law and other applicable laws and regulations based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or in reciprocity between jurisdictions. Accordingly, there is uncertainty whether China courts will recognize or enforce judgments of United States or British Virgin Islands Courts because China does not have any treaties or other agreements with the British Virgin Islands or the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments as of the date of this prospectus. Further, under Chinese Civil Procedure Law, Chinese courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our officers and directors if the court decides that such judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or social public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or in the British Virgin Islands.
Under the PRC Civil Procedure Law, foreign shareholders may originate actions based on PRC law against a company in China for disputes if they can establish sufficient nexus to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction, and meet other procedural requirements, including, among others, the plaintiff must have a direct interest in the case, and there must be a concrete claim, a factual basis and a cause for the suit. However, it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders to originate actions against us in the PRC in accordance with PRC laws because we are incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders, by virtue only of holding our ordinary shares, to establish a connection to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction as required under the PRC Civil Procedure Law.
In addition, our principal office is located in Hong Kong and most of our executive officers and directors are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or these persons, or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against us or them, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. It will also be costlier and time-consuming for the investors to effect service of process outside the United States, or to enforce judgments obtained from the U.S. courts in the courts of the jurisdictions where our directors and officers reside. For example, to enforce a foreign judgment in Hong Kong, you will be required to apply to the Hong Kong High Court to enforce a foreign judgment for which you will be required to engage a local counsel to facilitate or prepare the application, together with its various supporting documents. You will then be required to go through the standard litigation process to sue on the judgment as a debt. In addition, a judgment of a United States court for civil liabilities predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States may also not be enforceable in or recognized by the courts of the jurisdictions where our directors and officers reside. As such, it may be difficult for you to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken against the management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a United States-incorporated company.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering, in addition to the funds we will receive from the sale of the private units (all of which will be deposited into the trust account), will be as set forth in the following table:
| | Without Over-Allotment Option | | Over-Allotment Option Exercised |
Gross proceeds | | | | | | | | |
From offering | | $ | 60,000,000 | | | $ | 69,000,000 | |
From private placement | | | 2,500,000 | | | | 2,644,000 | |
Total gross proceeds | | $ | 62,500,000 | | | $ | 71,644,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Offering expenses(1) | | | | | | | | |
Non-contingent underwriting cash discount (1.6% of gross proceeds from offering, which excludes the deferred underwriting fees and commissions of up to 2.5% of gross proceeds from offering, which payment shall be reduced by $0.25 per share redeemed in connection with our initial business combination (subject to a minimum payment of $500,000)) | | $ | 960,000 | (2) | | $ | 1,104,000 | (2) |
Initial trustee fee | | | 11,300 | | | | 11,300 | |
Legal fees and expenses | | | 250,000 | | | | 250,000 | |
NASDAQ listing fee | | | 5,000 | | | | 5,000 | |
Printing and engraving expenses | | | 30,000 | | | | 30,000 | |
Accounting fees and expenses | | | 65,000 | | | | 65,000 | |
SEC registration fee/FINRA filing fee | | | 30,000 | | | | 30,000 | |
D&O insurance fee | | | 250,000 | | | | 250,000 | |
Miscellaneous expenses | | | 148,700 | | | | 148,700 | |
Total offering expenses (not including underwriting fees and commissions) | | $ | 790,000 | | | $ | 790,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net proceeds of the offering and private placement | | | 60,750,000 | | | | 69,750,000 | |
Held in trust | | $ | 60,000,000 | (3) | | $ | 69,000,000 | (3) |
Not held in trust | | | 750,000 | | | | 750,000 | |
Total net proceeds (including deferred underwriting fees and commissions) | | $ | 60,750,000 | | | $ | 69,750,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Use of net proceeds not held in trust(4)(5) | | | | | | | | |
Legal, accounting and other third-party expenses attendant to the search for target businesses and to the due diligence investigation, structuring and negotiation of a business combination | | $ | 50,000 | | | | 6.67 | % |
Due diligence of prospective target businesses by officers, directors and initial shareholders | | | 50,000 | | | | 6.67 | % |
Legal and accounting fees relating to SEC reporting obligations | | | 200,000 | | | | 26.66 | % |
Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses, D&O insurance, general corporate purposes, liquidation obligations and reserves(6) | | | 450,000 | | | | 60.00 | % |
Total | | $ | 750,000 | | | | 100.00 | % |
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Our sponsor has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 250,000 private units at a price of $10.00 per private unit ($2,500,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor has further agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 14,400 additional private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100.0% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in trust regardless of whether the over-allotment option is exercised in full or in part. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below.
$60,000,000, or $69,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units will be placed in an account at Morgan Stanley in the United States, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee. Pursuant to the investment management trust agreement that will govern the investment of such funds, the trustee, upon our written instructions, will direct Morgan Stanley to invest the funds as set forth in such written instructions and to custody the funds while invested and until otherwise instructed in accordance with the investment management trust agreement. The funds held in trust will be invested only in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes having a maturity of 180 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in United States government treasuries, so that we are not deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Except with respect to a portion of the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our income or other tax obligations or for use as our working capital, the proceeds will not be released from the trust account until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or our liquidation. The proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we complete a business combination to the extent not used to pay converting shareholders. Any amounts not paid as consideration to the sellers of the target business may be used to finance operations of the target business.
The payment to an affiliate of our sponsor of a monthly fee of $10,000 is for general and administrative services such as office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative services. However, pursuant to the terms of such agreement, we may delay payment of such monthly fee upon a determination by our board of directors that we lack sufficient funds held outside the trust to pay actual or anticipated expenses in connection with our initial business combination. Any such unpaid amount will accrue without interest and be due and payable no later than the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. We believe that the fee charged by an affiliate of our sponsor is at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated person. This arrangement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the completion of our initial business combination or, (ii) our liquidation. Other than the $10,000 per month fee, no compensation of any kind (including finder’s, consulting or other similar fees) will be paid to any of our existing officers, directors, shareholders, or any of their affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of the business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, such individuals will receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations
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of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. Since the role of present management after a business combination is uncertain, we have no ability to determine what remuneration, if any, will be paid to those persons after a business combination.
The net proceeds from this offering available to us out of trust for our working capital requirements in searching for a business combination will be approximately $750,000. We intend to use the excess working capital available for miscellaneous expenses such as paying fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business and for director and officer liability insurance premiums, with the balance being held in reserve in the event due diligence, legal, accounting and other expenses of structuring and negotiating business combinations exceed our estimates, as well as for reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by our initial shareholders, officers and directors in connection with activities on our behalf as described above. We will also be entitled to have a portion of the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account released to us to pay any tax obligations that we may owe or for use as our working capital.
The allocation of the net proceeds available to us outside of the trust account, along with the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account available to us (excluding taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account), represents our best estimate of the intended uses of these funds. In the event that our assumptions prove to be inaccurate, we may reallocate some of such proceeds within the above-described categories. If our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, or the amount of interest available from the trust account is insufficient as a result of the current low interest rate environment, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. In this event, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from members of our management team, but such members of our management team are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.
We will likely use a substantial portion of the net proceeds of this offering, including the funds held in the trust account, to acquire a target business, to pay holders who wish to convert or sell their shares to us for a portion of the funds held in the trust account and to pay our expenses relating thereto. If the payment of our liabilities, including the deferred underwriting fees and commissions payable to the underwriters in an amount up to 2.5% of the total gross proceeds raised in the offering, which payment shall be reduced by $0.25 per share redeemed in connection with our initial business combination (subject to a minimum payment of $500,000), were to reduce the amount available to us in trust necessary to pay all holders who wish to convert or sell their shares to us for a portion of the funds held in the trust account, we would not be able to consummate such transaction. To the extent that our share capital is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect a business combination, the proceeds held in the trust account which are not used to consummate a business combination, to pay holders who wish to convert their shares into a portion of the funds held in the trust account or pay our expenses relating thereto will be disbursed to the combined company and will, along with any other net proceeds not expended, be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business’ operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products.
To the extent we are unable to consummate a business combination, we will pay the costs of liquidating our trust account from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, YHN Partners I Limited, has agreed to advance us the funds necessary to complete such liquidation (currently anticipated to be no more than $500,000) and has agreed not to seek repayment of such expenses.
In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan our company funds as may be required, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $500,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. Our shareholders have approved the issuance of the units and underlying securities upon conversion of such notes, to the extent the holder wishes to so convert them at the time of the consummation of our initial business combination. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available.
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A public shareholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account (including interest earned on his, her or its portion of the trust account to the extent not previously released to us to pay our tax obligations) only in the event of (i) the redemption of our public shares if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the required time period or (ii) if that public shareholder converts such public shares or sells them to us in a tender offer in each case in connection with a business combination which we consummate or (iii) in connection with an amendment to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association prior to the consummation of an initial business combination. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
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DIVIDEND POLICY
We have not paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of an initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board of directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any share capitalizations in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, in which case we will effect a share capitalizations immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain our initial shareholders’ ownership at 20.0% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering (excluding ownership of the private units). Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
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DILUTION
The difference between the public offering price per share, assuming no value is attributed to the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities by the number of issued and outstanding ordinary shares.
At March 31, 2024, our net tangible book value was an equity of ($32,426) or approximately ($0.02) or (($0.02) if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) per share. For the purposes of the dilution calculation, in order to present the maximum estimated dilution as a result of this offering, we have assumed the issuance of 0.1 of a share for each right outstanding, as such issuance will occur upon a business combination without the payment of additional consideration. After giving effect to the sale of 6,000,000 (or 6,900,000 if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) ordinary shares included in the units we are offering by this prospectus, the issuance of 600,000 ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of 6,000,000 rights, the sale of the private units, including the 25,000 ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of 250,000 private rights, and the deduction of underwriting fees and commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, and the sale of the private units, our pro forma net tangible book value at March 31, 2024 would have been $754,026 (or $979,026 if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) or $0.32 (or $0.36) per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.30 (or $0.34) per share to our insiders and an immediate dilution of 103.52% (or 103.96%) per share or $9.41 (or $9.45) to new investors not exercising their redemption rights. For purposes of presentation, our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering is $60,000,000 (or $69,000,000 if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) less than it otherwise would have been because if we effect our initial business combination, the redemption rights of the public shareholders (but not our insiders) may result in the conversion or tender of up to 6,000,000 shares (or 6,900,000 shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) sold in this offering.
The following table illustrates the dilution to the new investors on a per-share basis:
| | No exercise of over-allotment option | | Exercise of over-allotment option in full |
Public offering price(1) | | $ | 9.09 | | | $ | 9.09 | |
Net tangible book value before this offering | | $ | (0.02 | ) | | $ | (0.02 | ) |
Increase attributable to public shareholders and sale of the private units(2) | | $ | (0.30 | ) | | $ | (0.34 | ) |
Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering | | $ | (0.32 | ) | | $ | (0.36 | ) |
Dilution to public stockholders | | $ | 9.41 | | | $ | 9.45 | |
Percentage of dilution to public shareholders | | | 103.52 | % | | | 103.96 | % |
For purposes of presentation, we have reduced our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) by $60,000,000 because holders of up to 100% of our public shares may redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account at a per share redemption price equal to the amount in the trust account as set forth in our tender offer or proxy materials (initially anticipated to be the aggregate amount held in trust two days prior to the commencement of our tender offer or stockholders meeting, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes or for use as our working capital), divided by the number of shares of ordinary shares sold in this offering.
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The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial shareholders and the new investors:
| | Shares Purchased | | Total Consideration | | Average Price Per Share |
| | Number | | Percentage | | Amount | | Percentage | |
Initial shareholders(1) | | 1,500,000 | | 17.91 | % | | $ | 25,000 | | 0.04 | % | | $ | 0.01 |
Shares underlying private units(2) | | 275,000 | | 3.28 | % | | $ | 2,500,000 | | 4.00 | % | | $ | 9.09 |
New investors(3) | | 6,600,000 | | 78.81 | % | | $ | 60,000,000 | | 95.96 | % | | $ | 9.09 |
| | 8,375,000 | | 100 | % | | $ | 62,525,000 | | 100 | % | | | |
The pro forma net tangible book value after the offering is calculated as follows:
| | Without Over-allotment | | With Over-allotment |
Numerator: | | | | | | | | |
Net tangible book deficit before this offering | | $ | (32,426 | ) | | $ | (32,426 | ) |
Net proceeds from this offering, net of expenses | | | 60,750,000 | | | | 69,750,000 | |
Plus: Offering costs paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value | | | 28,400 | | | | 28,400 | |
Less: Deferred underwriting fees and commissions payable | | | (1,500,000 | ) | | | (1,725,000 | ) |
Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption | | | (60,000,000 | ) | | | (60,000,000 | ) |
| | | (754,026 | ) | | | (979,026 | ) |
Denominator: | | | | | | | | |
Shares of ordinary shares outstanding prior to this offering | | | 1,725,000 | | | | 1,725,000 | |
Less: Shares of ordinary shares forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised | | | (225,000 | ) | | | — | |
Shares of ordinary shares included in the units offered | | | 6,000,000 | | | | 6,900,000 | |
Shares underlying the rights to be included in the public units | | | 600,000 | | | | 690,000 | |
Shares of ordinary shares issued to private units | | | 250,000 | | | | 264,400 | |
Shares underlying the rights to be included in the private units | | | 25,000 | | | | 26,440 | |
Less: Shares subject to redemption | | | (6,000,000 | ) | | | (6,900,000 | ) |
| | $ | 2,375,000 | | | $ | 2,705,840 | |
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CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization at March 31, 2024 and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our units and the private units and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities:
| | As at March 31, 2024 |
| | Actual | | As Adjusted |
| | (Audited) | | (Unaudited) |
Deferred underwriting fees and commissions payable | | | — | | | 1,500,000 | |
Ordinary shares, no par value; 0 and 6,000,000 shares are subject to possible redemption, actual and as adjusted, respectively(1) | | | — | | | 60,000,000 | |
Ordinary shares, no par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 1,725,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024; 1,750,000(2) shares issued and outstanding (excluding 6,000,000 shares subject to possible conversion/tender), as adjusted | | | 25,000 | | | 2,525,000 | |
Accumulated deficit | | | (29,026 | ) | | (3,279,026 | ) |
Total shareholders’ deficit | | | (4,026 | ) | | (754,026 | ) |
Total capitalization | | $ | (4,026 | ) | | 60,745,974 | |
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
We are a blank check company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on December 18, 2023, as a business company with limited liability (meaning that our public shareholders have no liability, as shareholders of our company, for the liabilities of our company over and above the amount paid for their shares) to serve as a vehicle to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more target businesses. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic location. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of this offering, our securities, debt or a combination of cash, securities and debt, in effecting a business combination. The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares:
• may significantly reduce the equity interest of our shareholders;
• may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if we issue preferred shares with rights senior to those afforded to our ordinary shares;
• will likely cause a change in control if a substantial number of our ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and most likely will also result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;
• may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and
• may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our securities.
Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:
• default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination are insufficient to pay our debt obligations;
• acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we have made all principal and interest payments when due if the debt security contains covenants that required the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves and we breach any such covenant without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
• our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;
• our inability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain additional financing while such security is outstanding;
• our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares;
• using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
• limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
• Increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and
• limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, on March 31, 2024, we had cash of $62,074 and working deficit of $32,426. During the period ended March 31, 2024, the Company incurred net loss of $25,346 and had net cash used in operating activities of $7,526. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our financing and acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this uncertainty through this offering are discussed above. Our plans to raise capital or to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied to date through receipt of $25,000 in January 2024 from contribution of the insider shares and a loan from our sponsor that is more fully described below. We estimate that the net proceeds from (1) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $790,000 and underwriting discounts and commissions of $960,000 (or $1,104,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) (not including the deferred underwriting fees and commissions) and (2) the sale of the private units for a purchase price of up to $2,500,000 (or $2,644,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be $60,750,000 (or $69,750,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) (including the deferred underwriting fees and commissions). Of this amount, $60,000,000 (or $69,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be held in the trust account. The remaining $750,000 (whether or not the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will not be held in the trust account.
We intend to use substantially all net proceeds of this offering, including the funds held in the trust account, to acquire a target business or businesses and to pay our expenses relating thereto, including deferred underwriting fees and commissions payable to the underwriters in an amount up to $1,500,000. To the extent that our share capital is used in whole or in part as consideration to effectuate our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business’ operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products. Such funds could also be used to repay any operating expenses or finders’ fees which we had incurred prior to the completion of our initial business combination if the funds available to us outside of the trust account were insufficient to cover such expenses.
Over the next 18 months, we will be using the funds held outside of the trust account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. Out of the funds available outside the trust account, we anticipate that we will incur approximately:
• $250,000 of expenses for the search for target businesses and for the legal, accounting and other third-party expenses attendant to the due diligence investigations, structuring and negotiating of a business combination;
• $50,000 of expenses for the due diligence and investigation of a target business by our officers, directors and initial shareholders;
• $180,000 for the payment of the administrative fee to YHN Partners I Limited (of $10,000 per month for up to 18 months commencing on the date of this prospectus); and
• $270,000 for general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses, including director and officer liability insurance premiums.
If our estimates of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, or the amount of interest available to us from the trust account is less than we expect as a result of the current interest rate environment, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to consummate our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our
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public shares upon consummation of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only consummate such financing simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. Following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
Related Party Transactions
As of the date of this prospectus, we have issued an aggregate of 1,725,000 insider shares for $25,000, or approximately $0.01 per share. In December 2023, we issued 10,000 ordinary shares for $1,000 to an initial subscriber, who subsequently transferred such 10,000 ordinary shares to our sponsor. In April 2024, we further issued 1,715,000 insider shares to our sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $24,000. Our sponsor subsequently transferred an aggregate of 125,000 insider shares to other initial shareholders.
On April 12, 2024, we issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which we may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 (the “Promissory Note”). The Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of consummation of an initial public offering of our securities or the date on which we determine not to conduct an initial public offering of our securities. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, YHN Partners I Limited, our sponsor, loaned to us an aggregate of $73,000 and $0, respectively, on a non-interest-bearing and due on demand basis for payment of formation expenses and offering expenses associated with this offering on our behalf. The loans will be repaid out of the proceeds of this offering not being placed in the trust account.
We are obligated, commencing on the date of this prospectus, to pay YHN Partners I Limited, a monthly fee of $10,000 for general and administrative services such as office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative services commencing on the closing date of this offering and continuing until the earlier of (i) the completion of our initial business combination or, (ii) our liquidation. However, pursuant to the terms of such agreement, we may delay payment of such monthly fee upon a determination by our board of directors that we lack sufficient funds held outside the trust to pay actual or anticipated expenses in connection with our initial business combination. Any such unpaid amount will accrue without interest and be due and payable no later than the date of the consummation of our initial business combination.
Our sponsor has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 250,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $2,500,000). Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 144,000 private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public in this offering is held in trust regardless of whether the over-allotment option is exercised in full or part. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option.
If needed to finance transaction costs in connection with searching for a target business or consummating an intended initial business combination, our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Such loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $500,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit (which, for example, would result in the holders being issued units to acquire 50,000 ordinary shares and 50,000 rights to purchase 5,000 ordinary shares if $500,000 of notes were so converted). We believe the purchase price of these units will approximate the fair value of such units when issued. However, if it is determined, at the time of issuance, that the fair value of such units exceeds the purchase price, we would record compensation expense for the excess of the fair value of the units on the day of issuance over the purchase price in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718 — Compensation — Stock Compensation.
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Controls and Procedures
We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not completed an assessment, nor have our auditors tested our systems of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:
• staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;
• reconciliation of accounts;
• proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;
• evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;
• documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and
• documentation of accounting policies and procedures.
Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expense in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively may also take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.
Once our management’s report on internal controls is complete, we will retain our independent auditors to audit and render an opinion on such report when, or if, required by Section 404. The independent auditors may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal controls while performing their audit of internal control over financial reporting.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The net proceeds of this offering, including amounts in the trust account, will be invested in U.S. government treasury bills, bonds or notes having a maturity of 180 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and that invest solely in U.S. treasuries. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results
As of the date of this prospectus, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus as we have conducted no operations to date.
JOBS Act
On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As such, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.
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Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (1) provide an independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (2) provide all compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (3) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis), and (4) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of this offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
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PROPOSED BUSINESS
We are a newly incorporated blank check company formed in the British Virgin Islands as a business company with limited liability (meaning that our public shareholders have no liability, as shareholders of our company, for the liabilities of our company over and above the amount paid for their shares). We were formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as a “target business.”
We are based in Hong Kong. Our principal office is located in Hong Kong and our sponsor and a majority of our executive officers and directors are based in or have significant ties to the mainland China and/or Hong Kong. In addition, we may pursue or consummate an initial business combination with a company located or doing business in the PRC (including Hong Kong and Macau). Given the risks relating to doing business in Hong Kong and/or the PRC, we may be a less attractive partner to non-PRC or non-Hong Kong based target companies as compared to other SPACs that do not have ties to Hong Kong or the PRC, which may therefore limit the pool of acquisition candidates.
Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic location. Currently, we do not have any specific business combination under consideration or contemplation, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, contacted any prospective target business or had any discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. We do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. Additionally, we have not engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate, to conduct any research or take any measures, directly or indirectly, to locate or contact a target business. We are confident that we will be able to find a target business that will meet expectations. We intend to capitalize on the strengths and experiences of our management team to select, acquire and form a business combination that has a competitive advantage in their core business and is positioned to bring in high returns and long-term sustainable growth.
Competitive Strengths
We intend to capitalize on our competitive advantages, as described below, to find a suitable target company:
Experienced Management Team
We have a strong team with years of operational, financial and leadership experience successfully managing and running a variety of corporations in Asia.
Our Chief Executive Officer Mr. Satoshi Tominaga was a managing partner at DeTiger Equity Fund, an Asian equity fund, which has invested in blockchain technology projects, including DeFi, exchanges, payments, lending, crypto trading, healthcare, data science, supply chain, internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data analysis, and other fintech related projects. We are confident that his investment experience and expertise in screening high quality target companies will be extremely beneficial in sourcing a target with strong growth potential. In addition, we can capitalize on his previous experiences in advising and expanding startups to help guide and prepare the target for the business combination.
Ms. Yangyujia An, our Chief Financial Officer, is the vice-chairperson of Norwich Capital Limited, a boutique firm that focuses on SPACs and provides services including sponsoring and listing support of SPACs. Prior to that, she also worked as an investment manager at Norwich Investment Limited. We believe that Ms. An’s experiences, in particular those in relation to SPACs, will be valuable for our initial business combination activities.
Our management team has been actively involved in operating, advising, and expanding many companies. Their executive leadership, operational oversight, strategic management will boost investor confidence in the team’s ability to complete a successful business combination. We believe our management team is well-positioned to take advantage of growing acquisition opportunities.
Strong Board of Directors
We have recruited an accomplished group of leaders to serve as members of our board of directors. Our board of directors comes from a plethora of industries where they serve as leaders, advisors, directors, and board members for public companies, private companies, and leading venture capital firms in Asia.
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Mr. Zhengming Feng, our chairman and independent director, was a former Managing Director of SB China Venture Capital (SBCVC), a leading venture capital firm that manages both USD and RMB funds investing in high-tech, high growth companies in TMT, clean technology, healthcare, consumer/retail, and advanced manufacturing. His skills in managing businesses, investment, and strategic management will be a great asset for the target company.
Mr. Donghui Xu, one of our independent directors, has an extensive background in investment, private equity, and the venture capital industry. We hope to leverage his leadership experience in multiple prominent companies to support our management team as they guide the target company into public markets.
Ms. Min Zhang, one of our independent directors, has strong expertise in SPAC and IPO listings. Her prior experience with de-SPAC transactions will add great value as we identify and pursue potential targets to complete a business combination.
Our team has extensive experience in identifying, screening, acquiring, and managing companies. We believe these are the skill sets that are essential for a successful management team. With our board of directors’ deep understanding and experience of various industries, we could effectively position our investment strategy, evaluation of potential acquisition candidates and complete our initial business combination.
Strong and Extensive Network to Source a Suitable Target Company
We believe our team’s operating and transaction experience and relationships with companies will provide us with many potential business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, they have served in a variety of capacities, allowing them to expand their network in both Asia and the United States. These contacts and sources include those in government, private and public companies, private equity and venture capital funds, investment bankers, attorneys, and accountants.
For example, our CEO, Mr. Tominaga was a managing partner at DeTiger Equity Fund. His role in DeTiger Equity Fund and his connections with several Asian tech giants and large conglomerates provides access to a massive network of tech executives, founders and investors and we aim to leverage his connections to identify multiple potential targets. We are confident that the extensive network our directors have in various industries will give us a competitive advantage when exploring potential business combination opportunities.
Strong M&A Expertise and de-SPAC Experience
In addition to supporting us in the areas of investment strategy and improving the company’s processes, our team also has experience in M&A and fundraising. Our team consists of seasoned professionals with significant M&A, capital markets, finance, and private equity experience across a wide variety of industries and market conditions and have proven track records of producing high returns for investors. In addition, we have a unique advantage as Mr. Tominaga, our Chief Executive Officer, prior experience successfully completing a de-SPAC transaction, having served as an independent director to Tottenham Acquisition I Limited, a SPAC which merged with Clene Nanomedicine Inc., and subsequently, operated under the name Clene Inc. (Nasdaq: CLNN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases in December 2020. As of June 17, 2024, the reported closing sale price of Clene Inc. on The Nasdaq Capital Market was $0.37 per share. His previous experience in selecting a SPAC target company and executing a successful merger will be extremely valuable in ensuring the success of our initial business combination.
Acquisition Strategy and Investment Criteria
Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to any particular industry or geographic region.
We intend to look for target company which possesses the following core values:
• Strong management team: We are looking for a strong group of individuals who have a strong track record of creating value. We will assess their leadership capabilities and their ability to grow the company.
• Strong portfolio of investors: We seek a company that has well-known and trusted investors, hedge funds and private equity firms supporting them. This is an indication of investors’ confidence in the company’s potential to grow.
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• Potential to have recurring revenue: We are looking for a company that is currently generating or will generate significant cash flow through existing products, new product development, increased efficiency, and reduced costs.
• Benefits from being publicly traded: We intend to acquire a company that will effectively utilize their public profile to get access to capital, expand their customer base, improve their investor portfolio to grow.
• Appropriate valuations and upside potential: We will conduct rigorous due diligence and apply valuation-metrics to create the most appropriate valuation for the company. We are seeking to acquire a company that will have a strong upside potential to increase their valuation.
• Strategic management and long-term planning: We intend to acquire a company which strategically plan ahead and are continually assessing and ensuring that their work is aligned with their strategic goals. Long-term planning allows companies to have sustainable operations in the long run and ensures that they can deliver on their promises to the investors.
• Innovative-led approach and risk management: We believe that balancing risk and encouraging creative insights will drive a company’s growth and that differentiated ideas bring new categories into the market to address growing customer needs. Therefore, we are seeking for a company that prioritizes innovation and can recognize which ideas to support and scale.
Our sponsor believes that conducting comprehensive due diligence on prospective investments is particularly important within the technology industry. In evaluating a prospective initial business combination, we expect to conduct a thorough diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, financial analyses, and technology reviews, as well as a review of other information that will be made available to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, our officers, or our directors, subject to certain approvals and consents. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers, or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to us from a financial point of view.
Members of our management team may directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
We currently do not have any specific targets for an initial business combination selected. None of our officers and directors, nor has anyone on their behalf contacted or had any discussions with possible target businesses in which they directly or indirectly proposed or encouraged a potential target to consider a possible combination with us.
As described in “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless (i) such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company, (ii) such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue and (iii) the director or officer is permitted to refer the opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor his or her obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
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Effecting a Business Combination
General
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any substantive commercial business for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of private units, our share capital, debt or a combination of these in effecting a business combination. Although substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering and the private placement of private units are intended to be applied generally toward effecting a business combination as described in this prospectus, the proceeds are not otherwise being designated for any more specific purposes. Accordingly, investors in this offering are investing without first having an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any one or more business combinations. A business combination may involve the acquisition of, or merger with, a company which does not need substantial additional capital but which desires to establish a public trading market for its shares, while avoiding what it may deem to be adverse consequences of undertaking a public offering itself. These include time delays, significant expense, loss of voting control and compliance with various U.S. Federal and state securities laws. In the alternative, we may seek to consummate a business combination with a company that may be in its early stages of development or growth. While we may seek to effect simultaneous business combinations with more than one target business, we will probably have the ability, as a result of our limited resources, to effect only a single business combination.
We Have Not Identified a Target Business
To date, we have not selected any target business on which to concentrate our search for a business combination. None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders and other affiliates has engaged in discussions on our behalf with representatives of other companies regarding the possibility of a potential merger, share exchange, asset acquisition or other similar business combination with us, nor have we, nor any of our agents or affiliates, been approached by any candidates (or representatives of any candidates) with respect to a possible business combination with our company.
Subject to the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. We have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. Accordingly, there is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the target business with which we may ultimately complete a business combination. To the extent we effect a business combination with a company or an entity in its early stage of development or growth, including entities without established records of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business and operations of early stage or potential emerging growth companies. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
Sources of Target Businesses
We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings which will not commence until after the completion of this offering. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses they think we may be interested in on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read this prospectus and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as their respective affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. In no event, however, will any of our existing officers, directors, special advisors or initial shareholders, or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination (regardless of the type of transaction). If we
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decide to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our officers, directors or initial shareholders, we will do so only if we have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view. However, as of the date of this prospectus, there is no affiliated entity that we consider a business combination target.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of a Business Combination
Subject to the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target business. We have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses.
We believe such factors will be important in evaluating prospective target businesses, regardless of the location or industry in which such target business operates. However, this list is not intended to be exhaustive. Furthermore, we may decide to enter into a business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines.
Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular business combination will be based, to the extent relevant, on the above factors as well as other considerations deemed relevant by our management in effecting a business combination consistent with our business objective. In evaluating a prospective target business, we will conduct an extensive due diligence review which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and inspection of facilities, as well as review of financial and other information which is made available to us. This due diligence review will be conducted either by our management or by unaffiliated third parties we may engage, although we have no current intention to engage any such third parties.
The time and costs required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete the business combination cannot presently be ascertained with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available to otherwise complete a business combination.
Fair Market Value of Target Business
Pursuant to NASDAQ listing rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, although we may acquire a target business whose fair market value significantly exceeds 80% of the trust account balance. We currently anticipate structuring a business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure a business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, only the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test, assuming that we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on NASDAQ. In order to consummate such an acquisition, we may issue a significant amount of our debt or equity securities to the
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sellers of such businesses and/or seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not entered into any such fund-raising arrangement and have no current intention of doing so. The fair market value of the target business will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). If our board is not able to independently determine that the target business has a sufficient fair market value, we will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We will not be required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, as to the fair market value if our board of directors independently determines that the target business complies with the 80% threshold.
We will not be required to comply with the 80% fair market value requirement if we are delisted from NASDAQ. If NASDAQ delists our securities from trading on its exchange after this offering, we would not be required to satisfy the fair market value requirement described above and could complete a business combination with a target business having a fair market value substantially below 80% of the balance in the trust account.
Lack of Business Diversification
Our business combination must be with a target business or businesses that collectively satisfy the minimum valuation standard at the time of such acquisition, as discussed above, although this process may entail the simultaneous acquisitions of several operating businesses at the same time. Therefore, at least initially, the prospects for our success may be entirely dependent upon the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations of entities operating in multiple industries or multiple areas of a single industry, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses. By consummating a business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
• subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to a business combination, and
• result in our dependency upon the performance of a single operating business or the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other acquisitions, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple acquisitions, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business.
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target Business’ Management
Although we intend to scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of the target business’ management will prove to be correct. In addition, we cannot assure you that the future management will have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of our officers and directors, if any, in the target business following a business combination cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that some of our key personnel will remain associated in senior management or advisory positions with us following a business combination, it is unlikely that they will devote their full-time efforts to our affairs subsequent to a business combination. Moreover, they would only be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for them to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. While the personal and financial interests of our key personnel may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a
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target business, their ability to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. Additionally, our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
Following a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that any such additional managers we do recruit will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve an Initial Business Combination
In connection with any proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each shareholder may tender any or all of his, her or its public shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction, or whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. If we so choose and we are legally permitted to do so, we have the flexibility to avoid a shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 (after payment of underwriting fees and commissions and net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) upon such consummation and, solely if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.
We chose our net tangible asset threshold of $5,000,001 to ensure that we would avoid being subject to Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. However, if we seek to consummate an initial business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of such initial business combination, our net tangible asset threshold may limit our ability to consummate such initial business combination (as we may be required to have a lesser number of shares converted or sold to us) and may force us to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. Public shareholders may therefore have to wait 18 months from the closing of this offering in order to be able to receive a pro rata share of the trust account.
Our initial shareholders and our officers and directors have agreed (1) to vote any ordinary shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, (2) not to convert any ordinary shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (3) not sell any ordinary shares in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination. As a result, if we sought shareholder approval of a proposed transaction we could need as little as 187,501 of our public shares (or approximately 3.1% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming that only a quorum was present at the meeting, that the over-allotment option is not exercised, and that the insiders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after-market).
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None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units or ordinary shares in this offering or from persons in the open market or in private transactions (other than the private units). However, if we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination and a significant number of shareholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against such proposed business combination, our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to influence the vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our officers, directors, initial shareholders and their affiliates will not make purchases of ordinary shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act, which are rules designed to stop potential manipulation of a company’s share. In addition, our officers, directors, initial shareholders and their affiliates would structure such purchases to be in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
• our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares from public stockholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of such purchases;
• if our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates were to purchase shares from public stockholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the price offered through our redemption process;
• our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction;
• our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and
• we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items:
• the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption offer by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates, along with the purchase price;
• the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates;
• the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved;
• the identities of company security holders who sold to our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of company security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates; and
• the number of company securities for which we received redemption requests pursuant to its redemption offer.
Conversion/Tender Rights
At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less any taxes then due but not yet paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. The redemption rights will be effected under our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and British Virgin Islands law as redemptions. If we hold a meeting to approve an initial business combination, a holder will always have the ability to vote against a proposed business combination and not seek conversion of its shares.
Alternatively, if we engage in a tender offer, each public shareholder will be provided the opportunity to sell his public shares to us in such tender offer. The tender offer rules require us to hold the tender offer open for at least 20 business days. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether they want to sell their public shares to us in the tender offer or remain an investor in our company.
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Our initial shareholders, officers and directors will not have redemption rights with respect to any ordinary shares owned by them, directly or indirectly, whether acquired prior to this offering or purchased by them in this offering or in the aftermarket.
We may also require public shareholders, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates (if any) to our transfer agent or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, at any time at or prior to the vote on the business combination. Once the shares are converted by the holder, and effectively redeemed by us under BVI law, the share registrar in the BVI will then update our register of members to reflect all conversions. The proxy solicitation materials that we will furnish to shareholders in connection with the vote for any proposed business combination will indicate whether we are requiring shareholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a shareholder would have from the time our proxy statement is mailed through the vote on the business combination to deliver his shares if he wishes to seek to exercise his redemption rights. Under our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we are required to provide at least 7 clear calendar days’ advance notice of any shareholder meeting, which would be the minimum amount of time a shareholder would have to determine whether to exercise redemption rights. As a result, if we require public shareholders who wish to convert their ordinary shares into the right to receive a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account to comply with the foregoing delivery requirements, holders may not have sufficient time to receive the notice and deliver their shares for conversion. Accordingly, investors may not be able to exercise their redemption rights and may be forced to retain our securities when they otherwise would not want to.
There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the converting holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated. However, in the event we require shareholders seeking to exercise redemption rights to deliver their shares prior to the consummation of the proposed business combination and the proposed business combination is not consummated, this may result in an increased cost to shareholders.
Any request to convert or tender such shares once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote on the proposed business combination or expiration of the tender offer. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of their conversion or tender and subsequently decides prior to the vote on the business combination or the expiration of the tender offer not to elect to exercise such rights, it may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).
If the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public shareholders who elected to exercise their conversion or tender rights would not be entitled to convert their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any shares delivered by public holders.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation of Trust Account if No Business Combination
If we do not complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering, our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that we will: (i) as promptly as practicable cease all operations except for the purpose of making redemption and the subsequent winding up of the Company’s affairs; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible, but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our income taxes or for use as our working capital, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (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 our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to our obligations under BVI law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within such time period, we will, as promptly as possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of our outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not necessary to pay our
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taxes or for use as our working capital, then seek to liquidate and dissolve. However, we may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders. In the event of our liquidation and subsequent dissolution, the public rights will expire and will be worthless.
The amount in the trust account will be treated as funds distributable under the Companies Act provided that immediately following the date on which the proposed distribution is proposed to be made, we are able to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. If we are forced to liquidate the trust account, we anticipate that we would distribute to our public shareholders the amount in the trust account calculated as of the date that is two (2) days prior to the distribution date (including any accrued interest net of taxes payable and any portion thereof that is released to us). Prior to such distribution, we would be required to assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us by our creditors for amounts they are actually owed and make provision for such amounts, as creditors take priority over our public shareholders with respect to amounts that are owed to them. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims of creditors to the extent of distributions received by them as an unlawful payment in the event we enter an insolvent liquidation. Furthermore, while we will seek to have all vendors and service providers (which would include any third parties we engaged to assist us in any way in connection with our search for a target business) and prospective target businesses execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account or that a court would conclude that such agreements are legally enforceable.
Each of our initial shareholders and our officers and directors have agreed to waive their respective rights to participate in any liquidation of our trust account or other assets with respect to the insider shares and private units and to vote their insider shares, private shares in favor of any dissolution and plan of distribution which we submit to a vote of shareholders. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our rights, which will expire worthless.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination and expend all of the net proceeds of this offering, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the initial per-share redemption price from the trust account would be $10.00.
The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would be prior to the claims of our public shareholders. Although we will seek to have all vendors, including lenders for money borrowed, prospective target businesses or other entities we engage execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public shareholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refused to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, we would perform an analysis of the alternatives available to us if we chose not to engage such third party and evaluate if such engagement would be in the best interest of our shareholders if such third party refused to waive such claims. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refused to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a provider of required services willing to provide the waiver. In any event, our management would perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and would only enter into an agreement with a third party that did not execute a waiver if management believed that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason.
Our sponsor has agreed that, if we liquidate the trust account prior to the consummation of a business combination, it will be liable to pay debts and obligations to target businesses or vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us in excess of the net proceeds of this offering not held in the trust account, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that such debts or obligations do not reduce the amounts in the trust account and only if such parties have not executed a waiver agreement. However, we cannot assure you that it will be able to satisfy those obligations if it is required to do so. Accordingly, the actual per-share redemption price could be less than $10.00 due to claims of creditors. Additionally, if we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an
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involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return to our public shareholders at least $10.00 per share.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than us and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there may be numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources.
The following also may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses:
• our obligation to seek shareholder approval of a business combination or obtain the necessary financial information to be sent to shareholders in connection with such business combination may delay or prevent the completion of a transaction;
• our obligation to redeem public shares held by our public shareholders may reduce the resources available to us for a business combination;
• NASDAQ may require us to file a new listing application and meet its initial listing requirements to maintain the listing of our securities following a business combination;
• our outstanding rights and the potential future dilution they represent;
• our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting fees and commissions to the underwriters upon consummation of our initial business combination;
• our obligation to either repay or issue units upon conversion of up to $500,000 of working capital loans that may be made to us by our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates;
• our obligation to register the resale of the insider shares, as well as the private units (and underlying securities) and any securities issued to our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans; and
• the impact on the target business’ assets as a result of unknown liabilities under the securities laws or otherwise depending on developments involving us prior to the consummation of a business combination.
Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. Our management believes, however, that our status as a public entity and potential access to the United States public equity markets may give us a competitive advantage over privately held entities having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business with significant growth potential on favorable terms.
If we succeed in effecting a business combination, there will be, in all likelihood, intense competition from competitors of the target business. We cannot assure you that, subsequent to a business combination, we will have the resources or ability to compete effectively.
Facilities
We maintain our principal executive office at 2/F, Hang Seng Building, 200 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Employees
We have two executive officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to our affairs. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for the business combination and the stage of the business combination process the company is in. Accordingly, once management locates a
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suitable target business to acquire, they will spend more time investigating such target business and negotiating and processing the business combination (and consequently spend more time to our affairs) than they would prior to locating a suitable target business. We presently expect our executive officers to devote such amount of time as they reasonably believe is necessary to our business (which could range from only a few hours a week while we are trying to locate a potential target business to a majority of their time as we move into serious negotiations with a target business for a business combination). We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the consummation of a business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
We will register our units, ordinary shares and rights under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual report will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
We will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of any proxy solicitation sent to shareholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, the financial information included in the proxy solicitation materials will need to be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. The financial statements may also be required to be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the Form 8-K announcing the closing of an initial business combination, which would need to be filed within four business days thereafter. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have the necessary financial information. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.
We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act beginning for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
We are an emerging growth company as defined in in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile. We will remain such for up to five years. However, we issue our non-convertible debt within a three-year period or our total revenues exceed $1.235 billion or the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year. As an emerging growth company, we have elected, under Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act, to take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any of our officers or directors in their capacity as such, and we and our officers and directors have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 12 months preceding the date of this prospectus.
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities
There are enforcement risks related to civil liabilities due to our sponsor having ties to Hong Kong. Moreover, three of our five officers and directors are based in China, or have ties to the PRC and/or Hong Kong, namely Yangyujia An, our Chief Financial Officer and Director, and two of our independent directors, Zhengming Feng and Donghu Xu. Because of such ties of our sponsor, officers and directors to the PRC and/or Hong Kong, we may be governed by PRC
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laws and regulations. In addition, we may seek to acquire a company that is based in mainland China or Hong Kong in an initial business combination, in which circumstance the uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations would apply to us regardless of whether we have a VIE structure or direct ownership structure post-business combination.
There is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the mainland China or Hong Kong would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against the officers and directors predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state. China does not have any treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In Hong Kong, judgment of United States courts against us or against our directors or executive officers residing in Hong Kong, including those based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws, will not be directly enforceable in Hong Kong. There are currently no treaties or other arrangements providing for reciprocal enforcement of foreign judgments between Hong Kong and the United States.
Furthermore, there would be additional costs and issues with bringing an original action in foreign courts against the combined company or the officers and directors to enforce liabilities based upon the U.S. Federal securities laws, and they still may be fruitless.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may find it more difficult to enforce liabilities and enforce judgments on individual directors and executive officers, and may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company.
See “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” and “Risk Factors — Because we are incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, our principal office is located in Hong Kong and most of our executive officers and directors are located outside the United States, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal or state courts may be limited.”
Comparison to Offerings of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419
The following table compares and contrasts the terms of our offering and the terms of an offering of blank check companies under Rule 419 promulgated by the SEC assuming that the gross proceeds, underwriting discounts and underwriting expenses for the Rule 419 offering are the same as this offering and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the terms of a Rule 419 offering will apply to this offering because we will be listed on a national securities exchange, we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,001 (after payment of deferred underwriting fees and commissions and net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) upon the successful consummation of this offering and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact.
| | Terms of the Offering | | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
Escrow of offering proceeds | | $60,000,000 (or $69,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of the net offering proceeds and proceeds from the sale of the private units will be deposited into a trust account in the United States, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee. | | $52,425,000 of the offering proceeds would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account. |
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| | Terms of the Offering | | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
Investment of net proceeds | | The $60,000,000 (or $69,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of the net offering proceeds and proceeds from the sale of the private units held in trust will only be invested in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in United States government treasury securities. | | Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States. |
Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business | | The initial target business that we acquire must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in our trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. We will not be required to comply with the 80% fair market value requirement if we are delisted from NASDAQ. | | We would be restricted from acquiring a target business unless the fair value of such business or net assets to be acquired represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds. |
Trading of securities issued | | The units may commence trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The ordinary shares and rights comprising the units will begin to trade separately on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless the underwriters informs us of their decision to allow earlier separate trading (based upon its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets and small capitalization and blank check companies in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in particular), provided we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K, which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the proceeds of this offering. | | No trading of the units or the underlying securities would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account. |
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| | Terms of the Offering | | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
Election to remain an investor | | We will either (1) give our shareholders the opportunity to vote on the business combination or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us in a tender offer for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account less taxes payable. If we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination, we will send each shareholder a proxy statement containing information required by the SEC. Under our second amended and memorandum and articles of association, we must provide at least 7 clear calendar days advance notice of any meeting of shareholders. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether to exercise their rights to convert their shares into cash at such a meeting or to remain an investor in our company. Alternatively, if we do not hold a meeting and instead conduct a tender offer, we will conduct such tender offer in accordance with the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as we would have included in a proxy statement. The tender offer rules require us to hold the tender offer open for at least 20 business days. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether they want to sell their shares to us in the tender offer or remain an investor in our company. | | A prospectus containing information required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company, in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of the post-effective amendment, to decide whether he or she elects to remain a shareholder of the company or require the return of his or her investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account would automatically be returned to the shareholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all of the deposited funds in the escrow account must be returned to all investors and none of the securities will be issued. |
Business combination deadline | | Pursuant to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if we do not complete an initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) as promptly as practicable cease all operations except for the purpose of making redemption and the subsequent winding up of the Company’s affairs; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our income taxes or for use as our working capital, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public | | If an acquisition has not been consummated within 18 after the effective date of the initial registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account would be returned to investors. |
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| | Terms of the Offering | | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
| | shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (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 our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to our obligations under British Virgin Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. | | |
Interest earned on the funds in the trust account | | There can be released to us, from time to time any interest earned on the funds in the trust account that we may need to pay our tax obligations and 10% of the interest earned on the funds in the trust account will be released to us for use as working capital. The remaining interest earned on the funds in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and our entry into liquidation upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. | | All interest earned on the funds in the trust account will be held in trust for the benefit of public shareholders until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and our liquidation upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. |
Release of funds | | Except for interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations or for use as our working capital, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination (in which case, the proceeds released to us will be net of the funds used to pay converting or tendering shareholders, as the trustee will directly send the appropriate portion of the amount held in trust to the converting or tendering shareholders at the time of the business combination) and the liquidation of our trust account upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. | | The proceeds held in the escrow account would not be released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. |
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MANAGEMENT
Directors and Executive Officers
Our current directors and executive officers, their ages and positions are as follows:
Name | | Age | | Position |
Satoshi Tominaga | | 46 | | Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Yangyujia An | | 29 | | Chief Financial Officer and Director |
Zhengming Feng | | 81 | | Independent Director and Chairperson of the Board of Directors |
Donghu Xu | | 44 | | Independent Director |
Min Zhang | | 28 | | Independent Director |
Below is a summary of the business experience of each our executive officers and directors:
Satoshi Tominaga. Mr. Tominaga has been serving as our chief executive officer since March 2024. He has over two decades of extensive experience in investment and private equity specializing in the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sector. Mr. Tominaga has been a managing partner at Norwich Capital Limited since October 2020. Prior to this, he was a managing partner at DeTiger Equity Fund in Asia from May 2016 to June 2020. As a managing partner of DeTiger Equity Fund, he has investment experience in blockchain technology projects, including DeFi, exchanges, payments, lending, crypto trading, healthcare, data science, supply chain, internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data analysis, and other fintech related projects.
From November 2017 to December 2020, Mr. Tominaga served as an independent director to Tottenham Acquisition I Limited (Nasdaq: TOTA), a SPAC which successfully completed a merger with Clene Nanomedicine Inc., and subsequently, operated under the name Clene Inc. (Nasdaq: CLNN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases in December 2020. As of June 17, 2024, the reported closing sale price of Clene Inc. on The Nasdaq Capital Market was $0.37 per share. From November 2014 to February 2016, Mr. Tominaga served as managing director who was responsible as the investment head of Japan at Fosun International Limited, one of the largest privately owned conglomerates holding companies in China. From October 2010 to September 2014, Mr. Tominaga served as executive director in Hong Kong for SBI Holdings Inc., an internet-based financial conglomerate spun off from tech giant Softbank. Before SBI Holdings Inc., Mr. Tominaga was assistant vice president at Daiwa Capital Markets Hong Kong Limited, an investment banking company under Daiwa Securities Group, from September 2008 to September 2010. Mr. Tominaga joined Daiwa Securities Group in Japan to serve as a sales trader from January 2008 to September 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Tominaga served as a private equity analyst at Calyon Capital Market Asia in Japan, from January 2007 to December 2007. Mr. Tominaga started his career as an analyst, eventually becoming a project leader at NTT DoCoMo Inc., the largest telecommunications company in Japan, from October 2003 to December 2006.
Mr. Tominaga earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California in 2003 and a joint master’s degree in Global Finance from New York University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2013.
We believe that Mr. Tominaga is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive experience in investment and private equity specializing in the TMT sector as well as his experience in completion of a successful de-SPAC.
Yangyujia An. Ms. An has been serving as our chief financial officer since March 2024. She has a wealth of experience in SPAC transactions, from IPOs to closings of initial business combination.
Since 2020, she has been the vice-chairperson of Norwich Capital Limited, a boutique firm that focuses on SPACs and provides services including sponsoring and listing support of SPACs. Prior to that, she also worked as an investment manager at Norwich Investment Limited from 2018 to 2020. Ms. An received her bachelor’s degree in Information Systems and Finance from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2017.
We believe that Ms. An is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on her strong operational and prior SPAC experience.
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Zhengming Feng. Mr. Feng has been serving as our chairman and independent director since March 2024. He has an extensive background in equity investment spanning over twenty years, as well as experience in various industries ranging from aviation to energy to technology.
Mr Feng currently serves as chairman at investment firms Yonghe Capital Group and Yongmei Lianhe (Shanghai) Investment Management Co., Ltd., each of which he joined in July 2021. Previously, from December 2009 to June 2021, Mr. Feng was Managing Director of SB China Venture Capital (SBCVC), a leading venture capital firm that manages both USD and RMB funds investing in high-tech, high growth companies in TMT, clean technology, healthcare, consumer/retail, and advanced manufacturing. SBCVC has successfully invested in various notable companies such as Alibaba, Taobao, Focus Media, Global Data Solutions (Nasdaq:GDS), BGI Genomics, Ankon Technologies, Dian Diagnostics, and Edan Instruments, among others.
Mr. Feng was chief executive officer of China Environment Ltd., an environmental protection technology company listed in Singapore, from November 2008 to November 2009. He was also the executive director, executive deputy general manager and general manager at Tsinghua Tongfang Environment Co., Ltd., a Chinese state-owned software company, from September 2004 to October 2008, as well as the General Manager of Tongfang (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. From March 1999 to August 2004, Mr. Feng was the deputy general manager and chief economist of China Machinery Energy Group, where he helped orchestrate the cooperation between the Chinese and German governments in the production of key equipment for gas engines. Within the same period, from April 1999 to May 2004, Mr. Feng also served as an energy adviser to China’s State Bureau of Metallurgical Industry, and from June 1999 to July 2004, served as vice chairman and chief economist of AECC Aero-Engine Control Co., Ltd.. Prior to this, from January 1969 to February 1999, Mr. Feng served various roles including party committee member, manager, and deputy factory director at Hangzhou Boiler Group Co., Ltd, a company committed to the R&D, manufacturing, and sales of industrial boilers, pressure vessels and other products.
Mr. Feng received his bachelor’s degree in Sports Psychology from Hangzhou University (now Zhejiang University) in May 1963. He went on to complete a certification course in Economic Management Studies from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in 1990, and also became a visiting scholar for Economic Management, International Finance and International Trade at the University of Southern California from August 1992 to June 1993.
We believe that Mr. Feng is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his multiple decades of experience and networks in major companies over a wide range of industries.
Donghui Xu. Mr. Xu has been serving as our independent director since March 2024.
Since December 2014, Mr. Xu has been the legal representative and managing director for investment firm Yongmei Lianhe (Shanghai) Investment Management Co., Ltd. He also serves as a director and deputy general manager of Zhejiang Yong Zheng Shen He Enterprise Management Co., Ltd, which he joined in December 2022, and as a director and shareholder of venture capital firm JingWei Capital Holding Group Co., Ltd. since June 2023.
From September 2013 to November 2014, Mr. Xu was general manager at Beijing Mainstaysource Technology Development Co., Ltd. He served Beijing Billion Power Health Technology Co., Ltd. as deputy general manager from July 2010 to June 2013. Mr. Xu began his career as a project manager at Beijing Delta Consulting Co., Ltd. from October 2007 to May 2010.
Mr. Xu received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics from Stockholm University in August 2004. He also went on to earn a Master of Accounting and Finance from Umeå University and a Master of Business Administration from Lund University in February 2007.
We believe that Mr. Xu is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his leadership experience across several prominent companies, coupled with his strong foundation in both the operational and financial aspects of business management.
Min Zhang. Ms. Zhang has been serving as our independent director since March 2024. She has a comprehensive background in traditional IPOs, reverse M&A and SPAC listings in the U.S., having been a key player in the operational and administrative processes of several SPAC listings and reverse merger transactions.
She currently serves as a consultant at Norwich Capital Limited, a boutique firm focused on SPAC sponsoring, SPAC listing support services, and M&A and IPO support services, which she joined in April 2020 as her first employment.
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Ms. Zhang received a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from Monash University in April 2020.
We believe that Ms. Zhang is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on her operational and prior experience with SPACs.
Executive Officer and Director Compensation
No compensation was awarded to, earned by, or paid to our officers or directors for the last completed fiscal year. Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on NASDAQ through the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will pay to our sponsor $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of our management team. In addition, our sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of these out-of-pocket expenses and there will be no review of the reasonableness of the expenses by anyone other than our board of directors and audit committee, which includes persons who may seek reimbursement, or a court of competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company. All these fees will be fully disclosed to shareholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our shareholders in connection with a proposed business combination. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining executive officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our executive officers will be determined by a compensation committee constituted solely of independent directors.
We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our executive officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after the initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Director Independence
NASDAQ requires that a majority of our board must be composed of “independent directors.” Currently, Mr. Zhengming Feng, Mr. Donghui Xu, and Ms. Min Zhang would each be considered an “independent director” under the NASDAQ listing rules, which is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship, which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our Independent Directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
We will only enter into a business combination if it is approved by a majority of our independent directors. Additionally, we will only enter into transactions with our officers and directors and their respective affiliates that are on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any related-party transactions must also be approved by our audit committee and a majority of disinterested independent directors.
Audit Committee
Under the NASDAQ listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have three members of the audit committee all of whom must be independent. Effective as of the date of this prospectus, we have established an audit committee of the board of directors, which will consist of Mr. Zhengming Feng, Mr. Donghui Xu, and Ms. Min Zhang, each of whom is an independent director under NASDAQ’s listing standards. Ms. Min Zhang is the Chairperson of the audit committee. The audit committee’s duties, which are specified in our Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:
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• reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our Form 10-K;
• discussing with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements;
• discussing with management major risk assessment and risk management policies;
• monitoring the independence of the independent auditor;
• verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law;
• inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
• pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed;
• appointing or replacing the independent auditor;
• determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work; and
• establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies.
Financial Experts on Audit Committee
The audit committee will at all times be composed exclusively of independent directors who are “financially literate” as defined under NASDAQ listing standards. NASDAQ listing standards define “financially literate” as being able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement.
In addition, we must certify to NASDAQ that the committee has, and will continue to have, at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience or background that results in the individual’s financial sophistication. The board of directors has determined that Ms. Min Zhang is qualified as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under rules and regulations of the SEC.
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
Effective as of the date of this prospectus, we have established a corporate governance and nominating committee of the board of directors, which will consist of Mr. Zhengming Feng, Mr. Donghui Xu, and Ms. Min Zhang, each of whom is an independent director under NASDAQ’s listing standards. Mr. Zhengming Feng is the Chairperson of the corporate governance and nominating committee. The corporate governance and nominating committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on our board of directors. The corporate governance and nominating committee considers persons identified by its members, management, shareholders, investment bankers and others.
Guidelines for Selecting Director Nominees
The guidelines for selecting nominees, which are specified in the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Charter, generally provide that persons to be nominated:
• should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service;
• should possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the board of directors and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and
• should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the shareholders.
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The corporate governance and nominating committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The corporate governance and nominating committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our shareholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of shareholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of shareholders). Our shareholders that wish to nominate a director for election to the board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our memorandum and articles of association. The corporate governance and nominating committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by shareholders and other persons.
Compensation Committee
Effective as of the date of this prospectus, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors, which will consist of Mr. Zhengming Feng, Mr. Donghui Xu, and Ms. Min Zhang, each of whom is an independent director under NASDAQ’s listing standards. Mr. Donghui Xu is the Chairperson of the compensation committee. The compensation committee’s duties, which are specified in our Compensation Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:
• reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;
• reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers;
• reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;
• implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
• reviewing and approving the compensation disclosure and analysis prepared by Company management to be included in our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
• approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers and employees; and
• reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing shareholders, including our directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination. Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial business combination.
Code of Conduct and Ethics
Upon consummation of this offering, we will adopt a code of conduct and ethics that applies to all of our executive officers, directors and employees. The code of conduct and ethics codifies the business and ethical principles that govern all aspects of our business.
Conflicts of Interest
Potential investors should be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:
• None of our officers and directors is required to commit their full time to our affairs and, accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time among various business activities.
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• In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to our company as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our management has pre-existing fiduciary duties and contractual obligations and may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
• Our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities, including other blank check companies, engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by our company.
• The insider shares owned by our officers and directors will be released from escrow only if a business combination is successfully completed and subject to certain other limitations. Additionally, our officers and directors will not receive distributions from the trust account with respect to any of their insider shares if we do not complete a business combination. Furthermore, our initial shareholders have agreed that the private units will not be sold or transferred by them until after we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, our officers and directors may loan funds to us after this offering and may be owed reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with certain activities on our behalf which would only be repaid if we complete an initial business combination. For the foregoing reasons, the personal and financial interests of our directors and executive officers may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, completing a business combination in a timely manner and securing the release of their shares.
Under British Virgin Islands law, directors owe the company the following fiduciary responsibilities:
• duty to act in good faith in and with a view to what the director believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole;
• duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose and directors shall not act, or agree to act, in a matter that contravenes the Companies Act or the memorandum and articles of association;
• duty to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonable director would exercise in the circumstances taking into account, without limitation:
(a) the nature of the company;
(b) the nature of the decision; and
(c) the position of the director and the nature of the responsibilities undertaken by him;
• directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion;
• duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests; and
• duty to exercise independent judgment.
The Companies Act provides that, a director of a company shall, immediately after becoming aware of the fact that he is interested in a transaction entered into, or to be entered into, by the company, disclose the interest to the board of the company. However, the failure of a director to disclose that interest does not affect the validity of a transaction entered into by the director or the company, so long as the transaction was not required to be disclosed because the transaction is between the company and the director himself and is in the ordinary course of business and on usual terms and conditions. Additionally, the failure of a director to disclose an interest does not affect the validity of the transaction entered into by the company if (1) the material facts of the interest of the director in the transaction are known by the shareholders and the transaction is approved or ratified by a resolution of shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders or (2) the company received fair value for the transaction.
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Pursuant to the Companies Act and the company’s second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, so long as a director has disclosed any interests in a transaction entered into or to be entered into by the company to the board, he/she may:
(1) vote on a matter relating to the transaction;
(2) attend a meeting of directors at which a matter relating to the transaction arises and be included among the directors present at the meeting for the purposes of a quorum; and
(3) sign a document on behalf of the company or do any other thing in his capacity as a director, that relates to the transaction.
As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position. However, in some instances what would otherwise be a breach of this duty can be forgiven and/or authorized in advance by the shareholders provided that there is full disclosure by the directors. This can be done by way of permission granted in the second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or alternatively by shareholder approval at general meetings.
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise when our board evaluates a particular business opportunity with respect to the above-listed criteria. We cannot assure you that any of the above-mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor. Furthermore, most of our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary obligations to other businesses of which they are officers or directors. To the extent they identify business opportunities which may be suitable for the entities to which they owe pre-existing fiduciary obligations, our officers and directors will honor those fiduciary obligations. Accordingly, it is possible they may not present opportunities to us that otherwise may be attractive to us unless the entities to which they owe pre-existing fiduciary obligations and any successors to such entities have declined to accept such opportunities.
In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple corporate affiliations, each of our officers and directors has contractually agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, until the earliest of a business combination, our liquidation or such time as he ceases to be an officer or director, to present to our company for our consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any suitable business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be presented to us, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations he might have.
The following table summarizes the other relevant pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations of our officers and directors:
Name of Individual | | Name of Affiliated Company | | Affiliation |
Satoshi Tominaga | | Norwich Capital Limited | | Managing Partner |
Yangyujia An | | Norwich Capital Limited | | Vice Chairperson |
Zhengming Feng | | Yongho Capital Group | | Chairman |
| | Yongmei Lianhe (Shanghai) Investment Management Co., Ltd. | | Chairman |
Donghui Xu | | Zhejiang Yong Zheng Shen He Enterprise Management Co., Ltd | | Director and Deputy General Manager |
| | Yongmei Lianhe (Shanghai) Investment Management Co., Ltd. | | Legal Representative and Managing Director |
Min Zhang | | Norwich Capital Limited | | Independent Consultant |
In connection with the vote required for any business combination, all of our existing shareholders, including all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote their respective insider shares and private shares in favor of any proposed business combination. In addition, they have agreed to waive their respective rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to those ordinary shares acquired by them prior to this offering. If they purchase ordinary shares in this offering or in the open market, however, they would be entitled to participate in any liquidation
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distribution in respect of such shares but have agreed not to convert such shares (or sell their shares in any tender offer) in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination or an amendment to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to pre-business combination activity.
All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by our audit committee and a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors, or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our audit committee and a majority of our disinterested “independent” directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate our initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our officers, directors or initial shareholders, unless we have obtained (i) an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view and (ii) the approval of a majority of our disinterested and independent directors (if we have any at that time). Furthermore, in no event will any of our initial shareholders, officers, directors, special advisors or their respective affiliates be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other similar compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our memorandum and articles of association provide that, subject to certain limitations, the company shall indemnify its directors and officers against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with legal, administrative or investigative proceedings. Such indemnity only applies if the person acted honestly and in good faith with a view to what the person believes is in the best interests of the company and, in the case of criminal proceedings, the person had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful. The decision of the directors as to whether the person acted honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the company and as to whether the person had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful and is, in the absence of fraud, sufficient for the purposes of the memorandum and articles of association, unless a question of law is involved. The termination of any proceedings by any judgment, order, settlement, conviction or the entering of a nolle prosequi does not, by itself, create a presumption that the person did not act honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the company or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our memorandum and articles of association. Our memorandum and articles of association also will permit us to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any officer or director who at the request of the Company is or was serving as a director or officer of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another company or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by the person in that capacity, whether or not the company has or would have had the power to indemnify the person against the liability as provided in the memorandum and articles of association. We will purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.
These provisions may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary responsibilities. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. Furthermore, shareholders’ investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is theretofore unenforceable.
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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of the date of this prospectus and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our ordinary shares included in the units offered by this prospectus (assuming none of the individuals listed purchase units in this offering), by:
• each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares;
• each of our officers and directors; and
• all of our officers and directors as a group.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record of beneficial ownership of any ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of rights as the rights are not convertible within sixty days of the date of this prospectus.
| | Prior to Offering | | After Offering(2) |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | | Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Ordinary Shares | | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | | Approximate Percentage of Outstanding Ordinary Shares |
YHN Partners I Limited(3) | | 1,600,000 | | 92.75 | % | | 1,375,000 | | 18.33 | % |
Satoshi Tominaga | | 30,000 | | 1.74 | % | | 30,000 | | 0.40 | % |
Yangyujia An | | 30,000 | | 1.74 | % | | 30,000 | | 0.40 | % |
Zhengming Feng | | 25,000 | | 1.45 | % | | 25,000 | | 0.33 | % |
Donghui Xu | | 20,000 | | 1.16 | % | | 20,000 | | 0.27 | % |
Min Zhang | | 20,000 | | 1.16 | % | | 20,000 | | 0.27 | % |
All directors and executive officers (five individuals) as a group | | 125,000 | | 7.25 | % | | 125,000 | | 1.67 | % |
Immediately after this offering and after consummation of the private placement, our initial shareholders will beneficially own approximately 22.58% of the then issued and outstanding ordinary shares (assuming none of them purchase any units offered by this prospectus and no over-allotment option is exercised). None of our initial shareholders, officers and directors has indicated to us that he or she intends to purchase securities in this offering. Because of the ownership block held by our initial shareholders, such individuals may be able to effectively exercise control over all matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions other than approval of our initial business combination.
If the underwriters do not exercise all or a portion of the over-allotment option, our sponsor will have up to an aggregate of 225,000 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture. Our initial shareholders will be required to have redeemed by us only a number of shares necessary to maintain their collective 20.0% ownership interest in our ordinary shares (excluding the private units) after giving effect to the offering and the exercise, if any, of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
All of the insider shares issued and outstanding prior to the date of this prospectus will be placed in escrow with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as escrow agent until (1) the earlier of 180 days after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination; or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction
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which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the insider shares will be released from the Lock-Up (1) on the earlier of 150 days after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination if the closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Up to 225,000 of the insider shares may also be released from escrow earlier than this date for forfeiture and cancellation if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full as described above. Additionally, our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of private units (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private units) until 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein). Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any insider shares and private units, as applicable. However, if after our initial business combination, there is a transaction whereby all the outstanding shares are exchanged or redeemed for cash (as would be the case in a post-asset sale liquidation) or another issuer’s shares, then the insider shares or the private units (or any shares of Ordinary Shares thereunder) shall be permitted to participate. The permitted transferees shall mean (i) among the initial shareholders or to the initial shareholders’, Lucid Capital Markets or our officers, directors or their respective affiliates (including for transfers to an entity’s members upon its liquidation), (ii) to a holder’s shareholders or members upon the holder’s liquidation, in each case if the holder is an entity, (iii) by bona fide gift to a member of the holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the holder or a member of the holder’s immediate family, in each case 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) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, (vii) in connection with the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares were originally purchased, (viii) in the event of our liquidation prior to its consummation of an initial business combination or (ix) in the event that, subsequent to the consummation of an initial business combination, we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property, in each case (except for clauses (vi), (viii) or (ix) or with our prior written consent) on the condition that prior to such registration for transfer, the transfer agent shall be presented with written documentation pursuant to which each transferee or the trustee or legal guardian for such transferee agrees to be bound by the transfer restrictions contained in this paragraph and any other applicable agreement the transferor is bound by.
During the escrow period, the holders of these shares will not be able to sell or transfer their securities except (i) for transfers to our officers, directors or their respective affiliates (including for transfers to an entity’s members upon its liquidation), (ii) to relatives and trusts for estate planning purposes, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (iv) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (v) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of our securities, (vi) by private sales made at or prior to the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares were originally purchased or (vii) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, in each case (except for clause (vii)) where the transferee agrees to the terms of the escrow agreement, but will retain all other rights as our shareholders, including, without limitation, the right to vote their ordinary shares and the right to receive cash dividends, if declared. If dividends are declared and payable in ordinary shares, such dividends will also be placed in escrow. If we are unable to effect a business combination and liquidate the trust account, none of our initial shareholders will receive any portion of the liquidation proceeds with respect to their insider shares.
Our sponsor has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 250,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $2,500,000). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 14,400 additional private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100.0% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in trust regardless of whether the over-allotment option is exercised in full or in part. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering. Furthermore, our sponsor has agreed (A) to vote the ordinary shares underlying the private units, or “private shares,” in favor of any proposed business combination,
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(B) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would stop our public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to us in connection with a business combination or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering unless we provide public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares from the trust account in connection with any such vote, (C) not to convert any private shares for cash from the trust account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve our proposed initial business combination or a vote to amend the provisions of our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity and (D) that the private shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. The purchasers of the private units have also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the insider shares) until 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $500,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. Our shareholders have approved the issuance of the units and underlying securities upon conversion of such notes, to the extent the holder wishes to so convert them at the time of the consummation of our initial business combination. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available.
Our sponsor and our executive officers and directors are deemed to be our “promoters,” as that term is defined under the Federal securities laws.
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CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
As of the date of this prospectus, we have issued an aggregate of 1,725,000 insider shares for $25,000, or approximately $0.01 per share. In December 2023, we issued 10,000 ordinary shares for $1,000 to an initial subscriber, who subsequently transferred such 10,000 ordinary shares to our sponsor. In April 2024, we further issued 1,715,000 insider shares to our sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $24,000. Our sponsor subsequently transferred an aggregate of 125,000 insider shares to other initial shareholders.
If the underwriters do not exercise all or a portion of their over-allotment option, our sponsor has agreed that up to an aggregate of 225,000 ordinary shares in proportion to the portion of the over-allotment option that was not exercised are subject to forfeiture and would be immediately cancelled.
If the underwriters determine the size of the offering should be increased (including pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act) or decreased, a share capitalization or a contribution back to capital, as applicable, would be effectuated in order to maintain our initial shareholders’ ownership at a percentage of the number of shares to be sold in this offering.
Our sponsor has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 250,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $2,500,000). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters, it will purchase from us at a price of $10.00 per private unit an additional number of private units (up to a maximum of 14,400 additional private units) pro rata with the amount of the over-allotment option exercised so that at least $10.00 per share sold to the public (or 100.0% of the gross proceeds) in this offering is held in trust regardless of whether the over-allotment option is exercised in full or in part. These additional private units will be purchased in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the purchase of units resulting from the exercise of the over-allotment option. The purchase price for the private units being purchased by our sponsor will be delivered to Loeb & Loeb LLP, our counsel in connection with this offering, who will also be acting solely as escrow agent in connection with the private sale of such units, at least 24 hours prior to the date of this prospectus to hold in a non-interest-bearing account until we consummate this offering. Loeb & Loeb LLP will deposit the purchase price into the trust account simultaneously with the consummation of the offering. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering except as otherwise described in this prospectus. The purchasers have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or the underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the insider shares) until 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial shareholders, officers and directors and their respective affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $500,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. Our shareholders have approved the issuance of the units and underlying securities upon conversion of such notes, to the extent the holder wishes to so convert them at the time of the consummation of our initial business combination. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available.
The holders of our insider shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units (and all underlying securities) and any securities our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the insider shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these ordinary shares are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the private units or securities issued in payment of working capital loans made to us can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
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As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our sponsor had loaned us an aggregate of $73,000 and $0, respectively to be used to pay formation expenses and a portion of the expenses of this offering. The loan is payable without interest on the date on which we consummate our initial public offering. We intend to repay this loan from the proceeds of this offering not being placed in the trust account. If we determine not to proceed with the offering, such amounts would not be repaid.
Other than the fees described above, no compensation or fees of any kind, including finder’s fees, consulting fees or other similar compensation, will be paid to any of our initial shareholders, officers or directors who owned our ordinary shares prior to this offering, or to any of their respective affiliates, prior to or with respect to the business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is).
We will reimburse our officers and directors for any reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf such as identifying and investigating possible target businesses and business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us; provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements and payments made to any initial shareholder or member of our management team, or our or their respective affiliates, and any reimbursements and payments made to members of our audit committee will be reviewed and approved by our board of directors, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval.
All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions, including the payment of any compensation, will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors (to the extent we have any) or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested “independent” directors (or, if there are no “independent” directors, our disinterested directors) determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.
Related Party Policy
Our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which we will adopt upon consummation of this offering, will require us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the board of directors (or the audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5% beneficial owner of our ordinary shares, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.
We also require each of our directors and executive officers to annually complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.
Our audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by our audit committee and a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors, or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our audit committee and a majority of our disinterested independent directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties. Additionally, we require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.
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These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
To further minimize potential conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate a business combination with an entity which is affiliated with any of our initial shareholders unless we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view. Furthermore, in no event will any of our existing officers, directors or initial shareholders, or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination.
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
General
We are a BVI business company (company number 2138495) and our affairs will be governed by our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (to be adopted by the Company with effect on or prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement), the Companies Act and common law of the British Virgin Islands. Based upon our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our authorized share capital consists of 500,000,000 ordinary shares with no par value each of a single class. As of the date of this prospectus, 1,725,000 ordinary shares are issued and outstanding, held by our initial shareholders. No preferred shares are issued or outstanding or authorized by our constitutional documents. The following description summarizes the material terms of our shares as set out more particularly in our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.
Units
Each unit consists of one ordinary share and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination. Each right entitles the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an ordinary share upon consummation of our initial business combination. In addition, we will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of British Virgin Islands Law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of ten in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination.
The ordinary shares and rights will begin to trade separately on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless the underwriters determine that an earlier date is acceptable (based upon, among other things, its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets and small capitalization companies in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in particular). In no event will the underwriters allow separate trading of the ordinary shares and rights until we file an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering.
We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet promptly upon the consummation of this offering. The audited balance sheet will reflect proceeds we receive from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date of this prospectus. If the over-allotment option is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K, or a new Form 8-K, to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in this Form 8-K, an amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K information indicating when separate trading of the ordinary shares and rights has commenced.
Ordinary Shares
Our shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. In connection with any vote held to approve our initial business combination, all of our initial shareholders, as well as all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote their respective ordinary shares owned by them immediately prior to this offering and any shares purchased in this offering or following this offering in the open market in favor of the proposed business combination.
We will proceed with the business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 (after payment of deferred underwriting fees and commissions, and net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) upon consummation of such business combination and a majority of the ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination. At least seven clear calendar days’ notice must be given for each general meeting (although we will provide whatever minimum number of days are required under federal securities laws). Shareholders may vote at meetings in person or by proxy.
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The members of our board of directors serve for the term, if any, fixed by the resolutions of shareholders or resolutions of directors appointing him/her. If no term is fixed on the appointment of a director, the director serves indefinitely until his/her earlier death, resignation or removal. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors. After the closing of a business combination, the Company may by ordinary resolution appoint any person to be a director or may by ordinary resolution remove any director.
Pursuant to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if we do not consummate a business combination by 18 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) as promptly as practicable cease all operations except for the purpose of making redemption and the subsequent winding up of the Company’s affairs; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our income taxes or for use as our working capital, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (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 our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to our obligations under British Virgin Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our initial shareholders have agreed to waive their rights to share in any distribution from the trust account with respect to their insider shares upon our winding up, liquidation and subsequent dissolution.
Our shareholders have no conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to the ordinary shares, except that public shareholders have the right to have their public shares converted to cash equal to their pro rata share of the trust account if they vote on the proposed business combination and the business combination is completed.
Register of Members
Under the Companies Act, the ordinary shares are deemed to be issued when the name of the shareholder is entered in our register of members. Our register of members will be maintained by our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, which will enter the name of Cede & Co in our register of members on the closing of this offering as nominee for each of the respective public shareholders. If (a) information that is required to be entered in the register of members is omitted from the register or is inaccurately entered in the register, or (b) there is unreasonable delay in entering information in the register, a shareholder of the company, or any person who is aggrieved by the omission, inaccuracy or delay, may apply to the British Virgin Islands courts for an order that the register be rectified, and the court may either refuse the application or order the rectification of the register, and may direct the company to pay all costs of the application and any damages the applicant may have sustained.
Rights
Except in cases where we are not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of a right will automatically receive one-tenth of an ordinary share upon consummation of our initial business combination, even if the holder of a public right converted all ordinary shares held by him, her or it in connection with the initial business combination or an amendment to our memorandum and articles of association with respect to our pre-business combination activities. In the event we will not be the surviving company upon completion of our initial business combination, each holder of ten rights will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the one share underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive his, her or its additional ordinary shares upon consummation of an initial business combination. The shares issuable upon exchange of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of ours). If we enter into a definitive agreement for a business combination in which we will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the ordinary shares will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into ordinary shares basis.
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We will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of British Virgin Islands Law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of ten in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we liquidate the funds held in the trust account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from our assets held outside of the trust account with respect to such rights, and the rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the rights upon consummation of an initial business combination. Additionally, in no event will we be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of a business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our then board of directors. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.
Our Transfer Agent and Rights Agent
The transfer agent for our ordinary shares and rights agent for our rights is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street 30th Floor, New York, NY 10004-1561.
Listing of our Securities
There is presently no public market for our units, ordinary shares, or rights. We have reserved the following trading symbols for the units, and the ordinary shares and rights once they begin separate trading: “YHNAU,” “YHNA,” and “YHNAR,” respectively. Although, after giving effect to this offering, we meet on a pro forma basis the minimum initial listing standards of NASDAQ, which generally only requires that we meet certain requirements relating to shareholders’ equity, market capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares and distribution requirements, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on NASDAQ as we might not meet certain continued listing standards.
Certain Differences in Corporate Law
Our corporate affairs are governed by our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the provisions of applicable British Virgin Islands law, including the Companies Act. The Companies Act differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the material differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements. The Companies Act provides for mergers as that expression is understood under United States corporate law. Under the Companies Act, two or more companies may either merge into one of such existing companies (the “surviving company”) or consolidate with both existing companies ceasing to exist and forming a new company (the “consolidated company”). The procedure for a merger or consolidation between the company and another company (which need not be a British Virgin Islands company, and which may be the company’s parent or subsidiary, but need not be) is set out in the Companies Act. The directors of the British Virgin Islands company or British Virgin Islands companies which are to merge or consolidate must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation which, with the exception of a merger between a parent company and its subsidiary, must also be approved by a resolution of a majority of the shareholders who are entitled to vote and actually vote at a quorate meeting of shareholders or by written resolution of the shareholders of the British Virgin Islands company or British Virgin Islands companies which are to merge. A foreign company which is able under the laws of its foreign
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jurisdiction to participate in the merger or consolidation is required by the Companies Act to comply with the laws of that foreign jurisdiction in relation to the merger or consolidation. The company must then execute articles of merger or consolidation, containing certain prescribed details. The plan and articles of merger or consolidation are then filed with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs in the British Virgin Islands. The Registrar then registers the articles of merger or consolidation and any amendment to the memorandum and articles of the surviving company in a merger or the memorandum and articles of association of the new consolidated company in a consolidation and issue a certificate of merger or consolidation (which is conclusive evidence of compliance with all requirements of the Companies Act in respect of the merger or consolidation). The merger is effective on the date that the articles of merger are registered with the Registrar or on such subsequent date, not exceeding thirty days, as is stated in the articles of merger or consolidation.
As soon as a merger becomes effective: (a) the surviving company or consolidated company (so far as is consistent with its memorandum and articles of association, as amended or established by the articles of merger or consolidation) has all rights, privileges, immunities, powers, objects and purposes of each of the constituent companies; (b) in the case of a merger, the memorandum and articles of association of any surviving company are automatically amended to the extent, if any, that changes to its amended memorandum and articles of association are contained in the articles of merger or, in the case of a consolidation, the memorandum and articles of association filed with the articles of consolidation are the memorandum and articles of the consolidated company; (c) assets of every description, including choses-in-action and the business of each of the constituent companies, immediately vest in the surviving company or consolidated company; (d) the surviving company or consolidated company is liable for all claims, debts, liabilities and obligations of each of the constituent companies; (e) no conviction, judgment, ruling, order, claim, debt, liability or obligation due or to become due, and no cause existing, against a constituent company or against any member, director, officer or agent thereof, is released or impaired by the merger or consolidation; and (f) no proceedings, whether civil or criminal, pending at the time of a merger by or against a constituent company, or against any member, director, officer or agent thereof, are abated or discontinued by the merger or consolidation; but: (i) the proceedings may be enforced, prosecuted, settled or compromised by or against the surviving company or consolidated company or against the member, director, officer or agent thereof; as the case may be; or (ii) the surviving company or consolidated company may be substituted in the proceedings for a constituent company. The Registrar shall strike off the register of companies each constituent company that is not the surviving company in the case of a merger and all constituent companies in the case of a consolidation.
If the directors determine it to be in the best interests of the company, it is also possible for a merger to be approved as a Court approved plan of arrangement or scheme of arrangement in accordance with the Companies Act. However, we do not anticipate the use of such statutory provisions because we expect the required terms of the initial business combination will be capable of being achieved through other means, such as a merger or consolidation (as described above), a share exchange, asset acquisition or control, through contractual arrangements, of an operating business.
Poison Pill Defenses. Under the Companies Act there are no provisions, which specifically prevent the issuance of preferred shares or any such other ‘poison pill’ measures. The second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company also do not contain any express prohibitions on the issuance of any preferred shares. Therefore, the directors without the approval of the holders of ordinary shares may issue preferred shares (if such shares have been created and authorized for issue by the Company) that have characteristics that may be deemed to be anti-takeover. Additionally, such a designation of shares may be used in connection with plans that are poison pill plans. However, as noted above under the Companies Act, a director in the exercise of his powers and performance of his duties is required to act honestly and in good faith in what the director believes to be the best interests of the Company.
Directors. Our directors are appointed by our shareholders. However, the directors may by resolution appoint a replacement director to fill a casual vacancy arising on the resignation, disqualification or death of a director. The replacement director will then hold office until the next annual general meeting at which the director he replaces would have been subject to retirement by rotation. Under our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a director may not be removed from office by a resolution of our shareholders prior to the consummation of our business combination. There is nothing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, which specifically prohibits or restricts the creation of cumulative voting rights for the election of our directors. Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting for such elections.
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There are no share ownership qualifications for directors. Meetings of our board of directors may be convened at any time by any of our directors.
A meeting of our board of directors will be quorate if at least a majority of the directors are present. At any meeting of our directors, each director, by his or her presence, is entitled to one vote. Questions arising at a meeting of our board of directors are required to be decided by simple majority votes of the directors present or represented at the meeting. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or deciding vote. Our board of directors also may pass resolutions without a meeting by unanimous written consent.
Agents. Our board of directors has the power to appoint any person (whether or not a director or other officer of the company) to be an agent of the company except that, as stated in our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Act, no agent shall be given any power or authority to amend the memorandum or the articles of association in place of the directors or members; to designate committees of directors; to delegate powers to a committee of directors; to appoint directors; to appoint an agent; to approve a plan of merger, consolidation or arrangement; or to make a declaration of solvency or to approve a liquidation plan. The resolution of directors appointing the agent may authorize the agent to appoint one or more substitutes or delegates to exercise some or all of the powers conferred on the agent. Our directors may remove an agent and may revoke or vary a power conferred on the agent.
Indemnification of Directors. Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, subject to certain limitations, the company shall indemnify its directors and officers against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with legal, administrative or investigative proceedings. Such indemnity only applies if the person acted honestly and in good faith with a view to what the person believed were in the best interests of the company and, in the case of criminal proceedings, the person had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful. The decision of the directors as to whether the person acted honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the company and as to whether the person had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful is, in the absence of fraud, sufficient for the purposes of the memorandum and articles of association, unless a question of law is involved. The termination of any proceedings by any judgment, order, settlement, conviction or the entering of a nolle prosequi does not, by itself, create a presumption that the person did not act honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the company or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Directors and Conflicts of Interest. As noted in the table above, pursuant to the Companies Act and the second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a director of a company who has an interest in a transaction and who has declared such interest to the other directors, may:
(a) vote on a matter relating to the transaction;
(b) attend a meeting of directors at which a matter relating to the transaction arises and be included among the directors present at the meeting for the purposes of a quorum; and
(c) sign a document on behalf of the Company, or do any other thing in his capacity as a director, that relates to the transaction.
Shareholders’ Suits. Our British Virgin Islands counsel is not aware of any reported class action having been brought in a British Virgin Islands court. The enforcement of the company’s rights will ordinarily be a matter for its directors.
In certain limited circumstances, a shareholder has the right to seek various remedies against the company in the event the directors are in breach of their duties under the Companies Act. Pursuant to Section 184B of the Companies Act, if a company or director of a company engages in, or proposes to engage in or has engaged in, conduct that contravenes the provisions of the Companies Act or the memorandum or articles of association of the company, the British Virgin Islands Court may, on application of a shareholder or director of the company, make an order directing the company or director to comply with, or restraining the company or director from engaging in conduct that contravenes the Companies Act or the memorandum or articles. Furthermore, pursuant to section 184I(1) of the Companies Act a shareholder of a company who considers that the affairs of the company have been, are being or likely to be, conducted in a manner that is, or any acts of the company have been, or are likely to be oppressive, unfairly discriminatory, or unfairly prejudicial to him in that capacity, may apply to the British Virgin Islands Court for an order which, inter alia, can require the company or any other person to pay compensation to the shareholders.
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The Companies Act provides for a series of remedies available to shareholders. Where a company incorporated under the Companies Act conducts some activity, which breaches the Act or the company’s memorandum and articles of association, the court can issue a restraining or compliance order. Under the Companies Act, a shareholder of a company may bring an action against the company for breach of a duty owed by the company to him as a member. A shareholder also may, with the permission of the British Virgin Islands Court, bring an action or intervene in a matter in the name of the company, in certain circumstances. Such actions are known as derivative actions. As noted above, the British Virgin Islands Court may only grant permission to bring a derivative action where the following circumstances apply:
• the company does not intend to bring, diligently continue or defend or discontinue proceedings; and
• it is in the interests of the company that the conduct of the proceedings not be left to the directors or to the determination of the shareholders as a whole.
• when considering whether to grant leave, the British Virgin Islands Court is also required to have regard to the following matters:
• whether the shareholder is acting in good faith;
• whether a derivative action is in the company’s best interests, taking into account the directors’ views on commercial matters;
• whether the action is likely to proceed;
• the costs of the proceedings; and
• whether an alternative remedy is available.
Any member of a company may apply to the British Virgin Islands Court under the Insolvency Act for the appointment of a liquidator to liquidate the company and the court may appoint a liquidator for the company if it is of the opinion that it is just and equitable to do so.
The Companies Act provides that any shareholder of a company is entitled to payment of the fair value of his shares upon dissenting from any of the following: (a) a merger if the company is a constituent company, unless the company is the surviving company and the member continues to hold the same or similar shares; (b) a consolidation if the company is a constituent company; (c) any sale, transfer, lease, exchange or other disposition of more than 50 per cent in value of the assets or business of the company if not made in the usual or regular course of the business carried on by the company but not including: (i) a disposition pursuant to an order of the court having jurisdiction in the matter, (ii) a disposition for money on terms requiring all or substantially all net proceeds to be distributed to the members in accordance with their respective interest within one year after the date of disposition, or (iii) a transfer pursuant to the power of the directors to transfer assets for the protection thereof; (d) a compulsory redemption of 10 per cent, or fewer of the issued shares of the company required by the holders of 90 percent, or more of the shares of the company pursuant to the terms of the Act; and (e) a plan of arrangement, if permitted by the British Virgin Islands Court.
Generally any other claims against a company by its shareholders must be based on the general laws of contract or tort applicable in the British Virgin Islands or their individual rights as shareholders as established by the company’s memorandum and articles of association. There are common law rights for the protection of shareholders that may be invoked, largely derived from English common law. Under the general English company law known as the rule in Foss v. Harbottle, a court will generally refuse to interfere with the management of a company at the insistence of a minority of its shareholders who express dissatisfaction with the conduct of the company’s affairs by the majority or the board of directors. However, every shareholder is entitled to seek to have the affairs of the company conducted properly according to law and the constituent documents of the corporation. As such, if those who control the company have persistently disregarded the requirements of company law or the provisions of the company’s memorandum and articles of association, then the courts may grant relief. Generally, the areas in which the courts will intervene are the following:
• a company is acting or proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of its authority;
• the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could only be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained;
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• the individual rights of the plaintiff shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed; or
• those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”
Under the law of Delaware, the rights of minority shareholders are similar to that which will be applicable to the shareholders of the company.
Compulsory Acquisition. Under the Companies Act, subject to any limitations in a company’s memorandum or articles, members holding 90% of the votes of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, and members holding 90% of the votes of the outstanding shares of each class of shares entitled to vote, may give a written instruction to the company directing the company to redeem the shares held by the remaining members. Upon receipt of such written instruction, the company shall redeem the shares specified in the written instruction, irrespective of whether or not the shares are by their terms redeemable. The company shall give written notice to each member whose shares are to be redeemed stating the redemption price and the manner in which the redemption is to be effected. A member whose shares are to be so redeemed is entitled to dissent from such redemption, and to be paid the fair value of his shares, as described under “Shareholders’ Suits” above.
Share Repurchases and Redemptions. As permitted by the Companies Act and our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, shares may be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired by us. Depending on the circumstances of the redemption or repurchase, our directors may need to determine that immediately following the redemption or repurchase we will be able to satisfy our debts as they fall due and the value of our assets exceeds our liabilities. Our directors may only exercise this power on our behalf, subject to the Companies Act, our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and to any applicable requirements imposed from time to time by the SEC, the Nasdaq Global Market or any other stock exchange on which our securities are listed.
Dividends. Subject to the Companies Act and our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our directors may declare dividends at a time and amount they think fit if they are satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that, immediately after distribution of the dividend, the value of our assets will exceed our liabilities and we will be able to pay our debts as they fall due. No dividend shall carry interest against us.
Rights of Non-resident or Foreign Shareholders and Disclosure of Substantial Shareholdings. There are no limitations imposed by our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
Untraceable Shareholders. Under our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we are entitled to sell any shares of a shareholder who is untraceable, as long as: (a) all checks, not being less than three in total number, for any sums payable in cash to the holder of such shares have remained uncashed for a period of 12 years; (b) we have not during that time or before the expiry of the three-month period referred to in (c) below received any indication of the existence of the shareholder or person entitled to such shares by death, bankruptcy or operation of law; and (c) upon expiration of the 12-year period, we have caused an advertisement to be published in newspapers, giving notice of our intention to sell these shares, and a period of three months or such shorter period has elapsed since the date of such advertisement. The net proceeds of any such sale shall belong to us, and when we receive these net proceeds we shall become indebted to the former shareholder for an amount equal to such net proceeds.
Transfer of Shares. Subject to any applicable restrictions set forth in our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or contractually agreed, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form, in the case of listed shares, in any manner permitted by and in accordance with the rules of the relevant exchange, or in any other form which our directors may approve.
Inspection of Books and Records. Under the Companies Act, members of the general public, on payment of a nominal fee, can obtain copies of the public records of a company available at the office of the Registrar which will include the company’s certificate of incorporation, its memorandum and articles of association (with any amendments) and records of license fees paid to date and will also disclose any articles of dissolution, articles of merger and a register of charges if the company has elected to file such a register. A member of a company is entitled, on giving written notice to the company, to inspect: (a) the memorandum and articles; (b) the register of members; (c) the register of directors; and (d) the minutes of meetings and resolutions of members and of those classes of members of which he is a member; and to make copies of or take extracts from the documents and records referred to in (a) to (d) above.
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Subject to the second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the directors may, if they are satisfied that it would be contrary to the company’s interests to allow a member to inspect any document, or part of a document, specified in (b), (c) or (d) above, refuse to permit the member to inspect the document or limit the inspection of the document, including limiting the making of copies or the taking of extracts from the records.
Where a company fails or refuses to permit a member to inspect a document or permits a member to inspect a document subject to limitations, that member may apply to the British Virgin Islands Court for an order that he should be permitted to inspect the document or to inspect the document without limitation.
Dissolution; Winding Up. As permitted by the Companies Act and our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we may be voluntarily liquidated under Part XII of the Companies Act by resolution of directors and resolution of shareholders if we have no liabilities or we are able to pay our debts as they fall due.
We also may be wound up in circumstances where we are insolvent in accordance with the terms of the Insolvency Act.
Anti-Money Laundering — British Virgin Islands
In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering we are required to adopt and maintain anti-money laundering procedures, and may require subscribers to provide evidence to verify their identity. Where permitted, and subject to certain conditions, we also may delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.
We reserve the right to request such information as is necessary to verify the identity of a subscriber. In the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information required for verification purposes, we may refuse to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally debited.
If any person resident in the British Virgin Islands knows or suspects that another person is engaged in money laundering or terrorist financing and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of their business the person will be required to report his belief or suspicion to the Financial Investigation Agency of the British Virgin Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Criminal Conduct Act 1997 (as amended). Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.
Our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without a resolution of members. As a matter of British Virgin Islands law, a resolution of members is passed where it has been approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes of the shares of a company’s shareholders who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting.
Our sponsor, who will beneficially own 22.58% of our ordinary shares upon the closing of this offering and after consummation of the private placement (assuming it does not purchase units in this offering and no over-allotment option is exercised), will participate in any vote to amend our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and will have the discretion to vote in any manner it chooses. Specifically, our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide, among other things, that:
• if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) as promptly as practicable cease all operations except for the purpose of making redemption and the subsequent winding up of the Company’s affairs, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the Company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) divided by the
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number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the Company’s obligations under the laws of the British Virgin Islands to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law;
• prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional ordinary shares that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination;
• although we do not intend to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or our officers, we are not prohibited from doing so. In the event we enter into such a transaction, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions for the type of company we are seeking to acquire or an independent accounting firm, that such a business combination is fair to the unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view and (ii) the approval of a majority of our disinterested and independent directors (if we have any at that time);
• if a shareholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act;
• so long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the NASDAQ and the approval by a majority of our board, including a majority of the independent directors, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the balance of funds in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting fees and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account, and net of funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination;
• If our shareholders approve an amendment to our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would (i) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to the other provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, we will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their ordinary shares upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares; and
• we will not effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In addition, our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that under no circumstances will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 (after payment of deferred underwriting fees and commissions and net of taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and funds previously released to the company to pay our taxes or for use as working capital) upon consummation of our initial business combination.
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Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
We are authorized to issue a maximum of 500,000,000 ordinary shares which, unless already issued, are available for future issuances without shareholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved ordinary shares could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise. However, our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that following the Company’s IPO, the Company will not issue any securities (other our public shares issued pursuant to this offering) prior to a business combination that would entitle the holder thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account; or (ii) vote on any business combination.
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Immediately after this offering, we will have 7,750,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, or 8,889,400 shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full. Of these shares, the 6,000,000 shares sold in this offering, or 6,900,000 shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the remaining shares are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering. All of those shares will not be transferable except in limited circumstances described elsewhere in this prospectus.
Rule 144
Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted ordinary shares for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale. Persons who have beneficially owned restricted ordinary shares for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of:
• 1% of the number of ordinary shares then issued and outstanding, which will equal 77,500 shares immediately after this offering (or 88,894 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full); and
• the average weekly trading volume of the ordinary shares during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.
Sales under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies
Historically, the SEC staff had taken the position that Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by companies that are, or previously were, blank check companies, like us. The SEC has codified and expanded this position in the amendments discussed above by prohibiting the use of Rule 144 for resale of securities issued by any shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or any issuer that has been at any time previously a shell company.
The SEC has provided an important exception to this prohibition, however, if the following conditions are met:
• the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;
• the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
• the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and
• at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.
As a result, it is likely that pursuant to Rule 144, our initial shareholders will be able to sell their insider shares freely without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination assuming they are not an affiliate of ours at that time.
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Registration Rights
The holders of our insider shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units (and underlying securities) and any securities issued to our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates in payment of working capital loans made to us, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the insider shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these ordinary shares are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the private units (and underlying securities) and securities issued in payment of working capital loans (or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
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TAXATION
The following summary of the material British Virgin Islands and U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our units, ordinary shares and rights to acquire our ordinary shares, sometimes referred to, individually or collectively, in this summary as our “securities,” is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our securities, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws.
British Virgin Islands Taxation
The Government of the British Virgin Islands does not, under existing legislation, impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax upon our Company or our security holders who are not tax resident in the British Virgin Islands.
Our company and all distributions, interest and other amounts paid by our company to persons who are not tax resident in the British Virgin Islands will not be subject to any income, withholding or capital gains taxes in the British Virgin Islands, with respect to the shares in our company owned by them and dividends received on such shares, nor will they be subject to any estate or inheritance taxes in the British Virgin Islands.
No estate, inheritance, succession or gift tax, rate, duty, levy or other charge is payable by persons who are not tax resident in the British Virgin Islands with respect to any shares, debt obligations or other securities of our company.
Except to the extent that we have any interest in real property in the British Virgin Islands, all instruments relating to transactions in respect of the shares, debt obligations or other securities of our company and all instruments relating to other transactions relating to the business of our company are exempt from the payment of stamp duty in the British Virgin Islands.
There are currently no withholding taxes or exchange control regulations in the British Virgin Islands applicable to our company or our security holders.
United States Federal Income Taxation
General
This section is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units (each consisting of one ordinary share and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination) issued pursuant to this offering by U.S. Holders (as defined below) and Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below).
Because the components of a unit are separable at the option of the holder within a short period of time after the date of this prospectus, the holder of a unit generally should be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying ordinary share and right components of the unit, as the case may be. As a result, the discussion below of the U.S. federal income tax consequences with respect to actual holders of ordinary shares and rights should also apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying ordinary shares and rights that comprise the units).
The discussion below of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to “U.S. Holders” will apply to a beneficial owner of our securities that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
• an individual citizen or resident of the United States as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
• a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation) that is created or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
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• an estate whose income is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or
• a trust if (i) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
If a beneficial owner of our securities is not described as a U.S. Holder and is not an entity treated as a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such owner will be considered a “Non-U.S. Holder.” The material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition ownership and disposition of our securities applicable specifically to Non-U.S. Holders are described below under the heading “Non-U.S. Holders.”
This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), its legislative history, Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as currently in effect. These authorities are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis.
This discussion assumes that the ordinary shares and rights will trade separately and does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to any particular holder based on such holder’s individual circumstances. In particular, this discussion considers only holders that purchase units pursuant to this offering and that own and hold our securities as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and does not address the potential application of the alternative minimum tax. In addition, this discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders that are subject to special rules, including:
• insiders;
• financial institutions or financial services entities;
• broker-dealers;
• taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market accounting rules under Section 475 of the Code or the “applicable financial statement” accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code;
• tax-exempt entities;
• individual retirement accounts or other tax deferred accounts;
• governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;
• insurance companies;
• regulated investment companies;
• real estate investment trusts;
• qualified foreign pension funds;
• persons liable for alternative minimum tax;
• expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States;
• persons that actually or constructively own 5 percent or more of our voting shares;
• persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation;
• persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedging, conversion or other integrated transaction;
• persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;
• controlled foreign corporations; or
• passive foreign investment companies.
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This discussion does not address any aspect of U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as gift or estate tax laws, Medicare contribution tax laws, the one-percent excise tax on stock repurchases, state, local or non-U.S. tax laws or, except as discussed herein, any tax reporting obligations of a holder of our securities. Additionally, this discussion does not consider the tax treatment of partnerships or other pass-through entities or persons who hold our securities through such entities. If a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. This discussion also assumes that any distributions made (or deemed made) by us on our securities and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars. In addition, this discussion assumes that a holder will own a sufficient number of rights such that upon conversion of the rights into ordinary shares, the holder will acquire only a whole number of ordinary shares and will not forfeit any fractional securities.
We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the IRS or an opinion of counsel as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the descriptions herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY ACTUAL REPRESENTATIONS AS TO ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES AND WE HAVE NOT OBTAINED ANY OPINION OF COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO SUCH TAX CONSEQUENCES. AS A RESULT, EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS, AS WELL AS U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS (INCLUDING ANY NON-INCOME TAX LAWS) AND ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATIES.
Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit
There is no authority addressing the treatment, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, of securities with terms substantially the same as the units, and, therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. Each unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as an investment unit consisting of one ordinary share and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each holder of a unit generally must allocate the purchase price of a unit among the ordinary share and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. Under U.S. federal income tax law, each investor must make his or her own determination of such value based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge each investor to consult his or her tax adviser regarding the determination of value for these purposes. The price allocated to each ordinary share and rights generally will be the holder’s tax basis in such share or rights as the case may be. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a disposition of the ordinary share and right comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated among the ordinary share and right based on their respective relative fair market values at the time of disposition (as determined by each such unit holder based on all relevant facts and circumstances). The separation of the share and right comprising a unit should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The foregoing treatment of our ordinary shares, rights and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there are no authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. If the IRS or a court were to determine that, contrary to the characterization described above, a unit is a single instrument for United States federal income tax purposes, the tax consequences to an investor could be materially different than those described below. Accordingly, each holder is advised to consult its own tax advisor regarding the risks associated with an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit or the components thereof) and regarding an allocation of the purchase price among the components of a unit. The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units (and the components thereof) and any allocations of the purchase price of a unit as described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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U.S. Holders
Taxation of Distributions Paid on Ordinary Shares
Subject to the passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in gross income as dividends the amount of any distribution of cash or other property (other than certain distributions of the Company’s shares or rights to acquire the Company’s shares) paid on our ordinary shares to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Distributions in excess of such earnings and profits generally will be applied against and reduce the U.S. Holder’s basis in its ordinary shares (but not below zero) and, to the extent in excess of such basis, will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such ordinary shares. Dividends paid by us will be taxable to a corporate U.S. holder at regular rates and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to domestic corporations in respect of dividends received from other domestic corporations.
Distributions in excess of such earnings and profits generally will be applied against and reduce the U.S. Holder’s basis in its ordinary shares (but not below zero) and, to the extent in excess of such basis, will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such ordinary shares.
Taxation on the Disposition of Securities
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our ordinary shares or rights which, in general, would include a redemption of ordinary shares as described below, and including as a result of a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time period, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares.
Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares so disposed of exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether the redemption rights with respect to the ordinary shares described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Generally, the amount of gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder is an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the ordinary shares or rights are held as part of units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the ordinary shares or rights based upon their then fair market values) and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its ordinary shares or rights so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its ordinary shares or rights generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, as discussed above, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a ordinary share, right or, as discussed below, the U.S. Holder’s initial basis for ordinary or rights) less, in the case of a ordinary share, any prior distributions treated as a return of capital.
Redemption of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the PFIC rules described below, if a U.S. Holder converts ordinary shares into the right to receive cash pursuant to a redemption transaction or sells its ordinary shares to us pursuant to a tender offer or other open market transaction, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such, redemption or sale generally will be treated as a redemption and will be subject to the following rules. If the redemption or sale qualifies as a sale of the ordinary shares under Section 302 of the Code, the tax treatment of such redemption will be as described under “— Taxation on the Disposition of Securities” above. If the redemption or sale does not qualify as a sale of ordinary shares under Section 302 of the Code, a U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a distribution with the tax consequences described under “Taxation of Distributions Paid on Ordinary Shares” above. Whether redemption of our shares qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of our ordinary shares treated as held by such U.S. Holder relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after such redemption or sale. The redemption of ordinary shares generally will be treated as a sale or exchange of the ordinary shares (rather than as a distribution) if the receipt of cash upon the redemption (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to a U.S. Holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of such holder’s interest in us or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to such holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
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In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder must take into account not only our ordinary shares actually owned by such holder, but also our ordinary shares that are constructively owned by such holder. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to our ordinary shares owned directly, ordinary shares owned by related individuals and entities in which such holder has an interest or that have an interest in such holder, as well as any ordinary shares such holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include ordinary shares which could be acquired pursuant to conversion of rights. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our issued and outstanding voting shares actually and constructively owned by a U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption of our ordinary shares must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of the percentage of our issued and outstanding voting and ordinary shares actually and constructively owned by such holder immediately before the redemption. Prior to our initial business combination, the ordinary shares may not be treated as voting shares for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not be applicable.
There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (i) all of our ordinary shares actually and constructively owned by such U.S. Holder are redeemed or (ii) all of our ordinary shares actually owned by such U.S. Holder are redeemed and such holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives, in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of shares owned by certain family members and such holder does not constructively own any other shares. The redemption of the ordinary shares will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if such redemption results in a “meaningful reduction” of a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority shareholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” U.S. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of any such redemption or sale of any ordinary shares.
If none of the foregoing tests are satisfied, then the redemption may be treated as a distribution and the tax effects will be as described under “— Taxation of Distributions Paid on Ordinary Shares,” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis a U.S. Holder has in the redeemed ordinary shares will be added to the adjusted tax basis in such holder’s remaining ordinary shares. If there are no remaining ordinary shares, a U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors as to the allocation of any remaining basis. U.S. Holders should also be aware that substantially contemporaneous dispositions or acquisitions of our shares that are part of a plan viewed as an integrated transaction with the redemption may be taken into account in determining whether any of the tests described above are satisfied.
Certain U.S. Holders who actually or constructively own five percent (or if our ordinary shares are not then publicly traded, one percent) or more of our shares (by vote or value) may be subject to special reporting requirements with respect to a redemption of ordinary shares, and such holders should consult with their own tax advisors with respect to their reporting requirements.
Acquisition of Ordinary Shares Pursuant to Rights
The treatment of the rights to acquire ordinary shares is uncertain. The right may be viewed as a forward contract, derivative security or similar interest in our company (analogous to an option with no exercise price), and thus the holder of the right would not be viewed as owning the ordinary shares issuable pursuant to the rights until such ordinary shares are actually issued. There may be other alternative characterizations of the rights that the IRS may successfully assert, including that the rights are treated as equity in our company at the time the rights are issued.
The tax consequences of an acquisition of our ordinary shares pursuant to rights are unclear and will depend on the treatment of any initial business combination. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an acquisition of ordinary shares pursuant to rights and the consequences of any initial business combination.
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Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
A foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) corporation will be a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes if at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year of such foreign corporation, including its pro rata share of the gross income of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, is passive income. In addition, a foreign corporation will be a PFIC if at least 50% of its assets in a taxable year of the foreign corporation, ordinarily determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly over the year, including its pro rata share of the assets of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes, among other items, dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than certain rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of assets giving rise to passive income.
Because we are a blank check company, with no current active business, we believe that it is likely that we will meet the PFIC asset or income test for our current taxable year. However, pursuant to a start-up exception, a corporation will not be a PFIC for the first taxable year the corporation has gross income, if (1) no predecessor of the corporation was a PFIC; (2) the corporation satisfies the IRS that it will not be a PFIC for either of the first two taxable years following the start-up year; and (3) the corporation is not in fact a PFIC for either of those years. The applicability of the start-up exception to us is uncertain. After the acquisition of a company or assets in a business combination, we may still meet one of the PFIC tests depending on the timing of the acquisition and the amount of our passive income and assets as well as the passive income and assets of the acquired business. If the company that we acquire in a business combination is a PFIC, then we will likely not qualify for the start-up exception and will be a PFIC for our current taxable year. Our actual PFIC status for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year (and, in the case of the startup exception to our current taxable year, perhaps until after the end of our two taxable years following our startup year). Accordingly, there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year.
If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder of our securities and, in the case of our ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder did not make a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) such ordinary shares, a QEF election along with a deemed sale (or purging) election, or a “mark-to-market” election, each as described below, such holder generally will be subject to special rules for regular U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to:
• any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of our securities; and
• any “excess distribution” made to the U.S. Holder (generally, any distributions to such U.S. Holder during a taxable year of the U.S. Holder that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by such U.S. Holder in respect of our securities during the three preceding taxable years of such U.S. Holder or, if shorter, such U.S. Holder’s holding period for our securities).
Under these rules,
• the U.S. Holder’s gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for our securities;
• the amount allocated to the U.S. Holder’s taxable year in which the U.S. Holder recognized the gain or received the excess distribution, or to the period in the U.S. Holder’s holding period before the first day of our first taxable year in which we are a PFIC, will be taxed as ordinary income;
• the amount allocated to other taxable years (or portions thereof) of the U.S. Holder and included in its holding period will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and applicable to the U.S. Holder; and
• the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed in respect of the tax attributable to each such other taxable year of the U.S. Holder.
In general, if we are determined to be a PFIC, a U.S. Holder may avoid the PFIC tax consequences described above in respect to our ordinary shares (but likely not our rights) by making a timely QEF election (or a QEF election along with a purging election). Pursuant to the QEF election, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in income its pro rata share of our net capital gains (as long-term capital gain) and other earnings and profits (as ordinary
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income), on a current basis, in each case whether or not distributed, in the taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which or with which our taxable year ends if we are treated as a PFIC for that taxable year. A U.S. Holder may make a separate election to defer the payment of taxes on undistributed income inclusions under the QEF rules, but if deferred, any such taxes will be subject to an interest charge.
The treatment of the rights to acquire our ordinary shares is unclear. For example, the rights may be viewed as a forward contract, derivative security or similar interest in our company (analogous to an option with no exercise price), and thus the holder of the right would not be viewed as owning the ordinary shares issuable pursuant to the rights until such ordinary shares are actually issued. There may be other alternative characterizations of the rights that the IRS may successfully assert, including that the rights are treated as equity in our company at the time the rights are issued, that would reach different conclusions regarding the tax treatment of the rights under the PFIC rules. In any case, depending on which characterization is successfully applied to the rights, different PFIC consequences may result for U.S. Holders of the rights. It is also likely that a U.S. Holder of rights would not be able to make a QEF or mark-to-market election (discussed below) with respect to such U.S. Holder’s rights. Due to the uncertainty of the application of the PFIC rules to the rights, all potential investors are strongly urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding an investment in the rights offered hereunder as part of the units offering and the subsequent consequences to holders of such rights in any initial business combination.
The QEF election is made on a shareholder-by-shareholder basis and, once made, can be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. A U.S. Holder generally makes a QEF election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund), including the information provided in a PFIC annual information statement, to a timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the tax year to which the election relates. Retroactive QEF elections generally may be made only by filing a protective statement with such return and if certain other conditions are met or with the consent of the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a retroactive QEF election under their particular circumstances. A QEF election may not be made with respect to our rights.
In order to comply with the requirements of a QEF election, a U.S. Holder must receive a PFIC annual information statement from us. If we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, we will endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the IRS may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a QEF election, but there is no assurance that we will timely provide such required information. Additionally, there is no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of our status as a PFIC in the future or of the required information to be provided.
If a U.S. Holder has made a QEF election with respect to our ordinary shares, and the special tax and interest charge rules do not apply to such shares (because of a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) such shares or a purge of the PFIC taint pursuant to a purging election, as described above), any gain recognized on the sale of our ordinary shares generally will be taxable as capital gain and no interest charge will be imposed. As discussed above, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. Holders of a QEF generally are currently taxed on their pro rata shares of its earnings and profits, whether or not distributed. In such case, a subsequent distribution of such earnings and profits that were previously included in income generally should not be taxable as a dividend to such U.S. Holders. The adjusted tax basis of a U.S. Holder’s shares in a QEF will be increased by amounts that are included in income, and decreased by amounts distributed but not taxed as dividends, under the above rules. Similar basis adjustments apply to property if by reason of holding such property the U.S. Holder is treated under the applicable attribution rules as owning shares in a QEF.
Although a determination as to our PFIC status will be made annually, an initial determination that we are a PFIC will generally apply for subsequent years to a U.S. Holder who held our securities while we were a PFIC, whether or not we meet the test for PFIC status in those subsequent years. A U.S. Holder who makes the QEF election discussed above for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) our ordinary shares, however, will not be subject to the PFIC tax and interest charge rules discussed above in respect to such shares. In addition, such U.S. Holder will not be subject to the QEF inclusion regime with respect to such shares for any of our taxable years that end within or with a taxable year of the U.S. Holder and in which we are not a PFIC. On the other hand, if the QEF election is not effective for each of our taxable years in which we are a PFIC and the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) our ordinary shares, the PFIC rules discussed above will continue to apply to such shares unless the holder files on a timely filed U.S. federal income tax return (including extensions) a QEF election and a purging election to recognize under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code any gain that the U.S. Holder would otherwise recognize if the
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U.S. Holder had sold our shares for their fair market value on the “qualification date.” The qualification date is the first day of our tax year in which we qualify as a QEF with respect to such U.S. Holder. The purging election can only be made if such U.S. Holder held our shares on the qualification date. The gain recognized by the purging election will be subject to the special tax and interest charge rules treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, the U.S. Holder will increase the adjusted tax basis in our shares by the amount of the gain recognized and will also have a new holding period in the shares for purposes of the PFIC rules.
Alternatively, if a U.S. Holder, at the close of its taxable year, owns (or is deemed to own) shares in a PFIC that are treated as marketable shares, the U.S. Holder may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such shares for such taxable year. If the U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election for the first taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) our ordinary shares and for which we are determined to be a PFIC, such holder generally will not be subject to the PFIC rules described above in respect to its ordinary shares as long as such shares continue to be treated as marketable shares. Instead, in general, the U.S. Holder will include as ordinary income for each year that we are treated as a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of its ordinary shares at the end of its taxable year over the adjusted basis in its ordinary shares. These amounts of ordinary income would not be eligible for the favorable tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains. The U.S. Holder also will be allowed to take an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of its ordinary shares over the fair market value of its ordinary shares at the end of its taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). The U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its ordinary shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts, and any further gain recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition of the ordinary shares in a taxable year in which we are treated as a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income. Special tax rules may also apply if a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election for a taxable year after the first taxable year in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) its ordinary shares and for which we are treated as a PFIC. Currently, a mark-to-market election may not be made with respect to our rights.
The mark-to-market election is available only for stock that is regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the NASDAQ Global Market, or on a foreign exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents a legitimate and sound fair market value. If made, a mark-to-market election would be effective for the taxable year for which the election was made and for all subsequent taxable years unless the ordinary shares ceased to qualify as “marketable stock” for purposes of the PFIC rules or the IRS consented to the revocation of the election. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election in respect to our ordinary shares under their particular circumstances.
If we are a PFIC and, at any time, have a foreign subsidiary that is classified as a PFIC, U.S. Holders of our shares generally would be deemed to own a portion of the shares of such lower-tier PFIC, and generally could incur liability for the deferred tax and interest charge described above if we receive a distribution from, or dispose of all or part of our interest in, the lower-tier PFIC or the U.S. Holders otherwise were deemed to have disposed of an interest in the lower-tier PFIC. We will endeavor to cause any lower-tier PFIC to provide to a U.S. Holder the information that may be required to make or maintain a QEF election with respect to the lower-tier PFIC. However, there is no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of the status of any such lower-tier PFIC. In addition, we may not hold a controlling interest in any such lower-tier PFIC and thus there can be no assurance we will be able to cause the lower-tier PFIC to provide the required information. A mark-to-market election generally would not be available with respect to such lower-tier PFIC. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax issues raised by lower-tier PFICs.
A U.S. Holder that owns (or is deemed to own) shares in a PFIC during any taxable year of the U.S. Holder, may be required to file an IRS Form 8621 (whether or not a QEF or mark-to-market election is or has been made) with such U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax return and provide such other information as may be required by the U.S. Treasury Department. Failure to do so, if required, will extend the statute of limitations until such required information is furnished to the IRS.
The rules dealing with PFICs and with the QEF and mark-to-market elections are very complex and are affected by various factors in addition to those described above. Accordingly, U.S. Holders of our securities should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of the PFIC rules to our securities under their particular circumstances.
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Tax Reporting
Certain U.S. Holders may be required to file an IRS Form 926 (Return of a U.S. Transferor of Property to a Foreign Corporation) to report a transfer of property (including cash) to us. Substantial penalties may be imposed on a U.S. Holder that fails to comply with this reporting requirement. Furthermore, certain U.S. Holders who are individuals and to the extent provided in future Treasury regulations, certain entities, will be required to report information with respect to such U.S. Holder’s investment in “specified foreign financial assets” on IRS Form 8938, subject to certain exceptions. An interest in the Company constitutes a specified foreign financial asset for these purposes. Persons who are required to report specified foreign financial assets and fail to do so may be subject to substantial penalties. Potential Investors are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the foreign financial asset reporting obligations and their application to an investment in ordinary shares and rights. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult with its own tax advisor regarding this reporting obligation.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “Non-U.S. Holder.” As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our units, ordinary shares, or rights that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes”
• a non-resident alien individual (other than certain former citizens and residents of the United States subject to U.S. tax as expatriates)
• a foreign corporation; or
• an estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder;
but generally does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the United States federal income tax consequences of the sale or other disposition of our securities.
Dividends (including constructive dividends) paid or deemed paid to a Non-U.S. Holder in respect to our securities generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, unless the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains or maintained in the United States).
In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain attributable to a sale or other disposition of our securities unless such gain is effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains or maintained in the United States) or the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of sale or other disposition and certain other conditions are met (in which case, such gain from United States sources generally is subject to tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate).
Dividends (including constructive distributions) and gains that are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains or maintained in the United States) generally will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax at the same regular U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to a comparable U.S. Holder and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
In general, information reporting for U.S. federal income tax purposes should apply to distributions made on our ordinary shares within the United States to a U.S. Holder (other than an exempt recipient) and to the proceeds from sales and other dispositions of our securities by a U.S. Holder (other than an exempt recipient) to or through a U.S. office of a broker. Payments made (and sales and other dispositions effected at an office) outside the United States will be subject to information reporting in limited circumstances. In addition, certain information concerning a U.S. Holder’s adjusted
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tax basis in its securities and whether any gain or loss with respect to such securities is long-term or short-term may be required to be reported to the IRS, and certain holders may be required to file an IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) to report their interest in our securities.
U.S. Holders who are individuals and certain entities will be required to report information with respect to such U.S. Holder’s investment in “specified foreign financial assets” on IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets), subject to certain exceptions. Specified foreign financial assets generally include any financial account maintained with a non-U.S. financial institution and should also include the ordinary shares, and rights if they are not held in an account maintained with a U.S. financial institution. Persons who are required to report specified foreign financial assets and fail to do so may be subject to substantial penalties, and the period of limitations on assessment and collection of United States federal income taxes may be extended in the event of a failure to comply. Potential investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the foreign financial asset and other reporting obligations and their application to an investment in our ordinary shares, and rights.
Moreover, backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax, currently at a rate of 24%, generally will apply to dividends paid on our securities to a U.S. Holder (other than an exempt recipient) and the proceeds from sales and other dispositions of our securities by a U.S. Holder (other than an exempt recipient), in each case who:
• fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number;
• is notified by the IRS that backup withholding is required; or
• fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.
A Non-U.S. Holder generally may eliminate the requirement for information reporting and backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.
We will withhold all taxes required to be withheld by law from any amounts otherwise payable to any holder of our securities, including tax withholding required by the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the amount of any backup withholding will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s or a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the requisite information is timely furnished to the IRS. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of backup withholding and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding in their particular circumstances.
THE DISCUSSION ABOVE IS A GENERAL SUMMARY. IT DOES NOT COVER ALL TAX MATTERS THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO YOU. EACH PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER SHOULD CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISOR ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN OUR ORDINARY SHARES AND RIGHTS BASED ON THE INVESTOR’S CIRCUMSTANCES.
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UNDERWRITING
Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement dated , 2024 we have agreed to sell to the underwriters named below, for whom Lucid Capital Markets is acting as representative, the following respective numbers of units:
Underwriter | | Number of Units |
Lucid Capital Markets, LLC | | |
Total | | 6,000,000 |
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are obligated to purchase all the units in the offering if any are purchased, other than those units covered by the over-allotment option described below.
We have granted to the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase on a pro rata basis up to 900,000 additional units at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The option may be exercised only to cover any over-allotments of units.
The underwriters propose to offer the units initially at the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus and to selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $ per unit. The underwriters and the selling group members may allow a discount of $ per unit on sales to other broker/dealers. After the initial public offering the underwriters may change the public offering price and concession and discount to broker/dealers.
The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount to be paid by us to the underwriters and the proceeds, before expenses, to us. This information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option.
| | Per Unit | | Without Over-allotment | | With Over-allotment |
Public offering price | | $ | 10.00 | | $ | 60,000,000 | | $ | 69,000,000 |
Discount(1) | | $ | 0.41 | | $ | 2,460,000 | | $ | 2,892,000 |
Proceeds before expenses(2) | | $ | 9.59 | | $ | 57,540,000 | | $ | 66,171,000 |
In addition to the underwriting discount, we have agreed to pay to the underwriter for travel, lodging and other “road show” expenses, expenses of the underwriter’s legal counsel and certain diligence and other fees up to $75,000 (inclusive of the advance of $30,000). In addition, we agreed to reimburse Lucid Capital Markets for the costs and expenses, including counsel fees and disbursements, up to an aggregate of $15,000 incurred in connection with registering the offering with FINRA.
No discounts or commissions will be paid on the sale of the private placement units.
The representative has informed us that the underwriters do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.
Our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of private units (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private units) until 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Shareholders”). Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial shareholders with respect to any insider shares, and the private units, as applicable. However, if after our initial business combination, there is a transaction whereby all the outstanding shares are exchanged or redeemed for cash (as would be the case in a post-asset sale liquidation) or another issuer’s shares, then the insider shares, or the private units (or any shares of Ordinary Shares thereunder) shall be permitted to participate.
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Our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the insider shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until the earlier of (1) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Lock-Up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the insider shares will be released from the Lock-Up (1) on the earlier of 150 days after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination if the closing price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in that respect.
We intend to apply to list our units on the Nasdaq under the symbol “YHNAU” and, once the ordinary shares and rights begin separate trading, to have our ordinary shares and rights listed on the Nasdaq under the symbols “YHNA,” and “YHNAR,” respectively.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the representative.
The determination of our per unit offering price was more arbitrary than would typically be the case if we were an operating company. Among the factors considered in determining initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, our management, our capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which the units, ordinary shares, or rights will sell in the public market after this offering will not be lower than the initial public offering price or that an active trading market in our units, ordinary shares or rights will develop and continue after this offering.
If we do not complete our initial business combination within 18 months from the closing of this offering, the trustee and the underwriters have agreed that: (i) they will forfeit any rights or claims to their deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, including any accrued interest thereon, then in the trust account; and (ii) that the deferred underwriters’ discounts and commissions will be distributed on a pro rata basis, together with any accrued interest thereon (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) to the public shareholders.
In connection with the offering the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
• Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.
• Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of units in excess of the number of units the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of units over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of units that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of units involved is greater than the number of units in the over-allotment option. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option and/or purchasing units in the open market.
• Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the units in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of units to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option. If the underwriters sell more units than could be covered by the over-allotment option,
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a naked short position, the position can only be closed out by buying units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.
• Penalty bids permit the representative to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the units originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.
These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the units. As a result the price of our units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
We are not under any contractual obligation to engage any of the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. However, any of the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future. If any of the underwriters provide services to us after this offering, we may pay such underwriter fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with any of the underwriters and no fees for such services will be paid to any of the underwriters prior to the date that is 90 days from the date of this prospectus, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering and we may pay the underwriters of this offering or any entity with which they are affiliated a finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a business combination.
Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates, including in connection with acting in an advisory capacity or as a potential financing source in conjunction with our potential acquisition of a company. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more of the underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The representative may agree to allocate a number of units to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.
The units are offered for sale in those jurisdictions in the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere where it is lawful to make such offers.
Each of the underwriters has represented and agreed that it has not offered, sold or delivered and will not offer, sell or deliver any of the units directly or indirectly, or distribute this prospectus or any other offering material relating to the units, in or from any jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations thereof and that will not impose any obligations on us except as set forth in the underwriting agreement.
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), each Underwriter represents and agrees that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) it has not made and will not make an offer of units to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the
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publication of a prospectus in relation to the units which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of units to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time,
(a) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;
(b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;
(c) to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the manager for any such offer; or
(d) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the Issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of units to the public” in relation to any units in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the units, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State;
Notice to Investors in the United Kingdom
Each of the underwriters severally represents, warrants and agrees as follows:
(a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) to persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling with Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 or in circumstances in which section 21 of FSMA does not apply to the company; and
(b) it has complied with, and will comply with all applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the units in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom;
Notice to Residents of Japan
The underwriters will not offer or sell any of our units directly or indirectly in Japan or to, or for the benefit of any Japanese person or to others, for re-offering or re-sale directly or indirectly in Japan or to any Japanese person, except in each case pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and any other applicable laws and regulations of Japan. For purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese person” means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan;
Notice to Residents of Hong Kong
The underwriters and each of their affiliates have not (i) offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, in Hong Kong, by means of any document, our units other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32 of Hong Kong) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance or (ii) issued or had in its possession for the purposes of issue, and will not issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere any advertisement, invitation or document relating to our units which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the
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securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to our securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance. The contents of this document have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. You are advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of this document, you should obtain independent professional advice;
Notice to Residents of Singapore
This prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units has not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the units will be offered in Singapore pursuant to exemptions under Section 274 and Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “Securities and Futures Act”). Accordingly our units may not be offered or sold, or be the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to the public or any member of the public in Singapore other than (a) to an institutional investor or other person specified in Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, (b) to a sophisticated investor, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act or (c) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the Securities and Futures Act;
Notice to Residents of Germany
Each person who is in possession of this prospectus is aware of the fact that no German sales prospectus (Verkaufsprospekt) within the meaning of the Securities Sales Prospectus Act (Wertpapier-Verkaufsprospektgesetz, the “Act”) of the Federal Republic of Germany has been or will be published with respect to our units. In particular, each underwriter has represented that it has not engaged and has agreed that it will not engage in a public offering in (offentliches Angebot) within the meaning of the Act with respect to any of our units otherwise than in accordance with the Act and all other applicable legal and regulatory requirements;
Notice to Residents of France
The units are being issued and sold outside the Republic of France and that, in connection with their initial distribution, it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any units to the public in the Republic of France, and that it has not distributed and will not distribute or cause to be distributed to the public in the Republic of France this prospectus or any other offering material relating to the units, and that such offers, sales and distributions have been and will be made in the Republic of France only to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) in accordance with Article L.411-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code and decrét no. 98-880 dated 1st October, 1998; and
Notice to Residents of the Netherlands
Our units may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered in or from the Netherlands as part of their initial distribution or at any time thereafter, directly or indirectly, other than to, individuals or legal entities situated in The Netherlands who or which trade or invest in securities in the conduct of a business or profession (which includes banks, securities intermediaries (including dealers and brokers), insurance companies, pension funds, collective investment institution, central governments, large international and supranational organizations, other institutional investors and other parties, including treasury departments of commercial enterprises, which as an ancillary activity regularly invest in securities; hereinafter, “Professional Investors”), provided that in the offer, prospectus and in any other documents or advertisements in which a forthcoming offering of our units is publicly announced (whether electronically or otherwise) in The Netherlands it is stated that such offer is and will be exclusively made to such Professional Investors. Individual or legal entities who are not Professional Investors may not participate in the offering of our units, and this prospectus or any other offering material relating to our units may not be considered an offer or the prospect of an offer to sell or exchange our units.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Cayman Islands
No offer or invitation, whether directly or indirectly may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for our shares.
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Notice to Canadian Residents
Resale Restrictions
The distribution of units in Canada is being made only in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia on a private placement basis exempt from the requirement that we prepare and file a prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in each province where trades of these securities are made. Any resale of the units in Canada must be made under applicable securities laws which may vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made under available statutory exemptions or under a discretionary exemption granted by the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authority. Purchasers are advised to seek legal advice prior to any resale of the securities.
Representations of Canadian Purchasers
By purchasing units in Canada and accepting delivery of a purchase confirmation, a purchaser is representing to us and the dealer from whom the purchase confirmation is received that:
• the purchaser is entitled under applicable provincial securities laws to purchase the units without the benefit of a prospectus qualified under those securities laws as it is an “accredited investor” as defined under National Instrument 45-106 — Prospectus Exemptions,
• the purchaser is a “permitted client” as defined in National Instrument 31-103 — Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations,
• where required by law, the purchaser is purchasing as principal and not as agent, and
• the purchaser has reviewed the text above under Resale Restrictions.
Conflicts of Interest
Canadian purchasers are hereby notified that Lucid Capital Markets is relying on the exemption set out in section 3A.3 or 3A.4, if applicable, of National Instrument 33-105 — Underwriting Conflicts from having to provide certain conflict of interest disclosure in this document.
Statutory Rights of Action
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if the prospectus (including any amendment thereto) such as this document contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser of these securities in Canada should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Enforcement of Legal Rights
All of our directors and officers as well as the experts named herein may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible for Canadian purchasers to effect service of process within Canada upon us or those persons. All or a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of those persons may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible to satisfy a judgment against us or those persons in Canada or to enforce a judgment obtained in Canadian courts against us or those persons outside of Canada.
Taxation and Eligibility for Investment
Canadian purchasers of units should consult their own legal and tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of an investment in the units in their particular circumstances and about the eligibility of the units for investment by the purchaser under relevant Canadian legislation.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Loeb & Loeb LLP is acting as United States counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act and will pass on the validity of the rights offered in the prospectus. Legal matters as to British Virgin Islands law, as well as the validity of the issuance of the ordinary shares offered in this prospectus, will be passed upon for us by Ogier. Blank Rome LLP is acting as counsel for the underwriters in this offering.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of YHN Acquisition I Limited as of December 31, 2023 and for the period from December 18, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023 appearing in this prospectus have been audited by Adeptus Partners, LLC, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report, thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of YHN Acquisition I Limited to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the financial statements), appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on such report given on the authority of such firm as an experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1, which includes exhibits, schedules and amendments, under the Securities Act, with respect to this offering of our securities. Although this prospectus, which forms a part of the registration statement, contains all material information included in the registration statement, parts of the registration statement have been omitted as permitted by rules and regulations of the SEC. We refer you to the registration statement and its exhibits for further information about us, our securities and this offering. The registration statement and its exhibits, as well as our other reports filed with the SEC, can be inspected and copied at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information about the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov which contains the Form S-1 and other reports, proxy and information statements and information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
| | March 31, 2024 | | December 31, 2023 |
| | (unaudited) | | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Cash | | $ | 62,074 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total current assets | | | | | | | | |
Deferred offering costs | | | 28,400 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL ASSETS | | $ | 90,474 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accrued expenses | | $ | 21,500 | | | $ | 3,680 | |
Amount due to related party | | | 73,000 | | | | — | |
Total Current Liabilities | | | 94,500 | | | | 3,680 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES | | | 94,500 | | | | 3,680 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Commitments and contingencies | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shareholders’ deficit: | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares, no par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 1,725,000 shares issued and outstanding(1) | | | 25,000 | | | | 25,000 | |
Stock subscription receivable | | | — | | | | (25,000 | ) |
Accumulated deficit | | | (29,026 | ) | | | (3,680 | ) |
Total Shareholders’ Deficit | | | (4,026 | ) | | | (3,680 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | | $ | 90,474 | | | $ | — | |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed financial statements.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
| | Three months ended March 31, 2024 |
Formation and operating costs | | $ | (25,347 | ) |
| | | | |
Other income: | | | | |
Interest income | | | 1 | |
Total other income | | | 1 | |
| | | | |
NET LOSS | | $ | (25,346 | ) |
| | | | |
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding(1) | | | 1,500,000 | |
| | | | |
Basic and diluted net loss per share | | $ | (0.02 | ) |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed financial statements.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
| | Three months ended March 31, 2024 |
| | Ordinary shares | | Stock subscription receivable | | Accumulated deficit | | Total shareholders’ deficit |
| | No. of shares | | Amount | |
Balance as of December 31, 2023 | | 1,725,000 | | $ | 25,000 | | $ | (25,000 | ) | | $ | (3,680 | ) | | $ | (3,680 | ) |
Capital contribution paid | | — | | | — | | | 25,000 | | | | — | | | | 25,000 | |
Net loss for the period | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | (25,346 | ) | | | (25,346 | ) |
Balance as of March 31, 2024(1) | | 1,725,000 | | $ | 25,000 | | $ | — | | | $ | (29,026 | ) | | $ | (4,026 | ) |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed financial statements.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
| | Three months ended March 31, 2024 |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (25,346 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: | | | | |
Change in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | |
Increase in accrued expenses | | | 17,820 | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | | (7,526 | ) |
| | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | |
Payment of offering costs | | | (28,400 | ) |
Capital contribution paid | | | 25,000 | |
Advance from related party | | | 73,000 | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | | 69,600 | |
| | | | |
NET CHANGE IN CASH | | | 62,074 | |
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | | | — | |
CASH, END OF PERIOD | | $ | 62,074 | |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed financial statements.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND
YHN Acquisition I Limited (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is a newly organized blank check company incorporated on December 18, 2023, under the laws of the British Virgin Islands for the purpose of acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements, or engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”). The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activities through March 31, 2024 relate to the Company’s formation and the proposed public offering as described below. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a proposed public offering of 6,000,000 units (“Units”) (or 6,900,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per Unit, which is discussed in Note 3 (the “Proposed Public Offering”), and the sale of 250,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit in a private placement to YHN Holding I LLC (the “Sponsor”) (or 264,400 Units if the overallotment is exercised in full) to the Sponsor (the “Private Units”), which is discussed in Note 4.
The Company intends to list the Units on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“NASDAQ”). The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and sale of the Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. NASDAQ rules provide that the Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (as defined below) (less any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the signing of an agreement to enter into a Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination. Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that $10.00 per Unit sold in the Proposed Public Offering, including the proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Units, will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the funds in the Trust Account to the Company’s shareholders, as described below.
The Company will provide its shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (initially $10.00 per share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). The per-share amount to be distributed to shareholders who redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters (as discussed in Note 7). The ordinary shares subject to redemption will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.”
The Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks shareholder approval, a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a shareholder vote is not required and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will,
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND (cont.)
pursuant to its Memorandum and Articles of Association, offer such redemption pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and file tender offer documents containing substantially the same information as would be included in a proxy statement with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination.
The Company’s initial shareholders (the “initial shareholders”) have agreed (a) to vote their founder shares, the ordinary shares included in the Private Placement Units (the “Private Placement Shares”) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination, (b) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association that would stop the public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to the Company in connection with a Business Combination or affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period (as defined below) unless the Company provides public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares for cash from the Trust Account in connection with any such vote; (c) not to redeem any founder shares and Private Placement Shares as well as any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering for cash from the Trust Account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a Business Combination (or sell any shares in a tender offer in connection with a Business Combination) or a vote to amend the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to shareholder’s rights of pre-Business Combination activity and (d) that the founder shares and Private Placement Shares shall not participate in any liquidating distributions upon winding up if a Business Combination is not consummated. However, the initial shareholders will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering if the Company fails to complete its Business Combination. The Company will have 18 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering.
Going Concern Consideration
At March 31, 2024, the Company had cash balance of $62,074, and a net loss of $25,346 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the unaudited condensed financial statements are issued. Management plans to address this uncertainty through the Proposed Public Offering as discussed in Note 3. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful or successful within the Combination Period. On April 12, 2024, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to an aggregate amount of $500,000 to be used, in part, for transaction costs incurred in connection with the Proposed Public Offering. The unaudited condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
• Basis of presentation
These accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The interim financial information provided is unaudited, but includes all adjustments which management considers necessary for the fair presentation of the results for this period. Operating results for the interim period ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. The information included in this Form S-1A should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis, and the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form S-1 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2024.
• Emerging growth company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
• Use of estimates
In preparing these unaudited condensed financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, actual results may differ from these estimates.
• Cash
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
• Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on this account.
• Deferred offering costs
Deferred offering costs consist of underwriting, legal, accounting and other expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering and that will be charged to shareholder’s equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses incurred, will be charged to operations.
• Income taxes
Income taxes are determined in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted income tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Any effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
ASC 740 prescribes a comprehensive model for how companies should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in their unaudited condensed financial statements uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. Under ASC 740, tax positions must initially be recognized in the unaudited condensed financial statements when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. The Company’s management determined that the Cayman Islands is the Company’s major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.
The Company may be subject to potential examination by foreign taxing authorities in the area of income taxes. These potential examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions and compliance with foreign tax laws. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
The Company is considered to be an exempted Cayman Islands company with no connection to any other taxable jurisdiction and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Company’s tax provision was zero for the periods presented.
• Ordinary share subject to possible redemption
The Company accounts for its ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC 480. Ordinary share subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholder’s equity.
• Net loss per share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, excluding ordinary shares subject to forfeiture. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 225,000 ordinary shares that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Note 6). At March 31, 2024, the Company only issued one class of shares and did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the periods presented.
• Related parties
Parties, which can be a corporation or individual, are considered to be related if the Company has the ability, directly or indirectly, to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making financial and operational decisions. Companies are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control or common significant influence.
• Fair value of financial instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying unaudited condensed balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.
• Recent accounting pronouncements
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 3 — PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING
The Proposed Public Offering calls for the Company to offer for sale up to 6,000,000 Units at a proposed public offering price of $10.00 per Unit (plus up to an additional 900,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any). Each Unit will consist of one ordinary share (“Public Share”) and one right (“Public Right”). Each Public Right will entitle the holder to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon consummation of the Company’s Business Combination.
NOTE 4 — PRIVATE PLACEMENT
The Sponsor will agree to purchase an aggregate of 250,000 private units (or 264,400 if the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised in full) at $10.00 per Private Unit (for a total purchase price of $2,500,000 or $2,644,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised in full), in each case, in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Each Private Unit consists of one Private Placement Share and one right (“Private Placement Right”).
The Private Units are identical to the units to be sold in the Proposed Public Offering except with respect to certain registration rights and transfer restrictions.
NOTE 5 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On December 18, 2023, the Company issued 10,000 founder shares with no par value in consideration of $1,000. On December 31, 2023, the Company authorized to issue an aggregate of 1,715,000 founder shares with no par value to the initial shareholder, including an aggregate of 225,000 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the initial shareholder will collectively own 20% of the issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering (excluding the sale of the Private Units and assuming the initial shareholders do not purchase any Units in the Proposed Public Offering) (see Note 6) for an aggregate purchase price of $24,000.
Amount due to related party
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company received the advances of $73,000 and $0, respectively from the Sponsor. The advances are non-interest bearing and due on demand.
Administrative Services Agreement
The Company is obligated, commencing from the first date that any securities of the Company registered on the Company’s registration statement for its Proposed Public Offering are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, to pay YHN Holding I LLC a monthly fee of $10,000 for general and administrative services. This agreement will terminate upon completion of the Company’s business combination or the liquidation of the trust account to public shareholders.
NOTE 6 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares
The Company is authorized to issue 500,000,000 ordinary shares with no par value. Holders of the Company’s ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share.
As of March 31, 2024, 1,725,000 Ordinary Shares with no par value were issued and outstanding, of which 225,000 ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full, so that the initial shareholders will own 20% of the issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering (excluding the sale of the Private Units and assuming the initial shareholders do not purchase any Units in the Proposed Public Offering).
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 6 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (cont.)
Rights
Each holder of a right will receive one-tenth (1/10) ordinary share upon consummation of a Business Combination, even if the holder of such right redeemed all shares held by it in connection with a Business Combination. No fractional shares will be issued upon exchange of the rights. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive its additional shares upon consummation of a Business Combination as the consideration related thereto has been included in the Unit purchase price paid for by investors in the Proposed Offering. If the Company enters into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination in which the Company will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the ordinary shares will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into ordinary share basis and each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert its rights in order to receive 1/10 share underlying each right (without paying additional consideration). The shares issuable upon exchange of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of the Company).
NOTE 7 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, Private Placement Units sold in a private placement (and their underlying securities) and any Units that may be issued upon conversion of the working capital loans (and underlying securities) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering requiring the Company to register such securities for resale. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 900,000 Units (over and above 6,000,000 Units referred to above) solely to cover over-allotments at the Proposed Public Offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
The underwriters will be entitled to underwriting discount of 4.1% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering, of which 1.6% will be paid at cash at the closing of the Proposed Public Offering and the balance will be deferred until the closing of the initial business combination, subject to a minimum of $500,000.
Right of First Refusal
For a period beginning on the closing of our Initial Public Offering and ending 12 months from the closing of our initial Business Combination, we have granted Lucid Capital Markets, LLC a right of first refusal to act as lead-left book running manager and lead left manager for any and all future private or public equity, convertible and debt offerings during such period. 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 our Initial Public Offering.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 8 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to June 21, 2024, the date that the unaudited condensed financial statements were available to be issued. Other than as described in these unaudited condensed financial statements, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the unaudited condensed financial statements.
On April 12, 2024, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 (the “Promissory Note”). The Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of consummation of an initial public offering of our securities or the date on we determine not to conduct an initial public offering of our securities.
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| | |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of YHN Acquisition I Limited. Opinion on the Financial Statements We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of YHN Acquisition I Limited (the Company) as of December 31, 2023, and the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ deficit, and cash flows for the period December 18, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period December 18, 2023 (inception) through December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Substantial Doubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has no cash, a net loss of $3,680, and will continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Basis for Opinion These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2024. |
| | |
| | Adeptus Partners, LLC PCAOB: 3686 Ocean, NJ May 1, 2024 |
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
BALANCE SHEET
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2023
ASSETS | | $ | — | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | |
Accrued expenses | | $ | 3,680 | |
Total Current Liabilities | | | 3,680 | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES | | $ | 3,680 | |
| | | | |
Commitments and contingencies | | | | |
| | | | |
Shareholders’ deficit: | | | | |
Ordinary shares, no par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 1,725,000 shares issued and outstanding(1) | | $ | 25,000 | |
Stock subscription receivable | | | (25,000 | ) |
Accumulated deficit | | | (3,680 | ) |
Total Shareholders’ Deficit | | | (3,680 | ) |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | | $ | — | |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 18, 2023 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 2023
Formation and operating costs | | $ | (3,680 | ) |
NET LOSS | | $ | (3,680 | ) |
| | | | |
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding(1) | | | 10,000 | |
Basic and diluted net loss per share | | $ | (0.37 | ) |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
FOR THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 18, 2023 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 2023
| | Ordinary shares
| | Stock subscription receivable | | Accumulated deficit | | Total shareholders’ deficit |
| | No. of shares | | Amount | |
Issuance of ordinary shares to at inception(1) | | 10,000 | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 10,000 | |
Issuance of ordinary shares to founder(2) | | 1,715,000 | | | 24,000 | | | — | | | | — | | | | 24,000 | |
Stock subscription receivable | | — | | | — | | | (25,000 | ) | | | | | | | (25,000 | ) |
Net loss for the period | | — | | | — | | | | | | | (3,680 | ) | | | (3,680 | ) |
Balance as of December 31, 2023 | | 1,725,000 | | $ | 25,000 | | $ | (25,000 | ) | | $ | (3,680 | ) | | $ | (3,680 | ) |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 18, 2023 (INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (3,680 | ) |
Change in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | |
Increase in accrued expenses | | | 3,680 | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | | — | |
| | | | |
NET CHANGE IN CASH | | | — | |
| | | | |
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | | | — | |
CASH, END OF PERIOD | | $ | — | |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND
YHN Acquisition I Limited (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is a newly organized blank check company incorporated on December 18, 2023, under the laws of the British Virgin Islands for the purpose of acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements, or engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”). The Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activities through December 31, 2023 relate to the Company’s formation and the proposed public offering as described below. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a proposed public offering of 6,000,000 units (“Units”) (or 6,900,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per Unit, which is discussed in Note 3 (the “Proposed Public Offering”), and the sale of 250,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit in a private placement to YHN Holding I LLC (the “Sponsor”) (or 264,400 Units if the overallotment is exercised in full) to the Sponsor (the “Private Units”), which is discussed in Note 4.
The Company intends to list the Units on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“NASDAQ”). The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and sale of the Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. NASDAQ rules provide that the Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (as defined below) (less any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the signing of an agreement to enter into a Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination. Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that $10.00 per Unit sold in the Proposed Public Offering, including the proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Units, will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the funds in the Trust Account to the Company’s shareholders, as described below.
The Company will provide its shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (initially $10.00 per share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). The per-share amount to be distributed to shareholders who redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters (as discussed in Note 7). The ordinary shares subject to redemption will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.”
The Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks shareholder approval, a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a shareholder vote is not required and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Memorandum and Articles of Association, offer such redemption pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and file tender offer documents containing substantially the same information as would be included in a proxy statement with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND (cont.)
The Company’s initial shareholders (the “initial shareholders”) have agreed (a) to vote their founder shares, the ordinary shares included in the Private Placement Units (the “Private Placement Shares”) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination, (b) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association that would stop the public shareholders from converting or selling their shares to the Company in connection with a Business Combination or affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period (as defined below) unless the Company provides public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares for cash from the Trust Account in connection with any such vote; (c) not to redeem any founder shares and Private Placement Shares as well as any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering for cash from the Trust Account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a Business Combination (or sell any shares in a tender offer in connection with a Business Combination) or a vote to amend the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to shareholders’ rights of pre-Business Combination activity and (d) that the founder shares and Private Placement Shares shall not participate in any liquidating distributions upon winding up if a Business Combination is not consummated. However, the initial shareholders will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering if the Company fails to complete its Business Combination. The Company will have 18 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering.
Going Concern Consideration
At December 31, 2023, the Company had cash balance of $0, and a net loss of $3,680 for the period from December 18, 2023 (inception) to December 31, 2023. The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Management plans to address this uncertainty through the Proposed Public Offering as discussed in Note 3. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful or successful within the Combination Period. On December 31, 2023, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to an aggregate amount of $500,000 to be used, in part, for transaction costs incurred in connection with the Proposed Public Offering. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
• Basis of presentation
These accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
• Emerging growth company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
• Use of estimates
In preparing these financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, actual results may differ from these estimates.
• Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023.
• Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on this account.
• Deferred offering costs
Deferred offering costs consist of underwriting, legal, accounting and other expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering and that will be charged to shareholders’ equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses incurred, will be charged to operations.
• Income taxes
Income taxes are determined in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted income tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Any effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
ASC 740 prescribes a comprehensive model for how companies should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in their financial statements uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. Under ASC 740, tax positions must initially be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. The Company’s management determined that the Cayman Islands is the Company’s major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2023. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)
The Company may be subject to potential examination by foreign taxing authorities in the area of income taxes. These potential examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions and compliance with foreign tax laws. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
The Company is considered to be an exempted Cayman Islands company with no connection to any other taxable jurisdiction and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Company’s tax provision was zero for the period presented.
• Ordinary share subject to possible redemption
The Company accounts for its ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC 480. Ordinary share subject to mandatory redemption (if any) is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity.
• Net loss per share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, excluding ordinary shares subject to forfeiture. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 225,000 ordinary shares that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Note 6). At December 31, 2023, the Company only issued one class of shares and did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the periods presented.
• Related parties
Parties, which can be a corporation or individual, are considered to be related if the Company has the ability, directly or indirectly, to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making financial and operational decisions. Companies are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control or common significant influence.
• Fair value of financial instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.
• Recent accounting pronouncements
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
NOTE 3 — PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING
The Proposed Public Offering calls for the Company to offer for sale up to 6,000,000 Units at a proposed public offering price of $10.00 per Unit (plus up to an additional 900,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any). Each Unit will consist of one ordinary share (“Public Share”) and one right (“Public Right”). Each Public Right will entitle the holder to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon consummation of the Company’s Business Combination.
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 4 — PRIVATE PLACEMENT
The Sponsor will agree to purchase an aggregate of 250,000 private units (or 264,400 if the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised in full) at $10.00 per Private Unit (for a total purchase price of $2,500,000 or $2,644,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised in full), in each case, in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Each Private Unit consists of one Private Placement Share and one right (“Private Placement Right”).
The Private Units are identical to the units to be sold in the Proposed Public Offering except with respect to certain registration rights and transfer restrictions.
NOTE 5 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On December 18, 2023, the Company issued 10,000 founder shares with no par value in consideration of $1,000. On December 31, 2023, the Company authorized to issue an aggregate of 1,715,000 founder shares with no par value to the initial shareholder, including an aggregate of 225,000 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the initial shareholder will collectively own 20% of the issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering (excluding the sale of the Private Units and assuming the initial shareholders do not purchase any Units in the Proposed Public Offering) (see Note 6) for an aggregate purchase price of $24,000.
Administrative Services Agreement
The Company is obligated, commencing from the first date that any securities of the Company registered on the Company’s registration statement for its Proposed Public Offering are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, to pay YHN Holding I LLC a monthly fee of $10,000 for general and administrative services. This agreement will terminate upon completion of the Company’s business combination or the liquidation of the trust account to public shareholders.
NOTE 6 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares
The Company is authorized to issue 500,000,000 ordinary shares with no par value. Holders of the Company’s ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share.
As of December 31, 2023, 1,725,000 Ordinary Shares with no par value were issued and outstanding, of which 225,000 ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full, so that the initial shareholders will own 20% of the issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering (excluding the sale of the Private Units and assuming the initial shareholders do not purchase any Units in the Proposed Public Offering).
Rights
Each holder of a right will receive one-tenth (1/10) ordinary share upon consummation of a Business Combination, even if the holder of such right redeemed all shares held by it in connection with a Business Combination. No fractional shares will be issued upon exchange of the rights. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive its additional shares upon consummation of a Business Combination as the consideration related thereto has been included in the Unit purchase price paid for by investors in the Proposed Offering. If the Company enters into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination in which the Company will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the ordinary shares will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into ordinary
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YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 6 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (cont.)
share basis and each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert its rights in order to receive 1/10 share underlying each right (without paying additional consideration). The shares issuable upon exchange of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of the Company).
NOTE 7 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, Private Placement Units sold in a private placement (and their underlying securities) and any Units that may be issued upon conversion of the working capital loans (and underlying securities) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering requiring the Company to register such securities for resale. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 900,000 Units (over and above 6,000,000 Units referred to above) solely to cover over-allotments at the Proposed Public Offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
The underwriters will be entitled to underwriting discount of 4.1% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering, of which 1.6% will be paid at cash at the closing of the Proposed Public Offering and the balance will be deferred until the closing of the initial business combination, subject to a minimum of $500,000.
Right of First Refusal
For a period beginning on the closing of our Initial Public Offering and ending 12 months from the closing of our initial Business Combination, we have granted Lucid Capital Markets, LLC a right of first refusal to act as lead-left book running manager and lead left manager for any and all future private or public equity, convertible and debt offerings during such period. 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 our Initial Public Offering.
NOTE 8 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to May 1, 2024, the date that the financial statements were available to be issued. Other than as described in these financial statements, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
On April 12, 2024, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 (the “Promissory Note”). The Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of consummation of an initial public offering of the Company’s securities or the date on which the Company determines not to conduct an initial public offering of its securities.
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Until ____, 2024, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
No dealer, salesperson or any other person is authorized to give any information or make any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained in this prospectus and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities offered by this prospectus, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or is unlawful.
$60,000,000
YHN Acquisition I Limited
6,000,000 Units
______________
PROSPECTUS
______________
________, 2024
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:
Initial trustee fee | | $ | 11,300 | |
SEC Registration Fee /FINRA filing fee | | | 30,000 | |
Accounting fees and expenses | | | 65,000 | |
NASDAQ listing fees | | | 5,000 | |
Printing and engraving expenses | | | 30,000 | |
Legal fees and expenses | | | 250,000 | |
D&O insurance fee | | | 250,000 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 148,700 | (1) |
Total | | $ | 790,000 | |
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
British Virgin Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the British Virgin Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.
Our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that we shall indemnify against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with legal, administrative or investigative proceedings for any person who:
• is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that the person is or was our director; or
• is or was, at our request, serving as a director or officer of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another body corporate or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
These indemnities only apply if the person acted honestly and in good faith with a view to our best interests and, in the case of criminal proceedings, the person had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is theretofore unenforceable.
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
During the past three years, we sold the following ordinary shares without registration under the Securities Act:
• In December 2023, we issued 10,000 ordinary shares for $1,000 to an initial subscriber, who subsequently transferred such 10,000 ordinary shares to our sponsor. In April 2024, we further issued 1,715,000 insider shares to our sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $24,000. Our sponsor subsequently transferred an aggregate of 125,000 insider shares to other initial shareholders. All the aforementioned issuances were made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
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• In addition, our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 250,000 private units from the company on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they will purchase from the company at a price of $10.00 per private unit up to an additional 14,400 private units. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
i. To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
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ii. To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
iii. To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
i. Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
ii. Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
iii. The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
iv. Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(5) That for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(b) The undersigned hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
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such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Hong Kong, on June 20, 2024.
| | YHN ACQUISITION I LIMITED |
| | By: | | /s/ Satoshi Tominaga |
| | Name: | | Satoshi Tominaga |
| | Title: | | Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mr. Satoshi Tominaga his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for her or him and in her or his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Form S-1 registration statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or her or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name | | Position | | Date |
/s/ Satoshi Tominaga | | Chief Executive Officer | | June 20, 2024 |
Satoshi Tominaga | | (Principal executive officer), Director and Chairperson of the Board of Directors | | |
/s/ Yangyujia An | | Chief Financial Officer and Director | | June 20, 2024 |
Yangyujia An | | (Principal financial and accounting officer) | | |
/s/ Zhengming Feng | | Independent Director | | June 20, 2024 |
Zhengming Feng | | | | |
/s/ Donghui Xu | | Independent Director | | June 20, 2024 |
Donghui Xu | | | | |
/s/ Min Zhang | | Independent Director | | June 20, 2024 |
Min Zhang | | | | |
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AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of YHN Acquisition I Limited has signed this registration statement in the City of New York, on June 20, 2024.
| | AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE |
| | Cogency Global Inc. |
| | By: | | /s/ Colleen A. De Vries |
| | Name: | | Colleen A. De Vries |
| | Title: | | Sr. Vice President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc. |
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