Item 1. Business
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
D. Boral ARC Acquisition I Corp. is a blank
check company incorporated as a BVI business 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 or initial Business Combination.
Initial Public Offering and Private Placement
On August 1, 2025, D. Boral ARC Acquisition
I Corp., a BVI business company (the “Company”), consummated an initial public offering (the “IPO”) of
25,000,000 units (the “Units”). Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the
Company, and one-half of one redeemable warrant of the Company, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one
Class A ordinary share for $11.50 per share. The Units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit, generating total gross
proceeds of $250,000,000.
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the
Company completed the private placement of an aggregate of 200,000 private placement units to the Sponsor at $10.00 per unit, each private
placement unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant exercisable to purchase
one Class A ordinary share of the Company. The warrants contained in the private placement units are identical to the warrants included
in the Units sold in the IPO, except as otherwise disclosed in the Company’s registration statement relating to the IPO. No underwriting
discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sale. The issuance of the private placement units was made pursuant to the exemption
from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
On August 11, 2025, the underwriters of the IPO notified the Company of their partial exercise of the over-allotment option and purchased 3,000,000 additional units at $10.00 per unit upon the closing of the over-allotment option, generating gross proceeds of $30,000,000. The over-allotment option closed on August 13, 2025.
Following the closing of the IPO and over-allotment, an amount of $280,000,000 ($10.00 per unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the units in the IPO and the private placement was placed in a trust account which will 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; and/or held in cash or cash items (including in demand deposit accounts). 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. As of December 31, 2025, funds in the trust account totaled approximately $284,776,628.
On August 20, 2025, holders of the Units could elect to separately trade the ordinary shares and warrants included in its units. The ordinary shares and warrants are expected to trade on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbols “BCAR” and “BCARW,” respectively. Units not separated will continue to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol “BCARU.” Holders of Units will need to have their brokers contact Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company, the Company’s transfer agent, in order to separate the Units into class A ordinary shares and warrants.
Proposed Business Combination
On January 11, 2026, the Company entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among BCAR, D. Boral ARC Merger Corporation, a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of BCAR (“PubCo”), D. Boral Arc Merger Sub Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCAR, and Exascale Labs Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Exascale”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination will be effected in two steps: (i) BCAR will reincorporate in the State of Delaware by merging with and into PubCo, with PubCo remaining as the surviving publicly traded entity (the “Reincorporation Merger”); (ii) after the Reincorporation Merger, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Exascale, resulting in Exascale being a wholly owned subsidiary of PubCo.
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Consideration
The aggregate consideration for the Acquisition Merger is $500,000,000 (the “Merger Consideration”), payable in the form of 50,000,000 newly issued shares of common stock of PubCo valued at $10.00 per share to Exascale and its shareholders. At the closing of the Acquisition Merger (the “Closing”), the issued and outstanding shares in Exascale held by the former Exascale shareholders will be cancelled and cease to exist as follows:
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Each issued and outstanding share of Exascale Class B common stock shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of PubCo Class B common stock (the “PubCo Class B Shares”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the quotient equal to the Merger Consideration divided by the fully diluted Exascale capitalization (the “Per Share Merger Consideration”) by (b) Ten Dollars ($10.00), with each such PubCo Class B Share having twenty (20) votes per share; and
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Each issued and outstanding share of Exascale Class A common stock shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of PubCo Class A common stock (the “PubCo Class A Shares”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Per Share Merger Consideration by (b) Ten Dollars ($10.00), with each such PubCo Class A Share having one (1) vote per share.
In addition, at the effective time of the Acquisition Merger (the “Effective Time”), each outstanding Simple Agreement for Future Equity (“SAFE”), by and between Exascale and each holder of a SAFE (the “Safeholders”), shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of PubCo Class A Shares calculated in accordance with the terms of the SAFE in the event of a Liquidity Event (as such term is defined in the SAFE).
At the Effective Time, the holders of Exascale common stock and the Safeholders will cease to have any rights with respect to Exascale securities, except the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration as provided in the Merger Agreement. The right of a Safeholder to receive PubCo Class A Shares shall be contingent on the execution by such Safeholder of an acknowledgement and such other agreements and other documents as Exascale deems necessary, appropriate or expedient.
For additional information, see the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2026.
Business Strategy
Our acquisition strategy focuses on identifying and acquiring a business that aligns with and enhances the extensive expertise of our management team. We will leverage our sponsor’s robust network and our management team’s comprehensive industry relationships as a leader in SPAC advisory and investment banking to generate a pipeline of compelling business combination opportunities. Following the completion of our IPO, our management team will immediately commence a disciplined process of target identification, due diligence, and transaction evaluation.
Our management team, in collaboration with D. Boral Capital, ARC Group Limited, and their respective affiliates, brings proven expertise in:
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identifying, structuring, and executing strategic business acquisitions and divestitures;
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successfully closing transactions in varying economic climates and market conditions across multiple jurisdictions;
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cultivating and maintaining relationships with business owners, institutional investors, and executive leadership teams;
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orchestrating complex transaction negotiations across diverse business environments;
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securing strategic capital partnerships and navigating financial markets;
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providing operational leadership, developing effective corporate strategies, and attracting and developing exceptional talent;
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implementing post-acquisition integration strategies and synergy realization plans; and
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driving sustainable growth through strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and calculated geographic and product line expansions.
While we may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business, industry, sector or geographical location, we intend to focus on industries that complement our management team’s background, and to capitalize on the ability of our officers and directors to identify and acquire a business or businesses consistent with the experience of our management team and affiliates of our sponsor. We have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. We will focus on 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.
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Companies with an attractive competitive position
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Companies with knowledgeable management teams with a proven track record and relevant industry experience
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Companies with high revenue growth or the potential for high revenue growth
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Companies with the ability to generate future profits and free cash flows
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Companies with scalability across multiple geographies
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Companies that benefit from 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. We may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, and in the event we do so, 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 materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the SEC.
Competitive Strengths
Distinguished Leadership Team with Extensive SPAC Expertise and Public Market Transaction Experience
Our leadership team brings over 30 years of combined expertise in private equity investing and investment banking with particular specialization in SPAC transactions. This extensive experience encompasses the full lifecycle of SPAC transactions, from initial formation and IPO to target identification, due diligence, negotiation, and successful business combination closings. Since 2020, our team has successfully led or advised on more than 65 SPAC transactions with a combined transaction value exceeding $7 billion across diverse industries and global markets. Our executives have navigated complex regulatory environments, structured innovative deal terms to align investor interests, and successfully completed transactions in volatile market conditions. Our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David Boral, previously served as Co-President and Director of EF Hutton Acquisition Corporation I, which successfully completed its business combination with ECD Automotive Design, Inc. on December 12, 2023, demonstrating deal execution through meticulous target selection and skillful negotiation. Our Chief Financial Officer, John Darwin, served as Co-CEO and a Director of Northern Lights Acquisition Corp., which successfully completed its business combination with SHF Holdings, LLC, a fintech and banking services provider for regulated industries, in September 2022, demonstrating our team’s ability to identify emerging opportunities in industries poised for growth.
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Proven Record of Identifying and Securing Proprietary Deal Flow Optimized for SPAC Transactions
The principals of D. Boral ARC Acquisition I Corp., through their roles at their respective firms and affiliates, have consistently maintained top-tier positions in SPAC league tables for completed de-SPAC transactions, regularly ranking among the top three transaction advisors in deal volume and total transaction size. This distinguished position stems from our team’s cultivated network of relationships with private equity sponsors, venture capital firms, family offices, investment banks, and industry executives that generate exclusive access to off-market opportunities. Our proprietary deal sourcing methodology combines quantitative screening with qualitative assessment to identify businesses with the optimal characteristics for successful SPAC transactions: strong growth profiles, defensible market positions, experienced management teams, and clear paths to value creation in the public markets. This access to premium deal flow, coupled with our reputation for transaction and execution excellence, positions us as a preferred partner for high-quality acquisition targets.
Demonstrated Success in Executing Transactions with High-Growth Assets Across International Markets
Our management team brings a global perspective and operational expertise across diverse international markets. We have successfully completed transactions spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and emerging markets, navigating complex cross-border regulatory environments, cultural nuances, and market-specific dynamics. This global transaction experience is particularly valuable in identifying undervalued growth opportunities outside saturated domestic markets. Our team possesses specialized knowledge in conducting thorough due diligence on international targets, structuring transactions to mitigate currency and geopolitical risks, and implementing post-acquisition integration strategies that respect local market dynamics while implementing global best practices. We have demonstrated particular expertise in identifying emerging market champions poised for global expansion and North American companies with untapped international growth potential. This cross-border transaction capability significantly expands our addressable market of potential acquisition targets beyond domestically-focused competitors.
Our 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.
Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in any operations. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our IPO and the private placement of the private units, 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 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.
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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 British Virgin 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. 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 18 months from the closing of our IPO, with one (1) three-month extension at the option of the sponsor (as may be extended by 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) 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 21-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. There are no limitations on the number of times we may seek shareholder approval for an extension or the length of time of any such extension. However, 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), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law.
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window 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, from the closing of our IPO, 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 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 and certain conditions as further described herein. We expect the pro rata redemption price to be approximately $10.00 per public share (whether or not the over-allotment option is exercised), 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 that it will be necessary to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination beyond 36 months from the closing of our IPO. 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 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 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 of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of our initial business combination, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. 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.
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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 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. 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.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors or non-managing sponsor members, 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 members. 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 units following our IPO 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, executive 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 units may expire worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our sponsor, executive 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 British Virgin Islands law. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association 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. As a result, the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors could materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
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In addition, our sponsor and our 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, which could materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Sources of Target Businesses
We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers and private investment funds. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses in which they think we may be interested on an unsolicited basis. Our officers and directors, as well as their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates of which they become aware 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. In addition, we expect to receive a number of proprietary deal flow opportunities that would not otherwise necessarily be available to us as a result of the track record and business relationships of our officers and directors. 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.
Prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, there may be payment by the company to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, of a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee for any services they render in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business, which, if made prior to the completion of our initial business combination, will be paid from funds held outside the trust account.
We will engage a finder only to the extent our management determines that the use of a finder may bring opportunities to us that may not otherwise be available to us or if finders approach us on an unsolicited basis with a potential transaction that our management determines is in our best interest to pursue. Payment of a finder’s fee is customarily tied to completion of a transaction, in which case any such fee will be paid out of the funds held in the trust account.
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 members, 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 members. 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.
Evaluation of a Target Business and Structuring of Our Initial Business Combination
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 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 we can use to complete another business combination.
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Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
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subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination, and
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cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services.
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team
Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’s management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. The determination as to whether any of the members of our management team will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
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 additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination
We may conduct redemptions without a shareholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC subject to the provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. However, we will seek shareholder approval if it is required by law or applicable stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek shareholder approval for business or other reasons.
Under Nasdaq’s listing rules, shareholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
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We issue ordinary shares that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of our ordinary shares then outstanding (other than in a public offering);
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Any of our directors, officers or substantial shareholders (as defined by Nasdaq rules) has a 5% or greater interest earned on the trust account (or such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest), directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise and the present or potential issuance of ordinary shares could result in an increase in outstanding ordinary shares or voting power of 5% or more; or
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The issuance or potential issuance of ordinary shares will result in our undergoing a change of control.
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The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination in those instances in which shareholder approval is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and legal reasons, which include a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine shareholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek shareholder approval or doing so would place the company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the company; (ii) the expected cost of holding a shareholder vote; (iii) the risk that the shareholders would fail to approve the proposed business combination; (iv) other time and budget constraints of the company; and (v) additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to shareholders.
Redemption Rights for Public Shareholders upon Completion of Our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Class A ordinary shares, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against, our initial business combination, 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 the initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (less taxes payable), 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 initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. Our sponsor, officers and directors pursuant to a letter agreement with us, have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares, private shares and any public shares they may acquire, and the representative of the underwriters pursuant to the underwriting agreement has agreed to waive its redemption rights with respect to its representative shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or otherwise. The non-managing sponsor members are not required to (i) hold any units, Class A ordinary shares or public warrants they may purchase, (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.
Our proposed initial business combination may impose a minimum cash requirement for (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all Class A ordinary shares that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed initial business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the initial business combination or redeem any shares, and all Class A ordinary shares submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof. We may, however, raise funds through the issuance of equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop arrangements we may enter into, in order to, among other reasons, satisfy such net tangible assets or minimum cash requirements.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter significant competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours (including other special purpose acquisition companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, public companies and operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions), which competition may impact the attractiveness of the acquisition terms that we will be able to negotiate. Many of these entities are well-established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess financial, technical, human and other resources that are similar to or greater than us. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with the exercise of redemption rights by our public shareholders may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our issued and outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either or both of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
Employees
We currently have two executive officers. 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 our initial business combination and the stage of the business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.
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