Item 1. Business
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form
10-K”), references to the “Company” and to “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Stellar
V Capital Corp.
Introduction
We are a blank check company incorporated on July
12, 2024 as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase,
reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any specific business combination target,
and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination
target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
We may pursue an initial business combination
target in any business or industry or at any stage of its corporate evolution. Our primary focus, however, will be in completing a business
combination with an established business of scale poised for continued growth, led by a highly regarded management team. Our management
team has an extensive track record of acquiring attractive assets at disciplined valuations, investing in growth while fostering financial
discipline and improving business results.
On January 31, 2025, we consummated our initial public offering (the
“IPO”) of 15,000,000 units. The units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of
$150,000,000. 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.
We granted BTIG, LLC (“BTIG”), the representative of the underwriters, a 45-day option to purchase up to 2,250,000 additional
units solely to cover over-allotments, if any. On March 17, 2025, the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase up to 2,250,000
additional units expired.
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, pursuant to the Private
Placement Units Purchase Agreements, the Company completed the private placement of an aggregate of 555,000 units (the “private
units”) to our sponsor, Stellar V Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “sponsor”) and BTIG, at $10.00
per unit, each 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. Of those 555,000 private units, the sponsor purchased 365,000 private units and BTIG
purchased 190,000 private units. The private units are identical to the units sold in the IPO, except that the private units are subject
to transfer restrictions. The sponsor and BTIG were granted certain demand and piggyback registration rights in connection with the purchase
of the private units.
On January 29, 2025, in connection with the IPO, Nicolas Bornozis,
Christopher Thomas, and Harry Braunstein were appointed to the board of directors of the Company. Effective January 29, 2025, each of
Nicolas Bornozis, Christopher Thomas, and Harry Braunstein was appointed to the board’s audit committee, compensation committee
and nominating and corporate governance committee. Harry Braunstein passed away in November 2025. In February 2026, the board appointed
Michael Braunstein as a director. Christopher Thomas, Nicolas Bornozis and Michael Braunstein are the chairs of the audit committee, compensation
committee and nominating and corporate governance committee, respectively.
The Company’s board is comprised of the
following three classes: the first class of directors, Class I, consists of Christopher Thomas, and will expire at the Company’s
first annual meeting of shareholders after the IPO; the second class of directors, Class II, consists of Michael Braunstein and Nicolas
Bornozis, and will expire at the Company’s second annual meeting of shareholders after the IPO; and the third class of directors,
Class III, consists of Georgios Syllantavos and Prokopios (Akis) Tsirigakis, and will expire at the Company’s third annual meeting
of shareholders after the IPO.
In connection with such appointments, the Company
entered into indemnity agreements with each of the directors and Anastasios (Tassos) Chrysostomidis, its Vice President of Business Development,
that require the Company to indemnify each of them to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to advance expenses incurred
as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
On January 29, 2025, in connection with the IPO,
the Company filed its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies, which
was effective on January 29, 2025.
On January 31, 2025, a total of $151,050,000,
comprised of the proceeds from the IPO and the sale of the private units (which amount includes $5,250,000 of the underwriter’s
deferred discount), was placed in a U.S.-based trust account maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee.
Except with respect to interest earned on the funds in the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay its income taxes,
if any, or to pay for any Hart-Scott-Rodino filing fees and for winding up and dissolution expenses, the funds held in the trust account
will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of (i) the completion of the Company’s initial business combination,
(ii) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if it is unable to complete our initial business combination within 21 months,
subject to applicable law, or (iii) the redemption of the Company’s public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder
vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of
the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial business combination or to redeem 100% of its public
shares if the Company has not consummated an initial business combination within 21 months or (B) with respect to any other material provisions
relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity.
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Competitive Advantage
We believe that the background and experience
of our management team lay the foundation for our competitive strengths as a blank check company. Over time, our sponsor (and its affiliates)
has developed long-term relationships with a wide range of global private and public companies primarily under $2 billion in
enterprise value. We will seek to capitalize on the substantial resources and their network and relationships are expected to provide
us with exposure to a broad selection of potential acquisition targets.
● Experience with SPACs and the broader capital markets. Our
management team has significant experience having completed four previous SPAC transactions in the sourcing, evaluation and negotiation
of transactions with blank check company targets.
● Experience in sourcing and structuring complex transactions
that facilitate the “going public” process. We have significant experience in sourcing and
structuring capital markets transactions that enable companies to access the public markets. We believe that our prior experience with
reverse mergers, public roll-ups, small cap IPOs, private-to-public as well as public-to-public M&A transactions will provide
us with a unique skill set to effectuate and source a potential business combination.
● Experience in leading public companies and transitioning
private companies to public status. We have significant experience leading public companies as CEO and
CFO positions immediately following a business combination, as well as through the private-to-public process giving us insight of
the required steps and processes. We have experience of building from scratch operations for public companies, establishing Sarbanes-Oxley systems
and implementing corporate governance.
● Deep global network to facilitate sourcing of a potential
initial business combination target. We intend to leverage the global network of contacts of our management
team, which contacts include management teams of public and private companies, investment bankers, private equity sponsors, venture capital
investors, hedge funds, alternative asset managers, family offices, advisers, attorneys and accountants that we believe should provide
us with a number of initial business combination opportunities.
● Significant merger, acquisition and integration experience. Our
officers and directors have substantial experience completing M&A transactions in multiple markets on a global basis for both private
and public companies.
Business Strategy
Our strategy is to leverage our team’s extensive
track record in running public companies, mergers & acquisitions and capital markets to identify and complete an initial business
combination. We may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any industry or geographic location. We have not selected any specific business
combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with
any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
Business Combination Criteria
Based on our management’s experience, including
with prior special purpose acquisition companies, we have developed the following non-exclusive investment criteria that we intend
to use to screen for and evaluate prospective target businesses.
● Leading Industry Position with Supportive Long-Term Dynamics
and Competitive Market Advantage . We intend to target businesses that hold, or have the potential to hold,
a leading position in an industry sector with attractive macro-characteristics. We intend to target businesses that have, or have the
potential to have, sustainable competitive advantages that would be challenging for a competitor to replicate. Factors contributing to
sustainable competitive advantages may include: (iii) proprietary or superior technology or trade secrets; (ii) broad distribution
networks; (iii) well-established brand names; (iv) territorial exclusivity or a well-defined market; (v) diverse
and stable customer and supplier base; (vi) low-cost production capability/economies of scale; (vii) customer habit/share
of mind; (viii) a lack of available substitutes and/or high search or switching costs; (ix) network effects; and/or (x) limited
exposure to technological obsolescence and cyclicality. Our management team expects to target businesses that have clearly demonstrated
an ability to defend and grow their market positions over time as a result of one or more of these sustainable competitive advantages,
or have demonstrable potential to do so. We intend to seek opportunities that will benefit from secular growth and are able to differentiate
their market position to create value for our shareholders over time.
● Stable Free Cash Flow, Prudent Debt and Financial Visibility . We
seek to acquire or merge with a business that has historically generated or has the potential to generate not only current revenues,
but strong and sustainable free cash flow. Additionally, our prospective business combination criteria include prudent balance sheet
management and, as such, we would seek to limit leverage ratios of a combined company immediately following an initial business combination.
To provide reliable guidance, we will also seek to acquire a business that has reasonable visibility on forward financial performance
and straightforward operating metrics. Specifically, we will prioritize businesses that may be evaluated and priced by the market using
financial metrics or other key milestones not more than one year forward.
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● Benefit Uniquely from a Business Combination with a Special
Purpose Acquisition Company . We seek to acquire or merge with a business that has a clear use of proceeds
and a clear catalyst or inflection point resulting from our capital, team, public listing, roll-up synergies, deleveraging and/or
re-rating milestones expected to propel the business through our structural dilution in the near term with enhanced financial results,
margins, market position and shareholder value.
● Would Benefit Uniquely from our Capabilities . We
seek to acquire or merge with a business where the collective capabilities of our management team, board of directors and sponsor, and
any operating partners we involve, can be leveraged to tangibly improve the operations and market position of the target.
● Proprietary and/or Optimally Positioned Transactions . We
intend to leverage our extensive business network to source our initial business combination on a proprietary basis if possible. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, we will utilize our collective experience and insight to strategically consider participating in formal processes focused
primarily on narrowing a pool of SPACs to a single winning bidder to instances where we believe we are optimally positioned to win such
processes.
● Committed and Capable Management Team . We
seek to acquire or merge with a business with a management team whose interests are aligned with those of our shareholders and who can
clearly and confidently articulate the business plan and market opportunities to public market investors. Where necessary, we may also
look to complement and enhance the capabilities of the target business’s management team and their board of directors by recruiting
additional talent through our network of contacts or otherwise. This may include recruiting experienced industry professionals, or operating
partners, to assist in our evaluation of the opportunity and marketing of the business combination prior to its completion, who may assume
an ongoing role with the business or board thereafter. While not a requirement, we would view favorably opportunities where the target’s
chief financial officer has experience as a public company chief financial officer or other substantive public market experience, and
ideally where other members of senior management have public market experience as well.
● Potential to Grow, Including Through Further Acquisition
Opportunities . We seek to acquire or merge with a business that has the potential to grow both organically
and inorganically through acquisitions, with management having identified a pipeline of potentially actionable accretive acquisition
targets. We expect to work with the ongoing management team to develop the business strategy around geographic expansion, new products,
high-return capital expenditure projects and acquisitions, as well as creating and maintaining the optimal capital structure for
growth.
● Preparedness for the Process and Public Markets . We
seek to acquire or merge with a business that has or can put in place prior to the closing of a business combination, the material governance,
financial systems and controls required in the public markets. Specifically, we will seek to avoid situations where extensive accounting
or restructuring work is required with an uncertain timetable or outcome before a transaction can be completed.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive
or exclusive. 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 our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines,
we intend to disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our shareholder communications related to our initial
business combination, which, as discussed in this report, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents
that we would file with the SEC.
Initial Business Combination
We do not engage in, any operations for an indefinite
period of time. 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 following the consummation of our IPO 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 (up to an aggregate per shareholder, together with certain
other shareholders, of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO, as described in more detail in this report) 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. Each public shareholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether
they vote for or against an initial business combination, or whether they do not vote or abstain from voting on the initial business combination.
If we seek shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if we receive an ordinary resolution under Cayman
Islands law, passed by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders of the issued shares represented
in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting of the company and are voted at a 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.
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We have until the end of the completion window
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. If we seek shareholder approval for an extension, holders
of Class A ordinary 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, other than any excise
or similar tax that may be due or payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares, subject
to applicable law.
If we are unable to complete our initial business
combination within the completion window, 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable,
but without deduction for any excise or similar tax that may be due or payable, and up to $100,000 of interest income to pay liquidation
expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Class A ordinary 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, 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.
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 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.
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.
Our Business Combination Process
We believe our management team’s significant
operating and transactional experience and relationships provide us with access to 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
relationships with private companies, investment bankers, private equity, venture capital and debt investors, high net worth families
and their advisors, commercial bankers, attorneys, management consultants, accountants and other transaction intermediaries, as well as
corporate sector executives and board members 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 for integrity and fair dealing with sellers, financing sources
and target management teams and the experience of our management team in executing transactions, especially special purpose acquisition
company transactions, under varying economic and financial market conditions.
In addition, we anticipate that target business
combination candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, private equity
funds and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.
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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 made available
to us and other reviews as we deem appropriate. We may also retain consultants with expertise relating to a prospective target business.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial
business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, executive officers or directors, or completing the business combination
through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, executive officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete
an initial business combination with a target that is affiliated (as defined in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association)
with our sponsor, executive officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent
investment banking firm which is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) 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.
Our ability to identify and evaluate a target
company may be impacted by significant competition among other SPACs 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.
Members of our management team and our independent
directors directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private units 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, the founder shares and private units may expire worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets
outside the trust account, and members of our management team and our independent directors could lose the entire amount that they have
invested in private units, 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 the members of our management team may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if
the retention or resignation of any such person was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our
initial business combination.
Our officers and directors presently and in the
future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will
be required to present a business combination opportunity. 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 opportunity to such entity, subject to their fiduciary
duties under Cayman Islands law.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles
of association provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer
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 may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer,
on the one hand, and us, on the other. The purpose for the surrender of corporate opportunities is to allow officers, directors or other
representatives with multiple business affiliations to continue to serve as an officer of our company or on our board of directors. Our
officers and directors may from time to time be presented with opportunities that could benefit both another business affiliation and
us. In the absence of the “corporate opportunity” waiver in our charter, certain candidates would not be able to serve as
an officer or director. We believe we substantially benefit from having representatives who bring significant, relevant and valuable experience
to our management, and, as a result, the inclusion of the “corporate opportunity” waiver in our amended and restated memorandum
and articles of association provide us with greater flexibility to attract and retain the officers and directors that we feel are the
best candidates. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially
affect our ability to complete our initial business.
In addition, certain of our officers and directors
are members of our sponsor and own membership interests of our sponsor. The remaining membership interests are held by third party investors
that are not affiliated with members of our management. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations
of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our business combination.
In addition, our sponsor and our officers and
directors or any of their affiliates 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. Any such companies, businesses
or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination. However, we do not believe that
such duties or obligations will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
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We have filed a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with
the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we are subject to the rules and
regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or
other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
Our sponsor does not have any agreement, arrangement
or understanding with us or our officers, directors, or affiliates with respect to determining whether to proceed with a de-SPAC transaction.
Financial Position
With funds available for a business combination
initially in the amount of $145,800,000 (assuming no redemptions), after payment of $5,250,000 of deferred underwriting fees, we offer
a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and
expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial
business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the
most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires.
However, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.
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:
● 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
● 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 applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we may decide
to seek shareholder approval for business or other reasons. Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial
business combinations we may consider and whether shareholder approval is currently required under Cayman Islands law for each such transaction.
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Type of Transaction
Whether
Shareholder
Approval is
Required
Purchase of assets
Yes
Purchase of share of target not involving a merger with the company
Yes
Merger of target into a subsidiary of the company
Yes
Merger of the company with a target
Yes
Under Nasdaq listing rules, shareholder approval
would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
● 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);
● any of our directors, officers or substantial security holders
(as defined by Nasdaq rules) has a 5% or greater interest, directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired and
if the number of ordinary shares to be issued, or if the number of ordinary shares into which the securities may be convertible or exercisable,
exceeds either (a) 1% of the number of ordinary shares or 1% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance in the case of
any of our directors and officers or (b) 5% of the number of ordinary shares or 5% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance
in the case of any substantial securityholders; or
● the issuance or potential issuance of ordinary shares will
result in our undergoing a change of control.
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 rule will be based on business and other reasons, which include a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:
● 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;
● the expected cost of holding a shareholder vote;
● the risk that the shareholders would fail to approve the
proposed business combination;
● other time and budget constraints of the company; and
● additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination
that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to shareholders.
Permitted Purchases of Our Securities
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial
business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer
rules, our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares or public warrants
in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination,
although they are under no obligation or duty to do so. Any such price per share may be different than the amount per share a public shareholder
would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. Such a purchase may include a contractual
acknowledgment that such shareholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore
agrees not to exercise its redemption rights.
In the event that our sponsor, initial shareholders,
directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have
already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem
their shares. It is intended that, if Rule 10b-18 would apply to purchases by sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers,
advisors and their affiliates, then such purchases will comply with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, to the extent it
applies, which provides a safe harbor for purchases made under certain conditions, including with respect to timing, pricing and volume
of purchases.
7
Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial
business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our sponsor, initial
shareholders, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them
with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public
shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms
or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or warrants
in such transactions.
The purpose of any such transaction could be to
(i) reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or (ii) to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires
us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such
requirement would otherwise not be met.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public
“float” of our Class A ordinary shares or public warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our
securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a
national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, initial shareholders, officers, directors
and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the shareholders with whom our initial shareholders, officers, directors or
their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the shareholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption
requests submitted by shareholders (in the case of Class A ordinary shares) following our mailing of proxy materials in connection
with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates enter into a
private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling shareholders who have expressed their election to redeem their
shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not
such shareholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination but only if such shares have not already
been voted at the shareholder meeting related to our initial business combination. Our sponsor, executive officers, directors, advisors
or any of their affiliates will select which shareholders to purchase shares from based on a negotiated price and number of shares and
any other factors that they may deem relevant and will only purchase shares if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the
Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws. Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates will be restricted from
making purchases of shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.
We expect any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such
purchases are subject to such reporting requirements.
Our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors,
officers and their affiliates will be restricted from making purchases of shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or
Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of
the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. Additionally, in the event our sponsor,
initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates were to purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders, such
purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent
part, through adherence to the following:
● our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our
business combination transaction would disclose the possibility that our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their
affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders outside the redemption process, along with the purpose of
such purchases;
● if our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers
and their affiliates were to purchase public shares or warrants from public shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than
the price offered through our redemption process;
● our registration statement/proxy statement filed for our
business combination transaction would include a representation that any of our securities purchased by our sponsor, initial shareholders,
directors, officers and their affiliates would not be voted in favor of approving the business combination transaction;
● our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers and
their affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our securities or, if they do acquire and possess redemption
rights, they would waive such rights; and
● we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before our security
holder meeting to approve the business combination transaction, the following material items:
● the amount of our securities purchased outside of the redemption
offer by our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates, along with the purchase price;
● the purpose of the purchases by our sponsor, initial shareholders,
directors, officers and their affiliates;
● the impact, if any, of the purchases by our sponsor, initial
shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates on the likelihood that the business combination transaction will be approved;
● the identities of our security holders who sold to our sponsor,
initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders
(e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their affiliates; and
● the number of our securities for which we have received redemption
requests pursuant to our redemption offer.
8
Please see “ Risk Factors —
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, initial shareholders, directors, officers and their
affiliates may elect to purchase shares or public warrants from public shareholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business
combination and reduce the public “float” of our securities. ” in our IPO prospectus.
Our Sponsor
Our sponsor, Stellar V Sponsor LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company and was incorporated for the sole purpose of holding securities interest in the Company.
Prior to our IPO, our sponsor and its affiliates,
and other initial shareholders, directly or indirectly, held 6,059,925 Class B ordinary shares, or founder shares which were purchased
for $25,000. The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination,
or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as specified in “ Founder shares
conversion and anti-dilution rights ,” and may result in immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our
Class A ordinary shares.
Upon the closing of our IPO, our sponsor and other
initial shareholders have invested in us an aggregate of $3,675,000, comprised of the $25,000 purchase price for the founder shares and
the $3,650,000 purchase price for the private units.
Prior to the closing of our IPO, our sponsor has
agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of our IPO. These loans were non-interest bearing, unsecured
and were due at the closing of our IPO. These loans were repaid upon the closing of our IPO out of the offering proceeds not held in the
trust account.
In addition, if our sponsor makes any working
capital loans, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into units, at the price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender.
Such units would be identical to the private units. To the extent we issue Class A ordinary shares to effectuate a business transaction,
the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional Class A ordinary shares upon conversion of these working capital
loans into our securities could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the
number of issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and reduce the value of the Class A ordinary shares issued to complete the business
transaction. Therefore, our founder shares may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring
the target business.
We may reimburse our insiders, officers, directors
or any of their affiliates for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with certain activities on our behalf, such as identifying
and investigating possible business targets and business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses
reimbursable by us provided that, to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses
would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. In the event that we reimburse our insiders, officers,
directors or any of their affiliates for out-of-pocket expenses prior to the consummation of a business combination or are required
to indemnify any of our officers or directors as required by law, we would use funds available to us outside of the trust account for
our working capital requirements.
Our insiders, officers, directors and their affiliates
may incur out-of-pocket expenses in connection with certain activities on our behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible
business targets and combinations. We have no policy that would prohibit these individuals and their affiliates from negotiating the reimbursement
of such expenses by a target business. As a result, the personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation
in identifying and selecting a target business.
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 (up to an aggregate per shareholder, together with certain
other shareholders, of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO, as described in more detail in this report) 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, but without deduction for any excise or similar tax that may be due
or 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. 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. Our initial
shareholders, 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 any founder shares and public shares they may hold in connection with the completion of our initial
business combination.
9
Limitations on Redemptions
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 in connection with such initial business
combination, 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 following consummation
of our IPO, in order to, among other reasons, satisfy such net tangible assets or minimum cash requirements.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
We will provide our public shareholders with the
opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares (up to an aggregate per shareholder, together with certain other shareholders,
of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO, as described in more detail in this report) upon the completion of our initial business combination
either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination or (ii) without a shareholder
vote by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed initial 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 requirements. Asset acquisitions and share purchases would not typically require shareholder approval while direct mergers with
our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding ordinary shares or seek to amend
our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association would require shareholder approval. So long as we maintain a listing for
our securities on Nasdaq, we are required to comply with the Nasdaq’s shareholder approval rules.
The requirement that we provide our public shareholders
with the opportunity to redeem their public shares by one of the two methods listed above will be contained in provisions of our amended
and restated memorandum and articles of association and will apply whether or not we maintain our registration under the Exchange Act
or our listing on Nasdaq. Such provisions may be amended if approved by a special resolution passed by the affirmative vote of at least
two-thirds of our ordinary shares which are represented in person or by proxy and are voted at a general meeting of the company,
so long as we offer redemption in connection with such amendment.
If we provide our public shareholders with the
opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with a shareholder meeting, we will:
● conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation
pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender
offer rules, and
● file proxy materials with the SEC.
In the event that we seek shareholder approval
of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public shareholders
with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
If we seek shareholder approval, we will complete
our initial business combination only if we receive the approval of an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, passed by the affirmative
vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders of the issued shares represented in person or represented by proxy and
are voted at a general meeting of the company. In accordance with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a quorum
for such meeting will be present if the holders of one third of issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting are represented
in person or by proxy. Our initial shareholders will count towards this quorum and, pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, officers
and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares they hold in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval
of an ordinary resolution, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained.
As a result, 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 ordinary shares at a general meeting of the company, we will
not need any public shares in addition to our founder shares and private shares to be voted in favor of an initial business combination
in order to approve an initial business combination. However, if our initial business combination is structured as a statutory merger
or consolidation with another company under Cayman Islands law, the approval of our initial business combination will require a special
resolution passed by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of our ordinary shares which are represented in person or by proxy
and are voted at a general meeting of the company These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial shareholders,
may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. However, if our initial business combination is structured
as a statutory merger or consolidation with another company under Cayman Islands law, the approval of our initial business combination
will require a special resolution, passed by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by the shareholders of
the issued shares represented in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting of the company
and are voted at a general meeting of the company. Each public shareholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether
they vote for or against the proposed transaction, or whether they do not vote or abstain from voting on the proposed transaction, or
whether they were a shareholder on the record date for the shareholder meeting held to approve the proposed transaction.
10
If a shareholder vote is not required and we do
not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will:
● conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and
Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and
● file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing
our initial business combination, which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination
and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to
the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under
the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer
period.
Upon the public announcement of our initial business
combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we or our sponsor will terminate any plan established
in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase our Class A ordinary shares in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under
the Exchange Act.
We intend to require our public shareholders seeking
to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to, at the holder’s
option, either deliver their share certificates to our transfer agent or deliver their shares to our transfer agent electronically using
The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system, prior to the date set forth in the proxy materials
or tender offer documents, as applicable. In the case of proxy materials, this date may be up to two business days prior to the scheduled
vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination. In addition, if we conduct redemptions in connection with a shareholder
vote, we intend to require a public shareholder seeking redemption of its public shares to also submit a written request for redemption
to our transfer agent two business days prior to the scheduled vote in which the name of the beneficial owner of such shares is included.
The proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with
our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public shareholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. We
believe that this will allow our transfer agent to efficiently process any redemptions without the need for further communication or action
from the redeeming public shareholders, which could delay redemptions and result in additional administrative cost. If the proposed initial
business combination is not approved and we continue to search for a target company, we will promptly return any certificates or shares
delivered by public shareholders who elected to redeem their shares.
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 in connection with such initial business
combination, 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 following consummation
of our IPO, in order to, among other reasons, satisfy such net tangible assets or minimum cash requirements.
Limitation on Redemption Upon Completion of
Our Initial Business Combination If We Seek Shareholder Approval
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial
business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer
rules, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate
of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under
Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to seeking redemption rights
with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in the IPO without our prior consent, which we refer to as the “Excess
Shares.” We believe this restriction will discourage shareholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts
by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed business combination as a means to force us
or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms.
Absent this provision, a public shareholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our IPO could threaten to exercise
its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us, our sponsor or our management at a premium to the then-current market
price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our shareholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in our
IPO without our prior consent, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of shareholders to unreasonably attempt to block
our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires
as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash.
11
However, we would not be restricting our shareholders’
ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
Delivering Share Certificates in Connection
with the Exercise of Redemption Rights
As described above, we intend to require our public
shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,”
to, at the holder’s option, either deliver their share certificates to our transfer agent or deliver their shares to our transfer
agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system, prior to the date set forth
in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. In the case of proxy materials, this date may be up to two business
days prior to the scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination. In addition, if we conduct redemptions in
connection with a shareholder vote, we intend to require a public shareholder seeking redemption of its public shares to also submit a
written request for redemption to our transfer agent two business days prior to the scheduled vote in which the name of the beneficial
owner of such shares is included. The proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our
public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public shareholders to satisfy
such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public shareholder would have up to two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the
initial business combination if we distribute proxy materials, or from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close
of the tender offer period, as applicable, to submit or tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. In the
event that a shareholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures disclosed in the proxy or tender offer materials, as applicable,
its shares may not be redeemed. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for shareholders to use electronic delivery
of their public shares.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced process
and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the broker
submitting or tendering shares a fee of approximately $100 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the
redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights
to submit or tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing
of when such delivery must be effectuated.
Any request to redeem such shares, once made,
may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. Furthermore, if
a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior
to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate
(physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem
their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.
If our initial business combination is not approved
or completed for any reason, then our public shareholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem
their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates
delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.
If our initial proposed initial business combination
is not completed, we may continue to try to complete an initial business combination with a different target until the end of the completion
window.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation
if No Initial Business Combination
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles
of association provide that we have only a 21-month duration of the closing window to complete our initial business combination.
If we are unable to complete our initial business
combination within such 21-month period, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter,
redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account,
including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, but without deduction
for any excise or similar tax that may be due or payable, and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the
number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will constitute full and complete payment for the public shares and completely
extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating or other distributions,
if any).
Our initial shareholders, 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 they hold 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 initial shareholders,
sponsor or management team acquire public shares after our IPO, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account
and liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial
business combination within the allotted 21-month time period.
12
Our initial shareholders, sponsor, officers and
directors have agreed, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, 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 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, unless we provide our public shareholders with the opportunity
to redeem their public 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 (which interest shall be net of
taxes payable, but without deduction for any excise or similar tax that may be due or payable), divided by the number of then outstanding
public shares.
We expect that all costs and expenses associated
with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the approximately
$900,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose.
However, if those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the
extent that there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay taxes, we may request the trustee to release to us
an additional amount of up to $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of
our IPO and the sale of the private units, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest,
if any, earned on the trust account and any tax payments or expenses for the dissolution of the trust, the per-share redemption amount
received by shareholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $10.00. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however,
become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public shareholders. We cannot assure
you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by shareholders will not be substantially less than $10.00. While we intend
to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.
Although we will seek to have all vendors, service
providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which
we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust
account for the benefit of our public shareholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute
such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement,
breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case
in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third
party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will consider whether
competitive alternatives are reasonably available to us and will only enter into an agreement with such third party if management believes
that such third party’s engagement would be in the best interests of the company under the circumstances. Examples of possible instances
where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular
expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute
a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. The underwriters of our IPO and
our independent registered public accounting firm will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust
account. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result
of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any
reason. In order to protect the amounts held in the trust account, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent
any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us (except for the company’s independent auditors), or a prospective
target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination
agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual
amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per public
share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, other than any excise or similar tax that may be due or
payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who
executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it
apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether
our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities
of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such
claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could
be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you
would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors
will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account
are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account
as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account if less than $10.07 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets,
in each case less taxes payable, other than any excise or similar tax that may be due or payable, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable
to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent
directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently
expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations
to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance.
Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be
less than $10.07 per share.
13
We will seek to reduce the possibility that our
sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective
target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of
any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters
of our IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to approximately $900,000
from the proceeds of our IPO with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our
liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined
that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, shareholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for
claims made by creditors. As our offering expenses slightly exceeded our estimate of $600,000, we funded such excess with funds from the
funds not held in the trust account. Accordingly, the amount of funds held outside the trust account decreased by a corresponding amount.
If we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition
or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account
could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of
third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot
assure you we will be able to return $10.07 per share to our public shareholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition
or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders
could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy or insolvency laws as either a “preferential transfer”
or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy or insolvency court could seek to recover some or all amounts received
by our shareholders. Furthermore, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may
have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public shareholders from
the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these
reasons.
Our public shareholders will be entitled to receive
funds from the trust account only (i) in the event of the redemption of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business
combination within the completion window, (ii) in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum
and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do
not complete our initial business combination within the completion window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating
to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity or (iii) if they redeem their respective shares for
cash upon the completion of our initial business combination. In no other circumstances will a shareholder have any right or interest
of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination,
a shareholder’s voting in connection with the business combination alone will not result in a shareholder’s redeeming its
shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such shareholder must have also exercised its
redemption rights described above. These provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, like all provisions
of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, may be amended with a shareholder vote.
14
Comparison of Redemption or Purchase Prices
in Connection with Our Initial Business Combination and if We Fail to Complete Our Initial Business Combination.
The following table compares the redemptions and
other permitted purchases of public shares that may take place in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and
if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window.
Redemptions in Connection
with our Initial Business
Combination
Other Permitted Purchases
of Public Shares by our
Affiliates
Redemptions if we fail
to Complete an Initial
Business Combination
Calculation of redemption price
Redemptions at the time of our initial business combination may be made pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a shareholder vote. The redemption price will be the same whether we conduct redemptions pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a shareholder vote. In either case, our public shareholders may redeem their public shares for 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 (which is initially anticipated to be $10.07 per share), including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, but without deduction for any excise or similar tax that may be due or payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
If we seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial shareholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following completion of our initial business combination.
If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the completion window, we will redeem all public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount, then on deposit in the trust account (which is initially anticipated to be $10.07 per share), including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
Impact to remaining shareholders
The redemptions in connection with our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for our remaining shareholders, who will bear the burden of the deferred underwriting commissions and interest withdrawn in order to pay our income taxes (to the extent not paid from amounts accrued as interest on the funds held in the trust account).
If the permitted purchases described above are made, there would be no impact to our remaining shareholders because the purchase price would not be paid by us.
The redemption of our public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for the shares held by our initial shareholders, who will be our only remaining shareholders after such redemptions.
Facilities
Our principal executive offices are located at
230 Park Avenue, Suite 1540, New York, NY 10169. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations. We
pay our sponsor (and/or its affiliates or designees) an aggregate of up to $10,000 per month for office space, secretarial, administrative
and support services provided to us and members of our management team. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation,
we will cease paying these monthly fees.
15
Employees
We currently have three executive officers: Prokopios
(Akis) Tsirigakis, our Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, George Syllantavos, our Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, and Anastasios (Tassos) Chrysostomidis, our Vice President of Business Development. 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 completion of our initial business combination.
Available 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 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 www.sec.gov. In addition, the
Company will provide copies of these documents without charge upon request from us in writing at 230 Park Avenue, Suite 1540, New York,
NY 10169 or by telephone at (212) 661-7566.
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.