Item 1. Business
Item 1. Business
General
We are a blank
check company incorporated on November 13, 2025 as a Cayman Islands exempted company and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger,
amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses,
which we refer to throughout this Report as our initial business combination. While we may pursue an initial business combination target
in any industry or geographic region, we intend to focus on companies that have an aggregate enterprise value of approximately $750 million
to $1.5 billion or more, that complement our management team’s background in defense technology, advanced computing, software and
media industry sectors. We believe that the operational, investment and capital markets experience of our management team will make us
an attractive partner to potential target businesses, enhance our ability to complete a successful business combination, and bring value
to the target post-business combination.
The
registration statement for the Company’s initial public offering was declared effective on January 30, 2026. On February 20, 2026,
we completed our initial public offering, which consisted of 23,000,000 units each comprising one Class A Share and one-third of one whole
public warrant to purchase one Class A Share, including the exercise in full by the underwriter of an option to purchase up to 3,000,000
units at the offering price to cover over-allotments. The units were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds to
the Company of $230,000,000. Also, on February 20, 2026, simultaneously with the consummation of our initial public offering, we completed
the private sale of an aggregate of 695,000 units to our sponsor and BTIG at a purchase price of $10.00 per private placement unit, generating
gross proceeds to the Company of $6,950,000. Of those 695,000 private placement units, the sponsor purchased 465,000 private placement
units and BTIG 230,000 private placement units. A total of $230,000,000 of the proceeds from the initial public offering and the private
placement, which amount includes $8,050,000 of the underwriters’ deferred commission, was placed in a U.S.-based trust account maintained
by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee.
Our sponsor
is Abony Sponsor I LLC. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of the IPO and the sale
of the private placement units, our equity, debt or a combination of cash, equity and debt.
We expect
to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a business
combination will be successful.
Business
Strategy
We believe
that there are a range of target businesses that could benefit from our industry knowledge, relationships, capital and public vehicle.
Our strategy is to capitalize on the significant experience, network and reach of our management team, along with our directors, to identify
and complete our initial business combination with a target business that we believe will create shareholder value in the public markets.
We intend to identify and contact potential target businesses and start to evaluate and pursue a possible business combination. In addition,
we will communicate the parameters of our search to our network of relationships and transaction sources to help us identify potential
target businesses. We plan to leverage our team’s collective experience and capital markets expertise to successfully complete a
business combination, and then continue to support the combined company with our industry relationships, operational and capital markets
expertise, and capital resources.
1
Our
Management Team
Our team is
led by Lorne Abony and Leo Kofman, who collectively bring significant operating, investment, and special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”)
experience.
Lorne Abony,
our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors, is an experienced serial entrepreneur, executive, board member and
investor who has served as Chief Executive Officer of three public companies and has extensive SPAC experience as an investor in numerous
SPAC sponsors as well as SPAC acquisition target companies.
Leo Kofman,
our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, has advised on numerous other SPAC transactions as an investment banker focused
structuring and financing SPAC business combinations with target companies.
We believe
that our management team and board are well positioned to identify and execute attractive business combination opportunities.
Our
Competitive Strengths
We believe
our management team is uniquely positioned to identify and execute a successful business combination in our target sectors for the following
reasons:
●
Extensive Experience Scaling Public Companies :
Through Mr. Abony’s experience as a three-time public company Chief Executive Officer, he has a proven track record of scaling public
companies through the successful execution of organic growth initiatives and strategic acquisitions. We believe our team’s breadth
of expertise will allow us to provide our potential business combination targets with operational guidance and support to enhance growth
and value creation in the public markets, as well as strategic planning, investor communications and governance as a public company.
●
Deep Capital Markets Expertise : Over
the course of his career, Mr. Abony has raised over $10 billion in capital through public and private debt and equity markets for companies
in which he was an executive, board member or investor. During his investment banking career, Mr. Kofman has advised on over $10 billion
in capital raises in public and private equity and credit markets, including over $1.5 billion in private investment in public equity
capital raises in support of special purpose acquisition company business combinations. We believe that our team’s capital markets
expertise and extensive investor relationships will be of significant benefit as we evaluate financing alternatives for potential initial
business combination candidates, as well as post-business combination.
●
Significant Prior SPAC Experience : Mr.
Abony has been an investor in numerous SPAC sponsors that have successfully completed business combinations, and also has been an investor
and held Board advisory roles at companies that have engaged with SPAC counterparties with respect to potential business combinations.
Mr. Kofman has advised on numerous SPAC transactions as an investment banker, and has extensive experience in structuring SPAC business
combinations and raising capital to support SPAC acquisitions. We believe that our team’s prior experience as SPAC sponsor investors,
involvement with SPAC transaction counterparties, as well as SPAC advisory and financing, will help position us as a credible partner
for potential business combination targets. Mr. Abony has been an investor in numerous SPAC sponsors that have successfully completed
business combinations, and also has been an investor and held Board advisory roles at companies that have engaged with SPAC counterparties
with respect to potential business combinations. Since June 2025, Mr. Abony has served as the Chairman of the M&A Committee of the
Board of Einride AB, a Swedish technology company that develops and operates digital, electric and autonomous freight solutions. In November
2025, Einride AB and Legato Merger Corp. III, a special purpose acquisition company, announced that they entered into a definitive business
combination agreement for a proposed business combination that would result in Einride AB becoming an NYSE-listed public company. Mr.
Kofman has advised on numerous SPAC transactions as an investment banker, and has extensive experience in structuring SPAC business combinations
and raising capital to support SPAC acquisitions. We believe that our team’s prior experience as SPAC sponsor investors, involvement
with SPAC transaction counterparties, as well as SPAC advisory and financing, will help position us as a credible partner for potential
business combination targets.
2
●
Extensive Strategic Sourcing Network :
Over the course of their careers, our management team has developed an extensive network of relationships with founders, management teams,
asset managers, private equity and corporate business owners which we believe will provide us with an important source of initial business
combination opportunities. For example, Mr. Abony, currently serves as the managing partner of Texas Venture Partners, a venture capital
firm based in Austin, Texas, which invests in innovative startups in the defense technology sector. Although the potential targets that
we intend to pursue will not overlap with the investment criteria of Texas Venture Partners from an enterprise value and investment size
standpoint, Mr. Abony’s established sourcing network with corporate boards, management teams and shareholders will complement our
ability identify and transact with an attractive business combination target. We believe our management team’s backgrounds provide
us with the ability to source transactions and identify target businesses that can thrive as publicly traded companies. We anticipate
that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including family offices, investment
market participants, private equity groups, investment banks, consultants, accounting firms and large business enterprises. However, we
have not identified any specific sources, including private equity firms, with which we intend to collaborate.
Acquisition
Criteria
We have identified
the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. We intend to
use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination
with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines.
●
Experienced Management Team . We will
prioritize businesses with experienced and capable management teams that have a track record of success. We anticipate that our own officers
and directors will complement, not replace, the skills of the target company’s management team.
●
Strong Market Position . We will seek
to acquire businesses that have strong market positions and competitive advantages in their sectors.
●
Attractive Growth Potential . We will
focus on businesses with significant growth potential, with both organic opportunities and through complementary strategic acquisitions.
●
Strong Public Comparables . We intend
to focus on businesses where strong public comparables exist. The existence of public companies which operate in similar industry sectors
or have similar operating metrics to a potential target business will be important in helping to establish that the valuation of our initial
business combination is attractive relative to such public companies.
●
Benefit from Being a Public Company .
We will focus on businesses that will benefit from being publicly traded and can effectively utilize the broader access to capital and
the public profile associated with being a publicly traded company.
These criteria
are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to
the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management may deem relevant.
In the event that we decide to enter into a business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines,
we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our shareholder communications related to our initial business
combination, which would be in the form of proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, that we would file with the SEC.
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings
with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, as well as
reviewing financial and other information which will be made available to us.
3
Acquisition
Process
In
evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings
with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, as applicable,
as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information about the target and its industry which will be made available
to us. If we determine to move forward with a particular target, we will proceed to structure and negotiate the terms of the business
combination transaction.
The
time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated
with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification
and evaluation of, and negotiation with, a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed
will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds available for us to use to complete another business combination.
Our
ability to identify and evaluate a target company may be impacted by significant competition among other special purpose acquisition companies
in pursuing a business combination transaction candidate and the significant competition may impact the attractiveness of the acquisition
terms that we will be able to negotiate.
Initial
Business Combination
We are not
presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following our initial public offering.
We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering and the private placement,
the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (including pursuant to forward purchase agreements
or backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of our initial public offering or otherwise), shares issued to the
owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, other securities issuances, or a combination of
the foregoing. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or
in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
We will provide
our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Class A ordinary shares upon the completion of our initial
business combination either (i) in connection with a general meeting called to approve the business combination or (ii) without a shareholder
vote by means of a tender offer. If we seek shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if we receive
an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which requires the
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies
are allowed, by proxy at the applicable general meeting of the company. In such case, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed
to vote their founder shares, private placement shares and any public shares purchased during or after our initial public offering (including
in open market and privately-negotiated transactions, aside from shares they may purchase in compliance with the requirements of Rule
14e-5 under the Exchange Act, which would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction) in favor of our initial
business combination. As a result, in addition to our sponsor’s founder shares and private placement shares, we would need 7,319,167,
or approximately 31.82%, of the 23,000,000 public shares sold in our initial public offering to be voted in favor of an initial business
combination in order to have our initial business combination approved, assuming all outstanding shares are voted, the underwriters’
private placement shares are voted in favor of the initial business combination, and the parties to the letter agreement do not acquire
any Class A ordinary shares. Assuming that only the holders of one third of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing a
quorum under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, vote their shares at a general meeting of the company, we
would not need any of the 23,000,000 public shares sold in our initial public offering in addition to our founder shares and private placement
shares to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to approve an initial business combination. The decision as to
whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our
discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would
require us to seek shareholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement.
We have until
the date that is 24 months from the closing of our initial public offering or until such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors
may approve, to consummate our initial business combination. If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business
combination within such 24-month period, we may seek shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of
association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Subject to shareholder approval, there are
no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via an
amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. If we seek shareholder approval for an extension, holders
of public shares will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount
then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (less taxes payable (excluding any excise tax, or similar tax,
imposed on us)), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law. Our public shareholders
will have the right to redeem their shares regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against an extension.
4
If we are
unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our initial public offering and do not hold a
shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the amount of time we will have to
consummate an initial business combination, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, we will redeem
100% of the public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including
interest earned thereon (less taxes payable (excluding any excise tax, or similar tax, imposed on us) and up to $100,000 of interest income
to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law as further
described herein. We expect the pro rata redemption price to be approximately $10.00 per public share, without taking into account any
interest or other income earned on such funds. However, we cannot assure you that we will in fact be able to distribute such amounts as
a result of claims of creditors, which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders.
If we do not
complete our initial business combination within the completion window, while we do not currently intend to seek shareholder approval
to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the amount of time we will have to consummate an initial
business combination, we may elect to do so in the future. There is no limit on the number of extensions that we may seek; however, we
do not expect to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination beyond 36 months from the closing of our initial
public offering. If we determine not to or are unable to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination or fail
to obtain shareholder approval to extend the completion window, our sponsor’s investment in our founder shares and our private placement
units (and the securities comprising such units) will be worthless.
Nasdaq rules
require that we must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of
the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the
trust account). Our board of directors will make the determination as to the fair market value of our initial business combination. 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, with
respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it likely that our board of directors will be able to make an independent
determination of the fair market value of our initial business combination, it may be unable to do so if it is less familiar or experienced
with the business of a particular target or if there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the target’s assets
or prospects. Additionally, pursuant to Nasdaq rules, any initial business combination must be approved by a majority of our independent
directors.
We anticipate
structuring our initial business combination so that the post transaction company in which our public shareholders own shares will own
or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business
combination such that the post transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business
in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, 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. 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, shares or other equity interests of a target.
In this case, we would 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, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired
is what will be taken into account for purposes of the 80% of net assets test described above. If the business combination involves more
than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.
5
We are not
prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, non-managing
sponsor investors, or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor,
officers or directors or non-managing sponsor investors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company
that is affiliated (as defined in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) with our sponsor (including its members),
officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm
or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, stating that the consideration to be paid by us in such an initial
business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other
context.
Members of
our management team and our independent directors will directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement units following
our initial public offering and, accordingly, 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. The low price that our sponsor, officers and directors
(directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a
substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public shareholders.
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, or by such earlier liquidation date as our
board of directors may approve, the founder shares and private placement units (and the securities comprising such units) may be worthless,
except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for
our sponsor, officers and directors to complete a transaction even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value
and is unprofitable for public shareholders. 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.
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. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which
is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary
or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such other entity, subject to their fiduciary duties under
Cayman Islands law. If these entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing such opportunities. Our
amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law: (i) no individual
serving as a director or an officer, among other persons, shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract,
to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us, and (ii) we renounce
any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which (a) may
be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other or (b) the presentation of which would breach
an existing legal obligation of a director or officer to any other entity. However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts
would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
In addition,
our sponsor, officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other
business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. As a result, our sponsor, officers
and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other
special purpose acquisition company with which they may become involved. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional
conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination target.
6
Our sponsor,
officers and directors may pursue business combinations for special purpose acquisition companies that they have sponsored in any order,
which could result in its more recent special purpose acquisition companies completing business combinations prior to its special purpose
acquisition companies that were launched earlier. There are no contractual obligations governing the allocation of opportunities among
the various special purpose acquisition companies. Any determination as to which special purpose acquisition companies will pursue a particular
acquisition target will be made based on the circumstances of the particular situation, including but not limited to the relative sizes
of the special purpose acquisition companies compared to the sizes of the targets, the need or desire for additional financings and the
relevant experience of the directors and officers involved with a particular special purpose acquisition companies. Any such special purpose
acquisition company may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target, particularly if there is overlap among
investment mandates and the board and management teams. Although we have no formal policy in place for vetting potential conflicts of
interest, our board of directors will review any potential conflicts of interest on a case-by-case basis.
Additional
Financing
We intend
to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private
placement units, our equity, debt or a combination of these as the consideration to be paid in our initial business combination. Generally,
the issuance of additional shares in a business combination:
●
may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in our initial public
offering, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B ordinary shares resulted in the issuance of
Class A ordinary shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B ordinary shares;
●
may subordinate the rights of holders of Class A ordinary shares if preference
shares are issued with rights senior to those afforded to Class A ordinary shares;
●
could cause a change in control if a substantial number of Class A ordinary
shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, the post-business combination company’s ability to use its net operating
loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of officers and directors;
●
may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of the post-business
combination company by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of the post-business combination
company; and
●
may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A ordinary
shares and/or warrants.
We may issue
shares to investors in private placement transactions (so-called PIPE transactions) in order to complete an initial business combination
and provide sufficient liquidity and capital to the post-business combination entity. As of the date of this Report, we have no commitments
to issue any shares in connection with such a transaction. The price of the shares so issued in connection with an initial business combination
may be less, and potentially significantly less, than $10.00 per share or the market price for our shares at such time. Any such issuances
of equity securities at a price that is less than $10.00 or the prevailing market price of our shares at that time could be structured
to ensure a return on investment to the investors and could dilute the interests of our existing shareholders in a manner that would not
ordinarily occur in a traditional initial public offering and could result in both a reduction in the trading price of our shares to the
price at which we issue such equity securities and fluctuations in the net tangible book value per share of the combined company’s
securities following the completion of our initial business combination. We may also provide price protection or other incentives, or
issue convertible securities such as preferred equity or convertible debt, and the exercise or conversion price of those securities may
be fixed or adjustable, and may be less, and potentially significantly less, than $10.00 per share or the market price for our shares
at such time. Such issuances could also result in additional transaction costs related to our initial business combination compared to
a traditional initial public offering, including the placement fees associated with the engagement of a placement agent in connection
with PIPE transactions.
7
Although we
have no commitments as of the date of this Report to issue any notes or other debt, or to otherwise incur debt, we may choose to pursue
a business combination in connection with which we incur substantial debt. No issuance of debt will affect the per share amount available
for redemption from the trust account. However, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant debt to banks or other lenders
or the owners of a target, it could result in:
●
default and foreclosure on the assets of the post-business combination company
if its operating revenues are insufficient to repay its debt obligations;
●
acceleration of the post-business combination company’s obligations to
repay such indebtedness, even if it makes all principal and interest payments when due, if it breaches certain covenants that require
the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
●
the post-business combination company’s immediate payment of all principal
and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;
●
the post-business combination company’s inability to obtain necessary additional
financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting its ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding;
●
using a substantial portion of the post-business combination company’s
cash flow to pay principal and interest on its debt, which will reduce the funds available for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions
and other general corporate purposes;
●
limitations on the post-business combination company’s flexibility in planning
for and reacting to changes in its business and in the industry in which it operates; and
●
increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and
competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and limitations on the post-business combination company’s
ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of its strategy
and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to its competitors who have less debt.
Sources
of Potential Business Combination Targets
We believe
our management team’s significant operating and transaction experience and relationships will provide us with a substantial number
of potential initial business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, the members of our management team have developed
a broad network of contacts and corporate relationships around the world. This network has grown through the activities of our management
team sourcing, acquiring and financing businesses, the reputation of our management team and advisors for integrity and fair dealing with
sellers, financing sources and target management teams and the experience of our management team in executing transactions under varying
economic and financial market conditions.
This network
has provided our management team with a flow of referrals that has resulted in numerous transactions which were proprietary or where a
limited group of investors were invited to participate in the sale process. We believe that the network of contacts and relationships
of our management team will provide us important sources of investment opportunities. In addition, we anticipate that target business
combination candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private
equity funds and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.
8
We are not
prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, non-managing
sponsor investors, or completing the business combination through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor,
officers or directors or non-managing sponsor investors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company
that is affiliated (as defined in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) with our sponsor (including its members),
officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm
or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, stating that the consideration to be paid by us in such an initial
business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other
context.
Members of
our management team and our independent directors will directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private placement units following
our initial public offering and, accordingly, 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.
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. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which
is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary
or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such other entity, subject to their fiduciary duties under
Cayman Islands law. If these entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing such opportunities. Our
amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law: (i) no individual
serving as a director or an officer, among other persons, shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract,
to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us, and (ii) we
renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which
(a) may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other or (b) the presentation
of which would breach an existing legal obligation of a director or officer to any other entity. However, we do not believe that any such
potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
In addition,
our sponsor, officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other
business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. As a result, our sponsor, officers
and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other
special purpose acquisition company with which they may become involved. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional
conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination target.
Our sponsor,
officers and directors may pursue business combinations for special purpose acquisition companies that they have sponsored in any order,
which could result in its more recent special purpose acquisition companies completing business combinations prior to its special purpose
acquisition companies that were launched earlier. There are no contractual obligations governing the allocation of opportunities among
the various special purpose acquisition companies. Any determination as to which special purpose acquisition companies will pursue a particular
acquisition target will be made based on the circumstances of the particular situation, including but not limited to the relative sizes
of the special purpose acquisition companies compared to the sizes of the targets, the need or desire for additional financings and the
relevant experience of the directors and officers involved with a particular special purpose acquisition companies. Any such special purpose
acquisition company may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target, particularly if there is overlap among
investment mandates and the board and management teams. Although we have no formal policy in place for vetting potential conflicts of
interest, our board of directors will review any potential conflicts of interest on a case-by-case basis.
9
Trust
Account
Nasdaq
rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from the initial public offering and the sale of the private placement units be
deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds we received from the initial public offering and the sale of the private placement units
described in this Report, $230,000,000 ($10.00 per unit in either case) has been placed in a U.S. based trust account with Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and initially be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity
of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest
only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations; the holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the
sole purpose of facilitating the intended business combination. To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company
for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that we hold investments in the trust account, we may, at
any time (based on our management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to our potential status under the Investment
Company Act), instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the trust account and instead to hold the funds in the trust account
in cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank. The proceeds to be placed in the trust account include up to $8,050,000
in deferred underwriting commissions.
Except
with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any (excluding
any excise tax, or similar tax, imposed on us), the proceeds from the initial public offering and the sale of the private placement units
will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of (i) the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) the redemption
of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, subject to applicable
law, or (iii) the redemption of our public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated
memorandum and articles of association to (A) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with
our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated an initial business combination within
the completion window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business
combination activity. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could
have priority over the claims of our public shareholders.
We
have until the date that is 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering or until such earlier liquidation date as our board
of directors may approve, to consummate our initial business combination. If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial
business combination within such 24-month period, we may seek shareholder approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles
of association to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. Subject to shareholder approval, there
are no limitations as to the duration of an extension or the number of times the completion window may be extended by shareholders via
an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. If we seek shareholder approval for an extension, holders
of public shares will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount
then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (less taxes payable (excluding any excise tax, or similar tax,
imposed on us)), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law. Our public shareholders
will have the right to redeem their shares regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against an extension.
If
we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering, or by such
earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, we will redeem 100% of the public shares at a per share price, payable
in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (less taxes payable (excluding
any excise tax, or similar tax, imposed on us) and up to $100,000 of interest income to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number
of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law as further described herein.
If
we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window, while we do not currently intend to seek shareholder
approval to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the amount of time we will have to consummate
an initial business combination, we may elect to do so in the future. There is no limit on the number of extensions that we may seek;
however, we do not expect to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination beyond 36 months from the closing of
the initial public offering. If we determine not to or are unable to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination
or fail to obtain shareholder approval to extend the completion window, our sponsor’s investment in our founder shares and our private
placement units (and the securities comprising such units) will be worthless.
10
Redemption
Rights
We
will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against, our
initial business combination, all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share
price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account calculated as of two business days prior to
the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (less taxes payable
(excluding any excise tax, or similar tax, imposed on us)), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations
and on the conditions described herein.
The
amount in the trust account is $10.00 per public share. The per share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their
shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. There will be no redemption rights
upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered
into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares,
private placement shares and any public shares they may acquire after the initial public offering in connection with the completion of
our initial business combination. The non-managing sponsor investors are not required to (i) hold any units, Class A ordinary shares or
public warrants purchased in the initial public offering or thereafter for any amount of time, (ii) vote any Class A ordinary shares they
may own at the applicable time in favor of our initial business combination or (iii) refrain from exercising their right to redeem their
public shares at the time of our initial business combination. The non-managing sponsor investors will have the same rights to the funds
held in the trust account with respect to the Class A ordinary shares comprising part of the units they purchased in our initial public
offering as the rights afforded to our other public shareholders. However, the non-managing sponsor investors will potentially have different
interests than our other public shareholders in approving our initial business combination and otherwise exercising their rights as public
shareholders because of their indirect ownership of founder shares as further discussed in the registration statement related to the initial
public offering.
Liquidation
if No Business Combination
Our
amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that we have only the completion window to complete our initial business
combination. If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period, we will (i) cease all operations except
for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter (and subject to
lawfully available funds therefor), redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then
on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes
(excluding any excise tax, or similar tax, imposed on us) and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by
the number of then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders
(including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably
possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve,
subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable
law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail
to complete our initial business combination within the completion window.
Our
sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating
distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares and private placement shares held by them if we fail to complete
our initial business combination within the completion window, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from assets
outside the trust account. However, if our sponsor or management team acquire public shares after the initial public offering, they will
be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial
business combination within the completion window. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commissions
held in the trust account in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the completion window 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.
11
Our
sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a letter agreement, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and
restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection
with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within
the completion window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business
combination activity, in each case unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A ordinary shares
upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust
account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (less taxes payable (excluding any excise tax, or similar tax,
imposed on us)), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. For example, our board of directors may propose such an amendment
if it determines that additional time is necessary to complete our initial business combination. In such event, we will conduct a proxy
solicitation and distribute proxy materials pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act seeking shareholder approval of such proposal,
and in connection therewith, provide our public shareholders with the redemption rights described above upon shareholder approval of such
amendment.
Status
as a Public Company
We believe
our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we offer a
target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination with us. In a
business combination transaction with us, the owners of the target business may, for example, exchange their shares in the target business
for our Class A ordinary shares (or shares of a new holding company) or for a combination of our Class A ordinary shares and cash, allowing
us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers. Although there are various costs and obligations associated with
being a public company, we believe target businesses will find this method a more expeditious and cost effective method to becoming a
public company than the typical initial public offering. The typical initial public offering process takes a significantly longer period
of time than the typical business combination transaction process, and there are additional expenses incurred in marketing, road show
and public reporting efforts that may not be present to the same extent in connection with a business combination with us.
Furthermore,
once a proposed business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public
offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could
delay or prevent the offering from occurring or could have negative valuation consequences. Once public, we believe the target business
would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with shareholders’
interests. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in
attracting talented employees.
We are an
“emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are
eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that
are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation
requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic
reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and
shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as
a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition,
Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition
period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an
“emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply
to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain
an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion
of our initial public 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 Class A ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700
million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities
during the prior three-year period.
12
Additionally,
we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage
of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We
will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our ordinary shares held
by non-affiliates equaled or exceeded $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues
equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates
equaled or exceeded $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced
disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
In addition,
after completion of our initial public offering and prior to the consummation of a business combination, only holders of our Class B ordinary
shares will have the right to vote on the appointment or removal of directors. As a result, Nasdaq will consider us to be a “controlled
company” within the meaning of Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Under Nasdaq corporate governance standards, a company of
which more than 50% of the voting power for the appointment of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled
company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements. We currently do not intend to rely on the “controlled
company” exemption, but may do so in the future. Accordingly, if we choose to do so, you will not have the same protections afforded
to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements.
Corporate
Information
We are a Cayman
Islands exempted company. Exempted companies are Cayman Islands companies conducting business mainly outside the Cayman Islands and, as
such, are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Act. As an exempted company, we have applied for and received
a tax exemption undertaking from the Cayman Islands government that, in accordance with Section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act (As
Revised) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 20 years from the date of the undertaking, no law which is enacted in the Cayman
Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations will apply to us or our operations and, in addition,
that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax will be
payable (i) on or in respect of our shares, debentures or other obligations or (ii) by way of the withholding in whole or in
part of a payment of dividends or other distribution of income or capital by us to our shareholders or a payment of principal or interest
or other sums due under a debenture or other obligation of us.
Employees
We currently
have two officers, Lorne Abony and Leo Kofman. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters
but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination.
The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for the business
combination and the stage of the business combination process the company is in. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior
to the consummation of a business combination.
Additional Information
We are required to file Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q with the SEC on a regular basis, and are required to disclose certain material events (e.g., changes in corporate control,
acquisitions or dispositions of a significant amount of assets other than in the ordinary course of business and bankruptcy) in a Current
Report on Form 8-K. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s Internet website is located at http://www.sec.gov. In addition,
we will provide copies of these documents without charge upon request from us in writing at 1700 S Lamar Blvd, Suite #338, Austin, Texas
or by telephone at (512) 553-1770.
13
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.